Minister 'worried' about housing benefit cap

Freud rejects change to calculation of cap

Welfare reform minister Lord Freud has indicated the government is not willing to change the way the proposed £500 a week cap on benefits for workless households is calculated- but has promised measures to ‘ease the transition’ for families.

Government to push through welfare reforms

The government has vowed to fight on with its controversial plans to cap benefits after losing another House of Lords vote on the Welfare Reform Bill last night.

Seconds out

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

Defeat for government on Welfare Reform Bill

The government has tonight lost another key vote on the Welfare Reform Bill

Colour charts

As voters across England, Scotland and Wales prepare to go to the polls, we assess the key battlegrounds for housing

Some food for thought

Landlords should assess their level of risk as the Bribery Act comes into force, says Kirsty Thompson, solicitor at Devonshires

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

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

The repairs rule book

Contractor Forrest launched a code of conduct for its repairs and maintenance workers last summer, improving customer satisfaction as a result. Here Sally-Ann Smith explains how it works