Publication - Member Reports

This briefing, which includes details of housebuilding schemes elsewhere in the UK, looks at the picture in early 2017 and considers whether the government is on target to build one million new homes by the end of the decade.

Cheapest And Most Expensive Places To Rent A Room Revealed

Hundreds of thousands of disabled people are feeling hopeless and isolated, trapped in unsuitable housing according to report

More than one in three families in the UK now have incomes below the Minimum Income Standard (MIS), a benchmark based on what the public agrees a household needs as a minimum to live on

This report reveals that Londoners living in social housing contributed at least £15bn to the capitals economy in 2015 alone

The Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 was enacted in response to increased numbers of people currently accessing the rented market in Wales and in an effort 'to make it simpler and easier to rent a home, replacing various complex pieces of legislation with one clear legal framework'

What went wrong with home ownership in Britain, and how to start putting it right

This report defines destitution in the UK, looking at how many people are affected, who they are, and the main pathways in and out of destitution. It looks at the impact and experience of those people directly affected

This report will ensure you discover everything you need to know about this important piece of legislation

Burglary is likely to be more common in areas with higher levels of private rented housing than in social housing neighbourhoods, according to a report by independent think tank

This note provides information on the 'pay to stay' scheme in England under which social landlords can charge tenants with an income of over £60,000 market or near market rents. The Government intends to make higher rents compulsory in due course for social tenants earning over £40,000 in London and £30,000 elsewhere

research to: Develop a robust understanding of the administration and impact of benefit sanctions in relation to vulnerable people in the North East, and develop an alternative vision for the benefits system which both supports people into work and prevents homelessness

This report draws on the learning from a series of regional events organised by the NHF and Sitra in February and March 2015. The principal aim of the events was to raise awareness of the complex issues surrounding hoarding disorder, to share learning and highlight innovative practice, and to identify future housing workforce training and development needs

The key areas of interest are the homelessness consequences of the post-2007 economic recession, and the subsequent recovery, as well as welfare reform and cuts

The rogue landlord database lists every prosecution under the Housing Act 2004 between 2006 and 2014

This report estimates the economic impact of the housing, retail, financial inclusion and employment programmes operated by Weaver Vale Housing Trust in 2014/15

Briefing on Benefit Cap modelling which indicates the difference between housing credit and average rent for families with two and three children

The Conservative Party manifesto confirmed a long-discussed commitment to find a further £12bn of cuts to the annual social security budget, and to do this by 201718. Thats £11.8bn cut in todays prices (as all subsequent figures in this observation will be). This observation, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, briefly summarises previous IFS analysis of the context for these choices and the kinds of options that are on the table.

On the welfare front, the government confirmed that migrants from the European Economic Area will not be able to claim universal credit from July. There will be also be more co-ordinated efforts to tackle benefit fraud. As ever, housing providers are calling for more direct government investment and, for a change, there is the prospect of that actually happening. But there is a general election looming first, an event that could potentially overshadow everything that was announced by the Chancellor last week.

It has been one of the hottest topics of the past 12 months and is likely to remain so - both up to the general election and beyond. Should people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who fail to attend job interviews or demonstrate they are actively seeking work have their benefit stopped? And for how long? This LIN member report looks at the rules as they stand, the impact they are having, and where people who are affected can go for advice.

This report explores the gains to government and to local economies of reducing worklessness and low pay, in terms of a reduced social security bill, increased economic activity and overall benefits to society.

This LIN member report looks at what is likely to happen to the bedroom tax, universal credit and the benefit cap under different political leadership.

This LIN member report looks at what has happened in the 18 months since the abolition of CTB and ahead to what could happen next year as local authorities keep their council tax support schemes under review

This LIN member report gives members more detail on how offering early support to prospective tenants reduces tenant turnover and therefore voids. The report also shows how tenants who attend a workshop or training session will be far less likely to run into financial and other problems and so remain in their home longer.

This report recommends a new system that will simultaneously bring the social security system back to its founding roots and ensure it is fit for the 21st Century

This report briefs LIN members on Ashton Pioneer Homes' experience of supporting tenants claiming Universal Credit; and how they are using the lessons they are learning in order to prepare for full implementation of Universal Credit. The report aims to update landlords on ways in which they can best mitigate the risk of soaring rent arrears.

Conditional welfare arrangements require people to behave in a certain way to access cash benefits, housing or support services. These conditions tend to be enforced through penalties or 'sanctions' that reduce, suspend or end access to these goods. This Round-up considers how effective welfare conditionality is, what the impacts are, how different groups fare, and to what extent it can be morally justified

This LIN member report looks at how housing staff who have more personal contact with tenants are suffering from increased levels of stress and absenteeism and looks at ways to minimise this negative impact on staffing levels

The experiences of housing associations in pathfinder areas

The experiences of housing associations in pathfinder areas

How can volunteers and voluntary organisations provide much needed engagement with local people? This report aims to tackle these questions and provides real examples of how services can be commissioned in a way that truly enables community-led delivery

This LIN member report highlights that many Local Authorities have, again, not spent the full amount of their DHP budget, in fact the latest figures show that more than £20m that local authorities were allocated to spend on DHP payments in 2013/14 remained unspent. This money has now been lost as local authorities cannot carry over any underspend from 2013/14 to 2014/15. A record £165m is available for councils to allocate in DHPs in 2014/15.

This report summarises the main findings from a series of technical research papers that form the final outputs from the independent evaluation of the recent changes to HB claims assessed under the LHA rules in the PRS

London's poorest families are struggling to afford to live in the face of a "new poll tax", according to this report

This report summarises the main findings from a series of technical research papers that form the final outputs from the independent evaluation of the recent changes to Housing Benefit claims assessed under the Local Housing Allowance rules in the private rented sector in Great Britain, which were rolled out to claimants between April 2011 and December 2012

This report finds that the UK government is in breach of its legal obligations to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of disabled people

This report aims to understand views from local government on the changing role of the PRS in local housing markets

Thousands of low-income tenants have been plunged into "heat or eat" hardship as a result of the bedroom tax, according to this analysis of the policy's impact

Many young people leaving the care system are struggling to find housing or are living in unsuitable, unsafe or insecure accommodation, new research has revealed

This report is an updated analysis of the personal tax and benefit reforms implemented, or due to be implemented, by the UK's coalition government from when it was elected in May 2010 up to and including April 2015. This includes those measures that had been pre-announced by the previous Labour government which the new government chose to implement. Attention is restricted to personal tax and benefit reforms alone: it does not examine the impact of reforms to corporation tax and other taxes formally paid by businesses, nor the impact of changes to spending on public services

The key findings of the report are that Universal Credit will have a net positive impact on poverty through both 'pockets' and 'prospects'. However we find that the impact varies by both household type and income level

Within one year of the end of office, the coalition government's plans for housing, welfare benefits and the economy are now showing their effects. Economic recovery has begun, but so far while house prices and transactions have moved upwards new housing output remains depressingly low compared with growing needs. Drawing on the latest statistics, the Briefing assesses the implications of policy and market changes in twelve key topic areas, together with dedicated pages on Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions

Reductions in levels of Housing Benefit for social sector tenants based on occupancy levels were introduced in April 2013. It is often referred to as the 'spare room subsidy', 'under-occupancy charge' and 'bedroom tax' but this study uses the more neutral term of the 'Housing Benefit size criteria'. It sets out a range of reform options that would reduce adverse impacts of the policy

Welfare reform was one of the early targets of drastic public spending cuts. This research examines the impact on two of the groups most directly affected: social landlords and their tenants

This LIN member report reviews the various ways that Housing Associations work with tenants to improve their employment prospects and the various approaches that have been taken

This briefing will explore how housing providers across England have approached the fraudulent use of social housing, including preventing and detecting a range of fraudulent activities. It will highlight emerging issues and risks in tackling tenancy fraud and establish good practice from providers in how to meet these new challenges

For Housing staff, a correlation between violence towards Housing staff and the current Welfare Reform programme has been suggested with many Housing Officers putting the increase in violence and aggression down to housing reforms such as the 'bedroom tax', abolition of council tax benefits and the introduction of the benefits cap. As the government' s welfare reforms continue with the roll-out of Universal Credit, housing professionals are reporting that their relationships with some tenants are growing increasingly hostile. Landlords are reacting to recent events by tightening up their policies and procedures to safeguard staff, is this on your agenda? Read our latest report to find out how you can support your staff to be more resilient.

The UK government has introduced a number of changes to the benefit system in recent years and 1.75 million of the poorest families have seen their benefits cut to date due to welfare reform. For each individual change, the government publishes an impact assessment, but it has not assessed how they overlap. This report identifies how many of the poorest families have seen their benefits cut by at least one of these changes, and how much worse off they are.

This report suggests that a one-off £450 million levy on the payday loan industry would be enough to create a sector of not-for-profit lenders to rival firms like Wonga, Quick Quid and Payday Express lenders to take on what it calls 'Britain's legal loan sharks'.

In our first report briefing members on the so-called 'bedroom tax', we urged members to be alert to ongoing developments as this particularly controversial element of welfare reform continued to impact on tenants and landlords. In the six month since that report was published much has occurred, and here we update members on matters of particular interest.

The registered social landlords (RSLs) and councils involved in the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects have learned a lot about their tenants, staff, culture, systems and practices during the last 18 months. This publication pulls together the key issues and learning that they collectively agree on and provides examples.

This guidance covers the experiences and learning of the 12 local authority led pilots that looked at preparing claimants for Universal Credit and ran between September 2012 and December 2013.

In line with recent trends, many announcements were made in the days before George Osborne addressed the House of Commons. This included news about garden cities and the extension of the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. But there was still enough left over to make the Budget speech interesting, if not exactly ground breaking.

In February 2014 CIH Scotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Housing Best Value Network (SHBVN) carried out a sample survey of social landlords to assess whether the bedroom tax had had any significant impact on landlords' ability to manage their stock effectively. The survey used relet time data provided by its members to SHBVN to provide a statistical context, then supplemented this with a small number of questions on general trends identified by landlords.

This report is based on primary research with landlords, claimants and housing advisers undertaken in three local housing markets in the province - Armagh, Greater Shankill and West Belfast

This report estimates that nearly 5,600 claimants per month receive a first 'lower tier' sanction violation which is later overturned. Whilst they eventually receive the full sum in payment, the delay while appeals and requests for reconsideration take place can be problematic for a family or individual's cash flow.

This bedroom tax appeal pack contains simple template letters for different appeal grounds such as room size, usage, need for extra bedrooms for disability purposes etc.

This report includes analysis that has been undertaken by the Welsh Government as part of Stage 3 of the programme of research to assess the impact of the UK Government's welfare reforms in Wales

This report, published on behalf of the Campaign for a Fair Society, summarises the impact of the UK Government's cuts programme. It demonstrates how the cuts target people in poverty and disabled people

The perception that the poor pay a higher cost for services and goods is not a new one. This idea has been recently given added focus with the ongoing reform of the welfare system. This report looks at examples of the various ways that this "poverty premium" can manifest itself and gives good examples of how housing providers are trying to support their tenants.

