CHANGES to the housing benefits system could lead to a “serious rise in homelessness”, Enfield Council has warned.

Officers have been studying the coalition Government's plans to alter the Local Housing Allowance, which many believe will force families living in central London to flee to outer areas of the capital in search of lower rents.

Judy Flight, the council's head of sustainable communities, warned this week that Enfield stands to bear a significant brunt of the planned changes.

She writes in a report due to be handed to councillors on Tuesday: “Significant changes in the benefits system have been introduced or announced, particularly as part of the emergency Budget in June 2010, that are likely to result in deepening deprivation within Enfield during tightening economic conditions.”

London Councils has estimated more than 14,000 families could be force to move house if a new housing allowance cap is introduced.

And Ms Flight warns boroughs like Enfield, with relatively low rents, “stand gain a significant proportion of outward migrating residents”.

The officer fears newly migrated tenants could be evicted if they are not receiving as much in benefits, which would put strain the council to rehouse people or deal with a rise in homelessness across Enfield.

She adds officers will continue to monitor the situation, but suggests councillors on the Housing Scrutiny Committee could order an in-depth report to determine the scale of the problem the borough would face.