Big changes to housing benefits start to come into effect from April 2011.

If you are getting housing benefit (social housing tenants) or local housing allowance (private rented tenants) then you need to know what is happening.

If you are a private landlord, then the amount of rent you charge may become too expensive for some people to pay but there are things you can do to help your tenants.

Almost everyone will be affected.

New claimants, including people that already claim but are moving house, will be subject to the new rules from April.

Existing claimants will be affected from their ‘annual review date’ and there will be a 9-month transition period for most aspects of the benefit.

So if you are planning on moving house, you may want to get advice before you sign a new tenancy agreement.

More changes are due in October, when the Local Housing Allowance benefit will be reduced, on average by £12 per week.

You can check out more detail on the changes and timings online at www.direct.gov.uk (put Local Housing Allowance in the search box).

Landlords can help. If you have tenants getting local housing allowance to help pay the rent, they will have to find the extra money to make up the shortfall.

Landlords might consider lowering their rent in line with the benefit level - check out the rates for the local area at https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx.

Landlords could also accept ‘DIGS’, a deposit guarantee scheme where eligible tenants can apply for their deposit to be guaranteed instead of having to find the deposit money as well as rent.

It works a bit like insurance.

The CAB are very worried about all these changes which could lead to more debt and homelessness in our area.

Across the country we are collecting evidence of people who are struggling to pay their rent because of the changes in housing benefit.

Do let us know your story so we can add it to the national picture and lobby Government for change.

Free, confidential advice and help is available on any aspect of this article as well as debt, benefits, employment, and any other problems.

You can contact the Grange or Windermere Citizens Advice Bureau by phone or in person. Call 015395 33100 / 015394 46464.