This report investigates the initial labour market experiences of two young people working in multinational, private sector companies, and the role of employers and support services

This report includes the findings of the second phase of the Scottish Housing Regulators research on the early impact of Welfare Reform on social landlords. The research covers the period to September 2013, six months into the removal of the Housing Benefit Spare Room Subsidy (commonly known as the 'bedroom tax')

This recent update of the Funding Extra Care Housing Technical Brief details the sources of capital and revenue funding driving new investment opportunities for developing new extra care housing and maintaining the viability of existing provision in England

Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, Raquel Rolnik

This report examines the private rented sector in detail, discussing the dynamics underpinning the recent growth in the sector and examining the policy moves to encourage more institutional investment. It includes our forecasts for the size of the rental sector and rental movements in the UK

Private renting is the fastest growing sector of housing. Low levels of housebuilding, diminishing stock, rising prices and a shift in state spending from building houses to subsidising rent, mean that the percentage of households renting their homes increased in all English regions in the decade to 2011

For the last two years Affinity Sutton have surveyed a cross section of residents nationwide to find out what they think about some of the really important issues affecting their lives - finance, energy use, internet use, employment and community

The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) shows how much households need for an acceptable standard of living according to members of the public. The latest household income data show trends in the numbers living below this threshold up to early 2012. This research reveals that the number of households living on incomes below the level needed to afford an adequate standard of living has increased by a fifth in just three years.

The replacement of the DWP walk-in offices by call centres during the 1990s started a shift towards accessing the associated services via phone. Given that most people did not have mobile phones at that time (especially those on lower incomes) access was based on BT land lines to the 0845 and 0800 numbers. At that time calls to these numbers were relatively cheap (or free) from a land line. With the changes to the benefits system in the UK since the 1990s and in particular with welfare reform, the need to access DWP services by phone has increased significantly. The introduction of the Universal credit system from October 2013 has seen the government also now promoting the use of IT to access the services that Benefits Claimants now require. This report looks at the: Impact of using mobile phones & The Results of promoting a culture of "Digital Inclusion".

More than two-thirds of local authorities and housing associations say delivering social value has led to better service delivery and community relations

A new series of policy discussions on the key issues facing housing over the next five years. Two years after the coalition government published its housing strategy Laying the Foundations, and 18 months ahead of the General Election, this report takes the opportunity to pause and consider developments since 2010.

A new series of policy discussions on the key issues facing housing over the next five years. Two years after the coalition government published its housing strategy Laying the Foundations, and 18 months ahead of the General Election, this report takes the opportunity to pause and consider developments since 2010: where we have ended up, what's worked, what hasn't, what we've learnt about the policy positions of the main parties and where things might be heading next.

Millions of UK households will face "perilous" levels of debt when interest rates begin to rise, according to a think tank focused on living standards

In January 2014, temporary restrictions on the working rights of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens in the UK will be lifted. This report outlines the potential impacts of new migration flows from eastern Europe and identifies the key lessons UK policymakers can take from the previous wave of new migration, in 2004.

Starting in 2013/14, LAs were requested to provide details to DWP of their use of DHP funds. This information is being collected twice yearly, in the middle of the financial year and at the end of the financial year. This statistical release presents a summary of the information in the first set of returns, which cover the period from April to September 2013

Starting in 2013 to 14, local authorities were requested to provide details to DWP of their use of Discretionary Housing Payment funds. This information is being collected twice yearly, in the middle of the financial year and at the end of the financial year. This statistical release presents a summary of the information in the first set of returns, which cover the period from April to September 2013.

This report shows England's distorted economic recovery is pushing an extra 310 working people a day on to housing benefit.

Across the UK approximately 8.8 million people are over-indebted. These are individuals who have been at least three months behind with their bills in the last six months or have said that they feel their debts are a heavy burden This Money Advice Service research analysed their characteristics and identifies smaller sub-groups that display similar situations, attitudes and motivations

The first stage of the research involved a telephone survey in August 2013 with a random sample of g15 tenants. There were 1,648 respondents. This initial report gives a brief overview of their financial situations at the time.

This member report looks at how the early roll-out of Universal Credit in the North West Pathfinder areas is currently testing elements of the system in order to inform full implementation across the UK. Ashton-Under-Lyne was the first job centre to accept UC claims in April 2013, and Ashton Pioneer Homes is one of the first social landlords to experience its impact.

This report builds on previous research, exploring how the financial and social landscape has changed following the financial crash and how personal debt has continued to grow. While not all debt is bad and while everyone across the income spectrum can struggle financially, the report focusses on 'problem debt' and the impact it can have on low-income and vulnerable people

This research reviews trends in employment among couple families with children and considers policies and the wider context in four areas likely to affect their employment rate: family leave, childcare, the labour market, and the tax and benefit system

This note provides information on under-occupation in the social rented sector, summarises evidence of the impact of Housing Benefit deductions and responses by landlords and tenants

This report lays bare the impact of austerity on services provided by the community and voluntary sector and on the workers for whom providing a service is not just a job, but part of a deep personal commitment to the people they support

Universal credit, which is being gradually introduced across the country from this October onwards, is rolling together six separate benefits into one payment. This is being done in order to simplify the system. The government has emphasised that this new welfare scheme is being designed to 'make work pay - at each and every hour',: encouraging people to move into work, or increase their working hours. This research suggests that for many single parents, work still won’t pay under universal credit.

This briefing looks at the potential opportunities and challenges involved in letting homes at a market rent. It looks at the options for both: Managing properties on behalf of existing private landlords establishing a portfolio of properties by purchasing and/or developing them for this purpose.

This research is part of JRF's focus on the links between poverty and ethnicity, and examines how social networks help or hinder people in moving out of poverty

This report highlights the legally-binding goal of ending child poverty by 2020 is likely to be missed by a considerable margin, and progress on social mobility may be undermined by the twin problems of high youth unemployment and falling living standards.

The Welsh Affairs Committee says that the Government should carefully monitor the impact of housing benefit changes.

This quantitative research looked at public attitudes to the Benefit Cap as well as some of the early pre-implementation effects on a specific group of claimants who had received additional Jobcentre Plus support prior to full implementation of the policy.

This research is part of JRF's focus on the links between poverty and ethnicity, and examines the role of workplace cultures in routes out of poverty for people of all ethnicities

Homeless Link's new report A High Cost to Pay, shows that those who are homeless are being disproportionately affected by benefit sanctions, particularly those who are disabled

Nearly two thirds of households in Real Life Reform's study on the impact of the government's welfare reforms have less than £10 per week to live on after rent and essentials, such as food and bills. The first report in the study examines the impact of welfare reforms on 74 households across the north of England and includes some hard hitting facts.

This report concludes that the DWP was overly ambitious in both the timetable and scope of the programme. The DWP took risks to try to meet the short timescale and used a new project management approach which it had never before used on a programme of this size and complexity. It was unable to explain how it originally decided on its ambitious plans or evaluated their feasibility. The National Audit Office has concluded that the DWP has not achieved value for money in its early implementation of Universal Credit.

Welfare reforms introduced by the UK Government through the Welfare Reform Act 2012 as well as through successive budgets, Autumn Statements and the Spending Review have resulted in significant changes to the benefits system. Many of these changes have a significant impact on women, largely due to women's caring responsibilities. This report explores the gender impact of Welfare Reform on women

The study, which is the first ever assessment of the cumulative impact of the Government's Welfare Reforms, compares the financial impact on benefit recipients in a given area with the local job opportunities and potential to move into cheaper accommodation. The report finds only one in eight households facing cuts will be able to find work

The framework sets out the principles for providing support for claimants with additional or complex needs to help them make and manage Universal Credit claims and prepare for work. The Framework sought comments on the proposed approach.This report summarises the responses received which have been categorised into a number of recurring themes.

Claimants will fall into one of four conditionality groups to reflect the degree of work-related commitment expected of them. The conditions will be introduced with Universal Credit, although the same sanctions will be trialled under Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) from 22 October 2012

This practice guidance, is aimed primarily at Scottish social landlords. It is relevant for staff across a range of job functions given the scale and range of changes under welfare reform. It looks at how it can be made easier for tenants to pay rent, and how landlords can adapt and improve rent collection arrangements

Th report reveals that money given to local authorities to replace the DWPs Social Fund has almost been halved, compared to equivalent spending since 2010. It also shows that almost two-thirds of local authorities are no longer providing interest-free emergency loans through their replacement schemes. We fear this could drive vulnerable families deeper into debt, as they are forced to turn to loan sharks and high cost money lenders.

This paper presents early findings (October 2012 to March 2013) from the LA Led UC Pilots analysis and is based on information prepared by each pilot authority. The research report sets out 'challenges' including limited access to internet amongst claimants and widespread problems with debt and rent arrears

This report highlights the huge shortage of suitable smaller homes for people to down-size into if they choose to move to save money. It also shows how some disabled tenants face having to move out of their adapted homes, at huge cost to either themselves or the tax payer.

Following the November 2012 guidance on the bedroom tax, this CIH Scotland guidance focuses on practical rent payment and collection issues for social landlords. It was produced with financial support from the Scottish Government.

This report explores what it is like to a be a social housing tenant in expensive areas of London and what the benefits of spending scarce resources on low-income families in these areas are.

This report looks at the impact Universal Credit (UC)will have on the disposable incomes of families with low or no earnings. It examines whether they have enough to reach a minimum acceptable standard of living, as measured by the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) for the United Kingdom

A research project which brings together case studies of social housing customers affected by these welfare reform changes. The research will track their journey over a period of time to really understand and capture the financial and human impact welfare reform changes may have.

This paper calls for the government to set a cap on the cost of credit and end self-regulation. It also calls for the introduction of a reasonable rollover limit, restrictions on the amount of times a person can take out loans in order to service the interest of existing or 'live' loans and an obligation on all lenders to put all credit transactions through a credit reference agency

A survey of how social landlords across Britain are preparing to meet the challenges posed by welfare reform in general and the under-occupation penalty (known as the bedroom tax) in particular.

In February 2013, House Exchange (part of Circle Housing) and the CIH came together to design and carry out a survey of how social landlords across Britain are preparing to meet the challenges posed by welfare reform in general and the under occupation penalty (or 'bedroom tax') in particular. This report summarises the survey's key findings

According to this report social landlords should help tenants save money by allowing them to overpay their rent and shifting the excess into a separate account

The last 15 years has seen a revolution in the private rented sector (PRS), with more people renting privately and an increase in the number of private landlords. However, the evidence base on PRS landlords has always been limited in scope and detail. This report fills that gap with robust evidence on PRS landlords and their tenants from a largescale nationally representative dataset: the Wealth and Assets Survey 2008-10.

The first five Proving Talent pilot partnerships that were developed entailed a substantial commitment of over £400,000 to 56 temporary jobs and two cohorts on self-employment awareness courses during 2012-13. This evaluation uses a mixture of methods to capture the success and outcomes of these pilots

Inclusion conducted 57 face-to-face depth interviews with tax credits customers who were identified as having recently undergone a High Risk Renewals (HRR) intervention

This report, based on research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is about how people on low incomes pay more for essential goods and services and what can be done about it.

The Communities and Local Government Select Committee has conducted an inquiry into the implementation of the welfare reforms by local authorities

A lack of attractive retirement housing and negative perceptions are preventing larger family homes being made available for younger buyers, a study has found

This note outlines issues about high cost credit lending and attempts to reform it. It looks at evidence from various academic research and other reports into the impact of the sector on individuals both here and abroad. It also looks at the opportunities for other lenders to enter the market and to offer more competition to the current market leaders

This report found:- Only 5.5% of shared properties in London are affordable to under 35s on benefits. Welfare reforms have added an additional 12,000 claimants competing for rooms in shared accommodation. Private Rent levels have increased by 37% in the last five years and are predicted to rise by a further 29% in the next five. Less than 1% of landlords state they are willing to accept tenants claiming benefits. This competition is likely to create more homelessness unless more affordable housing can be found

This report is one of a series of outputs from the independent evaluation of a programme of projects demonstrating the direct payment of Housing Benefit to social renting tenants across the UK. It highlights the key learning since the programme began early in 2012.

