Bedroom tax and private rent

benefitbaby

sniggings wrote: »

You are right about that, I would never vote Tory, I think Labour let the benefits get out of control but this is not taking control, it's targeting the poor and sick in a random way, there seems no aim to it, just cancel benefits then set up an appeals process that is costing millions to run and is overturning 40/50% of cases.

Ain't that the truth

gingergee

Also it doesnt apply to pensioners, yet they are the ones sleeping in the living rooms of their 3 bedroom semi detatched huge HA property!!
I have two living near me, one next door. They are stunning family homes, yet they both refuse to leave even when offered a lovely 2 bedroom bungalow in the nearest village. Its mad x

24skins

In my area the reason many homes are underoccupied is that the council gives 2/3 bed flats in low demand areas to single people simply because no one else will take them. If those tenants move the homes will likely remain empty and the council will lose the rent revenue, which will have a knock on effect for other tenants (ie higher rents).

And yes, where I live the plum 3 bed houses are generally occupied by pensioners who won't be affected by these changes.

benefitbaby

gingergee wrote: »

Also it doesnt apply to pensioners, yet they are the ones sleeping in the living rooms of their 3 bedroom semi detatched huge HA property!!
I have two living near me, one next door. They are stunning family homes, yet they both refuse to leave even when offered a lovely 2 bedroom bungalow in the nearest village. Its mad x

Well they are the biggest voters and they wouldn't want upset them.

gingergee

No-one dare upset my neighbour!! lol, bless her, she is 91 and until recently was fitter than me! Its all wrong whoever votes x

lee5768

I have had 2 council properties in my life, one a rat infested flat (2 bedroom) with neighbours who spat at us as we entered and left.....
long story short it was a nightmare.

I was given a medical award that stated we ( me and my partner) needed a 2 bedroom place, after months of waiting a total of 2 years fighting and waiting to be moved we got my current place and we have lived here 12 years.

I am classed as disabled due to severe Epilepsy and depression

I now not only face losing my benefits to ATOS idiots all the time, now next year I face losing my indefinite DLA award and my home of 12 years due the bedroom tax.

sniggings

lee5768 wrote: »

I have had 2 council properties in my life, one a rat infested flat (2 bedroom) with neighbours who spat at us as we entered and left.....
long story short it was a nightmare.

I was given a medical award that stated we ( me and my partner) needed a 2 bedroom place, after months of waiting a total of 2 years fighting and waiting to be moved we got my current place and we have lived here 12 years.

I am classed as disabled due to severe Epilepsy and depression



I now not only face losing my benefits to ATOS idiots all the time, now next year I face losing my indefinite DLA award and my home of 12 years due the bedroom tax.

You might be able to argue you need 2 bedrooms as you suffer from epilepsy, your partner needs his own room to get to sleep? maybe a long shot.

BigAunty

Disabled tenants who require an additional room for a non-resident overnight carer will get HB for the extra bedroom. There is no discretion, AFAIK, that is one of the few exemptions alongside protection for pensioners.

lee5768

sniggings wrote: »

You might be able to argue you need 2 bedrooms as you suffer from epilepsy, your partner needs his own room to get to sleep? maybe a long shot.

haha you make me sound gay..I am the male in the M/F relationship thought the name was a give away

Joking aside I really don't see a way to avoid the tax, I have looked over and as the the basic rules and its as BigAunty says.

I am not willing to leave we have put so much into this house over 12 years of living here (it was a dump really)

whats really annoying is that I could move into a private landlord house and claim £100 a week for a house with 2 bedrooms and no central heating and avoid the tax.

Morlock

lee5768 wrote: »

whats really annoying is that I could move into a private landlord house and claim £100 a week for a house with 2 bedrooms and no central heating and avoid the tax.

I think most people who are affected by this tax are in the same position. Moving out of their current social housing property will increase the housing benefit bill, as an equivalent, private property will cost more to rent but not be subject to the tax. The private property being within the LHA limit.