Duncan Smith plans benefit overhaul

'Social care should target poor'

Extra cash for social care should be targeted at the poorest older people, a think-tank established by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said.

Freud 'cynical' over landlords' direct payment plea

The minister in charge of reforming the welfare system has poured cold water on hopes that social tenants could have the choice of paying their housing benefit direct to their landlord.

Crisis talk

It’s time for radical action to tackle London’s housing problems, argues Green Party mayoral candidate Jenny Jones

Missing link

Speaking out of turn

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

Power to the people

A series of training programmes held across the country have been teaching tenants how to scrutinise their landlords. Helen Clifton finds out if it is working

Casting the net for a home

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

How to...

Social landlords can play a big role in improving the energy efficiency of the nation’s homes. But they must lobby hard to ensure ministers understand that they will need support to do so, says Martin Wheatley

Do it yourself housing

The government wants to help people build their own home and housing associations can help