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Bedroom tax

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

My council introduce "bedroom tax" this year and its going to a nightmare.

They want those underoccupying council homes to pay more money on bedrooms not used.

Now this sounds ok on paper but they also admitted they dont have enough homes for those wishing to move to smaller properties.

so what are those to do.

To me , its just trying to squeeze more money out of those already struggling . its going down like a lead balloon.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

It's not just your council.

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By *atisfy janeWoman
over a year ago

Torquay

Local Councils are facing tremendous pressure from central government, who seem intent on forcing them to undertake very unpopular tasks and programmes.

They publically berate any council that attempts to increase Council Tax, and in the next breath tell those same councils that their funding from central government is to be decreased for the third year in a row.

It's the perfect way to deflect public anger

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon

There are properties as there are a high rate of families that are in overcrowded properties..HA's are putting things into place to deal with this.. It will work with LA's with larger housing stocks who are able to transfer those that wish to be moved into smaller properties.. using the properties where familes are lacking 1 or more bedrooms.. Its trying to use best use of housing stock..

Of course those that are under occupying and don't want to move then they will have to pay the bedroom tax. Its a difficult thing...

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"Local Councils are facing tremendous pressure from central government, who seem intent on forcing them to undertake very unpopular tasks and programmes.

They publically berate any council that attempts to increase Council Tax, and in the next breath tell those same councils that their funding from central government is to be decreased for the third year in a row.

It's the perfect way to deflect public anger"

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"My council introduce "bedroom tax" this year and its going to a nightmare.

They want those underoccupying council homes to pay more money on bedrooms not used.

Now this sounds ok on paper but they also admitted they dont have enough homes for those wishing to move to smaller properties.

so what are those to do.

To me , its just trying to squeeze more money out of those already struggling . its going down like a lead balloon. "

take in a lodger ?

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago


"There are properties as there are a high rate of families that are in overcrowded properties..HA's are putting things into place to deal with this.. It will work with LA's with larger housing stocks who are able to transfer those that wish to be moved into smaller properties.. using the properties where familes are lacking 1 or more bedrooms.. Its trying to use best use of housing stock..

Of course those that are under occupying and don't want to move then they will have to pay the bedroom tax. Its a difficult thing... "

I under occupy but have been trying for ten years to move. It would be ok if i wanted high rise.i dont and wont give up my home ive had for 30yrs to be stuck in a high rise flat.

If i have to i will pay the extra and they can go jump.....regardless of those on the waiting list.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

it all councils hun ,,yes agree they just tryin 2 squeeze more cash 2 line the pockets ,,,,even tryin 2 make kids return home 2 parents as they not helpin them with rent or even housing benefit ,,,,,,disgusting ,,,,,,u r having to pay ten pound per room that is not occupied ,

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"it all councils hun ,,yes agree they just tryin 2 squeeze more cash 2 line the pockets ,,,,even tryin 2 make kids return home 2 parents as they not helpin them with rent or even housing benefit ,,,,,,disgusting ,,,,,,u r having to pay ten pound per room that is not occupied ,"

Its not about putting money in their pockets that is the thing they have no money due to central goverenment slashing the amount of money they get...

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow


"it all councils hun ,,yes agree they just tryin 2 squeeze more cash 2 line the pockets ,,,,even tryin 2 make kids return home 2 parents as they not helpin them with rent or even housing benefit ,,,,,,disgusting ,,,,,,u r having to pay ten pound per room that is not occupied ,"

It ain't about councils. This is straight from Whitehall.

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

[Removed by poster at 07/01/13 23:15:13]

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Our council redecorate their offices every 12mth.....heating is full on and the place has bloody machines where people used to help...they are a bloody joke.

They wasted tons by sticking a huge monstrosity in the centre of town , which no one wanted or uses...

Their pay has increased every year and yet they have no money.

