The hbnotes Website
hbnotes is for anyone working in the housing or housing advice sector who needs an answer to a Housing Benefit problem. It provides easy access to summarised information on the Housing Benefit issues that housing professionals confront in their daily work.

The pages are organised by topic, from the housing worker’s perspective. The pages link to each other, to relevant HB regulations and guidance, to case law, and to a variety of standard letters for many situations. In addition, there is advice on how to challenge Housing Benefit decisions and how to improve procedure to maximise Housing Benefit entitlement/payments.
 
If a user is unable to find the answer to their Housing Benefit question they can use the site to contact us with their query and we usually aim to give them a response within 24 hours. This service is free to all users. However where a query requires extensive research, involving more than an hour’s work, we may charge a consultancy fee- see below. Frequently asked questions are added to appropriate pages on the site.
 
Users will be notified by email of any major relevant changes in HB legislation or administration and the site will be updated as soon as reasonably possible after enactment of major changes to the legislation.
Please scroll down for further information on what we provide.
 
Our charges
Our subscription charge is for unlimited users within an organisation to use the hbnotes site, its tools ie standard letters & calculators, and the on-line enquiry service, unrestricted for a whole year. The charge is based on the number of properties managed, and for 2011 these are:

Based on number of properties managed Charge from 1st January 2011	Cost
Up to 2,000 properties	£225 plus VAT p.a.
2,000 – up to 15,000 properties	£375 plus VAT p.a.
15,000 – up to 25,000 properties	£625 plus VAT p.a.
25,000 – up to 35,000 properties	£875 plus VAT p.a.
35,000 properties or more	£1125 plus VAT p.a.

Charges from 1st January 2012	Cost
Up to 2,000 properties	£235 plus VAT p.a.
2,000 – up to 15,000 properties	£395 plus VAT p.a.
15,000 – up to 25,000 properties	£655 plus VAT p.a.
25,000 – up to 35,000 properties	£915 plus VAT p.a.
35,000 properties or more	£1185 plus VAT p.a.

If you do not manage properties but are a voluntary organisation or charity, then please contact us for a price. 

hbnotes Consultancy
We provide a consultancy service where in a few limited occasions a more complex problem arises that requires extensive research or representation. Where such services are required the Client and the Company will make a separate agreement. 


hbnotes Training
We can provide tailored training courses on your premises to groups of up to 14 staff on a variety of Housing Benefit issues. Click here for more information.

These are examples of just some of the courses recently run by our experienced trainers:
Welfare Reform for Housing Workers
Using hbnotes to resolve HB issues
Preventing arrears through Housing Benefit
Calculating Housing Benefit
A practical guide to HB overpayments
Benefits Overview
Maximising income to prevent rent arrears
ESA and the impact on HB
Challenging HB decisions