I have just been speaking to an old work colleague of mine who owns property in Bristol, he was telling me that he was approached by his letting agent to approve a let to a young 20 year old female, the letting agent told my old colleague that at present the applicant couldn’t afford the rent but if the application to rent was approved the situation would change.

My colleague asked the letting agent to elaborate, he was told that this 20 year was currently receiving £24,000 in benefits, she doesn’t work by the way, if the application to rent the property was accepted she would then have her benefits increased by a further £7,000. My colleague was horrified, on a morale ground he refused the applicant.

How are we the tax payer continuing to watch all of this happen, this is just one story how many others like this are happening day in day out??