They , like all those in charge are lining their own pockets with little thought to the residents of the town.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"it all councils hun ,,yes agree they just tryin 2 squeeze more cash 2 line the pockets ,,,,even tryin 2 make kids return home 2 parents as they not helpin them with rent or even housing benefit ,,,,,,disgusting ,,,,,,u r having to pay ten pound per room that is not occupied ,

It ain't about councils. This is straight from Whitehall."

Was going to body swerve this one, but can't ! When you say "their" pockets to whom do you refer ? these are councils elected by the public to serve the public ! with budgets to meet and books to balance ! not some tyranical mediaeval overlord imposing unjust taxes on the poor purely to fill his coffers ! if you can't support yourself outside the parental home ? why the hell should I support you ? stay home until you can ! I'm truly sick to my stomach of being a financial crutch to those that are patently unable or unprepared to pay their way, you think you're being penalised, get real !

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow


"

Was going to body swerve this one, but can't ! When you say "their" pockets to whom do you refer ? these are councils elected by the public to serve the public ! with budgets to meet and books to balance ! not some tyranical mediaeval overlord imposing unjust taxes on the poor purely to fill his coffers ! if you can't support yourself outside the parental home ? why the hell should I support you ? stay home until you can ! I'm truly sick to my stomach of being a financial crutch to those that are patently unable or unprepared to pay their way, you think you're being penalised, get real ! "

You don't see a distinction between 'unable' and 'unprepared'?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

Was going to body swerve this one, but can't ! When you say "their" pockets to whom do you refer ? these are councils elected by the public to serve the public ! with budgets to meet and books to balance ! not some tyranical mediaeval overlord imposing unjust taxes on the poor purely to fill his coffers ! if you can't support yourself outside the parental home ? why the hell should I support you ? stay home until you can ! I'm truly sick to my stomach of being a financial crutch to those that are patently unable or unprepared to pay their way, you think you're being penalised, get real !

You don't see a distinction between 'unable' and 'unprepared'?"

YES !

I understand very clearly the difference between the two terms in question, i fully support the DHSS social support system for those who are UNABLE, but my critique was in the context of leaving the parental home (barring extenuating circumstances) and expecting everyone else to chip in & support you, which I find morally offensive to those who work hard and pay their way !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

were not suppost to do aneything thats wot there counting on squeezeing us till we got nofing left the munnys gota cum from somewhere lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It is NOT the council that are charging more for under ocuping, it is the housing benefit that will be cut for those who will have unocupied bedrooms.

Councils, housing associations and social landlords are not the ones to blame and if anything will be worse off as the people who are in arrears will end up being in more arrears which means its more of strain on the " landlord" at the end of the day when you rent it becomes your "home" not your "house"

It is all about trying to house people properly in a country where there is a shortage of social housing and over crowding.

Did you know that if you earn over a certain amount ( cant remember what amount) you cant even put in an application in for social housing!

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By *xodussxMan
over a year ago

sheffield

Why staying rent free in a big house when you can fit in a smaller one?

It is just fair to pay for any spare room you dont need.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"were not suppost to do aneything thats wot there counting on squeezeing us till we got nofing left the munnys gota cum from somewhere lol "

??

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

and to all the ppl who think that its fair and not a goverment trying to make the ritch ritch and the poor poor why did they cut the north wests yeary budjet by 25 mill and then stop all the north west job centers from taking over the fone applications and then not bail the vauxhalls motor industruy in cheshire out saving 1000s ov jobs in my area there are ppl out there who cant claim the right money they need we are a country the gives millions of pounds eatch year to thoes in need isnt r country in need

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By *athfindersCouple
over a year ago

Hull

Deficit - Most people fall short in the understanding of this word!!

For years under Labour the country overspent indulging people and councils in money the country simply did not have.

Now the Deficit of the country is spiralling out of control and something needs to be done.

You are complaining of a £10 charge for something the council considers is a benefit to you.

I currently have not seen anyone on this site complaining of the £81.20 loss of child benefit if you earn over 60k. Everyone is paying! It is not just you!

