subject: London loft extension builders may lose business as the Government caps housing benefit [print this page] London loft extension builders may lose business as the Government caps housing benefit
Builders who specialise in loft extensions in London may see a steep decline in their business because the government's cap in housing benefit will make it less lucrative for landlords to divide properties into apartments and annexes, according to some analysts in the construction industry.
The new cap on housing benefit was announced by chancellor George Osborne in the government's autumn spending review and could see thousands of benefit claimants priced out of the capital, resulting in lower demand for the construction of loft extension-style apartments in the capital.
News of the housing benefit limit has made waves across London particularly; with mayor Boris Johnson controversially denouncing the policy, saying that he was against Kosovo-style social cleansing.'
Clinton Foakes who runs a building firm in Ealing which specialises partly in London loft extensions said: "We are not too concerned about the housing benefit cap affecting demand for our trade.
