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Effects of the benefit changes on West London households. November 2010 Elizabeth Alexander West London Overcrowding Coordinator. 2011and 2012. Predominantly LHA changes less money to pay the rent with
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Effects of the benefit changes on West London households November 2010 Elizabeth Alexander West London Overcrowding Coordinator
2011and 2012 • Predominantly LHA changes • less money to pay the rent with • average market rents currently exceed the LHA caps in 3 of the 7 Broad Market Rental Areas in West London focussed around inner London • Bottom 30% of properties are accessible • Options for households • Move home to a new rented property • Top up the rent somehow • Change the household • Numbers in West London • 51,200 claimants renting privately in West London in total in 2009
April 2011 • Uprating of non-dependent deductions to all housing benefit recipients • previously between £7.40 - £47.75 / week • uprated to range between £10.06 - £64.94 /week • 16% of total households claiming benefit • Options for households • Top up the rent somehow • Change the household • Numbers in West London • estimated14,450 households across social renters • estimated 8,192 households privately renting
April 2013 • Housing Benefit payment to reflect the property size required • Currently HB paid according to the property occupied • 1 bed over requirement: average £13.67/week • 2 beds over requirement: average £25.82/week • Options for households • Top up the rent somehow • Change the household • Transfer • Numbers in West London • Estimate based on a share of London total • 11,160
2013 continued • 10% reduction in housing benefit for claimants in receipt of JSA for more than 12 months • Social renters: £6-£14 /week • Private renters: £8-£40 /week • Options for households • Top up the rent somehow • Change the household • Number of households • 36% of social tenants are unemployed or econimcally inactive • ? of private renters
From April 2013 • £500/week cap to benefit received • Greater effect on private renters than social • Will effect large families in social rented • Universal Credit • Simplify means tested benefits • Reduced benefit fraud and error • Social tenure reform • Rent levels • Flexible tenancies?