Bedroom Tax and kids living away??

seven-day-weekend

I know I keep banging on about this, but when my husband had to give up his job due to sickness, and I only had a tiny wage as a lollipop lady, we got a lodger to help pay the mortgage. Our son was only small. I still don't see why this is not an option for some, if not many people. You don't have to take the nearest drug addicted pe do phile from the street. It could be a young friend or relative who can't afford a place of their own, or someone who comes recommended. Most of our lodgers over the years have come from recommendation.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/lodger-rules-to-ease-impact-of-bedroom-tax/6522846.article

I do not see why it is such an unpopular idea, especially now the rules have been relaxed (see link above).

bestpud

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I know I keep banging on about this, but when my husband had to give up his job due to sickness, and I only had a tiny wage as a lollipop lady, we got a lodger to help pay the mortgage. Our son was only small. I still don't see why this is not an option for some, if not many people. You don't have to take the nearest drug addicted pe do phile from the street. It could be a young friend or relative who can't afford a place of their own, or someone who comes recommended. Most of our lodgers over the years have come from recommendation.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/lodger-rules-to-ease-impact-of-bedroom-tax/6522846.article

I do not see why it is such an unpopular idea, especially now the rules have been relaxed (see link above).

I have to admit I can't get my head round the idea of renting a room.

Partly because I don't know anyone who has, I guess, and partly because I am quite insular and don't cope well with people in my space.

I think maybe it is an option that works better for more outgoing, sociable people...?

That said, if the alternative was losing my home...

Dunroamin

bestpud wrote: »

I have to admit I can't get my head round the idea of renting a room.

Partly because I don't know anyone who has, I guess, and partly because I am quite insular and don't cope well with people in my space.

I think maybe it is an option that works better for more outgoing, sociable people...?

That said, if the alternative was losing my home...

Like 7DW, I've had lodgers during the past and it seems to me to be the obvious way forward for many.

I don't think you need to be particularly sociable (one guy went home at weekends, spent evenings in his room and was rarely seen) but we preferred to have the income to enable us to go out and enjoy ourselves rather than having to spend every night at home being thankful to have the place to ourselves.

I found having children around considerably more intrusive.:o

bestpud

Dunroamin wrote: »

Like 7DW, I've had lodgers during the past and it seems to me to be the obvious way forward for many.

I don't think you need to be particularly sociable (one guy went home at weekends, spent evenings in his room and was rarely seen) but we preferred to have the income to enable us to go out and enjoy ourselves rather than having to spend every night at home being thankful to have the place to ourselves.

I found having children around considerably more intrusive.:o

Yes, after I posted, I thought of my 20 year old and how they wouldn't see too much of her if she lodged somewhere, as she works 9-5, catches up with her girlfriend in the evenings via Skype or xbox and sleeps half of the weekends she's not off somewhere or other.

We don't see much of her and we're family!

seven-day-weekend

Our lodgers have usually been at college, or work, or out. One was a brilliant babysitter and we are still friends with several of them, in fact I am going to stay with the two who married each other later this month.

Many have been people we already knew, one we got through the University Chaplaincy (he's the one I am staying with), and others have come from recommendation.

It's a good way to finance the spare bedroom, and have an income, as Dunroamin says.

seven-day-weekend

Dunroamin wrote: »

Like 7DW, I've had lodgers during the past and it seems to me to be the obvious way forward for many.

I don't think you need to be particularly sociable (one guy went home at weekends, spent evenings in his room and was rarely seen) but we preferred to have the income to enable us to go out and enjoy ourselves rather than having to spend every night at home being thankful to have the place to ourselves.

I found having children around considerably more intrusive.:o

Same here.

mazza111

Would taking in a lodger for some on benefits not end up costing them more though due to the non dependent deduction?

seven-day-weekend

mazza111 wrote: »

Would taking in a lodger for some on benefits not end up costing them more though due to the non dependent deduction?

The link I quoted above seems to suggest not.

mazza111

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

The link I quoted above seems to suggest not.

Nice find. Before anyone jumps in and does this though. It's only a proposal at the moment, and won't start until October 13. So at this present time, yes it would affect benefits.

seven-day-weekend

But their Benefits will not be reduced by as much as the lodger's rent, so they could still afford to pay the charge for the bedroom out of it, and make up the shortfall, couldn't they? Or would it not work like that?