News The Bedroom Tax Uk

[saffy]

I have recently found out that there is going to be a bedroom tax starting in April 2013 in the UK. Basically if you have an spare bedroom and you are on housing benefit, for what ever reason, you are going to be deducted up to 15% of the weekly housing benefit. So if you are on a benefit and cannot work for some reason you might have to find and extra £20 per week to pay for this shortfall. This is my case anyway.

I am on sickenss benefit because of a prolapsed disc in my spine awaiting an operation. My landlord does not have any one bedroomed properties for me to downsize into. The tenancy agreement states I cannot get a lodger or use the room for business. I think this is going to be the case for a lot of people.

I have petitioned my local MP about this and contacted my housing association landlord well in advance about this.

I wonder if anyone on here from the UK will be affected by it?

Saffy :)

 

[Abrasky]

You have got to be kidding.:barefoot:

 

[saffy]

Unfortunately not Maze.

I have posted on here so people realise what is happening as I have gathered not a lot of people know about it yet. Even the housing was quite surprised I new. tut, again typical of this c*ntry hiding life changing decisions and leaving it till the last minute and causing panic and stress. Also making life for those on the breadline even harder.

I wonder how these law makers come up with such policies while rattling around in their huge many bedroomed houses. Hopefully the more people who contact their local MP and Housing the more they realise what trouble this will cause for society, it will certainly not fix the lack of housing and over crowding problem, if anything it will cause more antisocial conflict for people that try to stay in their homes and having to try and find this money by whatever means they can. I will be trying anything to find that money by what ever means.

Ha, this is rich, just saw on tv that they have let that muslim extremist out of jail again and he has won his fight for deportation. Who is going to be paying for him and his family to live in their very expensive house while none of them can work!!! For the hellish and hated person he is he sure seems to come on top everytime. grrrrrrr rant over.

I feel I am being blackmailed and forced to move from a home I love because I am in this situation, beleive me I would love to earn enough or be able to work and not claim benefits.

Saffy :)

 

[Abrasky]

Wow I was hoping you were joking, some new laws are crazy.

 

[Britt.f7]

Saffy, can you make it into an office or do you already have one? I read that it has to be deemed as something other then a bedroom on the tenant agreement. I'm American, but I found this interesting so I looked into it.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Meanwhile if you're a royal.....

 

[Deleted member 12723]

This is an absurd law. i am sorry it is going to affect you. I am so sorry you have to deal with this crazymaking situation. Big hugs.

 

[saffy]

Thank you Gizmo

Unfortunately not Brit17 they have that covered. It is what is on your tenency agreement that counts, whether you use it as a bedroom or not. Also according to my tenancy agreement I cannot rent the room to a lodger or use if for business. Got me by the short and curlies really. The Uk is in deep shit and the government is trying to save money by reforming the welfare act. However, they have not fully thought it through because it will cost them more in long run. And it shows that they have no interest in the welfare of the nation it is all about money. Immigrants who seem to want to come here are in for a shock, it is not that easy. I just cannot understand why anyone would want to move here in the first place. I would be gone like a shot if I got the chance. I can say I am not very proud of my country at all at the moment. :(

 

[Britt.f7]

Saffy, that sounds horrible. I could definitely seeing the states here consider that if it is successful where you are. You can bet our government is watching and thinking, hmmm.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I agree that it seems harsh, and Saffy, I hope that your housing association will find you a one bedroomed place. From what you've said, you should be a priority in terms of the housing point system.

But just to give a different side to this story: In my area there is a severe shortage of property with more than one bedroom, but because housing association properties used to given as permenant lettings, people whos children have grown and moved out are able to remain in properties with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms.

The result is that many families with children live in over-crowded housing for many years waiting for suitable accommodation. As more families find themselves in this position, there simply isn't enough rented accommodation for everyone. So the changes to housing benefit are an attempt to find the extra housing needed.

Perhaps there is a better way of managing it so that people like saffy don't suffer. But the housing shortage is desperate in the UK and there are many families suffering now who will benefit from more larger properties becoming available.

 

[saffy]

So the changes to housing benefit are an attempt to find the extra housing needed.

Hi Meadowsweet,

I understand your comments. I only downsized myself last year from a three bedroom to a two bedroom, there was not any one bedroomed houses then either.

However, cutting housing benefit because of a spare room is not going to make people move out of their homes. Infact I can predict crime rates and poverty rising because of people desperate to stay in their homes. Many people rely on their community. Many people would not be able to afford the moving costs, I can not. Many people will not want to pull their children out of schools. I also predict that the human right violation cases will be through the roof. After all hate preachers get theirs heard, at least they do in the UK.

I for one will not be moving again but will have to cut down on electric, food and travel instead. I can agree if they have two extra rooms. I know a lady who has lived for years in her three bedroomed house and I doubt this will make her move. I moved out of mine into a smaller one to free it up for families. I am now glad of the spare room because without it I would not be able to see my children and grandson hardly ever, so if I move again I will also be more isolated.

Ironically, the cost of my two bedroom bungalow is 15% more rent than my three bedroomed house. Same landlord about two miles apart. If I have to go to private rental the housing benefit will be doubled at least. But then there are no one bedroomed private houses that are suitable here either. If I do find one there is a cap on benefits so will not be able to afford to go private anyway.

The housing has already predicted that they are going to have terrible problems when this comes into force, with lack of housing, Having to build more at a cost to the council tax payer, and debt when people are unable to find the shortfall.

The problem with affordable housing started in the thatcher years when she sold them off at a low price.

IN addition the bedroom tax is not about freeing up housing it is about saving money and not allowing people on benefits to earn more than people working. IRonically the people on benefits that are seen to be earning more are in private accomodation so are claiming far more rent. If they have large families the bedroom tax is not going to help them in more ways than one, mainly that builders are going to be concentrating on building one/two bedroomed houses to accomodate the influx of people needed these. Larger houses are not going to be built.

It's going to be hard for a lot of people. No matter how you look at it.

Best wishes
Saffy :(

 

[Dorri]

Saffy I feel for you.

The gov talk about needing to save money but this change won't - I had to move to a one bedroom flat because of HB rules I went from a house to a flat that cost £90pcm more but that's was fine as long as I didn't have any extra rooms! who does this help? can't think of anyone myself. My friend lives in a HA flat, all the properties in the block are 2 or 3 bed room flats but because its a high rise the HA (& their insurer) don't allow kids so the building is expected either to stand virtually empty unless the council decides to cover the difference with discretionary payments (worth looking into maybe?).

Many councils are really unhappy about the change because they know there aren't enough 1 bed properties available atm. And next year they're talking about cutting housing benefit for all under 25's - because they should be living with their parents :mad: