The Department for Work and Pensions has overturned a tribunal’s decision to exempt two brothers from the bedroom tax due to room size.
The landmark ruling is a blow to anyone hoping to challenge the bedroom tax solely by arguing that a room is too small to be considered a bedroom because of overcrowding definitions in the relevant Housing Acts in Scotland and England.
The head of a prominent regional lettings agency says the new immigration act being trialled in the Midlands from today, and possibly nationwide next year, could lead to agents accidentally discriminating.
It will also mean landlords will rely increasingly on agents who may have to change procedures to cope with the additional workload.
MPs will debate and vote on measures to change the bedroom tax as part of an ‘affordable homes bill’ today.
Liberal Democrat backbencher Andrew George has tabled a private members bill that would exempt people from the bedroom tax if they have not received a reasonable offer of alternative accommodation. It would also exempt disabled people whose home has been adapted.
Labour MPs are set to support proposed legislation that would water down the bedroom tax.
In an article for the blog website LabourList yesterday, Rachel Reeves,
shadow work and pensions secretary, confirmed that her party would vote
for the private members bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Andrew
George.
Iain Duncan Smith is to signal a further crackdown on welfare in a speech suggesting that changes to the benefit system have lowered unemployment.
The Conservative might promise to lower the benefit cap from £26,000 to nearer to £18,000 in its general election manifesto.
The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) system has serious flaws causing "considerable distress and anxiety" and requires "fundamental redesign", the Work and Pensions Committee said in a report published today.
Simply "rebranding" the Work Capability Assessment (or WCA) used to determine eligibility for ESA by appointing a new contractor will not solve the problems, it said.
The Labour Party has accused the Liberal Democrats of ‘unbelievable hypocrisy’ over its change in stance on the bedroom tax.
The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said that the Lib Dems no longer support the policy in its current form and now want an exemption for disabled people and for housing benefit to only be cut if households refuse an offer to move.
Government officials are piloting ways to force benefit claimants to undergo mental health treatment or risk losing their benefits, reports suggest.
A series of pilots combining help to work initiatives and mental health treatments, led jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), are due to be expanded within weeks
Another local authority has set out its proposals to introduce selective landlord licensing, with hefty £20,000 fines for those who do not fall into line.
Doncaster council is now consulting on the proposals for licensing in the Hexthorpe area because of alleged tenancy management and anti-social behaviour problems.
Boris Johnson has launched a rental standard for private sector landlords in London, in a bid to ensure tenants can rent confidently and help landlords understand the law.
The London Rental Standard badge will be awarded to all landlords and letting agents who meet a set of core commitments - including transparent fees, better property conditions, protected deposits and fast response times for repairs.