GEORGE Bernard Shaw once wrote: ‘Property is organised robbery’.

In light of the new cap on Local Housing Allowance (LHA), many people on benefits or low incomes will no doubt agree.

Currently, LHA is paid to just over 12,000 people in Oxford, to help pay their rent to private landlords.

Since April, new claimants have seen the amount they can claim based on the lowest 30 per cent of local rents, instead of the average.

And from January, the new rates will also start applying to those already receiving housing benefits – forcing many, it is feared to leave the city.

Government reforms have also seen more cash deducted from housing benefit for every grown-up child or non-dependent living in a property because it is assumed they are paying rent.

A fact which, according to the city council, has resulted in more young couples and single mums being made homeless by their parents.

Of course it is vital in these tough economic times that money is saved, and most of us would agree with that.

But under these specific reforms, it would seem that a sense of fairness has been left out of the equation.