Housing Solicitors

New research commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Wheatley Housing Group has found that changes to welfare benefits such as housing benefit has led to more tenants in social housing requiring help – and even emotional support – from frontline housing staff.

The research found that housing staff may in turn require more support to cope with distressed tenants in social housing, who may be struggling to afford bills and rent.

Researchers say that some tenants who are “near suicidal” may turn to their housing officer for support.

The Frontline Futures study found that social housing tenants who responded to a questionnaire said that they would like to see more of their housing officers to discuss issues.

The study was conducted by De Montfort University’s Centre for Comparative Housing Research led by Dr Jo Richardson and involved £1,054 tenants and social housing officers, who responded to an online questionnaire.

The study found that the role of housing officers is adapting to the changing needs of social tenants and becoming increasingly diverse.

Frontline housing officers may have to undertake management roles as well as dealing with issues such as rents, repairs, tenant involvement, support, neighbourhoods and governance.

The CIH’s director of membership and education, Judith Waugh said:

“This research shows that frontline housing professionals are providing hugely valuable services – and also demonstrates the pressure they are under from welfare reform and the housing crisis.”

The impact of welfare reforms have affected social housing tenants with spare bedrooms especially, as a result of the government’s “bedroom tax” – under which any social housing tenant in receipt of housing benefit who has a spare bedroom faces a cut in their housing benefit.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also set a £500 weekly cap on all benefits – with the result that some families have been forced to move from their homes because of high rents.

Disabled housing benefit claimants recently lost an appeal at the High Court over the bedroom tax – they claimed that it breached their human rights. The Court of Appeal ruled, however, that the government changes to welfare benefits are legal.

However, some disabled tenants may require a spare room to enable family and carers to stay overnight – and some elderly social housing tenants in receipt of housing benefit may also require a spare bedroom for family and friends to stay in.

Under-occupancy has also caused some social house tenants to downsize – leaving a glut of three-bedroom Local Authority flats in some areas, as council tenants can no longer afford to rent them.

Local Authorities have also sold off to private tenants many one- and two-bedroom properties, leaving a shortage of small council properties for social housing tenants to downsize to.

The desperation felt by some tenants is now being dealt with by housing officers, the Frontline Futures study found. Lead author Dr Jo Richardson said:

“Housing professionals are often the one constant in some tenants’ lives. Where other public services respond in a crisis, housing is already there – and can observe and act quickly when intervention is needed.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of housing solicitors and can advise social housing tenants on issues such as housing benefit, disrepair, unlawful eviction and Landlord and Tenant disputes.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading provider of Legal Aid services.

For expert help with housing law and Local Authority housing issues, contact Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.