Changes to housing benefit now mean that single ppl up to the age of 35 are only entitled to shared house rate (used to be under 25's). This means my cousin who is 27 and lives in a 1 bed flat (£400pm) has now had his HB cut from £320pm to £200 a month. Basically they have made it near impossible for single people to live on their own until they are 35. Loads of ppl are going to end up having to move.

I know the obvious answer is these ppl should work, but even on min wage single ppl usually need a top up with rent, and anyone can be made redundant. Imagine being 33 living in a 1 bed flat for last 8 years, lose your job due to recession and being forced to share with 2-3 strangers. Id hate to have to share with strangers at that age! It will prob affect young men the most as they dont have dependant children.

This is gona have a huge affect on familys too. All the single ppl are being forced out of 1 bed propertys (familys aint gona be able to live there), so then the single ppl move into 2-3 bed propertys together... meaning there are less 2/3 bed houses available for familys to rent and loads of 1 bed houses lying empty. Private landlords could prob put their rents up due to increased competition for houses.

Sorry its a bit of a boring post but just dont think it makes any sense in helping with the housing crisis. Am a bit peeved for my cousin that he going to have to move from his home, basically because of his age!

Single people with no children??

Where have you read about that Snoops?

My cousin got a letter about it today, changes come into affect from Dec. My mum had also saw a thing on moneysaving expert were ppl were complaining about it but didnt click that it would apply in NI too and affect my cousin.

And yup I mean ppl with no children. I'l have a google and see if I can find anything official about it. Mum was saying they sneaked it in with out much debate as its came as a shock to so many ppl.

Btw my cousin did work when he took out lease on his house, actually wonder how many ppl are stuck in contracts with landlords and have had their rent cut.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/sar1.pdf

Even better...

*removed, wrong link!*

D'oh wrong MSE link

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3619969&highlight=housing+benefit+shared

Yeh I was thinking that - surely people will have no choice but to stay if they are in contract, but how will they pay the rent? I suppose the landlord would have to decide if it was worth letting them go early or them defaulting on the rent!


I can see that something needs to be done, cos the amount of money spent on housing single people in their own property is ludicrous - but I would hate to be put in that situation!

Like you say though the housing is going to be pete tong cos there will be so many more 1 bedroom flats available - but only available to be rented by working people - BUT people working tend to go for something like 2 bedroom anyway as 1 bed is always tiny so you'd not really pick it unless you had no choice

Apparently this was made public knowledge in April 2011 along with other HB changes that were due to come into affect so ppl have had 9mths warning - dont think they publicised it much!

It is ludicrous the amount it costs to house single people, but then its more ludicrous the amount it costs to house big famillies. I dont blame single ppl for feeling shit upon eg - have 3 kids and get CB, TC & your own house. Dont have kids and you can share with mary the melter and bob the balloon. Again its men it affects the most. Also why 35? What is so special about being 35 that you suddenly are deemed suitable to live alone?

This link lists other changes incase anyone missed any that may affect them next year

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/housing-benefit

Not being personal to lou if she reading this, but it makes more of a mockery if she really is entitled to 3 bed rate when only has 1 child... and a single person has to share. I agree something needs to be done, but not really sure what!

This is ridiculous! I think they should actually put people who get working tax credit into social housing, and make the people who just claim income support/ jsa etc into private rented. I absolutely hate the uncertainty of privtely renting, and I don't see why people who do nothing for their money should get a guaraneed house, where as people who work have to pay ludicrous rent for an uncertain roof over there heads. I also think that when your kids move out you should be moved to a smaller council house. Apparently, in my area they pay you £1000 for every room you give up, so effectively, if your a single woman with a 3 bed council house, and move to a bed, you get £2000!!!

The council don't always want to move you though. My nan still lives in the house she had her kids in which is a 3 bed (although tiny 3rd bedroom - don't know how she managed with 4 kids). She offered to move a couple of years ago (she was bringing up her brother's son before that after he died) and the council still haven't offered her an alternative. Its ridiculous because there must be people who need the space whereas she's just storing stuff for us and other people in her spare bedrooms

I know it appears wrong jess...but what you've suggested totally undermines the point of social housing - I get what you mean but that solution aint gunna work cos a huge amount of private landlords refuse to take anyone who doesn't work

What they ought to do is sort the problem with social housing v private and thats the cost - I really do think rent should be capped based on the value of the house somehow (like council tax is calculated maybe, I dunno...)
That would also save on HB thats paid out because I am pretty sure Dan pays £360 for a 3 bedroom council house ... if I wasn't working Id get hmmm about £400 a month HB ... but round here I'd hardly get a 2 bedroom for that..so if 3 beds were capped at £360 the council would save £40 a month per single claimant ...a big saving in the grand scheme.
Yeh landlords wouldn't make so much, but at the end of the day they've been making more than they should because of the 'fake' value of housing

Yeah to be honest I just want the private renting situation, to be A) cheaper, and b) more in favour of the tennant. I also don't really understand why private landlords think that just because you get housing benefit your unworthy of their house. My landlord touch wood seems really nice, but a lot aren't. my rent is £650 a month, which is bloody cheap round here for a 3 bed house, I don't need a 3 bed house, but because the rent is cheaper than a 2 bed house I have to stay, the council guaranteed the deposit for me as Andy needed his back. If I have to move out, I'll be screwed!!!

