Bring Housing Benefit in line with Private Rent

At the moment, this issue couldn't be more important. As the amount of people living in privately rented accommodation continues to grow, so do the rent increases and with them, the number of people, a lot of whom are in work, who are forced to claim housing benefit. However, the discrepancy between the actual rent charged and housing benefit paid is getting bigger all the time. For instance, a two bedroom house costing £695 a month let via a private landlord/lady would give you an award of £480 a month. These figures are calculated using an individual who is entitled to full housing benefit, due to a disability payment and yet it still leaves an astonishing £215 a month to be found. Private tenants are still living in a perpetual state of no housing security, with just a two month eviction notice required in most situations, highly rigid pre-screening process and no right to buy. Something has to seriously change. It is not right to punish people because they are paid a low wage or are too ill to work. Let Norwich City Council feel some of the frustration and anger that I know is out there.