A landlord has raised concerns about how tenants might navigate local authority housing lists after clearing rent arrears, particularly with the Renters (Reform) Act (RRA) now in effect. This follows a case where a middle-aged woman, living in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), was evicted from a two-bedroom local authority house.
The eviction occurred after she accrued significant rent arrears, reportedly due to her Local Housing Allowance (LHA) falling to the one-bedroom rate once her children moved out. She also faced additional bedroom charges, commonly known as the bedroom tax.
Despite regularly asking for a smaller property, the council was reportedly unable to assist due to the arrears. The council has allegedly informed her that she can rejoin the housing list once her debt is cleared. The landlord suggests that similar situations may become more frequent as the RRA becomes established.