A London borough council has said that “hundreds” of private landlords have quit the benefits sector.
Redbridge Council said it currently has 223 households living in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Cllr Michelle Dunn, cabinet member for housing, said: “I am very concerned about the number of families in B&B accommodation and it is a key priority for me.
“The problem has come about after a high number of private sector landlords have taken back several hundred of their properties, which we have used successfully for many years.
“It appears they give them out to more attractive private renters and we just cannot compete.”
See report from the Ilford Recorder:
http://tinyurl.com/mvunvcr
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Comments
And there's all the problems when the LHA tenant won't vacate when requested to.... nice little shortcut to a permanent Council home for them and every time we have the Council telling them not to leave until the bailiffs turn up. Obviously landlords want to avoid these hassles if they can.
Surprise, surprise - maybe it is something to do with the fact that housing benefit is now paid direct to tenants rather than landlords with the consequential risk of arrears. It is called cause and effect!