- At least 1 in 10 properties online likely to unlawfully discriminate against people on housing benefit
- New figures demonstrate 'profound impact' of lower benefit cap says CIH
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Posted 08.11.18
National Housing Federation: Article link
At least 1 in 10 rental properties in England are likely to be advertised unlawfully by explicitly discriminating against people who rely on housing benefit, new research from the National Housing Federation and Shelter shows.
The analysis of around 86,000 letting agent adverts on Zoopla shows that 8,710 adverts for different residential properties in England say 'no DSS' or 'no housing benefit'.
A shortage of social housing and high house prices have led to rapidly growing numbers of people having to rent privately and depend on housing benefit. There are now more than 1.4 million people in this situation in England.
Women and people with disabilities are disproportionately in this situation and therefore affected by discrimination. Indirectly discriminating against woman and people with disabilities, by banning people on housing benefit, is likely to violate the 2010 Equality Act.
The analysis from the two housing charities reveals the discrimination is far more prevalent in some parts of the country.
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Posted 02.11.18
Chartered Institute of Housing: Article link
Responding to figures released from the Department for Work and Pensions on the number of households affected by the benefit cap to August 2018, Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive Terrie Alafat CBE said:
"Today's figures show that the lower benefit cap is having a profound impact on people's lives.
"It is punishing the people who will find it most difficult to escape by finding work, like single parents with very young children and people who aren't able to work.
"Seven out of 10 households who had their housing benefit capped are single-parent families, and three quarters of those have a child under five.
"Another 14% are receiving employment and support allowance, meaning they're not currently fit for work.
"We believe the government must scrap the reduced cap or risk making things even worse."
The Department for Work and Pensions' 'Benefit Cap Statistics' can be accessed this link.
