Eviction due to new Cameron law

[right-clicking]

Hello! What a lovely caring nation we all live in, doesn't it make you proud to be part of the big society where fairness is key. April this year councils were imposed to fix rents on housing benefits on a yearly basis. My landlord has demanded a rent increase of ?150 a month and the council cannot pay the extra until next June. Understandably the L/L has hit me with a section 21 and I have two months to move. As landlords refuse to rent to scum-bag H/B claimants I am to be homeless, I have two kids and we'll all be in bed and breakfast accommodation, can anyone advise? Help or am I being a work-shy layabout who deserves this anyhow.

[Loz]

Have you tried James Barber? He might be able to help.

[silverfox]

I'm genuinely sorry to read of your circumstances but question whether this is a Cameron law problem.

Your landlord has asked for an increase of ?150 per month - ?1,800 a year - on top of what is already paid.

Why is this the government's responsibility to pay this, even if the landlord is being greedy?

Isn't it a case of moving to somewhere cheaper, as inconvenient as that will be?

[right-clicking]

S/F We live in a welfare state, I was made redundant at 50 and cannot find employment nobody seems to want to even to reply to my 500+ job applications! I have paid Tax and class 1 contributions all my life

It is the governments responsibility under the laws laid down since McMillan's days.

As for moving elsewhere! Laugh Out Loud!! There are very few landlords willing to accept housing benefit claimants who as far as they are concerned are a bad risk. make a few enquiries at the multitude estate agents on the Lordship lane and see there face drop when you mention the ugly words "Housing benefit"

[DJKillaQueen]

I think the OP is suggesting there is difficulty for recipients of HB to find landlords prepared to rent to them in the private sector, and I have to say all the evidence shows this to be true. And it is also true to say that as a result of the coalitions changes to HB, many landlords withdrew themselves from local authority schemes to house those on low and no incomes in the private sector.

So we have had a growing shortage of social housing for three decades and now we have a shrinking pool of affordable private sector housing too. It wasn't quite what the coalition predicted....they argued that welfare reform would force private sector rents down. It hasn't happened, and an already severe housing crisis is about to get a fair bit worse. And even though interest rates are at an all time low, it isn't stopping the greed of landlords is squeezing rents up as high as they can.

Funnily enough, my prediction was a return to the far more expensive alternative of local authorities having to house familes in bed and breadfast.......and their next brainwave, a proposal to deny HB to anyone under 25 will almost see a return of the sight of young homeless people on our streets.

Exactly how much has been saved from the public purse by all these reforms? Nothing....in fact the bill has gone up steeply, through increased unemployment, and the cost of the thousands of auccessful appeals against attempts to cut individuals benefits, with some claimants being given an increase in benefit and paid compensation.

Hi RC......bed and breakfast, whilst not ideal, will at least make you eligible for social housing (probably with a HA). It might also be worth talking to the housing office. They may have some useful advice and other options you can explore.

[Loz]

right-clicking Wrote:

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> There are very few landlords willing to accept housing benefit claimants who as far as they are concerned

> are a bad risk. make a few enquiries at the multitude estate agents on the Lordship lane and

> see there face drop when you mention the ugly words "Housing benefit"

You probably don't know this (and it's not helping your situation in any way), but most landlords with a BTL mortgage aren't allowed to rent to HB claimants, under the terms of their mortgage.

[silverfox]

I'm sure you're correct right-clicking and having paid your dues over the years you're entitled to receive some help to tide you over until you get back on your feet.

My main concern is that landlords can line their pockets at the government's, and your, expense.

I wish you luck and as Loz said, try James Barber who may be able to help on what is probably an increasingly familiar problem.

[DJKillaQueen]

I think for many not and whom have never been, in your position RC it's hard for them to fully understand how you feel. I include the privilaged millionaires formulating the policy that impacts on you in that. I feel for you. It's bad enough to be unemployed and feel that you are unemployable (because of your age) without being burdened with housing problems too. The people at the bottom of our society are really struggling, and worse still, nobody in power really seems to care.

[DJKillaQueen]

Landlords taking advantage of HB to line their pockets is immoral, I agree SF, but we don't have enough affordable housing for those who need it. So what is the solution?