Largest ever study of payday loan customers in UK highlights reasons for the industry's growth and the lessons it must learn

This report contains findings from a mixture of quantitative and qualitative elements: interviews with landlords which were undertaken between November 2011 and January 2012; claimant interviews that were undertaken in early 2012; and interviews with front line housing and benefits advisors between May and June 2012.

The regulatory framework for smart meter rollout in Great Britain has been under development for a number of years. This report looks at the The Government's vision is for every home and small business in Great Britain to have smart electricity and gas meters by the end of 2019

The report, Will Universal Credit work?, says that although Universal Credit will improve some aspects of the benefits system, its ability to lift families out of poverty and remove barriers to working will be severely undermined by the government's wider tax credit and benefit changes - with nine in ten families gaining nothing overall from its introduction

This study investigates the geography of wage inequality and employment polarisation in British cities, their determinants and implications.

This SCVO Welfare Reform Mapping Report incorporates evidence from around 400 people across the third sector on how welfare changes are affecting their organisations

Shelter's new report has uncovered the damaging impact of a childhood spent in England's volatile private rental market.

Family Matters opens a window onto the lives of 11 families, providing a vivid illustration of the delicate balancing act necessary to sustain household budgets and keep family life on track in difficult times.

Social hearted, commercially minded examines the changing role of housing associations and challenges they face as they adjust to a future with little or no subsidies. Fifty leading players in the social sector were interviewed in late 2012 and early 2013. The report finds one of the big tests for housing associations is the penalty for under-occupation of social housing, or 'bedroom tax'.

This study is the first in an annual series of reports monitoring how many people live in households with not enough income to afford a 'minimum acceptable standard of living'. This research looks at changes in the adequacy of household incomes in the early part of the recession, as measured by households' ability to reach the Minimum Income Standard

Almost everyone experiencing homelessness in England will be affected by the current raft of changes to the welfare system - but are local authorities prepared to support them through it? 42 local authorities were interviewed for this report to try to understand their priorities, particularly around single homeless people.

This report contains the findings of research commissioned by the Committee into the impact of welfare reform on Scotland

Welfare cuts will take more than £1.6bn a year out of the Scottish economy and hit the poorest parts hardest, according to this independent research

The replacement of Council Tax Benefit with Council Tax Support marks a historic move from a nationally devised system to one of 326 different local schemes in England. This restructuring, along with a 10 per cent cut in funding, will create considerable challenges for local authorities, advice services and benefit recipients alike

This briefing outlines the implications of welfare reform for sheltered housing tenants including the transfer of housing benefit to Pension Credit Plus

This month (April 2013) three absolute benefit cuts come into effect in the UK: Replacement of council tax benefit by council tax support, estimated to cost 2.4 million families in England an average of £2.60 per week; The under-occupation penalty (commonly known as the bedroom tax) expected to cost 660,000 families an average of £14 per week; The household benefit cap expected to affect 56,000 families with an average cut of £93 per week. Alongside this, the value of the income-based benefits income support, jobseeker's allowance, and employment support allowance have been up-rated by only 1%. This is less than the rate of inflation in the previous September (2.2%) which until now was how up-rating has been calculated. The estimated impacts that have been published so far deal with the scope and depth of each cut on its own. What have not been published are estimates of the extent to which families are affected by more than one such cut. This paper reports NPI's own estimates of the extent of these overlaps, based on official data and building on previous single estimates.

This report focuses on implementation and the part that local authorities are playing. It identifies four key areas that will be crucial to the successful implementation of the changes. According to the report none merit a red card but idetifies that the Government will need to act swiftly to address a number of concerns.

This How to.... guide sets out the requirements for an effective income management strategy, making it simple for tenants to pay their rent, tackling rent arrears, approaches to eviction and preparation for welfare reform

This research explores the impact at neighbourhood level of the Government's proposal to restrict housing benefit for working age households under-occupying social housing

New report from left-wing think tank the Centre for Labour and Social Studies has outlined a radical 11-point plan to address what it perceived as the failure of the UK's housing market. This includes the 'residualisation' of social housing

The research project - Challenging Times, Changing Lives - is following 20 families, single people and couples over the next three years to assess financial and economic changes

This stage was undertaken via a combination of internal and external work. The internal work has estimated the direct effects of the main welfare reforms on household incomes in Wales, and provides a more detailed assessment of the wider economic and social impacts of welfare reform (building on the Stage 1 research) and potential implications for devolved public services in Wales. The external work has focused on analysing the impact of the welfare reforms on labour supply in Wales.

This paper reviews research on how effective training programmes are in raising qualifications and skills of people who are out work. It specifically looks at how effective training programmes targeted at increasing the employment and skills of young people who are not in learning or work and who have low or no skills. It explains what lessons can be learnt from previous programmes. It makes recommendations on designing future training programme for low-skilled and out-of-work young people aged 19-24.

OFT report which analysed almost 4,000 complaints made by renters and landlords found that both groups were concerned about fees levied by agents, poor service and that "surprise" charges were introduced or "drip-fed" once contracts have been signed

JRF's response to the Department for Education on 'Measuring Child Poverty: a consultation on better measures of child poverty'

The framework lists the groups who might qualify for additional support with universal credit, the types of support that might be appropriate, and outlines local structures for the delivery of these services

One in four of Riverside's 421 tenants in the area will be affected by the Housing Benefit cuts to under-occupiers of working age; tenants of the other major social landlord in the neighbourhood, Wirral Partnership Homes, are affected to a similar extent. Nearly nine in ten under-occupy by just one bedroom

This report looks at under-occupation within social housing and explores in detail the implications of the proposed cuts to housing benefit that will affect under-occupiers of working age

Ipsos MORI has produced summaries of the results of the online survey of housing associations for each region in England. Each summary covers:perceptions of the impact of welfare reform, potential impacts of the size criteria, household benefit cap and direct payment of benefit to tenants, and what housing associations are doing to prepare.

As a result of council tax benefit reform, No Clear Benefit shows that three-quarters of local authorities are set to demand increased payments from the 3.2 million poorest working-age households who currently pay either no council tax or a reduced charge. Families are facing a hike of more than 330% in the most severe cases

In the context of the growth of private renting in the UK, this research examines the characteristics of households living in the sector. Using statistical analysis, the research identifies key sub-sectors of the PRS and discusses the different needs that these groups have.

This Barnardo's research highlights how the high cost of childcare will cause substantial difficulties for many parents seeking to enter work, or work longer hours, once the Government's new Universal Credit system is introduced.

This note outlines all the measures aimed at reducing Housing Benefit expenditure set out in the June 2010 Budget and the October 2010 Spending Review, together with comment and an assessment of the potential impact of those measures

This note explains how the household benefit cap will operate and summarises reactions to it, including attempts to amend the benefit cap as the Welfare Reform Act progressed through Parliament

This report aims to answer some broad questions: What proportion of London's social tenants work? Why are so many Londoners in social housing not working? How effective are current policies at addressing worklessness among social tenants? And what, in particular, are social landlords doing to get more social tenants into work? Though the report is focussed on London, many of the findings and recommendations contained in this report will be relevant to policymakers and housing providers across the country

At a time when the English Local Government Minister is extending the RTB, ostensibly to use receipts for new social housing provision, this report argues that the growing annual cost to the Treasury from past sales now in the PRS will need to be counted against any likely gains from capital receipts. Furthermore, newly sold social sector stock will again support future PRS expansion in high demand areas, increasing revenue costs to the Treasury despite the effects of caps on LHA payments.

This briefing contains findings from a review of evaluations that considered the design, implementation and impact of benefit sanctions, with a particular focus on the experience of lone parents subject to employment related activity requirements.

This investigates the concept of 'intergenerational cultures of worklessness'. The idea of 'three generations of the same family who have never worked' appeals to many, including politicians and policy-makers, to explain entrenched worklessness in the UK

The Government published the full set of Universal Credit regulations on 10 December. These are draft regulations and will be debated by parliament in January/February 2013, though they are unlikely to change

This report is the first published output from the independent evaluation of Direct Payment Demonstration Projects in six areas in Great Britain demonstrating the payment of Housing Benefit (HB) directly to social rented sector tenants.

This report begins by offering the first detailed picture of worklessness among London's social tenants. It goes on to identify pressures that keep social tenants from the world of work, and offers new recommendations as to how they could be encouraged and supported into employment

50% of providers say more young people are seeking support. 65% of young people supported by providers are homeless due to relationship breakdown with family, friends or partners. 54% of providers report closures of youth services in their area due to funding cuts More than half of providers are turning young people away because they are full. Almost half of services have reported difficulties supporting 16-17 year olds due to ineffective relationships with children's services

The Work and Pensions report concludes that the Government has designed a welfare system which should help ease the transition from benefits to work, but warns that significant concerns remain about the potential impact of the changes on some of the most vulnerable benefit claimants.

Some consumers in vulnerable positions may not be able to access all of the advantages that smart metering offers. This report identifies issues experienced by consumers on a low-income or in a vulnerable position in relation to the installation of smart meters

Key findings The public vastly overestimated the numbers of people 'claiming falsely' or 'committing fraud' 1 in 5 people believe a majority of claims are false, while 14% believe a majority of claims are fraudulent. The Government's own statistics indicate an actual fraud rate of around 1%. The public now see claimants as less deserving than they did 20 years ago, with noticeable shifts in opinion in the late 1990s and early 2000s Evidence was found to support the idea that negative media coverage is linked to stigma - with people who read more stigmatising newspapers perceiving higher levels of fraud and greater personal stigma Both a national survey and use of focus groups demonstrated that stigma is impacting on both take up of tax credits and benefits. Many are making a choice whether to 'heat or eat' because of a deep-seated sense of shame at the prospect of claiming Non-take up of benefits has risen concurrently with stigma

The report by Policis, indicates that the change to Universal Credit could pose very real risks to the financial wellbeing of social tenants, with knock-on implications for housing associations and the implementation of welfare reform

An exodus of benefit recipients from high to low cost neighbourhoods is a widely predicted side effect of the government's controversial welfare ceiling according to this new report

The Out of Sight report said that disabled people in Wales, including those with a visual impairment, face a below-average employment rate and an above-average unemployment rate. It also found they are particularly reliant on welfare benefits. However, a considerable number of people with a visual impairment do not claim all the benefits to which they are entitled.

'Taking on the money lenders: lessons from Japan' reveals that the pro-money lending lobby is wrong to argue that interest rate caps and tighter responsible lending rules inevitably lead to higher levels of illegal lending. In fact, there may be a causal relationship between high levels of legal money lending and the prevalence of loan sharks. The report examines the Japanese experience of tightening money lending regulation between the late 1970s and the present day, including the package of measures introduced by their Money Lending Law in 2006.

