Shapps clarifies plans to remove high earners from social housing

Shapps forced to clarify plans to remove high earners from social housing Grant Shapps, the housing minister, has clarified government plans to remove high earners from social housing , claiming tenants would be able to stay in their homes if they agreed to pay full market rent for their property. In an interview with the BBC yesterday, Shapps gave some more detail about which tenants might be subject to the policy, explaining that couples who jointly earned over £100,000 could be asked to pay more. The minister confirmed that local housing associations and councils would be left to set the exact policy Extra funding ruled out for pathfinders A Homes and Communities guidance paper has revealed that the government has no plans to provide extra funding to councils dealing with the aftermath of the housing market renewal pathfinders. Bidding guidance for the "HMR transition" programme, open to just five councils in the 11 former pathfinder areas, describes the funding scheme as final. "There will be no further DCLG funding and its purpose is to assist vulnerable people and areas to achieve a sustainable transition from the former HMR programme," it says. Spare bedrooms for those in a social housing 'a luxury councils can no longer afford' The welfare minister, Lord Freud has defended government plans to dock housing benefit claimants around £11 per week per spare bedroom in their house, claiming that the benefits bill is "out of control". He said government plans would tackle under-occupation of council and housing association homes, which could go to help house other families. The policy has been criticised by the National Housing Federation, which says smaller homes are in short supply. This content was brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the housing network for more like this direct to your inbox.