Tenants' rent arrears soar in pilot benefit scheme

Rent arrears among tenants on a government pilot project that pays housing benefit directly to recipients have seen a big increase, figures show.

One area is predicting a £14m loss if the new system is implemented for all its tenants, the BBC has learned.

Paying housing benefit directly to recipients, rather than their landlords, will form a key part of the planned new Universal Credit.

Michael Buchanan reports.