A case for the provision of consistent comprehensive housing advice services

New from the JRF: A case for the provision of consistent comprehensive housing advice services across England, Wales and Scotland.

Problems:

- There are few places to access housing-related advice for individuals unless they are at crisis point.
- Cuts to local authority budgets have resulted in a reduction in scope of existing support services, which are now focused only on the most vulnerable.

Recommendations:

- There is an opportunity for independent, consistent housing advice services, for all tenures and needs, to be available across all four nations in the United Kingdom.
- Advice through the services would address housing costs, the complexity of the benefits system, and the unresponsiveness of the current housing system.
- Set-up costs of the services should be funded by national governments, with running costs split between the government, local authorities and charitable or grant funding.

https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/housing-advice-service-widening-access-housing-advice