Well I do see the point with why they rather not - some benefit bums aren't good tenants, they dont earn their money, they dont pay for what they have - therefore they don't respect it.

The bungalow we were in previously had a family in that were benefits bums, apparently had no intention of ever finding work - and the state they left the house in was disgusting - it cost the landlords LOADS of money to put the damage and neglect right

I'm not saying its the case of everyone on HB (that would be silly) but some people who don't want to work do not take care of the property they live in, and in general the chances of having a good tenant are increased when the people work.

Again, Your right i suppose, I wish they would consider everybody individually though, like if an estate agent advert said no DSS, If I rang up and explained that yes, I do get housing benefit, but I also do work, and I have a referance from my previous landlord and the council if they'd like it, that I would be considered, rather than just a No.

I agree!

Its daft cos you might only get £4 a week HB .. dunno I think Id be tempted not to declare it

They want to do all kinds of checks on your employment though, and like When Andy went into his new place, he had to get his employer to declare how much he earnt!!!

You'd have to go direct then, not through an agency!

Thats what this one is, There are 2 private lets going in braintree at this moment in time haha! thats why I'd be screwed, but hey ho, It'l work out somehow if Ever the time comes that I need it too i suppose

It does seen unfair. I can see why theyre doing it as I suppose it's a way of saving money BUT private rental is bloody expensive that most people can't afford to pay it without housing benefit!

I wish there was a way keeping rent down to an affordable amount as I don't know how people can afford these silly amounts.

Hmmm I dont know anything about HB but if I went into the rental property market (we have considered it before) I think I would be pretty peeved if rental prices were capped. At the end of the day a house is a massive investment for anyone and they do cost alot to maintain, for example, our boiler has just been pretty much condemned, we're getting a quote on Monday for a whole new system but it's looking like its going to cost at least £3,000. Theres also mortgages, they cost more if its for a rental property, insurances cost more, if using agents theres their fees too to consider.

Most landlords go into it to make a profit, its a business after all.

Sorry if I pee people off saying this

Quote :

Imagine being 33 living in a 1 bed flat for last 8 years, lose your job
due to recession and being forced to share with 2-3 strangers.

my brother is about to be in that position - he does work but can only get part time hours atm so hes a bit stressed about losing his flat

all i want is to be able to afford somewhere to live, private, agency, mortgage....anything would do

Susan,Libby&Dexter wrote:

Hmmm I dont know anything about HB but if I went into the rental property market (we have considered it before) I think I would be pretty peeved if rental prices were capped. At the end of the day a house is a massive investment for anyone and they do cost alot to maintain, for example, our boiler has just been pretty much condemned, we're getting a quote on Monday for a whole new system but it's looking like its going to cost at least £3,000. Theres also mortgages, they cost more if its for a rental property, insurances cost more, if using agents theres their fees too to consider.

Most landlords go into it to make a profit, its a business after all.

Sorry if I pee people off saying this

You've missed my point though - lots of rental properties are over priced in the first place, years of HB with landlords taking advantage - the landlords are the ones who have pushed rental prices up by being greedy, higher rental priced mean higher HB rates = the situation we are in now here the country can't afford to pay to house people.

I also said that the cap would be based on the value of a house like council tax is , for example my house is an expensive band cos its detached, large outside space etc - therefore compared to a 3 bedroom terraced council house it would have a higher cap - I'm not for one minute suggesting all 3 bedrooms houses have the same rate - just that rates are fairer

At the moment private landlords do get away with charging ridiculous rent, there is no getting way from that fact, and it happens cos they know they can get away with it because people need places to live - another thing to help the issue would be to increase the amount of available housing, but again that costs money that the country doesn't have

Mari I really feel for your brother.

Another point is that if you are an ex offender being housed you are entitled to one bed rate as sharing with others is deemed a risk to them. So basically if you've commited a violent crime, raped someone etc you are rewarded by your own flat. Live a normal life and keep yourself to yourself, and you're forced to leave your home/share.

Also what about people with mental health probs? Im sure there are some ppl who would really struggle in shared accommodation. They are ticking along nicely in their 1 bed place and then sharing could cause their anxiety levels to soar. Taking it to extremes ppl may end up commiting suicide due to losing homes/becoming more depressed....

I really think this whole thing is so unfair and ill thought out.

Also I see Lisa's point about some areas/landlords.

Literally rich landlords can buy a house and pay £400 a month in mortgage... but charge £800 rent. And if enough landlords in the area charge that amount (usually rent increases in places with few 2/3 bed houses available - which is gona become more of a prob now!) then LHA goes up accordingly costing the govt/tax payers more money.... meaning there is less in the pot to build social housing.

Maybe the capping will make some big landlords consider selling a few propertys, freeing them up in property market, then maybe costs of buying will reduce and less people will need private rental so rents will decrease accordingly. (Just read that back & know what I mean but not sure if it makes sense lol)

I wonder what would happen if you were a single man who was split up with his g/f and they had a child together and the dad had the child every other weekend. I know if that wa Andys situation, I wouldn't be comfortable sending Sophie to stay at her dads, knowing that his place was shared with a bunch of strangers!

Id thought of that too Jessica. As far as I know he would have to be in a shared house. Think my mum read somewhere else about parents complaining it would affect children & contact arrangements.

I dunno why this has got up my nose so much. I feel like lobbying my MP