This report challenges the assumption that we cannot afford to tackle fuel poverty. It argues that there is a triple win available of warmer homes, greater energy efficiency and economic growth if we can use carbon taxes revenue to benefit consumers, and fuel poor households in particular

This 'how to' guide looks at how local authorities can develop relationships with the private rented sector to tackle homelessness and to support tenants to sustain their tenancies in the private rented sector

This report focuses on three key changes to financial support for families:- Caps to local housing allowance (LHA) restrict the level of support that families can receive with their rents to the 30th percentile of rents within a local area. The benefit cap which will restrict the total amount of support received by a household to £500 a week for families with children and £350 for single people. Under-occupation penalties will reduce the level of support for families in social rented housing if they are deemed to have an extra bedroom.

This report shows that a fifth of the adult population state a basic bank account is their only or main account.

The guidance is in three parts: Part One - Overall Approach to Preparing for Change Part Two - Bedroom Tax - Policy and Practice Dilemmas Part Three - Model Questionnaire for Visits to Tenants

54 % increase in real expenditure on Housing Benefit between 2001-02 and 2011-12. £23.9 billion projected Housing Benefit spending in real terms in 2014-15 without reforms. £21.6 billion projected Housing Benefit spending in real terms in 2014-15 after reforms. 1.4 million households who could be affected by changes to Local Housing Allowance rules by 2014-15. 56,000 households affected by the overall benefit cap by 2014-15. £390 million central government funding for Discretionary Housing Payments between 2011-12 and 2014-15

The destitution pack has been developed to help destitute asylum seekers who have no access to public funds but who have some prospect of regularising their status

Relating to the practice pack, these appendices provide example forms and agreements that you can use and adapt

The government's flagship welfare policy appears to be a 'single breadwinner system' that will discourage second earners - most likely women - from working, a report has found

The report explores: The extent to which UC will address complexity and create a simpler social security system for service users and how the localisation of benefits may affect this. The impact of UC on work incentives and the quality of employment programme support. The conditionality regime, balance of personal responsibility and the 'user voice' in the new system

The areas covered in the research include: Assessing awareness of the LHA changes among both existing housing benefit claimants and new claimants; Gaining insights into the experiences of both new and existing claimants in terms of their property search, affordability, rent arrears and negotiations over rent with landlords; Assessing the awareness of the LHA changes among landlords and how this differs according to the local housing market conditions; establishing whether landlords currently letting to the housing benefit market intend to remain in that market or not, whether they have considered, or would consider in the future, reducing rents and the influence on their decisions of receiving direct payments of housing benefit

New conditions and associated sanctions are being attached to welfare benefits. This is intended to reflect the principle behind Universal Credit that people who can, must look for work

Home Truths 2012: London, a new report by the National Housing Federation is an analysis and forecast of London's housing market. The report shows that thousands of London workers will struggle to pay their rent in the next decade as new forecasts show rents and house prices are set to soar, pushing home ownership in the capital down to less than 40%

Key findings from the report:- The cost of privately renting a home has risen 37% in the past five years, and is set to soar a further 35% over the next six years. In five years that means they will be almost a third higher than they are now. Private rents are likely to be fairly stable through 2013 but could see steep increases from 2015 to 2018 of around 6% a year as interest rates rise and house prices increase. 417,830 more working people, an 86% increase since 2009, are now reliant on housing benefit to help them pay the rising rents on their home.

The UK labour market has become more challenging for all jobseekers, with unemployment particularly high among young people and those with limited education and skills. This research describes the difficulty of job searching for young people seeking low-skilled work, examining three contrasting local labour market areas in England and Wales.

This inquiry report also reveals that: 100,000 disabled children stand to lose up to £28 a week; 116,000 disabled people who work will be at risk of losing up to £40 per week from help towards additional costs of being disabled; One in ten families with disabled children affected by the changes feared losing their homes; 83% of disabled adults living alone or with a young carer said they would cut back on food; 80% said they would cut back on the amount they spend on heating.

Evidence from interviews with nearly 2,000 people living in social housing provides an understanding of the dynamics of social tenants' finances and financial management, and identifies those groups likely to require greater or lesser support in making the transition to Universal Credit

This LIN member report looks at the detail, some possible solutions and the challenges posed to landlords by the under-occupation charges, which are being introduced into the social sector in April 2013

A report on how to maximise Universal Credit by reforming childcare

Conditions Uncertain finds that almost 1.2 million low-paid workers entitled to support under Universal Credit will have to look for extra work or face the risk of having payments withdrawn. The report reveals for the first time how many working people are likely to be affected by a new regime which will require the lowest-paid to show that they are unable to push up their wages any further

This study investigates the mortality of homeless people in England for the period 2001-2009. It finds that homeless people are more likely to die young, with an average age of death of 47 years old, compared to 77 for the general population

Web mapping features have become an important part of many websites and applications and most people will now have encountered a mapping service or application while browsing the internet. As web mapping goes mobile with the growing take up of smart phones and other portable computing devices, the use and utility of applications built on these technologies is set to grow further. This report looks at the potential of mapping software to empower consumers

Over the period June 2011 to March 2012, Bedworth, Rugby and Nuneaton CAB (BRANCAB) delivered a financial skills training programme free-of-charge to tenants of Orbit Heart of England HA (OHE). The aim of the training was to improve the money management skills and general financial awareness of OHE tenants. The training was available to tenants living in two locations in dispersed housing stock. It was not targeted specifically at tenants in rent arrears or at a particular group of tenants (such as lone parents). Participation in the training was voluntary. The aim of this evaluation was to measure the impact for OHE's social housing tenants of BRANCAB's financial skills training.

This guide considers the practical ways you can help your tenants improve their money management, access to financial products which are right for them and to know where to turn for advice and support

Research commissioned by the CBI from Oxford Economics - based on the extrapolation of £2bn-worth of cost savings found in 20 discrete public services - identified average savings of 11% when opening services up to the private sector, this included opening social housing management to more competition which could potentially save £675m

This report provides guidance and help to offender managers and supervisors to how they can best support offenders to get homes in the private rented sector

This overview gives a snapshot of the main challenges for Scotland's labour market. With the Powerpoint evidence report, the intention is to give the facts and figures, and analysis that are needed for an informed debate about: the challenges for Scotland's labour market. What more the Scottish and UK Governments could do to tackle worklessness. Welfare benefits and employment budgets in the independence debate.

On 23 August 2012, Sir Adrian Montague published his report into the private rented sector. This follows the Government's latest attempt to identify the key barriers to attracting investment into the sector. The report suggests the potential of the sector and makes a series of recommendations, relating to the planning system, public sector land, upfront investment and standards. This briefing summarises the report's key findings and gives the NHF's views on the recommendations made.

Private renting is becoming the new normal. It is the only choice for a growing population of young families and working people on average incomes at a settled stage of their life. Most, like generations past, want to buy, but realistically will be stuck renting for the foreseeable future. Therefore, now is the time to ask: does renting offer long-term renters the stability they need in their home? Can renting work better for renters and landlords? Shelter sets out the case for change and puts forward practical, considered recommendations for a rental offer that improves landlords' returns and gives renters the chance of a real home.

Examining income data, price data and government policies, this study found that: Middle-income pensioners not entitled to state help are liable to spend the largest proportion of their income on retirement housing. But the structure of state help ensures that their remaining income is not lower than pensioners receiving means-tested benefits. Pensioners may find that some retirement housing costs are not eligible for state help, because of their savings, their tenure or how these costs are classified and owner-occupiers and private tenants, regardless of income, often do not get help with many small costs incurred in retirement housing which are covered for most social tenants. Social renters are much more likely to get state help for these costs.

This report assesses the impact of the Universal Credit reforms on how low income households budget and sustain their financial resilience. The research finds that major changes are required if the system is to support rather than frustrate the stated aims of Government policy.

This report outlines a comprehensive new approach to value for money that goes beyond the narrow requirements of the regulator to offer the sector an approach that will help boards and senior managers run effective, efficient and tightly focused social businesses

In May 2012, Bron Afon invited LIN to carry out a critical friend review of their income management service in order to ensure that the income recovery strategies, policies, procedures and processes in place, were in the best possible position to respond to the challenge of welfare reform & as part of Bron Afon's preparation to go live as one of the DWP Direct Payment Demonstration Project areas. This report looks in detail at the work carried out.

Security of tenure in the PRS should be extended from 6 months to 24, according to this report, which says much of England is becoming increasingly reliant, by default, on the private rented sector. This, alongside increasing capital investment in new affordable homes and the regulation of the private rented sector, has been made in an in-depth report by the year-long Housing Voice Independent Inquiry

Key findings Around 100,000 families (20% of those who receive help with childcare through the benefits and tax credits system) receive this additional support. Under Universal Credit, this additional support will be lost. All those entitled will receive 70% of their childcare costs. This will leave some of the lowest income working families having to pay up to seven and a half times as much towards their childcare costs from their own pocket than they do under the current system. Families could face a cut of up to £2,320 per year from their childcare support if they have one child or £3,980 per year if they have two or more children as a result of this change. The average loss of support is estimated to be around £23 per week or £1,200 per year. Working families living in poverty are four times more likely to be affected by this change than families not in poverty who are receiving help with childcare costs through the tax credit system. Low-income working families in areas where housing costs are high, such as in the South of England (London, South East, South West), are disproportionately likely to be affected by this change.

What progress has been made on creating a more sustainable housing market since JRF published its Housing Market Taskforce report?

There are an estimated 3.5 million children living in poverty in the UK - 1.6 million in severe poverty. This shocking figure is expected to rise by 400,000 by 2015. A lack of jobs, stagnating wages, increased living costs and spending cuts are placing enormous pressure on families up and down the UK. The survey results set out in this report show that poverty leaves parents cutting back on food so their children don't go hungry. It leaves children without a warm coat or new shoes. It means they miss out on experiences that are central to a happy childhood, such as going on a family holiday or having a friend round for tea.

This report looks at how the structure of Universal Credit undermines the coalition commitment to support low income workers through raising the personal tax allowance threshold

From 1 September 2012, a person squatting in a residential building is committing a crime. The offence covers squatting in all residential buildings. It protects homeowners and lawful occupiers who discover squatters have occupied their homes

This report summarises the results of Sir Adrian Montague's review of the barriers to institutional investment in private rented homes, which examined how best to encourage greater investment in rental properties and sought to explore the factors that might encourage institutions to invest in new homes for rent

Although some reforms are already under way (the uprating of Non Dependent Deductions, for example) the most significant reforms are yet to be implemented. Starting in April 2013, the reforms are to be implemented in full over the next four years so that by 2017 all existing benefit payments, including HB, will have been replaced with a single Universal Credit. This analysis suggests that these reforms will result in a loss of benefit for working age tenants in the HA and Co-op sector in the region of £123m to £228m, by 2017.

The impact of the changes to HB and LHA will affect social and private landlords, tenants, and strategic housing authorities in the UK. This member report is a case study based on the work being carried out by Housing Hartlepool and looks at the policy changes, innovation and good practice being implemented across the Vela Group in preparation for Welfare Reform.

This includes a presentation and a quick guide for support organisations and advisers

Recent rapid expansion of the PRS is recognised but the extensive involvement of ex local authority stock in this new PRS is not. It could be costing the Government as much as £2bn-a-year extra in housing benefit to support tenants in the private sector now renting ex-council homes sold through the Right-to-Buy, according to this report which looks at the impact of Right-to-Buy re-sales on the £22bn-a-year housing benefit bill

Crisis administers the private rented sector access development programme, a three-year project funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government. This Crisis report shows that in 2011/12, the scheme supported 49 local projects run by voluntary organisations and helped 1,370 people move into the PRS.

