Bedroom tax

Morlock

euanT wrote: »

My local HA recently told me that all of their under-occupied properties are allocated to pensioners, who are not affected by this proposal

Whereas, pensioners are the demographic most likely to be under-occupying larger properties. The bedroom tax bears no relation to freeing up these properties, but is purely focussed on reducing housing benefit costs. And pensioners are most likely to vote Tory, so they cannot be punished.

Morlock

cockaleekee wrote: »

But lots of other people do it - those in receipt of SMI, those in private rentals - why should those in social housing be treated more favourably?

How many people in private rental top-up their LHA?

euanT

Morlock wrote: »

Absolutely, the entire policy relies on tenants staying put and absorbing the cost to reduce the housing benefit bill, based solely on the fact that there is no alternative housing for those affected, even if they do want to move.

Exactly my point. Or taking my local area example 2 bedroom LA/HA property rent £275.00 monthly.
Private rent 1 bedroom property £450 monthly, LHA for 1 bedroom property is £445 monthly, so tenants have to find £5 a month to downsize and LHA pays £170 EXTRA a month. How does that save money??

Morlock

cockaleekee wrote: »

You have not answered my question - why should social housing tenants be treated more favourably than everyone else?

Why should someone in private rental receive far more money in LHA than a tenant in social housing receives in housing benefit?

euanT

Morlock wrote: »

Why should someone in private rental receive far more money in LHA than a tenant in social housing receives in housing benefit?

Some private rental tenants can also get "Discretionary Payments" to top up any shortfall

Own_My_Own

euanT wrote: »

Exactly my point. Or taking my local area example 2 bedroom LA/HA property rent £275.00 monthly.
Private rent 1 bedroom property £450 monthly, LHA for 1 bedroom property is £445 monthly, so tenants have to find £5 a month to downsize and LHA pays £170 EXTRA a month. How does that save money??

What is the rent of a private 2 bedroom property in your area.

Only, by you moving out of a 2 bed LA/HA, a family in a 2 bed private rent can move in it.
Saving the council more money then the £170 it has to pay for you to be in a 1 bed.

Morlock

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Only, by you moving out of a 2 bed LA/HA, a family in a 2 bed private rent can move in it.

If you know anything about waiting lists, you will realise that isn't going to happen except in very rare circumstances. The property may well be offered back to another single person.

snookey

Where are all the one and two bedroom properties that people can move into.

Dunroamin

Morlock wrote: »

Paltry is relative, for someone receiving £56 a week, £14 bedroom tax is not a paltry amount, it is a 25% reduction in income.

Oh good grief - yet another one who doesn't understand that HB and CTB are part of someone's income! ( And also someone who should know better than to equate £14 with 14%)

If you're talking about someone only receiving £56 as JSA then they must be under 25. In the private sector they would receive an amount to cover a room in a shared house but you're arguing that someone of this age should be provided with a 2 bed house/flat in the public sector.

On all counts you're away with the fairies!