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Important change to benefits

Private tenants in Wandsworth will get flat-rate benefit payments towards their rent from next Spring.

The new Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is to be piloted in the borough as a replacement for housing benefit.. The new payment isn't adjusted when the claimant's income or rent changes but is instead based on area property values and the tenant's circumstances such as household size.

Battersea's Labour MP Martin Linton was informed of the decision today by Department for Work and Pensions Minister Chris Pond.

Martin said: "I welcome the council's decision to pilot this payment and the Government's promise of regular evaluation reports. Some tenants could receive more than they actually pay in rent and be better off, while others could receive less - although this is already the case with housing benefit. It is important that people are not made badly worse off under this system so I will be seeking residents' feedback.

"The idea is to encourage landlords to set, and for tenants to seek out and negotiate, reasonable rents. It is expected to speed up the processing of benefit claims and reduce barriers to taking up work."