MSE News: Thousands of tenants to get bedroom tax rebate

MissMoneypenny

Morglin wrote: »

It's in today's Guardian and Independent -the claimants have got to be repaid, and no bedroom tax deducted.

They don't pay taxes. They have had a reduction in their benefit. Let's not confuse people.

Those claimants affected, will be able to claim back their reduced benefit from their local council - not from HMRC (who deal with taxes).

Pincher

Ah, the good old sitting tenant with protected tenancy.

An old lady bought a house cheap in early 1970s, because it had a sitting tenant who cannot be thrown out. The old tenant out-lived the owner, who had been waiting for the tenant to die for two decades. As it turns out, the daughter of the tenant acquired protected tenant status because she had lived there for decades with her mother.

The son of the owner was less scrupulous, and got his mates to harrass the daughter, including damaging her car, and she was driven away at last. He got full market price when he sold.

The government was very strict with protecting tenant's "rights" when the owner is a private landlord. Now that they want to cut benefit costs, they can't wait to strip away the protection. Why don't they just talk to the son's mates, and drive the tenants on to the streets.

~Chameleon~

I wonder how many qualifying tenants have since moved properties to avoid the benefit reduction, therefore losing their long term family homes for no reason.

regbrown

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

They don't pay taxes. They have had a reduction in their benefit. Let's not confuse people.

Those claimants affected, will be able to claim back their reduced benefit from their local council - not from HMRC (who deal with taxes).

I don't suppose anyone is confused Although I would personally wish the conservative party cared as much about the disabled people who have been affected half as much as they do about how its labelled....

nannytone_2

i myself moved because of this issue.
i was extremely lucky and harrassed ny HA into letting me have one of only two 1 bed flats in my area.
whilst i have every sympathy for those who have no alternative housing available to them, i'm afraid i agree with the policy in general.
if there is suitable accomodation available within a reasonable distance, then why should someone 'sit' on more room than they need?

i have seen first hand another issue that ties in though ...
a friend of mine is a carer for her mother who had parkinsons. she was moved to a 4 bed house in 2000 as she had 7 children ( yes i know!) aged between 2 and 17.
until just before xmas she had the 3 youngest at home still ( 16 year old twins and an 18 year old)
the 18 year old now has a job as a live in catrt and so she is under occupying.
is it realistic to expect her to downsize to a 3 bed now, when in a relatively short time one of the twins will go and she will need a 2 bed, and possibly not long after that she will need to move again to a 1 bed.
she doesnt have the funds to continuously move.
in principle its a fine idea, but for many it just isnt viable

~Chameleon~

Woman who took her own life over bedroom tax would have been exempt

rogerblack

nannytone wrote: »

whilst i have every sympathy for those who have no alternative housing available to them, i'm afraid i agree with the policy in general.
if there is suitable accomodation available within a reasonable distance, then why should someone 'sit' on more room than they need?

I don't think anyone remotely objects to this.
The problem arises - as you imply if there are enough LHA properties with fewer beds to juggle everyone into.

No local authority as far as I'm aware has lots of free single bedroom properties.

The other problem is that those with support needs, met at the moment by informal networks of carers, or relatives - may have to either rely more on the state sector, or be found supported accommodation if they have to move.

And this all neglects the fact that if they move out to a private rented landlord, their HB may be way more than their existing LHA rent, meaning a net loss to the taxpayer.

paddedjohn

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Woman who took her own life over bedroom tax would have been exempt

That story was a load of rubbish, theres no proof whatsoever that this woman killed herself because her housing benefit was reduced. The reduction was only introduced a few weeks before her death and there was evidence that she had mental health problems. All her suicide note said was 'don't blame yourself, blame the government'

custardy

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I wonder how many qualifying tenants have since moved properties to avoid the benefit reduction, therefore losing their long term family homes for no reason.

So what about people who need that 'family' home?

Morglin

rogerblack wrote: »

One question that arises.
Is that 640 pounds coming from local, or central government?

Local government have said they will claim it from central government, as it is a mistake in the legislation.

Funds will also have to be adjusted as many on 'bedroom tax' will now receive the whole payment again.

Lin