10 pounds is a small amount to pay for the luxury of the additional room. Imagine if the council forced you to move out due to someone with a larger family needing the extra space and you having to move to the high rise(which you don't want to do). Then you would be even more angry by being evicted. The council is giving you a choice. Either pay or don't!

Stop complaining and get on with this. We are all in this together and all paying our supposed fair share.

Be grateful you have the roof you want over your head and start contributing to this country's epic debt.

I am tired of people thinking they should have a free ride!

Everyone is being hit in some way or another and that is the way it is. Just get on with it and be grateful for what you have.

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By *ncutgemMan
over a year ago

Bath ish

open a brothel thed love to get the tax revenue on that

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I was initially worried about my next door neighbour, he has lived in that house since 1954. I would hate to see him forced out of his home, as he is now retired and on his own in a 3 bedroomed house.

When the papers came in I actually sat and read them, he is excempt.

It is not relivant to me, however I can see both sides of the argument and whilst I think it is a good idea, moving is not cheap and is very stressfull.

At the same time, families struggling, working all the hours possible to provide a roof over their families heads, are being disadvantaged by private rent that is sky high, because there are no council houses left

The gov/local councils, sold off so many homes, dirt cheap which yes was great for the buyer and their income in those years; however now, they have no stock left, havent rebuilt and there is a massive void.

There is a huge difference in rent though, I do not think it fair on the tax payer paying £1000 a week per family housing benefit for a house in London where as the bill is only £65 a week housing benefit for a family in other areas of the UK.

Its such a minefield of complications, and no 'solution' will be fair.

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By *empting Devil.Woman
over a year ago

Sheffield

I have a spare room which is not occupied. But my local council has a major shortage of one bedroom accommodation. They'd either offer me something which is actually more sq footage than I have now or a bedsit.

When I first applied for council housing nearly twenty years ago I was offered a three bed detached house! Then the policy was to try to move people who were working into the areas they had crippled by amassing care in the community people and problem people in.

So the only reason I over occupy is due to a previous local authority/housing/government policy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I look at it this way , its a council house its not the tenants who rent it , if your living in a 4 bedroom house and 3 of those rooms are empty you should move into something smaller or go rent in the private sector. Or take in lodgers or take steps to start buying the house, most places will offer big reductions for the time you've been there and you might be able to just buy a percentage of the property.

I think its 3 % for the first year then 1% for each year after, if your ex forces the time spent in the forces counts towards this total !

Worth a look at ......

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Some houses aren't under occupied and still have to pay just because the rules that children of opposite sex can share til the age of 10. I recently got a 3bedroom house in the village I have lived in for my whole life, there is only 3 of us living in the house (a bedroom each) but no smaller houses to swap to. I never put in for the house but was given it following the rules at the time but now i will have to pay the £13 a week. My children could share a room but this should have been thought about before i was offered the house. i will not be giving up my house and moving to a town, I just hope this works and people can still afford to feed their families!

N

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But it's not a room you don't need. If you have 2 children which are different sex's they are meant to be able to share the same room till they are about 12-13ish. I think it's rediculous that people who are struggling are being squeezed once again.

I agree if 1 person is living in a 3-4 bedroom house they should be penalised if they refuse to move but they should be offered alternative accommodation first.

A lot of people in LA housing don't get a choice of the house they where gave it was either that or nothing

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just a thought….

But surely if councils intend to impose higher charges on their tenants based on the amount of unoccupied bedrooms in a particular property….

They should also adjust the council tax reduction given to single occupancy private owners based on that same criteria rather than by the present reduction structure...

Perhaps there would also be reasonable case to make about asking for reduced charges for dwellings where non related persons share bedrooms….

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Some houses aren't under occupied and still have to pay just because the rules that children of opposite sex can share til the age of 10. I recently got a 3bedroom house in the village I have lived in for my whole life, there is only 3 of us living in the house (a bedroom each) but no smaller houses to swap to. I never put in for the house but was given it following the rules at the time but now i will have to pay the £13 a week. My children could share a room but this should have been thought about before i was offered the house. i will not be giving up my house and moving to a town, I just hope this works and people can still afford to feed their families!