[right-clicking]

Another Right wing decision was to flog off social housing and squander the proceeds without building any more houses! True to form when those with the most wealth in financially dificult times, turn on those with little, to prop up their fat bank accounts and attack those with the least line of resistance. If we are to be dragged back into the Dickensian times might I be justified in adopting Fagin's famous quote.....You've got to pick a pocket or two?

[DJKillaQueen]

We don't have enough prisons to lock you up.....so why not? ;D

Worse still, when New Labour came into power they drastically cut the discount that right to buy tenants were eligible for. The coalition have restored the high discount, up to ?76k of the market value (depending on length of tenancy). I'm morally opposed to the sale of social housing but that discount means I could buy my one bedroomed flat for just over half it's market value, if I had the means to do so. How can that be right?

The other thing I would say about right to buy is that many of the leasehold properties quickly become tenanted, with tenants coming and going, replacing what before were less transient communities. It should be a requirement that a right to buy home remains the owners primary address for a period of time after purchase imo.

[right-clicking]

DJKQ, Loz & silverfox Thanks for your kind words and commiserations, It would be interesting if I was to post a wanted ad in the residential section of this forum "2 bed flat wanted for housing benefit claimants" references supplied must be within the LHA guidelines. somehow I do not suppose my inbox will be cluttered with offers?

[DJKillaQueen]

All long as house prices go up....those that own them don't care if you can afford your rent or not......definitely nothing big about this society sadly.

[Loz]

right-clicking Wrote:

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> DJKQ, Loz & silverfox Thanks for your kind words and commiserations, It would be interesting if I

> was to post a wanted ad in the residential section of this forum "2 bed flat wanted for housing

> benefit claimants" references supplied must be within the LHA guidelines. somehow I do not

> suppose my inbox will be cluttered with offers?

I've seen you have posted this now. Good luck - you never know.

Also, have you tried Gumtree?

[zeban]

Gumtree is just about the worst place you can look for a house!!! full of estate agents putting out ads for reasonable priced places that don't exist. Don't do it!

I'm so sorry to hear about this right-clicking. I know how you feel as I've also been hit by a rent increase and changes in housing benefit which together have meant me no longer being able to afford to live in my flat so I'm moving back to my Mum's to share a bedroom with my sister :-/. You have a have a family so it's far far worse for you. I can't believe your landlord has increased your rent so much, ?150 extra a month is a phenomenal amount, have they no shame?! the sad thing is because no one can afford to buy anymore it's a landlord's market and they know they can charge whatever they like and someone out there will pay it, meaning those struggling at the bottom are literally left homeless.

[uncleglen]

Landlords in London know they can get whatever they want. There is nothing fair about any aspect of the housing market-people buying second homes in rural areas have created a massive problem there. Local people are priced out of the market in London as well by the pressure on housing. There is absolutely no way that my kids could afford a property in East Dulwich now- so who is going to look after me in old age? Good luck to you r-c in this anxious time.

[Ridgley]

I am sorry to hear about your situation R C there has been some good advice and words of encouragement on this thread good luck. This also happening to some of my friends also with families.

[DJKillaQueen]

Hi RC. Have you tried talking to the Southwark Housing Options advice line on 020 7525 5950. They have a Private Tenancies Team and they may be able to give you some advice and help.

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200052/looking_for_a_home/749/housing_options_service

If I can think of anything else I'll post it.

[Ridgley]

Thanks DJKQ that will also be useful for me to pass on to my friends.

[Bic Basher]

Social housing residents are also facing changes as more housing and council tax benefit reform starts in April 2013, Southwark are proposing a 15% cut to housing benefit per bedroom to working age residents who have more bedrooms than they require.

For example, a single person with two bedrooms would see 15% off their housing benefit, but if they move into a one bedroom, they'll continue to receive full housing benefit.

A neighbour of mine has already started looking on Southwark Homesearch as they have a three bedroom (kids have grown up and left home) to downgrade to a one bedroom in preparation.

[LondonMix]

That's certainly a good thing though isn't it given the shortage for larger properties for families?

Bic Basher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Social housing residents are also facing changes

> as more housing and council tax benefit reform

> starts in April 2013, Southwark are proposing a

> 15% cut to housing benefit per bedroom to working

> age residents who have more bedrooms than they

> require.

>

> For example, a single person with two bedrooms

> would see 15% off their housing benefit, but if

> they move into a one bedroom, they'll continue to

> receive full housing benefit.

