Legal News

Online publisher 24Dash.com reports that the 18 affordable homes in the Scale Hall area will add to the number of homes available for those who have had to downsize as a result of a cut in their housing benefit.

The Bedroom Tax applies to most social housing tenants with a spare bedroom who are in receipt of housing benefit.

Under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, housing benefit claimants face a 14% reduction in housing benefit for one extra bedroom and a 25% reduction for two or more extra bedrooms. The changes in housing benefit came into effect in April 2013, with the result that some claimants were forced to move to a smaller property.

However, because one-bedroom and two-bedroom council properties have largely been sold off to the private sector, in many areas there is now a shortage of small, affordable homes for social housing tenants to move to.

The under-occupancy penalty to housing benefit claimants has provoked a backlash – but a challenge by a group of social housing tenants with disabilities resulted in a High Court judgment that the welfare changes were not unlawful.

The Guinness Partnership is working in collaboration with the developer Melrose Construction to provide six two-bed houses and 12 one-bed flats, arranged as semi-detached pairs.

The £1.3 million development will be built according to Secure by Design principles, focusing on safety and security. The new-build affordable housing will also have additional insulation above current EU requirements to help cut down on energy consumption for heating.

The homes are designed to be flexible by Harrison Pitt Architects – and architect Richard Parker said:
“Recent changes in government housing policy are fuelling a demand for homes with fewer bedrooms – but it’s important for housing design to remain flexible and adaptable to meet future needs.

“The energy-efficient homes in this development will help address these local housing needs.

“The one-bedroom flats feature a design which means they can easily be converted back to three-bedroom houses if needed.”
The director of investment and regeneration at Guinness, Allan Ramsay, added:

“We’re really pleased to be able to commit additional funding in Lancaster, where we know there will be a strong demand for these new homes from local people.

“We’re also grateful to the city council for supporting our bid to the Homes and Communities Agency, who are contributing around £270,000 towards the scheme costs to make the rents genuinely affordable.”

The developers hope the new affordable homes will be ready by January 2015.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise social housing tenants and rental tenants on a wide range of housing matters, including:

• Disrepair of rental property
• Housing benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlord & Tenant disputes
• Local Authority housing
• Noisy neighbours and antisocial behaviour
• Unlawful eviction.

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on housing matters and housing law, contact Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.