N"

This is different, this is wrong ......

This is just councils squeezing money out of folk

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For most of Labour's term the deficit was hardly anything...it was when they bailed the banks out that it skyrocketed. And what do the banks do with this money? Are they loaning it out? No, they're hoarding it Not that I'm a fan of New Labour, if anything, they should have built council housing (which might have created jobs for the long term unemployed...there's been a lack of manual jobs in this country ever since the Thatcher years). The councils could have then made this money back from rent. But instead, my experience of living in the innercity is that they built lots of luxury appartments, for private landlords, and houseprices became overinflated.

This government is using the deficit (which is less than it was in 1945, when we had the most ambitious welfare programme we've ever had) as an excuse for austerity, the deficit is increasing and, according to that well known left-wing organisation the IMF, their spending plans aren't going to fix the crisis. They could try getting corporation tax that's already owed, but that doesn't suit their ideology.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Change one room into a dining room, another into a library/study/dressing room.... If its a maisonette, downstairs could be kitchen and dining room, living room make upstairs. Then tell the fookers to jog on! Lol!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think the fact that there are shortages of council houses and that landlords can charge sky high rent is part of the reason why so much housing benefit is paid out.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Hear hear. I think it's disgraceful the way governments try to blame people out of work for the unemployment they created.

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

I have no problem with moving to a smaller property and freeing up my home for a family.

The problem arises because the local council have NO smaller propertes ...end of.

Im still to be penalised regardless.I WILL pay the extra and the family waiting for a home will still be waiting....

Oh and i am still a taxpayer and for the record....put plenty in the pot .

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Some houses aren't under occupied and still have to pay just because the rules that children of opposite sex can share til the age of 10. I recently got a 3bedroom house in the village I have lived in for my whole life, there is only 3 of us living in the house (a bedroom each) but no smaller houses to swap to. I never put in for the house but was given it following the rules at the time but now i will have to pay the £13 a week. My children could share a room but this should have been thought about before i was offered the house. i will not be giving up my house and moving to a town, I just hope this works and people can still afford to feed their families!

N

This is different, this is wrong ......

This is just councils squeezing money out of folk "

Yeah money alot of folk have NOT got!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"My council introduce "bedroom tax" this year and its going to a nightmare.

They want those underoccupying council homes to pay more money on bedrooms not used.

Now this sounds ok on paper but they also admitted they dont have enough homes for those wishing to move to smaller properties.

so what are those to do.

To me , its just trying to squeeze more money out of those already struggling . its going down like a lead balloon. "

Many are offering to move to smaller property round here. If nothing suitable is available then tell them you are not going to pay as they are failing to provide a suitable alternative. Alternatively take in a lodger as you don't have to pay tax in a large part of what they pay.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This year is going to be tough for us all but some more than others . I worked in a girls house who had to move because of the bedroom tax she had two young children and they have to share a room until there 16 . Because a lot of these smaller houses are in slightly rougher areas her kids bikes were stolen from her back yard after a few hours of her moving in. This left her terrified and she was sleeping on her settee as she was scared of anyone trying to get in . Sad .

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My Daughter and her husband and 2 kids live in a 3 bedroomed house and are going to have to pay this tax. Why.. Because one is 7 and the other is 4 so the Council say they should share. They are also not of the same sex so the oldest wouldn't get her Princess room and the youngest wouldn't get his Spiderman room.

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By *ob and VixenCouple
over a year ago

Doncaster

I am a landlord with 12 flats however only 3 are 1 bed all the rest are bedsits and sometimes it's a struggle to let them, once this comes in hopefully all the single people will want bedsits and not the 1 beds

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"My Daughter and her husband and 2 kids live in a 3 bedroomed house and are going to have to pay this tax. Why.. Because one is 7 and the other is 4 so the Council say they should share. They are also not of the same sex so the oldest wouldn't get her Princess room and the youngest wouldn't get his Spiderman room.

"
If they appealed that they would win, especially if they say the 7 yr old has started to show signs of puberty it would not have to be proved.

