Housing Benefit

[007stuart]

Just seen this on BBC News Website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16384739 and in particular the clip showing a family living in a private rented property being paid by the State on a rental £2000 per week or £104000 a year!

Fair play to the guy and his family however I do wonder why this should be allowed, surely it is better to start building public rented property that will remain rented for ever then allow the managing agency, be it local authority or housing association, to charge rent on a sliding scale given the total income earned by thge household.

Also in the article there is a claim that many people will not be able to afford the new revised maximums however we should also remember that this will probably cause rental costs to reduce as private landlords cant have properties lying empty. If they don't tenants then the the buy to let mortgage used for the purchase will fall into arrear and eventually they will be repossessed. This will then allow the property to return to the housing market generally at a more affordable price. Who knows it may well affect general house prices and bring them down in the South East thus allowing more people enter into the housing market.

[AdamD]

.....£2000 a WEEK!? What the heck?

That's nuts, a mid terrace house, for that price? Is it really that expensive in his area?

[Taf]

I am a firm believer that "buy to rent" landlords are, in many cases, vultures who force up rents countrywide.

[Chrysalis]

state subsidising landlords coming to an end then in the upper end market.