Large Housing Association Scraps ‘Pointless’ Affordability Checks For New Tenants

One of the UK’s largest housing associations has scrapped ‘affordability testing’ for prospective tenants, deeming the process “pointless bureaucracy”. Sanctuary Group announced it was moving away from the process, which involves checking nominated households’ ability to pay the rent. The process has been controversial in the housing sector in recent years, with local authorities complaining that it makes it difficult to house homeless families on low or no incomes. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/large-housing-association-scraps-pointless-affordability-checks-for-new-tenants-63517?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Third Large Housing Association Offers Residents Lifetime Tenancies

Sanctuary Housing has become the third large housing association to offer lifetime tenancies to all its residents. From 1 April, the 100,000-home association will offer all 9,000 of its fixed-term tenants lifetime tenancies when their existing agreements come up for renewal. It follows similar announcements by L&Q and Peabody, two of London’s largest housing associations. These two landlords both decided to phase out fixed-term tenancies, which were introduced by the Localism Act in 2011. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/third-large-housing-association-offers-residents-lifetime-tenancies-60522?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Seven Ways Social Landlords Can Prepare For Universal Credit

Universal credit will see housing benefit paid direct to tenants each month (as part of a larger amount of benefit payments), instead of being paid to their landlords, as is currently the case. Sanctuary Housing has taken part in one of the government’s pilot schemes to test the impact of the policy. Sanctuary have shared their experience about how to manage the changeover.

·         Know your data

·         Identify a universal credit expert

·         Work closely with the DWP

·         Anticipate tenants in need

·         Don’t overlook service charges

·         Make use of APAs

·         Keep customers informed

Read full details of these tips on the Guardian website.

Bid to Exempt Sanctuary Schemes from Bedroom Tax

Labour MP Alison Seabeck has successfully negotiated the first stage in her bid to exempt social housing tenants occupying properties with safe and sanctuary rooms from the bedroom tax, prompting the shadow Work and Pensions Secretary to promise that a Labour government would abolish the tax. Ms Seabeck, a former shadow housing minister, introduced a motion under the Ten Minute Rule. She said that around 280 victims of domestic violence living in homes with rooms fitted with strong bolts on the doors and bars on the windows are affected by the bedroom tax. Although some are receiving discretionary payments to meet the shortfall, she argued that protection for vulnerable women should not be at the discretion of cash-strapped local authorities. Read more on the Coalition Watch blog.

Bedroom Tax: Rehoused Victims of Domestic Violence Face Eviction

The introduction of the bedroom tax is having an unacceptable and dangerous impact on women who have experienced domestic violence, and councils must take action. The tax reduces the amount that individuals can receive in housing benefit if they are in accommodation regarded as too large for their family size. But women living in properties with sanctuary scheme measures, where support is provided for victims of domestic violence, are not exempt. Women's Aid is aware of cases where women's housing benefit has been reduced or they have to leave the only place where they can be safe, because a safe room is regarded as spare. Read more on the Guardian website.