Square foot size of room for bedroom tax

mrs_motivated

One case I have had success with is.

Lady severely disabled and has a through floor lift into her bedroom, hubby sleeps in another room (as the lift takes up so much space that bedroom can only fit a single bed in) therefore 2 bedrooms are clearly needed. The hubby's bedroom is not large enough for a double bed and the equipment his wife needs, and accessibility would be a problem for her.

Initially he came to see me, absolutely worried sick (he sobbed in my arms). This is the reality, the worry and stress for already vulnerable folk is incredible. I swore to myself then, this is one family come hell or high water will not have to pay for their supposed extra bedroom.

Just for info I am CEO of a small housing association, but my work on welfare reform has been mainly though my other role, I am a exec board member of a national tenants group ( elected by tenants) to campaign on their behalf. Having access to ministers is not helping though. When they consulted on these changes, everyone response was to much to soon and not thought through properly. Our reports (although asked for by DCLG) were largely ignored.

mrs_motivated

Now in the case above i am sure that if we could move them to a one very large bed bungalow, adapted with a wet room and rise and fall kitchen, they would happily move. If anyone knows of one please let me know and then I will remove the lift, the rise and fall kitchen and the downstairs wet room in the house they currently live and covert it back into use for a family with one child or two children different sex ( under 10) or same sex (under 16).

Total cost both properties about £30k, rather expensive option, dont you think? Surely it would be better to give housing benefit of £11.20 per week.

CIS

Total cost both properties about £30k, rather expensive option, dont you think? Surely it would be better to give housing benefit of £11.20 per week.

But in this case the government would be happier that the H/Assoc foot a bill for £30k rather than pay out any more money then they want to.

mrs_motivated

CIS, you are right, however, when the rental income can no longer pay to keep the properties to the required standard, the government will then give millions of pounds in grants to pay for essential improvements ( as was the case with Decent Homes money ) ...... Still not making long term sense.

mysterywoman10

Mrs motivated there are countless cases like the one you referred to.

I enjoy nothing more than seeing the DWP squirm

I'm also convinced that the only reason we got the 2nd bedroom for sleep in carers in LHA was a) because of the first tier tribunal judge's decison, submissions to the select committee (Labour at the time) and they relunctantly put it in as a "we are being a nice guy" when they announced all the cuts to private sector rentals as soon as they came into power in 2010.

This is the problem with the DWP they don't listen, they have thrown out every objection from numerous charities and well respected organsiations like yours.

annabel14

Surely our leaders in Brussels will have definitive legislation on the exact dimensions that constitute a 'bedroom' ?.........how can such an important matter have escaped their attention.?........this cannot be a matter that should be left to the discretion of individual local councils......

Morlock

mysterywoman10 wrote: »

I think it is grossly unfair if someone is willing to move if there is no housing stock to move them to either, to expect them to pay in the meantime.

They haven't thought it through and it will come back to bite them in backside!

It was definitely thought through. The House of Lords tabled an amendment to the bill which would not penalise tenants who were affected by the bedroom tax where no suitable properties were available.

However, the amendment was not voted on in the House of Commons, as the government invoked financial privilege, an irrelevant parliamentary mechanism, to force the bill through regardless.

Similarly for tenants with only one spare room, an amendment to the bill was ignored using financial privilege. In both cases a very undemocratic process, which effectively silenced any opposition in the Commons and ensured the bill was sealed.

Far from not being thought through, the policy was pushed through using financial privilege to ensure all of the negative consequences and opposition were silenced in the Commons.

mysterywoman10

Thank you I did know all that.

I'm not sure that by rollercoasting it through means they really thought about it and the consequences. They wanted to be seen to be doing something about all these so called scrougers, protect their own assets etc etc.

GlasweJen

I rent in the private sector, I pay full rent but I am trying to get some LHA because I'm currently off sick on SSP, I'm a wheelchair user full time because I literally can't stand up.

My room fits a double bed (can't sleep in a single), a wardrobe and a tiny bed side table. I can't fit my wheelchair between my bed and my wardrobe. I can only claim the shared room rate of LHA because I have an unrelated flat mate who is not my carer. My sister sleeps over 2 nights a week and sleeps on the sofa, I can't get a council house because I need one on one level and there are none available. I would gladly pay in full for a council house of any size if they could give me one.

I am top priority for a council house because I live on the top floor of my building, if the lift were to break down I'd be screwed. I have been waiting 13 months for a council house, I suspect I will need to keep waiting.

mysterywoman10

Do be honest I don't understand why you can only claimed shared bedroom rate being in receipt of DLA (which I assume you are) automatically takes you up a grade in LHA and are exempt from age rulings. So you need to look into that. You should get one bedroomed rate (regardless of lodger!) although income from them would be taken into account or their contribution towards the rent.