Housing Solicitors

New government figures show that the government’s welfare cuts have resulted in a sharp increase in the amount local councils are spending on temporary accommodation for homeless families.

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that between 2010-2011 and 2013-2014, Westminster Council – which is a Tory stronghold – doubled its expenditure on accommodation for homeless families. The number of homeless families rose by 500 to 2,366 and the cost of housing them in temporary accommodation such as bed and breakfast guest houses almost doubled to £40.25 million.

Government figures show that in London, a total of 44,370 families are homeless – an increase of 6,500 since 2010.

The government’s Welfare Reform Act introduced changes to Housing Benefit in 2013, with weekly benefits capped to a total of £500 per household for all benefits.

Some families have been priced out of their homes as a result – larger families were found to be claiming up to £800 a week in some cases, meaning their benefit was reduced by £300 per week.

The same welfare changes introduced the Bedroom Tax, under which social housing tenants with a spare bedroom face a cut in their weekly housing benefit. Housing benefit previously paid directly to landlords – usually the local council or housing association – by the government was paid to the tenant, giving tenants responsibility for paying their own rent. It is thought as a result of the changes, some tenants have fallen into rent arrears.

London has also seen a sharp rise in its population, with more refugee families need housing arriving in the capital. However, some waged families are thought to be struggling with rising prices and stagnant wages, with more waged households using food banks than ever before.

The welfare changes have also affected disabled tenants – in the case of the Bedroom Tax, disabled social housing tenants lost a case at the High Court in London earlier this year, when they challenged the lawfulness of the Bedroom Tax on the grounds that disabled tenants require a spare bedroom for carers to stay with them overnight and also to store specialist equipment they need to use from time to time.

The High Court ruled, however, that the government’s changes to welfare benefits were lawful.

Social housing tenants affected by welfare changes have had to downsize to smaller properties wherever possible – but some tenants have lost their homes.

Local councils are spending up to £500 per night to accommodate homeless families in the capital – and Freedom of Information data shows that Lambeth in south London paid out nearly £8m to house 355 homeless families in 2012-2013.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors are a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors and can advise social housing tenants on matters such as access to housing and Local Authority housing.

Duncan Lewis can also advise social housing tenants and rental tenants on:

• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlord & Tenant disputes
• Nuisance neighbours
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law and social housing or rental tenancies, contact Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.