23 May 2003
Government plans to dock the housing benefit of tenants who indulge in antisocial behaviour have met a hostile response from local authorities and housing associations.
Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith this week began a consultation exercise on two options to withhold part of the benefits paid to offenders.
The government's preferred option is that local authorities would decide if a tenant committed antisocial acts, and then deduct benefits.
Alternatively, courts that convict tenants of relevant offences would certify them as antisocial, triggering a penalty imposed by councils.
Smith said: 'We sympathise with those who question whether the state should support the housing costs of people whose behaviour brings misery to the lives of individuals and communities.
'It is hard to exaggerate the anger and powerlessness of people who are… the victims of harassment or noise nuisance.'
But Gwyneth Taylor, housing programme manager at the Local Government Association, said: 'We don't like it. What they are proposing is a pretty fundamental change to the housing benefit system, which has always been based on need and would instead be predicated on behaviour.'
Taylor said the government's preferred option would lead to inconsistent and arbitrary penalties. 'It would expose local authorities to a significant risk of legal challenge. That is why the government prefers it – it would not be running that risk,' she added.
The extra bureaucracy would complicate housing benefit administration, contrary to the government's own aim of making it simpler, she pointed out.
A spokesman for the National Housing Federation said: 'Withholding benefit without making any attempt to work with those involved might simply move the problem elsewhere'.
Even the Social Landlords' Crime and Nuisance Group denounced Smith's proposals. National organiser Tim Winter said: 'We remain to be convinced that tackling antisocial behaviour through the benefit system would not bring the perverse outcome of further social exclusion, and increasing arrears for landlords.'
A DWP spokeswoman said that withholding benefit from transgressors was a matter of equity. 'We have a benefit system linked to rights and responsibilities, but if people behave in an antisocial way towards neighbours the community is still paying for their housing costs.'
PFmay2003
