Cushioning the benefit cuts: Times 1/7/10

michaels

The cynic in me would suggest that some of George's mates who are pocketing 2k per week in housing benefit on their BTLs in Kensington and Chelsea have objected to the loss in income threatened...

FATBALLZ

PasturesNew wrote: »

The best thing to do is run off a list of who they are, pop round to see them to let them know they'll have to be moving, let them know their new rent max amount, then help them find somewhere elsewhere .... and help them pack the van.

Left to their own devices they'll sit on their thumbs until the final day and then go "oh, me? oh ... really? how's that work then? eh?"

Well yeah exactly, they should know by now, and no changes are going to happen until April, so how long do they need? In theory the landlord could kick them out at any time with 2 months notice so I don't see what excuse they could have...

Generali

Really2 wrote: »

Do you work for me Gen

Not directly but I probably work for your pension fund!

MissMoneypenny

I read that the £400pw (for 4 beds and over) LHA cap, was going to mainly affect claiments in London, Cambridge and Bristol.

chucky

michaels wrote: »

The cynic in me would suggest that some of George's mates who are pocketing 2k per week in housing benefit on their BTLs in Kensington and Chelsea have objected to the loss in income threatened...

in London there are only 5,000 people receiving over £400 a week that will be affected by the HB cuts.

i can't see it making a huge dent in the London property market.
it's a city that has 10-12 million people...

puddy

but IDS says there are plans coming soon (to a cinema near you) to ensure that work always pays more than benefits

how is he going to ensure this? is he going to put up the minimum wage that most employers moan about increasing? or is he just going to continue to subsidise employers by ensuring that there are benefits available to those on low employed incomes?

how will he ensure that work always pays for young single people with no children when they are not entitled to tax credits on a low income because they dont have children?

MissMoneypenny

chucky wrote: »

in London there are only 5,000 people receiving over £400 a week that will be affected by the HB cuts.

i can't see it making a huge dent in the London property market.
it's a city that has 10-12 million people...

It's not just the LHA caps that will affect the market; LHA rates are going to drop from the 50th percentile they are paid at now, down to the 30th percentile.

Housing benefit/LHA, is the 3rd most expensive welfare payment and this government say they are committed to reducing the housing bill.

I wonder how long it will be be before they reduce the Support for Mortgage Interest back down to a maximum of £100,000?

vaporate

Told you so.

Gorgeous_George

LHA should reduce with time.

Six months of paying £400 per week is enough. Then it should fall to £300 pw for six months Then £200 until further notice.

My 4 bedroom BTL is just over £100 pw. Move the unemployed to cheaper areas.

GG

neverdespairgirl

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

I read that the £400pw (for 4 beds and over) LHA cap, was going to mainly affect claiments in London, Cambridge and Bristol.

It certainly would in my neck of the woods - I think the £400 a week is for a house, less for a flat? Something like that.

Cheapest 4 bed places here appear to be £500 a week, but dig deeper and they are actually 3 beds plus living room "that can be used as a 4th bedroom". Cheapest with actually 4 beds is £565 a week.

Cheapest house with 4 beds or more is £925 a week.

The current LHA rates for WC1 are:

1 bed: £350
2 bed: £495
3 bed: £743
4 bed: £1k
5 bed+: £2k