Unruly neighbours could see housing benefit axed
The Government, in a bid to stamp out anti-social behaviour, is to consult on the merits of depriving persistently noisy neighbours of their housing benefit.
The Department for Work and Pensions DWP will ask local authorities and housing associations for their views.
Persistently untidy or unruly neighbours could be punished with the removal of housing benefit if a consensus is reached on the issue during the consultation process.
Welfare minister Malcolm Wicks will set out the consultation today. He said: ‘There is something specifically wrong about someone being able to make the life of their neighbour hellish and being able to do it courtesy of a subsidy from the taxpayer in the form of housing benefit.’
The Government, which proffered its consultation plans in a White Paper in March, expects the consultation process to end in August.
Work and Pensions Secretary Andrew Smith said: ‘The Government sympathises with those who question whether it is right for the state to support the housing costs of people whose behaviour brings misery to the lives of individuals and communities.’
Critics of the proposal have said the move would breach human rights law.
