09 June 2006
Town hall leaders have given cautious backing to government plans announced this week to dock the housing benefit of antisocial residents who refuse to undertake 'rehabilitation'.
Bryony Rudkin, chair of the Local Government Association's safer communities board, said the sanction, outlined by Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton on June 5, could work, but only as part of a broader package of measures.
'It is useful as long as we consider ways to change behaviour in the long term. We also need to look at how people who aren't on housing benefits are dealt with,' she added.
Under the plans outlined by Hutton, persistent offenders evicted from their homes, who are on housing benefit, will be offered a range of support and rehabilitation to get to grips with the causes of their behaviour.
If they refuse to co-operate, the authority will be able to issue them with a 'warning notice', and continued non-compliance will lead to benefit deductions on a sliding scale.
The deduction will be 10% in the first four weeks and 20% for a further four weeks. Continued refusal could mean the loss of all housing benefit for up to five years.
Launching the plans, part of the government's Respect programme, Hutton said: 'It is not right that people who get evicted should be able simply to move to another area and continue their bad behaviour.
'These antisocial neighbours must realise they have reached the end of the line. The right to housing benefit must and will carry a responsibility to be a decent neighbour.'
The proposals will require primary legislation.
PFjun2006
