LTF letter to Chris Pond MP re proposed HB reform - July '03

Chris Pond MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary (Commons)
Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS

16.07.03

Dear Chris

The London Tenants Federation notes that in his budget statement on April 9th, Gordon Brown welcomed the 10 housing benefit reform pathfinder schemes and said that it made sense to roll out such a scheme nation wide. We are very concerned that he also stated that a similar reform should be extended to the social housing sector 'when the conditions are right', although there has been no consultation with tenants on this issue.

The London Tenants Federation brings together borough wide council tenants federations across London. Our members have already raised the following concerns -

· The 'shopping incentive' appears to focus on availability of 'choice'. In London, however, where there is insufficient social housing, there really isn't any choice.
· Tenants living in high value property areas across London worry that they will be forced to move from their communities and perhaps out of London if their housing benefit does not cover their rent. This appears be contradict government stated policy of building strong and sustainable communities.
· Tenants fear that the policy will simply extend ghettoisation and make some areas, where rents are set to increase considerable through rent restructuring, inaccessible to the poorest of London's residents.
· The policy may lead to an increase in evictions in the capital.
· There should at least be choice on whether housing benefit is paid directly to tenants or their landlord.

The London Tenants Federation would be grateful if you would advise us on how an assessment on 'when the conditions are right' will be made and who will make that decision. We ask that there be a commitment to full consultation with tenants before there is any reform of housing benefit in the social housing sector.

• Housing Benefit Reform