April 2011 Change Tenure Local Value Details Actions, Impacts/Outcomes Communications & No’s Training Excess benefit PRS 1,100 Approx. Letters to all existing Very little contact from From April 2011 for new removed for new £750K per customers affected customers the excess customers – & existing annum not applicable benefit represented From anniversary date for DHP’s claimants in as money over and money over and above existing customers private rented above rent costs level of housing costs so (between April 2011 and sector in theory did not impact March 2012) on ability to pay rent, although still financial impact. Fully implemented Restriction to 4 PRS NA NA Demand for social rented Issues raised with BCH Very few existing room LHA rate customers were affected Could restrict choice for LHA rates will be for new claimants by this change large families available on the in the private (approximately 12) and internet each month sector consequently did not anticipate that this would impact on large numbers of new customers. Fully implemented LHA calculated PRS NA NA The 30th percentile Officers providing Very little contact from on 30th calculation is likely to advice to tenants have new customers percentile for result in more volatile LHA been made aware of regarding this change – new claimants in rates month to month as the reasons for the assumption is that the private sector no longer looking at the fluctuations in the customers will have mid-point of the local monthly LHA rates chosen properties with rental market rent levels that were in Julianne Scarlett
April 2011 Change Tenure Local No’s Value Details Actions, Communications & Training Impacts/Outcomes Excess benefit removed for new & existing claimants in private rented sector PRS 1,100 Approx. £750K per annum From April 2011 for new customers From anniversary date for existing customers (between April 2011 and March 2012) Letters to all existing customers affected DHP’s not applicable as money over and above rent costs Very little contact from customers – the excess benefit represented money over and above level of housing costs so in theory did not impact on ability to pay rent, although still financial impact. Fully implemented Restriction to 4 room LHA rate for new claimants in the private sector PRS NA NA Demand for social rented Could restrict choice for large families Issues raised with BCH LHA rates will be available on the internet each month Very few existing customers were affected by this change (approximately 12) and consequently did not anticipate that this would impact on large numbers of new customers. Fully implemented LHA calculated on 30th percentile for new claimants in the private sector PRS NA NA The 30th percentile calculation is likely to result in more volatile LHA rates month to month as no longer looking at the mid-point of the local rental market Officers providing advice to tenants have been made aware of the reasons for the fluctuations in the monthly LHA rates Julianne Scarlett Very little contact from new customers regarding this change – assumption is that customers will have chosen properties with rent levels that were in
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