This study divided older owners of larger homes into two groups; those who had downsized to a smaller home and those who said they did not plan to move. IF interviewed homeowning couples aged between 65 and 75, half of whom had downsized and half who did not plan to downsize.

The current system of redistribution through taxation and welfare is inefficient and could be reformed to give more support to those on low and middle incomes whilst reducing economic costs according to this report

This report looks at how well the major energy suppliers have implemented five key principles set out by Consumer Focus for prepayment meter customers. The principles aim to ensure customers in vulnerable circumstances are not disadvantaged, and avoid situations that can lead to detrimental self-rationing and in severe circumstances, self-disconnection.

The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) commissioned in January 2012 a feasibility study for a new employment programme in Northern Ireland as a successor to 'Steps to Work' and 'Pathways'. The aim is to improve the performance of programmes for those claiming certain benefits by introducing a stronger emphasis on 'payment by results' for contractors. In doing this the feasibility study has examined the lessons from the introduction of the Work Programme in Great Britain.

This report gives a detailed examination of the behavioural insights for tax and benefit policy

Louise Casey, head of the Troubled Families Programme, interviewed 16 troubled families for this report that starkly describes the problems families face. The primary purpose of carrying out the interviews was to listen directly to families about their lives, the problems they have experienced and caused and to begin to understand the sort of help that will enable them to really change

new report from the National Housing Federation, shows that every year housing associations in England help around eight million people by investing in a range of services that give them the initial support they need to make lasting changes.

This qualitative research looked at the needs and behaviours of potential users (current claimants) and administrators (DWP, HMRC and Local Authority staff) of Universal Credit. The research involved regular testing to enable rapid feedback to the DWP design team. This ensured identification of issues early in the design process to avoid lengthy and costly rework later. The research highlighted areas within Universal Credit for which specific support and communications will be required, such as the in-work conditionality requirements.

This quantitative research looked at the views and attitudes to work, budgeting and internet use among a representative sample of benefit units receiving working age benefits and tax credits who would be impacted by the transition to Universal Credit. The results show that 78% of those surveyed already use the internet - DWP will use the findings to inform the approach to encouraging and supporting claimants to use the online service. The findings also indicate that most respondents would be comfortable moving to a single, household payment. The concept of a monthly payment causes more concern, but DWP want to help claimants to manage their finances in preparation for taking on (more) work. DWP will use the findings to inform their approach to promoting financial capability and to develop appropriate and tailored support for extremely vulnerable claimants.

This briefing looks at four particular financial changes for disabled children, adults and their families, and considers how they will interact with the broader universal credit changes

The changes, which took effect for new claimants in April 2011 and are being phased in for existing claimants over the course of this year, have left many tenants in the PRS worse off. They also led to suggestions that landlords would respond by cutting rents or refusing to let properties to LHA claimants. Thanks to the first in a series of three independent evaluations, published in June by the Department for Work and Pensions, we are slightly wiser as to the initial effects. It is early days and, at the time the research took place last autumn, no existing claimants had seen their benefit cut. But the face-to-face survey of LHA claimants and a postal survey of landlords start to reveal the extent to which tenants in the private rented sector are struggling to afford their rent.

This year's study involved 21 new focus groups, who 'rebased' minimum budgets for families with children through fresh research, and reviewed the budgets of other household types. It also reflects changes to costs and living standards, updating the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) budgets to April 2012.

The report includes the following findings: The largest tenure type in 2010-11 was owner occupation, with 14.45 million households (66%). This continued a slight downward trend from a peak of 14.79 million households in owner occupation (71%) in 2005. The private rented sector continued to increase in size, to 3.62 million households (17%). Owner occupiers buying with a mortgage made average weekly mortgage payments of £143. This compared to average weekly rent payments of £160 made by privately renting households, and £79 by social renters. 59 per cent of private renters and 23% of social renters said they expected to buy a home in the UK, at some point. Of these, 16 per cent had considered applying for a mortgage in the last 12 months. Recent first time buyers were 6% of owner occupiers. There were two million recently moving households in 2010-11, compared to 1.8 million in 2009-10. Of these, 62% were private renters, 22% were owner occupiers and 16% were social renters.

For further details about the benefits of Jam Jar accounts see LIN member reports 'How social sector landlords can be paid benefits direct' and 'How private sector landlords can be paid benefits direct' published on 5.10.11 and stored in the publications - member report section of the LIN website:- http://www.landlordinformationnetwork.co.uk/publications_reports.php

Improving skills in the workforce is seen as fundamental to achieving a more competitive economy and maintaining productivity. Current and previous government policy implies that an increase in skills will reduce poverty and income inequality. This research investigates how improving UK skills levels will affect rates of poverty and income inequality.

How much do individuals, institutional structures and culture influence poverty levels? With unemployment rising, pressure on incomes, and cuts to public services, it is not unreasonable to believe poverty will become a pressing issue over coming years. What role will individuals, institutions and cultures play in any rise in poverty? This paper assesses some of the causes of poverty and examines the role played by: family structure; employment and intergenerational worklessness; geographical concentrations of poverty; educational outcomes; addiction to alcohol and drugs; and debt.

This briefing on the management implications of the new tenure arrangements covers: The relationship between rent levels and forms of tenure. The difference between a fixed-term tenancy and a periodic tenancy. The use of fixed-term tenancies and the length of the term. Operational issues relating to fixed-term tenancies. NHF model fixed-term tenancy. Probationary tenancies. Mutual exchanges. Succession. Charitable and vires issues. Rent setting, including rebasing. The effect of welfare changes.

IPPR's ongoing fundamental review of housing policy has shown that English housing is unfit for purpose. In this final report, a number of policy strands are brought together to present a new and often radical strategy for housing in this country.

Charity warns "UK could return to inequality levels not seen since Victorian times" Government rhetoric about 'making work pay' - used to justify sweeping welfare reforms- is sounding increasingly hollow, according to a new report by Oxfam, which details how getting a job in modern Britain is no guarantee of escaping poverty

This paper found that: In calculating penalties for staying together or separating, the Minimum Income Standard (MIS) provides a well-researched basis for comparing living costs for different types of family, and suggests that Government's equivalence scales have underestimated how much cheaper it is for two people to live as a couple than separately. The benefits system does not provide a different proportion of an out-of-work family's daily living needs if they live together or live apart. This is true whether MIS or official assumptions are used to compare what incomes families need for an equivalent living standard under different living arrangements. A couple penalty only exists for dual earner families on low incomes under particular assumptions: that the relative needs of singles and couples are as arbitrarily described in an equivalence scale rather than as shown in researched evidence.

Widespread access to the internet and the new technologies that are built upon it are making powerful new approaches to consumer empowerment possible. This Consumer Focus report identifies what these emerging detriments might be for consumers.

Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud said: "This research has been a valuable resource. It will help us to monitor our reforms and inform future thinking. "This research gives us an early insight into what is really happening and I am encouraged that it shows that the many scare stories about the effects of housing benefit reform are not materialising. We will continue to monitor this activity over the next year."

This research stemmed from feedback from a range of practitioners that interest in 'free' insulation was drying up

This report highlights that many Local Authorities have not, previously, spent the full amount of their DHP budget, in fact the latest figures show that more than a quarter of the £30m that local authorities were allocated to spend on discretionary housing payments (DHPs) in 2011/12 remains unspent

The Making Best Use of Stock Team at the Chartered Institute of Housing has published a guide to preparing for the social sector size criteria (bedroom tax). The Toolkit provides advice and gives practical examples. Key issues covered are: Identifying affected tenants Modelling and assessing risk Communicating with staff and tenants Supporting tenants Allocations

This landmark report shows that the child poverty approach pursued between 1998 and 2010 made a significant and long-lasting difference to families with children; reduced child poverty on a scale and at a pace unmatched by other industrial nations during this period. This is the verdict of a group of leading national experts commissioned to produce the report at the mid-point to ending child poverty by 2020.

The report found that in 2012, 22% of the UK adult population - eleven million people - still do not use the internet at home

The government is proposing to localise support for council tax from 2013-14, abolishing Council Tax Benefit (CTB) across Britain and giving grants to local authorities in England, and the Scottish and Welsh governments . This study examines the likely effects of this policy

Using original analysis of official data, interviews and a literature review, this study: Assesses the choices available to older people. Questions why mainstream and specialist housing is not more widely available for older people. Examines whether, since the official definition is at odds with older people's views and their revealed preferences, 'under-occupying' in older people's households is really such a problem. This study moves the debate on older people's housing away from simplistic notions about 'holding onto housing' to wider questions about choice and demand.

Key points from the report: Young homeless people often do not get the help they need from local authorities or formal support services. Instead, they get by in hidden homelessness situations such as rough sleeping and squatting. Young homeless people are considerably more vulnerable than the overall homeless population. For example, 51% have been excluded from school, 40% have experienced abuse at home and 33% self harm. 30% have been in care, suggesting that the care system is not offering them the support they need. Young homeless people go to desperate measures to avoid sleeping rough, including committing a crime or resorting to sex work just to get a roof over their head. Urgent action and early intervention is needed to prevent young homeless people developing higher needs and falling into long term homelessness.

The report maps out potential journeys of service users, demonstrating how earlier intervention and risk mitigation are integral to the efficient and equitable provision of services. It concludes that personal budgets, localism and community budgets provide a distinct opportunity for increased collaboration between health, housing and care which in turn will generate significant savings and allow for better targeting of services.

In the past decade, credit unions in Great Britain have trebled their membership and their assets have expanded four-fold. There is real potential for credit unions to expand further, both in terms of geographic reach and customer base. This would improve access to basic financial products, such as savings accounts and affordable credit. It would also allow credit unions to offer products which can help to mitigate the budgetary risks associated with Universal Credit, for example through "jam jar" accounts that could help claimants make the transition to monthly payments, cope with the direct payment of Housing Benefit into their accounts, and use savings accounts to budget to overcome any unforeseen budgetary shocks. With nearly 12,000 post offices across the UK, about the same as the UK's bank networks combined, consumer access to credit union services would be greatly improved if it was made possible over the post office counter. Wider access would also improve take-up of, and access to, affordable credit and transactional accounts; and in turn increase the potential of credit unions to provide an alternative to mainstream financial services.

New Which? research reveals consumers struggling to pay for food and bills are getting caught in a payday loans debt trap. The research also reveals that payday lenders' websites could be exacerbating the problem

Although 2013 remains the key year when significant changes under the Welfare Reform Bill will come into effect across the sector (the bedroom tax, benefit caps and Universal Credit) there are other key changes to benefits taking place over the course of the 2012-13 financial year which will affect landlords and their tenants. This network member report rounds up the key changes to benefits and the implications for Landlord Information Network members and your customers over the course of the next year or so.

