Housing Benefit under occupancy Help

lighting_up_the_chalice

mazza111 wrote: »

CBL is not available in all areas though. Still a severe shortage of 3/4 bedroom homes here and not enough one bedroom properties for people to downgrade into.

OP you say you have had heart attacks. I'm guessing you don't have care or mobility needs if you are being asked to pay rent? Would you qualify for DLA? I'm pretty sure if you get MRC or above then you may get an extra bedroom entitlement. But that was something they were talking about, wasn't sure if it's definite yet.

As for Community Care Grants..... very hard to get, gotta get the timing just right. I received one years ago when I left an abusive husband and ended up homeless. I have friends who've found themselves homeless who've been in the same situation and been refused outright. Not forgetting that not all those on HB will be eligible for a CCG.

Again I'll say, I do believe in the changes, but surely they should be to encourage people to downsize and free up the property, but when there are no smaller properties available....I wonder how many people will be chasing those 7 in my home town now that they have to pay some rent... That 7 is hardly going to make the big savings the government were hoping for.


I think those in 2 bedroom properties are the ones that will be hit most by this, in my town anyway because of the lack of 1 BR properties. They don't have a choice really do they?

Of course they do. The same (or very similar) choices as the rest of the population face.

barnaby-bear

mazza111 wrote: »

CBL is not available in all areas though. Still a severe shortage of 3/4 bedroom homes here and not enough one bedroom properties for people to downgrade into.

OP you say you have had heart attacks. I'm guessing you don't have care or mobility needs if you are being asked to pay rent? Would you qualify for DLA? I'm pretty sure if you get MRC or above then you may get an extra bedroom entitlement. But that was something they were talking about, wasn't sure if it's definite yet.

As for Community Care Grants..... very hard to get, gotta get the timing just right. I received one years ago when I left an abusive husband and ended up homeless. I have friends who've found themselves homeless who've been in the same situation and been refused outright. Not forgetting that not all those on HB will be eligible for a CCG.

Again I'll say, I do believe in the changes, but surely they should be to encourage people to downsize and free up the property, but when there are no smaller properties available....I wonder how many people will be chasing those 7 in my home town now that they have to pay some rent... That 7 is hardly going to make the big savings the government were hoping for.


I think those in 2 bedroom properties are the ones that will be hit most by this, in my town anyway because of the lack of 1 BR properties. They don't have a choice really do they?

I think this is a matter of expectation - I know plenty of people on £30k+ in London who wouldn't expect to be able to rent a flat alone; there may not be many 1-bed flats etc but plenty of rooms to lodge in and shared houses especially if those with the spare rooms have an incentive. In large areas of the country a 1-bed flat for someone (and even a couple) working is simply too high an aspiration. Approaching 40 I've only just reached the level of income that I could rent a 1-bed flat on my income alone, but never expected to either, the concept of secure tenure is just a nice idea to most of my friends - the landlord sells/your job falls through you move on and make the best of it.

lighting_up_the_chalice

john539 wrote: »

That's why they're asking for help, not personal opinions on policies.

It's sad threads are continually contaminated with judgemental vitriol.

And I addressed that in the very first reply to the OP, who seems much happier than you to debate opinions on policies. As this is his thread, let's follow his lead rather than your over-officious dictate. There's plenty of other threads for you to do that on, should you so choose.

But thanks for your input.

barnaby-bear

mazza111 wrote: »

I think those in 2 bedroom properties are the ones that will be hit most by this, in my town anyway because of the lack of 1 BR properties. They don't have a choice really do they?

Get a lodger? Move? I actually think you've had better arguments against this than most, an unusual local housing stock and demand plus really good reasons to stay put... however for large numbers of peopel whilst staying near dependent family and home connections would be lovely it's simply so unfeasible people find others expecting it a bit odd.

lighting_up_the_chalice

barnaby-bear wrote: »

But will the OP be able to cope?

I hope maybe a challenge like the spare room might help them aspire to be independent or acquire skills to adapt but given the posts, it could go either way. May be they are too used to every penny being allocated by the government and expecting to stay on the same benefits in the same place forever - it's rather depressing. I hope thye do find something fulfilling to take their mind off it and build their confidence - perhaps making tea for a group with learning disabilities so they appreciate their potential ?

The OP will have to cope with whatever is going to happen. That is a simple reality.

barnaby-bear

john539 wrote: »

That's why they're asking for help, not personal opinions on policies.

It's sad threads are continually contaminated with judgemental vitriol.

I think you'll find light-up-the-thing was one of their strongest supporters, I always thought they were in cloud-cuckoo land with respect to their expectations.

john539

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I think this is a matter of expectation - I know plenty of people on £30k+ in London who wouldn't expect to be able to rent a flat alone; there may not be many 1-bed flats etc but plenty of rooms to lodge in and shared houses especially if those with the spare rooms have an incentive. In large areas of the country a 1-bed flat for someone (and even a couple) working is simply too high an aspiration. Approaching 40 I've only just reached the level of income that I could rent a 1-bed flat on my income alone, but never expected to either, the concept of secure tenure is just a nice idea to most of my friends - the landlord sells/your job falls through you move on and make the best of it.

or they become homeless & move onto streets.

Insecurity & high costs in private sector does not justify lowering standards in social housing, just because private sector is fckd.

lighting_up_the_chalice

john539 wrote: »

or they become homeless & move onto streets.

Insecurity in private sector does not justify lowering standards in social housing, just because private sector is fckd.

Lowering standards? Who has suggested that? With the DHS, standards in Social Housing now far exceed the equivalent in the private sector.

barnaby-bear

john539 wrote: »

or they become homeless & move onto streets.

Insecurity in private sector does not justify lowering standards in social housing, just because private sector is fckd.

The majority are in the private sector and whilst most of us see it as a good thing, paying for spare rooms we couldn't aspire to on tenure we couldn't goes a bit too far.... encouraging the best possible use and lowering the overall private LHA bill has to be done... as long as every unit is filled and preferably not under capacity it will help; those like the OP who do take in a lodger will make the private sector a bit more affordable and competitive. It's too precious a resource. I also think pensioners in 3/4 bed council houses should be forced to move....

barnaby-bear

john539 wrote: »

or they become homeless & move onto streets.

Insecurity & high costs in private sector does not justify lowering standards in social housing, just because private sector is fckd.

I think the private sector expectation that lodging or living in a shared house is changing the average expectation and that social tenants are a bit out of touch with average thought. I don't think anyone thinks a house for life with granny hanging on in that 3-bed and then an inherited tenancy is the way to go.... but originally social housing was open to all not means tested (but not living in sin or single mums), doctors could apply on the same rating as the binman (and did), the unemployed were actually marked down....