Welfare reforms cost housing association £10m a year
- 17 Dec
A report has shown the government's welfare reform is costing a housing association £10m a year.
The report comes from Wakefield and District Housing which shows their story of the first 200 days of the under-occupation penalty. It shows that over 500 of their tenants who were not in debt before the introduction of the bedroom tax now owe rent.
The reports highlights how rent arrears and the number of people facing financial hardship and potential eviction has increased. This has meant the housing association have had to support their tenants through the use of Discretionary Housing Payments and services such as food parcels.
Within the report are case studies of tenants affected by the welfare reform and documents the intensive support provided by a range of the association's employees. Included in this us health inequality caseworks, community employment advisors, central debt team, welfare reform team, and housing officer; reports 24dash.
Chief executive of Wakefield and District Housing said: "The so-called 'bedroom tax' is unfair, unjust and unworkable, and our findings over the first 200 days demonstrate the amount of unnecessary upheaval and distress caused to people within our communities. The only reason the situation is not worse is because of the intensive support our employees have provided to our tenants. However, many social landlords may find it difficult to provide such support over the long-term. The impact of welfare reform raises real questions about the role of social landlords in the future. The Government expect us to go beyond rent and repairs by improving tenants' overall quality of life, yet threaten the income we have to do this."
The report also shows that the cost of the welfare reform to the association is £10m a year, which is the equivalent of building a new property each week. Alongside this 500 tenants have now found themselves in rent arrears and nearly 4,000 tenants are under-occupying by one bedroom.
The report concludes: "Stock transfer has seen social landlords become a victim of their own success. We promise more, we deliver more, and now many people - particularly the government - expect more. Yet we're expected to deliver with reduced resources and capacity. Councils, police forces and hospitals have had to bite the bullet and reduce the services they provide. So the question is: Should we go back to basics? Should we be aiming to make a positive difference to the lives of our tenants, or go back to the ‘good old days' of rent and repairs? As social landlords, we have a duty to go the extra mile for our tenants, and we will continue to do so. In the meantime, we will be challenging the government to develop a fairer solution to the ‘bedroom tax' which doesn't penalise too harshly the many families and disabled people whose lives have been turned upside down. We believe there is a better way forward and we would be happy to share our ideas."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/386434
Related articles
- 02 Nov
THE ONS PLANS TO CHANGE THEIR DECISION TO MAKE HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS PUBLIC BODIES
According to reports by 24 Housing, the ONS said the following:Gavin Smart, Chartered Institute of Housing's deputy chief executive also said:"Although we have been expecting this decision for some...
- 30 Aug
RECENT ANALYSIS FINDS THAT THE HELP TO BUY SCHEME HAS ADDED TO THE INFLATION OF HOUSE PRICES
The analysis of the Help to Buy Scheme revealed the following:The chief executive of Paradigm Housing Group, Matthew Bailes, said:" ... clearly, it worked well for developers, and for providers, it...
- 22 Aug
A NORTH WALES COUNCIL REVEALED THEIR WAITING LIST FOR NEW HOMES HAS REACHED BREAKING POINT
The north Wales Council revealed their waiting list for new homes has reached "breaking point".According to Clare Budden, Flintshire Council's community enterprise chief officer said:"There are...
- 17 Aug
HOMELESSNESS POLICY IS UNDER REVIEW IN A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL
Kettering Borough Council has amended its letters to homeless residents to let them know of their right to request a temporary accommodation review.According to an ombudsman, Michael King:"People in...
- 15 Aug
FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAVE CAUSED THE CLOSURE OF MANY CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES
Local Government Association (LGA) made the following findings:Chair of the LGA's children and young people board, Richard Watts, said:Â "The reality is that services for the care and protection of...
- 11 Aug
RESIDENTS OF BUILDINGS IN LEDBURY ESTATE, SOUTHWARK, SOUTH LONDON WILL BE MOVED OUT TEMPORARILY
The buildings in Ledbury Estate in Southwark have been constructed in a similar way to Ronan Point, a tower block in Newham which collapsed in 1968 as a result of a gas explosion, killing three. An...
- 10 Aug
THERE IS A DECLINE IN THE HOUSING MARKET IN LONDON AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) made the following findings:Chief Economist at Rics, Simon Rubinsohn:"Sales activity in the housing market has been slipping in the recent month...
- 07 Aug
REPORT FINDS THAT PEOPLE ARE INTENSELY SUFFERING FROM LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOMES IN SCOTLAND
According to the report by "Shelter":Shelter's deputy director, Alison Watson, said:"This report shows the disproportionate impact of Scotland's housing crisis on young people and private renters who...
- 02 Aug
NEW REPORT BY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNT COMMITTEE IN WALES COMMENDS HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
The report which was put together after nine months of inquiries stated the following:Nick Ramsey, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said:"Generally, we found governance and regulation within...
- 31 Jul
LONDON COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE MEASURES TO END LETTING FEES FOR PRIVATE RENTERS
 The London council say urgent action is needed because the government has not provided "a clear timescale to introduce its own measure", Letting Agent Today, reports.Last year, the government had...
Responding to the DWP Consultation: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing "I thought this briefing was very good and very useful. The presentation was clear, well argued and I always find Michael gives me food for thought even if I don't agree with everything he says. I really like the way he facilitates a discussion in the room and I learn as much from other participants as I do from the presenter which is always good. Right length, right tone." R.P. - Richmond Fellowship