In our second Housing Report, the NHF, Shelter and The CIH say the Government is failing to deliver on five out of ten key housing indicators. These include housing supply, affordability of the private rented sector and homelessness. The report urges the Government to make good on its promises, in particular to 'get Britain building', which as well as providing much-needed homes for thousands of families, will also deliver new jobs and economic growth.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Insight commissioned this User Centred Design research to ensure that claimants are central to the design and development of Personal Independence Payment. It was conducted by IFF Research on behalf of the DWP. The report findings illustrate the first part of an ongoing programme of research. This consisted of 21 focus groups and 46 face-to-face in-depth interviews, conducted in September and October 2011. The report concludes that the design should include: A better institutional memory of claimants' requirements and needs. Claimants want to feel that the information they provide the DWP with is being recorded and taken into account so that they do not have to provide the same information on multiple occasions. Tailoring of the process to customer needs. Customers ideally want the application process to include some tailoring to their circumstances. Building in review phases so that claimants can check and amend/accept the details they have provided (and perhaps what has been written about them). Clear response to all evidence provided. For individuals to have faith that their case has been properly assessed, it is critical for them to feel that all the evidence that they have provided has been considered.

In the report on the work programme, the Public Accounts Committee warns that the DWP 'must be vigilant' over the effect of the introduction of universal credit, adding that it could lead to major changes to the definition of claimant groups

How will changes in the structure of employment and pay affect income inequality and poverty levels by 2020? Projections suggest long-term labour market trends are set to continue. Examining the impact of these changes on income inequality and poverty levels, this study: Forecasts a rise in income inequality and poverty levels. Cites expected cuts in benefits and tax credits as a major cause of these rises. Suggests the impact on the overall level of relative poverty and inequality forecast for 2020/21 made by changes imposed on employment and pay structures will be small. Conducted at a time when the role of skills development in a reformed welfare-to-work policy environment is high on the policy agenda, and when job prospects for less qualified workers look likely to remain poor, this research is a timely contribution to a growing debate.

The research, based on a survey of 136 housing providers, concludes that there is significant potential to increase the impact and effectiveness of current housing provider-led worklessness programmes. The report recommends housing providers improve the targeting of employability initiatives; place a greater focus on impact measurement; and build stronger links between housing provider-led initiatives and wider Government funded activity, including the Work Programme.

London is an expensive place to have a home. It faces unique challenges that combine to produce an increasingly unaffordable market for would-be owners and tenants alike. In particular, the government's welfare reforms will have a significant impact on the ability of London's citizens to buy or rent a decent home. This case study report makes a series of policy recommendations aimed at reducing the worst effects of London's housing squeeze.

Further to the DWP "Consultation on the Future of Housing Benefit for Sheltered & Supported Housing" Support Solutions has news of interest to the sector in the light of recently published minutes of a meeting between Lord Freud (Minister for Welfare Reform), DWP Officials and sector representatives. This Briefing gives a good analysis of what is and isn't addressed as part of this meeting.

This report is the first output of a partnership between Inclusion and the housing action charity, HACT. It captures the range of activities that housing providers are involved in to help residents into work, highlights particular approaches and projects that seem to be working, and suggests ways in which housing providers could enhance their impact.

How have poverty, work, benefits and education changed in Northern Ireland since 2009? This report updates the 2009 report, written as the recession was hitting Northern Ireland especially hard. Northern Ireland had seen a steeper rise in unemployment than any other part of the UK. Since then, there has been long-term improvement in some areas but persistent problems in others.

NICCY commissioned two reports looking at the impact on children and young people to changes to the welfare system.

This paper: examines whether the development of children's and parents' attitudes, aspirations and behaviours (AABs) for education affect attainment; and considers whether interventions focused on a specific set of AABs can reduce the attainment gap.

There is evidence of forced labour occurring in the UK. Thus far, research on forced labour has focused largely on exploitation and in particular on the employment conditions and practices that workers experience when they are subject to forced labour (Skrivankova, 2006; Wilkinson 2010). Insufficient attention has been paid to the role of business in this process. The exception to this is a report by Anderson and Rogaly (2005) which explores the common characteristics of industries in which forced labour is occurring and examines the impact of these characteristics on the use of labour. Drawing on such research and knowledge of business and employment practices more widely, this report represents a further exploratory foray into the role of business in forced labour.

The Children's Society has warned the Government that its plans for Universal Credit won't do anything to help the 700,000 families in poverty not entitled to free school meals and could exclude a further 120,000

The purpose of this analysis is to examine what disabled people predict is likely to happen if government changes mean they are no longer eligible for support. It uses DWP estimates as far as possible to examine potential costs to government.

This member report looks at how housing benefit claims can be validated by landlords in the private rented sector, in addition to the social sector. The report also includes a list of top tips from a private sector landlord/letting agent who is authorised to validate income and ID proof for Local Housing Allowance (LHA) tenants. In addition the report explores how the introduction of universal credit from 2013 is likely to focus attention on the role of both private and social sector landlords under the reformed welfare system.

England's population is ageing, and fast. By 2030 one in three people are projected to be aged 55 and over. Older people will be a diverse group, ranging from economically powerful 'baby boomers' to over-85s with high care and support needs. How will the housing market respond to this demographic change? Do we have the right kinds of accommodation for older people, in the right places?

This guide gives information about Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans, Crisis Loans, Sure Start Maternity Grants, Funeral Payments, Cold Weather and Winter Fuel Payments. The guide applies equally to people of working age and to people over State Pension age

According to the report, total HB spending has more than doubled in real terms over the past two decades. This does not reflect a deliberate policy choice, but is a consequence of rising housing costs. The HB formula pegs rates directly to local rent levels, so if rents increase, HB rates follow suit. Just as importantly, if local rent levels rise at a faster rate than local wages, more households become eligible for HB to begin with. Both factors act to increase the HB bill, and an end to this is not in sight, despite all the controversy over HB and benefit caps.

Key findings - the numbers: The total value of properties in the private rented sector is £840 billion, up 42% over the past 5 years, Total rent bill for 4.8 million rented homes was £48 billion in 2011. This is expected to rise to £70 billion in 2016, The biggest challenge is supplying rising demand, forecast to rise to one in five households by 2016 requiring an additional 1.1 million homes in the sector, £200 billion investment is required over the next 5 years and only one quarter is expected to come from buy to let lending, Supply shortage is driving growth in asking rents - av +5.2% rises across Britain in 2011, creating affordability issues in some markets, A step change in institutional investment in new build rental accommodation is needed to boost supply and this needs to be recognised by the planning system, Rents vary dramatically from £48,230 pa for a 2 bed in Kensington and Chelsea to £4,560 in Blaenau Gwent. The investor benefits: Average gross yields vary from 5.3% in the South West to 6.3% in the North West, but there are significant variations within regions, Gross yields average 7.8% in the top performing 10% of postcodes while the bottom 10% deliver just 4.4%, Best total returns over 10 years forecast to come from London and the South East, 7 London boroughs (Newham, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Islington, City of London, Southwark and Hackney) forecast to deliver net total annual returns >8.5% over that period, Beyond London, Elmbridge (in Surrey), Reading, Woking and Milton Keynes are forecast to deliver net total returns >8.0%, compared to <6% in Kirklees and Bradford, In all cases these returns can be exceeded by bulk investors

This research was commissioned to inform understanding of current consumer attitudes and feelings toward credit scoring and explore whether consumers think that they would behave differently if they knew that a company has moved to using more credit reference data

The Social Fund (SF) is a scheme to help people with needs which are difficult to meet from regular income. It is made up of two distinct parts: A regulated scheme which provides entitlement to maternity, funeral, cold weather and winter fuel payments for people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions A discretionary scheme under which people may be eligible in certain circumstances for a: Community Care Grant (CCG) - to meet, or help to meet, a need for community care, Budgeting Loan (BL) - to meet, or help to meet, an intermittent expense, Crisis Loan (CL) - to meet, or help to meet, an immediate short term need. This guide deals with discretionary payments only.

This briefing sets out the cuts that will hit families on 'Bad Friday' and puts them in the context of the full cuts to benefits and tax credits that will have been implemented by 2014/15. It also looks at the implications for child poverty and the dangers to the UK economy - and therefore sustainable deficit reduction - that some economists believe will be a consequence of targeting the cuts to low income families in this way.

JRF's Working in Neighbourhoods project offers useful lessons for local authorities, neighbourhood practitioners, and communities, drawing on direct experience from practitioners in Bradford, and many other places. It found: Neighbourhood workers are key to co-ordinate partners and services, broker agreements and solve problems creatively. Active citizenship could be strengthened by tapping into the pool of 'willing localists'. Transferring more control to communities requires new mechanisms to share risk and reward between public sector bodies and communities. Councillors can play a community leadership role, and be honest with constituents, tackle difficult issues head-on, and mobilise the wider community. Central government could offer support, guidance and leadership for action at the local level on the shared challenges facing local public sector organisations and local government.

Analysis of figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) indicates that: The number of Housing Benefit claimants reached a new high of 4.95 million in December 2011 In-work households account for almost all (93 per cent) of the increase in the number of claimants in 2010 and 2011 In December 2011 almost one in four households who rented their accommodation and were in employment received Housing Benefit The growing number of in-work Housing Benefit claimants will have a considerable impact on government policy. In 2011 the number of additional in-work claimants is likely to have increased overall Housing Benefit expenditure by £490 million. The research also provides a brief review of the factors that could be leading to a change in the financial position of these households which means that they are claiming Housing Benefit to help cover their housing costs.

The review found that: All passported benefits fulfil important needs and are highly valued by those who receive them. There is no rigorous research evidence to show that the provision of passported benefits acts as a work disincentive: when people take decisions about moving into work or increasing working hours, they take a range of factors into account, The loss of out-of-work passported benefits when people take a job can create an unhelpful cliff-edge and reduce the apparent gains to work, As the number of passported benefits has increased, so to has the complexity in the system and greater simplicity and better coordination of passported benefits is essential: this should reduce administration costs, render passporting more effective and efficient, improve awareness, understanding and take-up, and ensure better targeting. Options for the future should not undermine the policy objectives of individual passported benefits, nor undermine the overarching principle that people should be better off in work than they are on benefits. It is unlikely that one approach will suit all passported benefits in future,and more radical options will need further consideration and may require additional expenditure. The constraint of cost-neutrality creates tensions which will need to be balanced.

This briefing on the budget identifies key elements of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne's Budget statement, delivered on 21st March 2012, that are relevent to social housing

This briefing draws on evidence from research to show how potential policy decisions in the 2012 Budget would affect poor places and people in the UK. It looks at six issues: Raising the income tax threshold; Tax credits, work incentives and poverty rates; The 'mansion tax' and housing; Increasing housing supply; Older people; and Funding social care.

A government commissioned independent review into fuel poverty has proposed a new definition of fuel poverty under which around 7.8 million people will be counted as fuel poor. Findings in the report also show that the government is likely to fail to meet its statory duty to eradicate the problem by 2016

Much of what has been written on the opportunities and challenges of implementing the 'big society' has been from the perspective of local authority providers or community development organisations. This new research gives voice to the regular users of services, investigating their attitudes towards greater localism and the appetite for greater participation in both local decision making and service delivery. In the light of the Government's push for greater localism, the research was an attempt to get to the bottom of why and how people participate in their local area and what enthusiasm there was to play a potentially larger role.

