help with bedroom tax

bonjovibel_729

hiya just looking for some advice...will be moving into rented accom shortly but dont understand how the bedroom tax works can rent a 4bed house for more or less the same price as 3 bed in my area but does that mean as i only need a 3 bed according to the calculator that i will lose some of the housing benefit and wud be better just going for a 3bed??

pmlindyloo

Are you moving into private accommodation? The so called bedroom tax doesn't apply.

You will receive HB at the 3 bed rate. (local housing allowance) That is the maximum they will pay. No reduction is made if you have 4 bedrooms, just that you would be expected to 'top up' the rent if necessary.

It is only in council/social housing that the 'bedroom tax' would come into play.

bonjovibel_729

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Are you moving into private accommodation? The so called bedroom tax doesn't apply.

You will receive HB at the 3 bed rate. (local housing allowance) That is the maximum they will pay. No reduction is made if you have 4 bedrooms, just that you would be expected to 'top up' the rent if necessary.

It is only in council/social housing that the 'bedroom tax' would come into play.

ah right ok i got it wrong i thought if i rented privately a 4bed but only needed a 3 bed they wud take the lha rate of £90 a week then take off bedroom tax for the extra bedroom thanks for your help x

Housing_Benefit_Officer

What is your family make up? Age and sex of all who will be living with you.

bonjovibel_729

One adult one girl 10yr one girl 14yr one boy 6yr

Dovah_diva

bonjovibel_729 wrote: »

One adult one girl 10yr one girl 14yr one boy 6yr

So a three bed would be fine for you all. Two girls share one room, the boy and the adult get a room each.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Your local LHA rate will be for 3 bedrooms (until one of your daughters reaches 10 then you would qualify for the 4 bed rate) irrespective of the size of the property you move into - your Housing Benefit will be calculated on the need for a 3 bed property irrespective of the size of the property you move in.

allen35

£90pw seems quite low for a 3 bed LHA rate, are you sure you're looking at the correct rate, it's more than that for a 1 bedroom in my local area. 3 bed' is currently approx' £121

londonbabe73

Just a note the girls would be expected to share indefinitely now it's only if they are sharing with the opp sex when the eldest is 10 they get their own room

HappyMJ

bonjovibel_729 wrote: »

ah right ok i got it wrong i thought if i rented privately a 4bed but only needed a 3 bed they wud take the lha rate of £90 a week then take off bedroom tax for the extra bedroom thanks for your help x

The lowest 3 bed rate in the country (England) is Barnsley at £95 per week.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/lharates/lhaSep2013.html

Housing_Benefit_Officer

londonbabe73 wrote: »

Just a note the girls would be expected to share indefinitely now it's only if they are sharing with the opp sex when the eldest is 10 they get their own room

Once the girl turns 16 they will be allocated their own bedroom.

This will leave 1 boy and 1 girl.

As 1 of these children will be over 10 they will be allocated their own bedroom.

Leaving 1 child who will be allocated their own bedroom.

So at the moment entitled to 3 bedroom LHA rate but as soon as daughter turns 16 - 4 bedroom LHA rate as each child will be allocated their own bedroom.