What effect (if any) will the changes to housing benefit have on the rental market?

terryw

ninky wrote: »

i have. an accommodation allowance.

Tell me more please.

candygirl

It really annoys me that they pay ridiculous amounts like this , when a lot of people have to add to their housing benefits to afford to live in cheap houses, that their LHA doesn't even cover in full:mad:

ninky_2

terryw wrote: »

Tell me more please.

basically rather than paying rent based on property found you instead pay a fixed accommodation allowance which would be slightly increased for each additional dependent child. it would then be up to the benefit claimant to find accommodation within this budget. if they find cheaper they could in fact pocket the difference. this would motivate benefit claimants to move to cheaper areas - providing increased rental opportunities for those deprived areas.

terryw

ninky wrote: »

basically rather than paying rent based on property found you instead pay a fixed accommodation allowance which would be slightly increased for each additional dependent child. it would then be up to the benefit claimant to find accommodation within this budget. if they find cheaper they could in fact pocket the difference. this would motivate benefit claimants to move to cheaper areas - providing increased rental opportunities for those deprived areas.

This what LHA does already, although the excess pocketable amount part is, I understand, being removed.

terryw

Or are you suggesting that this Accommodation Allowance be paid to every claimant who could then decide to live in shed or with friends and pocket the allowance?

carolt

Anyone who wants to check this subject will find this fascinating:

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=LA

For example, checking my old stomping ground of Ealing, I discovered that someone in my situation (3 kids = 3 bed house) would be entitled to an astonishingly large amount of £370 a week!!! :eek:

That's far, far more than I could have afforded when we lived there (both working); far, far more than I pay now, in the cheaper area we moved out to so we could afford a house instead of a flat (both working, so actually have to pay for these things ourselves...).

It's outrageous that those who don't work at all should be entitled to live in areas that are too expensive for those of us who actually work to afford - but paid for through our taxes :mad: - no wonder rents are so high and so unrelated to local salaries, when landlords can charge these ridiculous amounts and have the bill picked up by the taxpayer.

Oh, it makes me SO CROSS.

ukcarper

If you look at my example they will pay £70 per week more for a 3 bed in Guildford than one in the Blackwater Valley. It’s about 7 miles with good bus and train services.

tara747

£1,100 a WEEK??????????????????

drc

carolt wrote: »

Anyone who wants to check this subject will find this fascinating:

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=LA

For example, checking my old stomping ground of Ealing, I discovered that someone in my situation (3 kids = 3 bed house) would be entitled to an astonishingly large amount of £370 a week!!! :eek:

That's far, far more than I could have afforded when we lived there (both working); far, far more than I pay now, in the cheaper area we moved out to so we could afford a house instead of a flat (both working, so actually have to pay for these things ourselves...).

It's outrageous that those who don't work at all should be entitled to live in areas that are too expensive for those of us who actually work to afford - but paid for through our taxes :mad: - no wonder rents are so high and so unrelated to local salaries, when landlords can charge these ridiculous amounts and have the bill picked up by the taxpayer.

Oh, it makes me SO CROSS.

It's the same in my part of north London. I'm actually surprised that people bother to work (or can afford to) when you get so much more when you don't work (not to mention free time, no travelling, getting up early, getting home late). The system is so horribly flawed and so completely demoralising. I think this country is truly !!!!ed .

terryw

carolt wrote: »

Anyone who wants to check this subject will find this fascinating:

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/LHARateSearch.aspx?SearchType=LA

For example, checking my old stomping ground of Ealing, I discovered that someone in my situation (3 kids = 3 bed house) would be entitled to an astonishingly large amount of £370 a week!!! :eek:

That's far, far more than I could have afforded when we lived there (both working); far, far more than I pay now, in the cheaper area we moved out to so we could afford a house instead of a flat (both working, so actually have to pay for these things ourselves...).

It's outrageous that those who don't work at all should be entitled to live in areas that are too expensive for those of us who actually work to afford - but paid for through our taxes :mad: - no wonder rents are so high and so unrelated to local salaries, when landlords can charge these ridiculous amounts and have the bill picked up by the taxpayer.

Oh, it makes me SO CROSS.

Carolt,

It is worse than you imagine. Three kids and one of the two adults takes a simple job of 16 hours per week at minimum wage and the family income is £350 cash in hand and no rent or council tax to pay. Bung the figures into the benefits calculator and you will see that I am correct.

Also no prescription charges, opticians, dentists, etc etc . Oh, and don't worry about the boiler breaking down or the washing machine etc. This is the landlord to put right.

The whole system is crazy beyond belief. Can any working couple do have this disposable income and lack of worry?