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By *ace2faceCouple
over a year ago

cardiff

There will be alot of people affected by this for sure.

I am stunned that people have not started to move now ie while they have a choice and at least a chance to find somewhere that they want to be! When the Councils get going you will either have to pay or move to wherever they say (is this is the sum total of their liability to you).

Another idea that i have heard from a Council official is that 3 bedroom houses can/will be divided into shared accomodation.

So if you only require one room you could be shunted in to a bedsit.

This is how they will increase the number of smaller accomodation.

Personally, i think its about time. In my street there are 4 houses that are still Council owned. All are three bedroom, 3 contain 1 person and the other two. None of them work. I have friends that work, pay their way in life & have children that cannot move into suitable housing as 'single mum gets priority.

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By *empting Devil.Woman
over a year ago

Sheffield

As someone who could have bought her council property but didn't because I believe social housing should never have been sold off I may now be penalized for it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"As someone who could have bought her council property but didn't because I believe social housing should never have been sold off I may now be penalized for it. "

Well buy it now as you have seen how they treat people who put them first

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

I saw something in a paper a couple of days ago, can't remember which. 4,700 people who will be shbject to the bedroon tax in Hull alone. Number of properties available to move these people into, 153.

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes."

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

love this take on it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bik9299kA0c

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"

They want those underoccupying council homes to pay more money on bedrooms not used.

"

Thats not quite true...

It will only affect those in receipt of housing benefit...

If you live alone in a 2/3 bedroom house and pay your own rent...it wont make any difference to you...

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks..."

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

They want those underoccupying council homes to pay more money on bedrooms not used.

Thats not quite true...

It will only affect those in receipt of housing benefit...

If you live alone in a 2/3 bedroom house and pay your own rent...it wont make any difference to you..."

that's what my council says, if you pay full rent they wont charge you for extra bedrooms they just pay less housing benifit to those claiming, it also don't effect people over working age

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows.."

surely it would be cheaper to pay the £20 a week bedroom tax than have another kid?

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows.."

there not their

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows..

surely it would be cheaper to pay the £20 a week bedroom tax than have another kid?"

You would think... but I have seen it all when it comes to housing...

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows.."

It is a bit cynical, as children of opposite sex only get own room if 12yrs and over....

But I know what you mean and sooooo hope it doesnt happen....

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"

it also don't effect people over working age"

Not sure what that means.....Pensioners?

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814

Why the hell they calling it a bedroom tax anyway?

It just a new calculation on housing benefit....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

it also don't effect people over working age

Not sure what that means.....Pensioners?"

yes

I do home care and I look after a lot of old people who live in 3/4 bedroomed houses but only use one room, most of them have their bed in the living room and havnt even been up their stairs in years let alone used a bed room but the bedroom tax will not affect then

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

please stop callig it a tax, its not, its a reduction in benefits.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"please stop callig it a tax, its not, its a reduction in benefits."

but that's what its called lol

the council have named it the bedroom tax

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By *ussypussWoman
over a year ago

South Birmingham waiting for the bf to come back after crimbo


"There is a huge difference in rent though, I do not think it fair on the tax payer paying £1000 a week per family housing benefit for a house in London where as the bill is only £65 a week housing benefit for a family in other areas of the UK."

I've just been involved in a very lengthy argument about housing benefits in another thread. Suffice to say that I was complaining about those of us who've worked for years, paid into the system, gone in for buying our own homes and are now having to claim benefits because we've been made redundant.

Councils/DWP are paying massive rents for some and a pittance towards mortgage interest for others. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect the 'system' to pay ALL of unemployed people's mortgages, that would be like saying that taxpayers should buy homes for us, but when they are paying as much as several £100s per month in rent for someone and then less than £20 a week towards someone's interest payments, I feel the system is all wrong.

After all, the interest payment is fundamentally the same as paying rent, ie, it doesn't actually mean that the property is ever yours, it's paying back the capital loan that does.

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"please stop callig it a tax, its not, its a reduction in benefits."

