Posted 23.01.17
The Guardian: Article link
The following is from a recent article in the online edition of The Guardian.
It used to be "No blacks, no Irish, no dogs", now it's "No DSS, no pets, no children".
Check out the rental listings on websites such as Rightmove, or press your nose against the window of your local lettings agent, and you will often see "No DSS". It means the landlord or agent won't rent a property to someone on Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance.
How common is it, and does refusing to let a property to someone on housing benefit amount to unlawful discrimination?
Campaigners say it's problematic. In a blog, housing charity Shelter said: "Rising rents and shrinking wages mean that being in work is no longer a guarantee you won't need help with housing costs. But if you do receive this help, it's guaranteed that you will be openly discriminated against."
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Posted 16.01.17
Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA): Article link
Housing leaders are calling on our political leaders to honour the commitment they have made to avoid the damaging introduction of the Bedroom Tax in Northern Ireland.
The Fresh Start Agreement of November 2015, negotiated by local politicians, the UK and Irish governments, clearly stated: 'It has been agreed that the social sector size criteria - the so called bedroom tax - will not apply, as agreed by the Executive.' Significant funding was set aside to fully mitigate the policy's impact until March 2020.
If the collapse of the NI Executive results in a failure to deliver this mitigation, the introduction of the Bedroom Tax will have a severe impact on many hard-pressed social housing tenants.
Addressing this legislative issue must be a political priority, for Stormont and Westminster. NIFHA calls on the Northern Ireland political parties and the Secretary of State to facilitate emergency procedures to enable these supplementary payments to be made.