Safe as Houses - Universal Credit

Southwark was one of the first areas of the country where Universal Credit, the new benefits system administered by national government, was introduced. The council has been committed to monitoring how the Universal Credit benefits system affects our residents. We commissioned the Smith Institute to carry out research examining the impact of Universal Credit on council tenants, particularly in terms of their ability to keep up with rent payments. This research has been set out in three reports over the last two years, called Safe as Houses.

Reports

• October 2017 Safe as Houses ^{(pdf, 1.2mb)}: The impact of universal credit on tenants and their rent payment behaviour in the London boroughs of Southwark and Croydon, and Peabody
• Safe as Houses: Stark report findings reveal worrying picture for Universal Credit recipients
• November 2018 Safe as Houses 2 ^{(pdf, 692kb)}: A follow-on report into the impact of Universal Credit on Southwark Council’s housing tenants rent payment behaviour
• Safe as Houses 2: New in-depth report reveals deepening concerns for Universal Credit recipients
• September 2019 Safe as Houses 3 ^{(pdf, 277kb)}: Have government reforms to Universal Credit reduced the rent arrears of Southwark’s tenants?
• Safe as Houses 3: Third wave of Universal Credit research shows system still driving rent arrears and poverty
• September 2019 Safe as Houses 3: Have government reforms to Universal Credit reduced the rent arrears of Southwark’s tenants?
• Safe as Houses 3 ^{(pdf, 277kb)}: Third wave of Universal Credit research shows system still driving rent arrears and poverty

Page last updated: 24 September 2019