Last Christmas with the kids

Broken bandwagon

Peer pressure

The government’s welfare reforms faced a fierce opponent in Lord Richard Best as he battled to protect society’s poorest people. Carl Brown meets the staunch housing advocate to find out what drives him and what’s next on his agenda

The waiting game

In week two of our campaign to free up land for development, Inside Housing visits Basildon to find out how people on the housing waiting list feel about the lack of affordable homes. Photography and words by Simon Brandon

Getting together

Father killed himself after housing benefit cut

A father killed himself after his housing benefit was cut, an inquest heard on Tuesday.

Welcome flexibility

Two landlords have been named top employers for working families. Lydia Stockdale talks to one about how flexible time-keeping benefits managers and employees alike

Going spare

The government’s contentious ‘bedroom tax’ on under-occupying tenants is set to become law this month. Alex Turner looks at the disproportionate effect it’s likely to have in the north

Casting the net for a home

A website aimed solely at local housing allowance claimants is helping people find homes. Lydia Stockdale logs on

Take care

A person who lacks the mental capacity to enter a tenancy agreement may still be entitled to housing benefit, says Robert Latham

Open-door policy

Allowing private landlords to validate local housing allowance claims can help councils simplify their procedures and cut their housing waiting lists. Neil Merrick heads to Derbyshire to find out how