This guide covers: Steps to prepare to share data to detect tenancy fraud, how housing associations can share information with the local authority, the National Fraud Initiative and Credit Reference Agencies to detect tenancy fraud, how housing associations can make ad-hoc requests for information about specific individuals from the local authority to detect tenancy fraud and links to further information and good practice

This briefing argues that the potential positive impact of Universal Credit - the new welfare system due to replace tax credits and most benefits from 2013 - on supporting parents into work and reducing child poverty could be undermined. It identifies three key issues: 1.Insufficient earnings disregards for working mothers 2. Lack of support for childcare costs 3. Universal Credit payments will be withdrawn too quickly

The Right to Buy scheme was introduced in 1980 and gives qualifying social tenants the right to buy their home at a discount. In Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England, the Government announced its intention to increase the caps on Right to Buy discounts to enable more tenants to achieve their ambition for home ownership. The Government has now announced its planned changes to the Right to Buy scheme, with details of how one for one replacement will work. Subject to Parliament, these changes will take effect from 2 April 2012

Child benefit, the only near-universal payment for children, is under threat. The only payment that recognises that people who have children need more money than people who do not - whatever their income - is in danger. The amount of child benefit paid to families has been frozen until 2014 and, from 2013, will also be 'clawed back' from many families in a complex and deeply unfair way.

Following its final ping-pong between the House of Commons and House of Lords last week, Royal Assent and passage onto the statute books is the next stage for the Welfare Reform Bill. This network member report rounds up the key welfare reform issues which will have an impact on Landlord Information Network members and your customers over the course of the next year, and the key implications to help in preparing for them.

The Welfare Reform Act received Royal Assent on 8th March 2012. The Act introduces a new Universal Credit which will replace most existing benefits and limits the total amount of benefit a person can claim. It also introduces a new size criteria or 'bedroom tax' in the social rented sector. The welfare reforms impact on the way tenants receive benefit, in many cases, removing the option of having benefits paid direct to landlords

What would be a fair model for flood insurance? Catastrophic flooding has become increasingly frequent in the UK and, with climate change, is likely to become even more frequent in the future. With the UK's current flood insurance regime ending in 2013, this 'Viewpoint' argues that: There is an overwhelming case for rejecting a free market in flood insurance after 2013; This market-based approach threatens to leave many thousands of properties uninsurable, leading to extensive social blight; There are a number of possible flood insurance models that would be fairer and more sustainable. The Viewpoint outlines three approaches to 'fairness' in flood insurance, and argues that the second and third of these would be the most 'solidaristic' - i.e. those at lower risk of flooding would contribute to the support of people at higher risk: 'Pure actuarial fairness' - insurance costs directly reflect the level of risk faced by individuals; 'Choice-sensitive fairness' - insurance costs should reflect only those risks that result from each individual's choices; 'Fairness as social justice' - insurance should be provided independently of individuals' risks and choices when covering basic requirements of social justice.

Crisis' publication identifies the most effective ways in which agencies are supporting young homeless or vulnerably housed people to access and sustain private rented accommodation. The report aims to share the good practice Crisis found in a succinct and accessible form, describing approaches that are being put into practice successfully by a variety of organisations around the country. An accompanying Toolkit intended to provide guidance and tools that can be readily implemented by existing and prospective service providers.

Over the past year, families have suffered from soaring food and fuel prices, cuts to vital benefits such as Housing Benefit and the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, as well as a stagnant economy with high unemployment, making finding work which fits around family life and caring responsibilities impossible for many. This research examines the effect of these pressures on families who use Family Action's services across England

In March 2010, 11 pilot Fit for Work Services were established to provide personalised, case-managed support for workers in the early stages of sickness absence or ill-health in order to expedite return to work and support job retention. This report presents the findings from the first year of the evaluation.

The report suggests ways transparency of service charges can be improved to prevent leaseholders being hit by unexpected bills.

The Report draws attention to a number of significant human rights issues, including: the need for freestanding legislation to protect the right to independent living in UK law the effect of current reforms to benefits and services on the ability of disabled people to enjoy independent living the role played by the UNCRPD in policy development and decision making at all levels of government the use of equality impact assessments the effects of devolution on implementation of the UNCRPD hate crime

The report aims to share the good practice found in a succinct and accessible form, describing approaches that are being put into practice successfully by a variety of organisations around the country. An accompanying Toolkit intended to provide guidance and tools that can be readily implemented by existing and prospective service providers.

This report focuses on and reviews the evidence on the changes to key social security benefits and the likely impact on people and communities, the majority of which are yet to be felt. It finds that hundreds of thousands of people in Wales will be affected by the change to benefits, whether the one in five people of working age receiving a Department for Work and Pensions benefit or the quarter of a million people receiving Housing Benefit.

With consultation on the revised regulatory tenancy standards having closed earlier this month, and the Welfare Reform Bill imminently likely to pass into legislation, this PHHS report sets out the key welfare reform implications to consider building into social housing tenancy & allocations policies and strategies to avoid storing up future debts and problems for organisations and their customers

How can we improve regulation and enforcement to tackle forced labour? While forced labour is generally recognised as a crime, it is rarely prosecuted because of obstacles to law enforcement and identification of forced labour victims. This paper spells out the challenges, within the complex regulatory environment of the UK labour market. Enforcement is spread over a number of agencies and regulatory bodies; the powers, interests and capacity of these organisations in dealing with forced labour vary widely; and there are inconsistencies in levels of regulation and enforcement.

The UK needs many more and better homes. The Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Network (SUNN) draws on direct experience of trying to build new communities that will stand the test of time. The report provides a series of tests and guidelines, backed up by research and case studies, including lessons from The Netherlands. It deals first with the product, then the process, and finally recommendations for government.

New migrants are largely housed in private lettings and form an important subsector of the market, yet the issues that arise are little examined. This report for the Housing and Migration Network aims to fill this gap. The report: provides evidence that most recent migrants live in the private rented sector, frequently in poorer properties; explores the reasons for this and the practical consequences for migrants themselves and for the neighbourhoods where they live; describes the context of recent pressures on the sector and of recent changes in government policy; identifies practical solutions that local authorities, housing providers and voluntary and community groups have developed; examines how government at central and local levels could foster such solutions.

This member report looks at the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) fund, which is one measure, that could help offset the impact of the Welfare Reforms. DHP's are payable for tenants claiming housing benefit, in cases of hardship. This pot of money was increased to £30 million from April 2011 and increases again to £60m from April 2012. This report highlights that many Local Authorities have not, previously, spent the full amount of their DHP budget, in fact the latest figures show that just under £1m was underspent in 2010/11. The report contains exclusive information collated following a freedom of information request by Claire Turner, Director Landlord Information Network.

This article looks at why it's important Landlords prepare for the changes ahead

The report included the following highlights: In 2010-11, 7.4 million households were renting their homes with the social sector accounting for just over half of these renters 3.8 million (51%), and 3.6 million households (48%) renting from a private landlord. Within the social rented sector, 1.8 million households (48%) rented from a local authority and 2.0 million (52%) from a housing association. Average weekly rents in the private rented sector continued to be well above those in the social rented sector (£160 per week compared to £79). 63 per cent of households in the social rented sector were in receipt of Housing Benefit, compared with only 25 per cent of those in the private rented sector.The majority of lone parents with dependent children in the rental sectors received HB: 75% of social renters and 74% of private renters.

This report was commissioned by the North Area Social Housing Forum (NASH), to detail the housing and investment issues in North Staffordshire, Stafford and East Staffordshire. The report utilises housing market and economic development data to provide a context for the radical new policy framework context currently being introduced by the Coalition Government. The report concludes with a series of policy recommendations for Central Government, Local Authorities and local housing agencies which seek to improve the delivery of housing and renewal activity in the new environment, whilst minimising social costs for those in housing need.

The UK has some fundamental economic and social weaknesses that continue to impact on citizens and businesses. Tackling the expanding deficit is currently the first priority for the government. One of the strategies to achieve this includes radical reform of the welfare system, reducing government expenditure on social security programmes, including Housing Benefit.

This report analysed the existing evidence on the cumulative impact of the tax and benefit changes on individuals and households in Wales. This looked at: the number of individuals potentially affected by the changes, the expected monetary impact on household incomes (spatially and by income group and family type), impact on poverty, effects on work incentives, and an initial assessment of wider economic and social impacts.

This report explores how budget cuts affect the capacity of English local government to meet the needs of more deprived households and communities. There is real concern that more deprived groups will suffer the most. This report provides early, systematic evidence of the scale of the cuts and of how local councils are grappling with these issues. The report: examines national evidence of the scale and distribution of the cuts across local authorities, highlighting the impact on the most deprived authorities; reports evidence from senior local government officials on their strategic responses to budget cuts, such as service remodelling and moves towards more targeted provision; uses the latest budget data to assess the pattern of reductions within local authorities, and how these relate to deprived groups; considers the changes underway in local government and how it might look in the future.

A substantial number of older home-owners are income-poor but asset-rich. Their home is valuable, with little or no debt secured on it; but their income is so small that they are entitled to Pension Credit. Many cannot afford to pay for additional help at home, even though this could considerably improve their quality of life. However, the rules on entitlement to means-tested benefits, and the constraints on the terms of equity release loans, mean that such drawings were not a realistic option for older home-owners with low incomes before the pilot schemes.

In its Squeezed Britain report the Resolution Foundation said that during the past six years the number of LMIs under 35 who owned a home plummeted from 51% to just over a third. The foundation also said housing costs became a huge burden for tenants during the past decade, with private sector rents increasing by a third in real terms between 1999-2000 and 2009-10. As a result, approximately one fifth of LMI households are struggling to keep up with the costs of a mortgage or rent

This member report looks at the benefits to both social and private rented sector landlords in joining TenantID the unique new national database of private and social renters across the UK and Ireland, created to provide those in the lettings industry with information about the rental history of potential tenants.

This report is a comprehensive presentation of the most relevant evidence available on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the proposals to replace it with a new benefit, Personal Independence Payments (PIP). It gathers together existing information and analyses over 500 group responses to the Government's Response to Disability Living Allowance reform

Research by the University of York, commissioned by Crisis, which demonstrates that housing benefit acts as the main buffer between low-income and jobless households and homelessness

Conservative MP David Davis and Labour MP Frank Field join forces in a bid to unlock the capital trapped in social houses where the owner is not allowed to buy their home or cannot afford to do so, and to channel the revenue generated into improving and expanding Britain's sorely lacking social housing stock. The briefing also looks at the possibility of extending the right to buy to all housing association tenants.

The Shelter survey also reveals that almost seven million people in total are relying on credit in some form to help pay their housing costs, using payday loans, unauthorised overdrafts, other loans or credit cards.

Credit unions are non profit making financial services co-operatives set up by members for members. They encourage saving and offer affordable loans. For housing providers, improving the availability of low cost credit to their tenants is an important way of helping people on lower incomes to aviod high cost lenders and loan sharks. This edition of housing practice sets out how an effective partnership between a housing provider and a credit union can benefit residents, the woder community and help both organisations meet their business objectives.

Following our last Landlord Information Network member report 'top tips to survive welfare reform', here PHHS round up the latest news on key welfare reforms which are likely to have an impact on housing organisations and their customers.

