The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed Welfare Minister Lord Freud's announcement of an independent review of the impact of housing benefit cuts. The review, in response to a motion tabled by Lord Best, was confirmed during a debate in the House of Lords.

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CIH Chief Executive Sarah Webb said: "The promise of a review demonstrates that the government has listened to some of the concerns voiced by professionals around the impact of housing benefit reforms on low income households."

CIH's analysis has highlighted the risks of greater arrears, evictions and homelessness and of households being priced out of the private rented sector in areas up and down the country. These concerns were also detailed in the report from the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC).

(CD/GK)