We didnt make up its name....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It doesn't affect me, so haven't looked into it!

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By *ssexguy69Man
over a year ago

thurrock Essex

iv a 2bewd flat , 1 room is my boys when he stay most weekends ,told me i shud down grade to a 1 bed , i ask were the hell do i sleep my boy at weekends and they said i can give him my bed and i can sleep on the sofa or vice verer or i can get a put up bed for him ,i said like fuck am i doing either , was told its because he dont live with me full time ,so its classed as room not in use , cheeky barsteads

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

just reading documentation from my council and nowhere does it say tax? says welfare reform update, non dependant reduction, under occupancy reduction, Bolton at Home who own the social houising in bolton are not calling it a tax, the only people calling it a tax are the ones who disagree with it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"It doesn't affect me, so haven't looked into it!"

nor me but due to the nature of my job a lot of people I work with was worried about it so I went to the council to get all the info for them

It only affects people of working age on housing benefit, if your a OAP or pay full rent you wont feel any difference at all

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"Glasgow has just announced plans to buy 300 one bedroom flats on the open market to try to satisfy demand for smaller homes.

Our local housing association had done a great job of moving people...seen nothing but removal vans the past 3 weeks...

Housing associations are the worst affected as they have different allocations policies and tend to give kids that can share their own room so a person under the council who is entitled to a 2 bed will often get a 3 bed with the council..I reckon with the bedroom tax that their will be a rise in pregencies.. call me a cynic but who knows..

It is a bit cynical, as children of opposite sex only get own room if 12yrs and over....

But I know what you mean and sooooo hope it doesnt happen.... "

No HA have their own allocation policy for example if you are in a parlour type house the council will count that as a sleeping space however HA don't..

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"iv a 2bewd flat , 1 room is my boys when he stay most weekends ,told me i shud down grade to a 1 bed , i ask were the hell do i sleep my boy at weekends and they said i can give him my bed and i can sleep on the sofa or vice verer or i can get a put up bed for him ,i said like fuck am i doing either , was told its because he dont live with me full time ,so its classed as room not in use , cheeky barsteads "

Its not down to the councils its down to the Housing act 1996...

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"

No HA have their own allocation policy for example if you are in a parlour type house the council will count that as a sleeping space however HA don't.."

Parlour type house?

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By *isscheekychopsWoman
over a year ago

The land of grey peas and bacon


"

No HA have their own allocation policy for example if you are in a parlour type house the council will count that as a sleeping space however HA don't..

Parlour type house?"

Those with a dining room and living room.. Council will consider one of those rooms a sleeping space where HA don't...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

No HA have their own allocation policy for example if you are in a parlour type house the council will count that as a sleeping space however HA don't..

Parlour type house?"

I think it means a house with a back room, some houses have like two downstairs room that they used to call a parlour, typically older houses

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814

ahh ok......cheers..

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By *riendly foeWoman
over a year ago

In a crisp poke on the A814


"just reading documentation from my council and nowhere does it say tax? says welfare reform update, non dependant reduction, under occupancy reduction, Bolton at Home who own the social houising in bolton are not calling it a tax, the only people calling it a tax are the ones who disagree with it."

I agree with it and I still call it bedroom tax! Why? Because everywhere I see it, it says "Bedroom Tax"

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By *adybee77Woman
over a year ago

MAMOBA, miles and miles of bugger all (Aberdeenshire)

It will only affect people on housing benefit, but there is a hope for people under occupying - there are discretionary top up payments available if you get in early and request them from your LA with good reason.

EG 2 children opposite sex coming up to the age where they can no longer share - you can apply as moving to move again within a short period of time is pointless.

