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A million people living in social housing could struggle with their rent and end up in debt as a result of the Government’s welfare shakeup, the National Housing Federation (NHF) has warned.

A NHF-commissioned report by Ipsos MORI and the University of Cambridge found that most housing associations fear a significant rise in rent arrears and believe their residents have little or no idea how the welfare changes - which are being rolled-out later this year – will affect them. 

Housing associations expect their rent arrears to increase by more than half as a result of the government’s welfare reforms.

A survey of 232 housing associations conducted by Ipsos Mori for the National Housing Federation has found on average registered providers expect arrears to rise by 51 per cent. If this is extrapolated across the sector it will mean an increase of £245 million. 

There is some concern that no announcement was made on housing benefit for the under 25's in the Autumn Statement, but we all know that the government is looking at a plethora of ways to reduce the massive deficit we inherited from the previous Labour government in a way that is fair and responsible to everyone.

The cost of housing benefit in our country almost doubled under the last government from £11 billion in 1999 to £21 billion in 2010, and in tough economic times it is not fair that those striving to make ends meet, also pay for the housing of those who can live at home. In some cases, housing benefit has trapped people in poverty and created a culture of entitlement. 

Nearly 1m people who are in work and claim benefits may be required to work longer, increase their earnings or face losing access to the new universal credit, two welfare ministers, Lord Freud and Mark Hoban, said on Monday.

The state's capacity to ask more of those in work and those that are self-employed is likely to be transformed by the introduction of universal credit in April, the ministers said at a Policy Exchange event. 

The sentencing of an agent to jail after he stole tenants’ deposits worth more than £200,000 has been welcomed by the National Approved Letting Scheme.

Keith Ranson, who had run R House in Plymouth where he helped himself to the money before attempting to start a new life in Lincolnshire as a branch manager for WH Brown, was given two years in prison last Friday. 

Councils being hit first by the benefits cap plan to lobby the government over fears they will be disadvantaged by the surprise move.

The government announced on 20 December that the £26,000 total household benefits cap will only apply to four councils, Haringey, Croydon, Enfield and Bromley, from 1 April and not to everywhere at the same time as widely expected. At least one, Croydon, is considering legal action to prevent the move. 

Barnsley is heading for a benefits crisis which could see thousands fall into debt and rent arrears across the borough reach record levels.

That grim warning comes from Jackie Walker, senior official at the Barnsley branch of the South Yorkshire Credit Union.

A Metropolitan police officer convicted of housing benefit fraud has been sacked from the force.

PC Stephen Holt, 43, had pleaded guilty to two criminal charges and was sentenced to do 200 hours community service at a hearing last month. 

Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for the national regulation of private landlords and letting agents.

He wants to see a national register of landlords, while he wants agents to be transparent and upfront about their ‘confusing’ fees. 

Labour leader MP Ed Miliband has pledged to protect the rights of private renters as part of his party's 'One Nation' philosophy.

In a speech to the Fabian Society, Mr Miliband highlighted the potentially divisive rift between private renters and homeowners.