>

> A neighbour of mine has already started looking on

> Southwark Homesearch as they have a three bedroom

> (kids have grown up and left home) to downgrade to

> a one bedroom in preparation.

[Bic Basher]

LondonMix Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's certainly a good thing though isn't it

> given the shortage for larger properties for

> families?

I agree to an extent, there are clearly some tenants who clearly don't require those rooms while large families are living in temporary accommodation who then have to bid for council flats.

The problems I find with this is that isn't enough housing stock to move single tenants into one bedroom flats and I don't think they'll be enough time for most of them to find appropriate accommodation. The private sector is even harder to acquire rented accommodation with rent costs and the lack of acceptance of housing benefit renters. Most if not all can't put down a deposit on a household.

In the long term, the HB reforms could work, but like the previous reforms which saw a per annum cap on benefit, this could lead to poorer residents leaving for other parts of the country where rent is cheaper.

[DJKillaQueen]

But what is it that HB reform is supposed to do? Stop landlords charging so much for rent? Because that is not happening. All the HB reform has done is reduce the amount of private sector stock available to those on low incomes. HB reform is not a solution to the growing shortage of unaffordable housing. Finding a way to stop the ever widening gap between rents and salaries is, but no government has the balls to do what that requires.

It's a bit like the lie that welfare reform is going to save the country money. So far it hasn't. The bill has gone up, helped partly by the numerous successful appeals against assessment decisions. The assessment system is a farce, with obviously ill people being found fit for work when clearly they are not. And tribunals are overturning assesment decisions by the bucket loads, only for those successful in getting through that process finding themselves being called up for assessment again soon after. It's quite simply harassment of the ill and vulnerable.

The council tax reforms are even more worrying as local authorities will become responsible for giving rebates to those on low incomes and as you might have guessed, the government haven't given enough funding to local authorities to maintain the pevious levels of CT benefit. So gone is the one rate for all and in comes variable rates according to your local authority. LAs are not alllowed to change the level of benefit to those over pensionable age which means that those of working age will have to make up the shortfall. In Southwark that means a person of working age currently in receipt of the maximum council tax benefit will have to pay three times as much as they currently do (from approx ?1 per week to ?3). But some boroughs have a population where the elderly make up 30-40% of their demographic, meaning the burden on the rest will be as much as 30% of their CT bill. Very hard to pay if you are receiving the measly ?67 per week of JSA.

Southwark are also considering abolishing the second adult rebate. This was primarily for family members and relatives living at the same address, but it also included live in carers. I'm opposed to removing any financial help for live in carers as they already sacrifice their lives to care for someone instead of leaving it to the more costly option of the NHS. Taking away any financial support just seems very mean to me.

We are in this mess because we don't have a high enough percentage of people in work for the population we hold. Well the solution to that is to get industry, business and job creation going.......not to squeeze those who can least afford to be squeezed. The government are literally driving some people to despair, whilst not trying hard enough to find real solutions to the problems at hand.

[Bic Basher]

I can imagine that in some Tory council's like Wandsworth, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea they'll find the money from somewhere to keep the HB/CTB levels as they are, while Labour councils such as ours and Lewisham will have their poorest residents penalised.

[DJKillaQueen]

Southwark have reported that the government has given them funding that is ?2million short of what would be needed to maintain CT benefit at the current rates.

Areas like Westminster have low CT bills because they have fewer residents in need of additional services. The wealthy can always pay for what they need when they need it. In poorer areas, the demands on things like social services are much greater, and LAs have to find the money for these services. So the irony is that the poorest will now have to pay anything up to 30% of their CT bills, bills which will on average be higher if they live in a borough with high numbers of people dependent on benefits, or with high levels of pensioners.

I expect the result will be increased levels of the poorest facing court action because they can't pay their CT.

I would challenge Cameron et al to try living on JSA for a month. They have no clue whatsoever of how difficult life is for people trying to get by on benefits. And we have to remember, almost 700,000 households in FULL TIME work are dependent on some form of benefit too.....because they don't earn enough to make ends meet.

The government talks about getting people into work etc but it's all hot air. Without some meaningful efforts to create jobs, the rhetoric is just that. And everything this government has done so far has cost jobs, not created them. Their economic policies are not working but yet they go on, blinkered by their own privilege and not only completely ignorant to the consequences of their policies, but worse still, not really caring either.