New housing benefit cap starts Monday 7 November

Currently set at £26,000 a year it is being lowered to £23,000 a year in London, and £20,000 outside the capital. Some households will lose as much as £115 a week.

Households capped will find the housing benefit payment they receive, often paid directly landlords, is reduced. The concern is that those hit by the cap will soon be in mounting arrears. It is predicted that if tenants can’t pay then the outcome may be that the landlord, social or private, absorbs the cost of the arrears, or the tenant would end up being evicted which is costly for everyone involved - on so many levels.