10 November 2010
A new website allows private tenants to calculate how much money they will lose under the coalition’s proposed housing benefit changes.
The site, HB Update has been set up by Entitled To, a company which provides benefits calculation software for a range of charities and local authorities.
According to Entitled To:
“The site tells people first what their Local Housing Allowance is now before explaining how changes in 2011 will impact on them.
“The new website in effect provides an alternative to the government's LHA Direct website. But as well as being much easier to use, www.HBupdate.com also tells people how the changes that are happening next year will affect them.
“The changes to Housing Benefit will cut the amount most private sector claimants of Housing Benefit will get. If they cannot persuade their landlord to reduce their rent then it is likely that many of them will have to move house.”
The only personal information you need to provide to use the site is your postcode. However, the site does point out that none of the proposals are yet law and encourages you to provide your email address so that you can be informed of any changes.
