News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members other artilces from the December 2000 / January 2001 issue RPI news archive

Call for crisis talks on benefit delays - December 2000 / January 2001

The RLA has welcomed a joint call by Shelter, the National Housing Federation, the Local Government Association and the Chartered Institute of Housing for crisis talks to alleviate 'the growing housing benefit crisis'.

Concerned at 'steadily worsening' arrears caused by slow processing of claims, the four called for 'a radical overhaul of the way the DSS manages changes to the scheme and a review of the inadequate funding of local authorities' administration costs'.

And they expressed 'disappointment' at lack of action by the Government on proposals made by the Social Security Select Committee aimed at reducing delay within the system. One of the main reforms needed was a change to the housing benefit rules, said the four bodies.

Three said that although implementation of reform would be at the taxpayers' expense, the financial impact would be relatively modest. The fourth, CIH, said there need be no cost passed on at all.

Latest statistics revealed the actual cost of housing benefit is less than estimated ­ a point repeatedly made by RLA research. Originally the 1999-2000 cost was expected to be in the region of £2.8bn but actual costs turned out to be only £1.7bn. It is likely the 2000-2001 spend will be £1.1bn down on original projections, said CIH.

'This gives the Government scope for radical improvements to simplify the housing benefit administration and remove work disincentives without creating large numbers of losses', said CIH policy officer Sam Lister.
 

other artilces from the December 2000 / January 2001 issue

• Increasing costs
• Call for crisis talks on benefit delays
• Compensation not small beer
• Action taken on allocation and Ads
• CIEH campaigns for HMO licensing move
• Landlord sent for sentencing
• In brief
• Stamp duty waiver
• Repairs countdown