Also, where you are on the list and making an effort to downsize, the discretionary top up should be paid, as long as you can prove you are doing what you can to enable a move (so phone the LA/HA weekly to check your position on the queue)

There were a few other examples I can't remember too... but there is money there - so basically, if you think you might have a case for discretionary top ups, then get it in writing, and ask!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The essense of this government is take from us all, and leave us fighting over the crumbs. It helps their cause a great deal to establish a dichotomy of the deserving and the undeserving, but I would argue (I won't go into too much detail here, but can elaborate if you wish) that the number of people who don't go to work simply because they can't be arsed is miniscule (and blown up out of all proportion by the like of the Daily Mail)...in fact the whole benefits bill is dwarfed by tax avoidance for example. Yes, we do have a problem with long-term unemployment, but that's mainly due to the nature of the job market nowadays.

When the tax was first introduced, there was no exemption for armed forces personnel, or the disabled. They'd be bloody stupid to try and argue that ex-servicemen were undeserving, it would generate enormous bad publicity (even the Daily Express were angered at the thought of Gurkas being deported remember). With the disabled it's not quite so clear cut, some will be exempt, but it will depend on assessments (which probably go something like the ATOS trials, declaring people fit for work who later dropped down dead). But really, I don't think making exceptions is good enough. Like I say it's intended to be divisive.

On the one occasion I felt I could stomach watching BBC news in the last 10 days, I did think a very good point was made about Thatcher by John Gummer, something along the lines of 'She was very good at picking off her enemies one-by-one, and was sure never to be fighting on more than one front'. She needed to do that to smash the unions. Her legacy of individualism is a massive obstacle to working class solidarity. My hope is that the present lot are nowhere near that shrewd, and by hitting everybody at once, they've miscalculated, and there's going to be a huge backlash. The fact that people who are in favour of the bedroom tax in principle can say it's being poorly implement might suggest so.

One of the major impracticalities with this, which stems from the lack of smaller social housing, is that if someone on housing benefit is forced into so-called 'affordable housing' from a private landlord, then the costs will actually go up. The less social housing there is, the more landlords can get away with extortionate rents. So it is they, not the claimants who are the real beneficiaries of the rising housing benefit bill, which the taxpayer has to foot.

So I don't see why council housing is frowed upon so much. My grandparents lived in one from the 1950s (my Grandad was a miner), and it was a beautiful house with big gardens. And when they became infirm in their old age, it got looked after, insulated and central heated, decorated (we'll leave aside the fact that my grandma was refused a stairlift because she could crawl upstairs).

And, as far as local authorities are concerned, they are an asset. They receive rent for letting it out, so it pays for itself (with hopefully some left over). Home ownership is not going to solve the housing crisis (let's not forget the bubble in the housing market was the main contributing factor to the global recession). The right to buy policy in the 1980s has resulted in a third of those homes owned by private landlords run for a profit. The top and bottom of this is that the Tories want to break social housing and break the welfare state.

But there is a need for both now more than ever. People's circumstances change. They have children. Their children grow up. People die (and yes, the bereaved are receiving notices of underoccupancy). People lose their jobs. Governments no longer have full employment on their agenda. Even in the Nu-Labour years (when, for the most part, the jobs were there) they were no longer jobs for life. And people are expected to travel much more to stay in work. Since my stepmother moved to England, she has had to find a job three times (because the first two were fixed term), taking her from the North East of England to West Wales, via East Anglia. Thankfully, as a doctor, her and my Dad can afford to rent privately. But we can't all fit into well paid jobs, can we?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"It will only affect people on housing benefit, but there is a hope for people under occupying - there are discretionary top up payments available if you get in early and request them from your LA with good reason.

EG 2 children opposite sex coming up to the age where they can no longer share - you can apply as moving to move again within a short period of time is pointless.

Also, where you are on the list and making an effort to downsize, the discretionary top up should be paid, as long as you can prove you are doing what you can to enable a move (so phone the LA/HA weekly to check your position on the queue)

There were a few other examples I can't remember too... but there is money there - so basically, if you think you might have a case for discretionary top ups, then get it in writing, and ask!"

Discretionary housing payment is a very limited pot, and not just to cover those affected by the bedroom tax. It's another way they've found to get us all to squabble over the crumbs.

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By *xodussxMan
over a year ago

sheffield

It is not even a TAX

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