Press Release (15 August 2003)

DWP Appoint IRIS Consulting to Review the HB Single Room Rent Regulations

A multi-disciplinary team led by IRIS Consulting has been appointed by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to review the impact of the Single Room Rent Regulations which apply to under 25s claiming housing benefit.

The DWP introduced changes to the regulations in July 2001 and it is the effects of those changes which the research team will be assessing.

There are claims that the single room rent regulations have made it harder for young people to find rented accommodation and that they have deterred landlords from letting to under 25s.

The research team will be carrying out interviews with young HB claimants, with landlords and letting agents and other stakeholders. The research will include a number of case studies that will seek to look in detail at the local effect of the regulations and the changes introduced in 2001.

The project started in August 2003 and is due to be completed by March 2004.

The research team led by IRIS Consulting comprises:

• John Harvey – project director
• David Sands – data analyst
• Geoff Fimister – policy analyst (IRRV Solutions)
• Tracy Crowe – HB administrator and trainer (IRRV Solutions)
• Donald Houston – housing and employment markets analyst (Dundee University)
• David Barnes – statistician.

Any individuals or organisations wishing to contribute views and information to the research may do so by contacting John Harvey by post or e-mail at the following address: johnharvey@irisconsulting.co.uk