28.05.12
Waltham Forest changes re-housing policy
Waltham Forest council has suspended long-distance re-housing and will concentrate on finding more accommodation in eastLondon, appreciating school and family ties.
The council was recently criticised when a Stoke-on-Trent housing body revealed it had been approached about re-housing residents in temporary accommodation.
Other long-distance locations includedBedfordshire,KentandWalsall. Many of the residents offered homes outside ofLondonrefused, with fewer than 30 accepting the deal.
Weekly caps have been introduced on housing benefit, between £250 for a one-bed flat and £400 for a four-bed property. Local Housing Allowance is now calculated on the basis of cheaper rents instead of the midpoint of an area, making accommodation more expensive.
Cllr Marie Pye said: “The majority of people we offered this to just turned it down. Most people said they’d rather stay on their mum’s floor so their kids could go to the same school.
“We need to redouble our efforts to find accommodation in eastLondon.”
Last month housing minister Grant Shapps said long-distance relocation was unnecessary.
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