Imminent welfare reforms could trigger a 1980's-style explosion in rough sleeping report warns

The Coalition Government is repeating the same mistakes as Labour on poverty reduction, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's annual assessment of poverty in the UK

Changes to the benefits system for lone parents have been introduced in recent years, with an increasing focus on work preparation and obligations to look for work. As part of the Lone Parent Obligations (LPO) changes, from November 2008 lone parents with a youngest child aged 12 or over were no longer entitled to receive Income Support (IS) solely on the grounds of being a lone parent. Since then, from October 2010, the age of the youngest child has been reduced to seven and over, and the coalition government announced in the June 2010 Emergency Budget that, subject to passage of the Welfare Reform Bill 2011, these obligations would be extended to lone parents with a youngest child aged five and over from 2012. Lone parents who are no longer eligible for IS have been able to move to other benefits as appropriate, including Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). The JSA regime has been amended to include flexibilities for lone parents, for example, in the hours of work they are required to seek. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of LPO on lone parents whose youngest child is aged seven or eight.1 It also aims to inform the delivery of the roll-out of LPO to lone parents with a youngest child aged five or six. The findings presented in this report are based on qualitative fieldwork with 60 claimants across three case-study areas. The findings focus on the work readiness of lone parents, their experiences of childcare, reflections on when their youngest child started school, how they look for work, experiences of JSA and of moving into work. A typology of three broad categories of lone parents interviewed in this research was developed, based on their work and benefits histories: those with a high parenting orientation; those with a strong work attachment; or those who had experienced a critical life event.

The report looks at key welfare reform changes such as the Housing Benefit (HB) underoccupation criteria which is due to come into effect in less than 18 months. This report (updated to take into account the Governments housing strategy, published on 21.11.11) sets out some key top tips to help social housing organisations and their customer's prepare for and survive the changes to the benefits system.

At the heart of the Housing Strategy is a new indemnity scheme that will give a helping hand for up to 100,000 prospective buyers who are currently frozen out of the housing market because of the need for large deposits. Under the proposals, homebuyers will be able to secure loans on newly built homes with only a 5% deposit.

This is the conclusion from a new report, 'Tackling the Housing Crisis', from the Federation of Master Builders. The report also reveals that the number of small house builders is at the lowest since 1982 because of escalating costs and regulatory burdens

Wales will be the country in the UK most affected by incapacity benefit change, according to the new research.

According to the WRVS report older people are feeling more isolated than before, there is little social interaction for the elderly and with the spending cuts these would be reduced to minimum if any at all.

This Landlord Information Network (LIN) member report gives landlords and letting agents a round-up of where we are to date with the progress of the Welfare Reform bill and its passage through Parliament

Service users were asked to rate their experiences in relation to the six drivers of satisfaction common to public service delivery; staff attitude, professionalism, accessibility, delivery, information and timeliness. The Index provides a valuable benchmark against which to measure the impact of the Government's reform programme on the key factors that are vital to effective service delivery.

From 2013 the government is proposing to change housing benefit rules so that working-age households in social housing who are underoccupying their property would see their housing benefit reduced by a proportion of their rent. Research was undertaken to understand how households would be affected by the proposed cut by three members of the Housing Futures Network: Affinity Sutton, Places for People and Riverside. A survey of 452 households from across the three housing associations was carried out. All participants in the survey were underoccupying their homes according to the criteria the government plans to use.

Landlord Information Network (LIN) suggests that a solution, for landlords, to the issue of social sector tenants being paid the housing element of the Universal Credit directly from 2013, could come from working pro-actively with Credit Unions and increasing the use of Bill Payment accounts. This LIN member report looks at the impact of the proposed changes to paying Housing Benefit directly to tenants rather than directly to landlords and also focuses on the benefits of opening Credit Union Bill Payment Accounts for social sector tenants, to help ensure Housing Benefit (HB) payments are secured and paid directly to their landlords.

Landlord Information Network (LIN) suggests that a solution, for landlords, to the issue of tenants being paid Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and the housing element of the Universal Credit directly from 2013, could come from working pro-actively with Credit Unions and increasing the use of Bill Payment accounts. This LIN member report looks at the impact of paying Local Housing Allowance directly to tenants rather than directly to landlords and also focuses on the benefits of opening Credit Union Bill Payment Accounts for tenants, to help ensure Housing Benefit (HB) payments are secured and paid directly to their landlord.

There is growing consensus that without further action we risk a "lost generation" of young people, shut out of the labour market and increasingly disconnected from work and learning. Youth unemployment is now above one million, with long-term youth unemployment above 250,000 for the first time since the early 1990s. More than one in five young people who are in the labour market are unemployed - giving an unemployment rate of 22%. However not all young people are in the labour market. One third are not working and not looking for work, usually because they are students and so are not included in this calculation. Taking account of these people, the percentage of all young people who are unemployed is 14%, or about one in seven. This, in some ways, gives a more accurate reflection of the likelihood of being unemployed.

Introducing restrictions to Housing Benefit for working age customers living in the social rented sector who are occupying a larger property than their household size requires.

The financial incentives for lone parents in Great Britain to work in jobs of less than 16 hours a week are currently weak, the rules for Income Support and income-related Jobseeker's Allowance currently allow a lone parent to earn up to £20 a week before benefits are reduced pound for pound for all earnings above this level. The gains of working 16 hours a week or more is substantial because this is the threshold at which people enter the more generous tax credits system. The incentives for both groups may be further blunted by loss of "passported benefits", such as assistance with health costs, and/or withdrawal of other benefits, such as Housing Benefit. Building on Dynamic Benefits (CSJ 2009) and the Department for Work and Pension's (DWP) Green Paper 21st Century Welfare (DWP 2010a), DWP's White Paper on Universal Credit (DWP 2010b) announced a series of major changes to the benefit system to make work pay, including enabling benefit recipients to work in "mini-jobs" of less than 16 hours per week, by reducing the current financial barriers to small amounts of work. This policy paper, produced by Inclusion for the DWP, considers evidence from Great Britain and other countries on the effect that increasing earnings disregards has in moving lone parents into work. It focuses on the effect of enabling "mini-jobs" that allow lone parents to combine work and welfare by working more hours whilst still on benefits.

On 16 March 2011, the Energy Bill was introduced into the House of Commons. The Energy Bill has been designed to provide for a step change in the provision of energy efficiency measures to homes and businesses, and make improvements to Government framework to enable and secure, low-carbon energy supplies and fair competition in the energy markets. The Governments aim is for the Bill to become a law by July 2012 so the Green Deal can become operational towards the end of next year. The broad principles of the Green Deal are that householders will be able to draw from a pool of eligible energy efficiency measures identified by a Green Deal Assessor. Measures will have to be fixed to the property and not removable when occupiers leave. This LIN members report explores how householders and tenants will be able to access the benefits of the Green deal and the implications involved.

The Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme is an independent scheme administered by authorities who also administer Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB). It began in July 2001. DHPs provide customers with further financial assistance when a local authority (LA) considers that help with housing costs is needed. This member report looks in detail at which tenants can claim an additional amount of Housing Benefit via a DHP award and also at how to make a successful claim for a DHP.

Inclusion was commissioned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in partnership with the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington and Westminster, to conduct research examining the support needs of long-term Incapacity Benefit (IB) claimants. The project was funded by Local Government Improvement and Development under their customer led transformation projects. This research is considered particularly important given the current reassessment of IB claimants, which will see them migrated from IB and put on to either Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This research aimed to answer three key research questions: what support do claimants need during the IB reassessment process; what are their employment support needs; is the Internet, in particular social media, useful in providing support?

Key Findings: Compared with the current system, most London households will be left with less spending power under Universal Credit, with single parents and families with two or more children hardest hit. The only exception is parents who work for less than 16 hours a week. For some income groups, adults will only be marginally better off in work rather than out of work under Universal Credit, as childcare costs are so high. The Universal Credit calculation needs to recognise that there are different 'childcare markets' across the country. The welfare reforms should also include provision for holiday and wrap around child care. The government should consider the option of raising the overall benefit cap for London or raising the housing element of the cap for London, which is currently proposed to be a total of £500 a week.

Social housing in the UK is experiencing a period of unprecedented demand and this is unlikely to be met solely through the development of new homes. There is a clear need for providers to also make the best possible use of existing stock. This edition of housing practice magazine sets out how to reduce under occupying while also delivering positive outcomes for existing tenants.

The general rule under LHA is payment must be made direct to the tenant; not the landlord, however there are certain exceptions to this rule. This LIN publication looks at the circumstances when a landlord can receive LHA payments direct.

Over the last year the government has announced significant changes to housing benefit(HB) and local housing allowance (LHA). The government's own estimates show that the changes will result in an annual reduction of £2,745 million of which will be made from savings to housing benefit. The impact of these changes to housing benefit will affect tenants and private landlords across the UK. The first of these changes were introduced on 1 April 2011, with the full programme of reforms to be completed in 2017. There have already been several changes to implementation dates and to some of the more radical proposals, including dropping the proposal to reduce HB by 10% for people claiming jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months. It is likely that there will be further changes to come and the Landlord Information Network will ensure that members are kept as up to date as possible. This briefing is designed to give you information on both the Welfare reform bill and the changes to housing benefit and local housing allowance. It will help you to plan how to reduce the impact of the changes for your tenants and therefore how to minimise the negative impact of the changes on your rental income and arrears levels.

Over the last year the government has announced significant changes to housing benefit (HB) and local housing allowance (LHA). The government's own estimates show that the changes will result in an annual reduction of £2,745 million of which will be made from savings to housing benefit. The impact of these changes to housing benefit will affect tenants and their landlords throughout the social rented sector, across the UK. The first of these changes were introduced on 1 April 2011, with the full programme of reforms to be completed in 2017. There have already been several changes to implementation dates and to some of the more radical proposals, including dropping the proposal to reduce HB by 10% for people claiming jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months. It is likely that there will be further changes to come and the Landlord Information Network will ensure that members are kept as up to date as possible. This briefing is designed to give you information on both the Welfare reform bill and the changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit. It will help you to plan how to reduce the impact of the changes for your tenants and therefore how to minimise the negative impact of the changes on your rental income and arrears levels.

Key Findings: Pilot work between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and five English local authorities on new approaches to addressing worklessness has recently reiterated the commitment between central and local government. Local authorities do have a central, longer term role in reducing worklessness and should resist the temptation to reduce their involvement for a short-term budget saving. Local authorities who have targeted the causes and outcomes of worklessness have been effective at reducing the gap between the areas with highest and lowest unemployment rates and have for accounted for the bulk of the reduction in Incapacity Benefits claimants. Understanding and championing those most affected by the economic downturn needs to become a more significant local authority priority, given that those most affected will be the most likely service users. Informing new local ways of working to maximise impacts across all public sector investment, rather than isolated budget management processes, should define this new approach. Local authorities are best place to provide leadership, given their greater levels of understanding related to the history and constituency of their communities.

The Welfare Reform Bill, introduced 16 Feb 2011, contains two important measures which will affect Local Housing Allowance claimants (LHA) living in the private rented sector. These effects are on top of changes to the calculation method and the payment caps announced in the 2010 budget and passed into law in November 2010. This research, carried out by Shelter and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), finds that these further changes will have a severe impact on private renting families' ability to find decent affordable homes in areas with higher employment.

Drawing on domestic and international evidence, the reports aims to demonstrate that personalisation at a commissioning level encourages positive engagement among target groups. CESI argues that, by allowing Employment and Support Allowance claimants the opportunity to manage their own budget from which they can build their own support packages, providers have a better chance of improving performance against job-outcome targets and delivering a programme that works for this new category of active jobseeker.

Gas safety has become an increasing area of focus and scrutiny by HSE over the last few years with a number of high profile prosecutions following deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning against both corporations and individuals, resulting in sizeable fines, and in some cases terms of imprisonment for the individuals. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (as amended) and the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (as amended) place independent duties as regards gas safety on a wide variety of dutyholders. These duties are potentially "qualifying duties" for the purposes of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.