Research Shows 'Worrying' Impact of Housing Benefit Cap

Landlords in the capital are more likely to evict tenants or not renew tenancy agreements than in other parts of the country as a result of housing benefit changes, research shows. According to a government-commissioned study, 40% of London landlords said they would stop renting properties to housing benefit tenants in the next year – compared with 33% nationally. Another 26% said they would reduce their lettings in London to housing benefit tenants – compared with 24% nationally. London Councils, the body representing the capital's 33 local authorities, described the findings as "worrying". The research, Monitoring the impact of changes to the Local Housing Allowance system of housing benefit, was led by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University. Download a copy of the early findings of the report from the DWP website.