Will The Bedroom Tax Affect Me?

nannytone_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

Presumably not all those are looking for 1 bedroom accomodation?

an awful lot are. what are we supposed yo do and whaere are we supposed to go?

gayleanne

Reading through some of these posts I honestly think that people do not realise, that it is ONLY IF YOU ARE CLAIMING HOUSING BENEFIT, OR LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE that you have to pay for a spare room. If you are renting privately you are only given the benefit for the bedrooms that you need, i.e. if you only need two bedrooms, you are only given the benefit for a two bedroom home. If you have a 3 or 4 bedroom home you have to pay the remainder of the rent. This has been happening for over 2 years now. This has now started happening in the social housing, if you only need a 2 bedroom, housing benefit will be paid for a 2 bedroom, if you have a 3 or 4 bedroom you have to pay the remainder of the rent yourself.

The difference is, if you are in Social housing and under occupy, but you are working, and paying the full rent out of your own wages, then this will not affect you. This is because you are not claiming money from the government to pay your rent. This has been in the pipeline for over 2 years, and it is only now that people are starting to realise. Obviously they don't read the right newspapers, or watch the news on TV.

Morlock

gayleanne wrote: »

Reading through some of these posts I honestly think that people do not realise, that it is ONLY IF YOU ARE CLAIMING HOUSING BENEFIT, OR LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE that you have to pay for a spare room.

Although, if a tenant claims an LHA rate which covers the extra room there is no bedroom tax liability.

miamoo

So am I right, that if you are private renting there is an allowance per 1, 2, and 3 bedroom property. What ever size your property is you get the allowance for what you need.
So you could occupy a 3 bedroom house, and only need a 2 bed house, but if the 3 bed rent is cheap you 'could' get the full rent paid?

Whereas the council is charging people 14% for a spare room whatever the rent costs?

Morlock

miamoo wrote: »

So am I right, that if you are private renting there is an allowance per 1, 2, and 3 bedroom property. What ever size your property is you get the allowance for what you need.
So you could occupy a 3 bedroom house, and only need a 2 bed house, but if the 3 bed rent is cheap you 'could' get the full rent paid?

Whereas the council is charging people 14% for a spare room whatever the rent costs?

Yes, that is correct.

zoominatorone

meerustar wrote: »

Same difference, it's still unaffordable for many.

I can't afford to double my mortgage so that I can increase my bedrooms from 3 to 5, so I don't.

Why are people so relcuctant to contribute towards their own home? It's where you live fgs, why SHOULDN'T people contribute something towards it? Buy 2 packs less of cigs a week.

zoominatorone

Morlock wrote: »

The majority of claimants affected by the bedroom tax are those who have significant barriers to working, whether that be a limited capability to work or a disability, or both, they are amongst the most vulnerable members of society. The fact that a lot of these tenants are now being punished through implementation of the bedroom tax for having one 'spare' room, mostly due to no fault of their own, is counter-productive.

I thought none of this was going to be applied to people on the extra money on top of job seekers, and the DLA etc?

Morlock

zoominatorone wrote: »

I thought none of this was going to be applied to people on the extra money on top of job seekers, and the DLA etc?

It applies to everyone of working age claiming housing benefit, those who work, those who claim ESA or DLA, or both, and JSA claimants. Two-thirds of the tenants affected either have a disability or a disabled person living in the household.

DLA claimants who officially require an overnight carer are exempt, but there are very few tenants who qualify.

princessdon

Morlock wrote: »

Although, if a tenant claims an LHA rate which covers the extra room there is no bedroom tax liability.

As said - find one that isn't in area people don't want.

Eg there are 41 1 bedrooms in my area at SH - Do you want to tell the likes of nannytone they should move to a highrise with a lot of crime?

They'd not touch it with a bargepole as would be next to ASBO's and druggies/prossies.

So it's fine for a LHR claimant but not a SH claimant?

Landlords are businesses - they charge the threshold based on supply and demand, where there is no demand they lower.

I wouldn't want my dog living in those areas let alone someone like my Gran. They are below for a reason.

Jennifer_Jane

I can certainly understand people being upset at all this. It must be tough to think that you will be able to stay in one home all your life, with the cost being paid for by the taxpayer, then have the Government come along and say, either your HB is reduced or downsize.

I understand that the changes are difficult for people. Nevertheless, this brings people into line with those who have been receiving benefit but privately renting.

It also brings people into line with the thousands of people who privately rent, but who receive no benefits whatsoever. People like my 59-year-old friend. He shares a 4-bedroomed house with 3 other people. There is no link between them except that they all live in this house and share bathroom, kitchen, garden, etc. That is the reality for many people who get no benefits: a smallish salary for London, and house sharing with people who are initially, at least, strangers.

Why should people who are receiving taxpayer help be treated more generously than those receiving NO help whatsoever.

And for those saying that Owner/Occupiers have more rooms than they need, that is irrelevant as they cost the taxpayer nothing.