Bedroom Tax

Loub1980

I am currently living in a '3 bed home,' the 3rd bed is an attic room with 2 velux windows but no heating and no door on the stairs. Should the bedroom be classed as a bedroom?
It is just me and my son, I won't allow him to use the attic room as if there was a fire it would be pretty dire in terms of escape.
Should I be bringing this up with the landlord/council etc

tomtom256

What does it say on your tenancy agreement? As this is what will be the main thing used in the decision.

Loub1980

3 bed, but I am looking to question this with the agents 

pmlindyloo

Loub1980 said:

I am currently living in a '3 bed home,' the 3rd bed is an attic room with 2 velux windows but no heating and no door on the stairs. Should the bedroom be classed as a bedroom?
It is just me and my son, I won't allow him to use the attic room as if there was a fire it would be pretty dire in terms of escape.
Should I be bringing this up with the landlord/council etc

Is this social housing?

The bedroom tax only applies to social housing/council housing.

For private accommodation you would be assessed for housing costs (housing benefit) on the 2 bed local housing allowance if only you and your son live there.

tomtom256

Loub1980 said:

3 bed, but I am looking to question this with the agents 

If you are renting, then the attic room must have been signed off with the relevant buidling regulations, as I thought that was a legal requirement, when letting out a property?

shygirl2

tomtom256 said:

Loub1980 said:

3 bed, but I am looking to question this with the agents 

If you are renting, then the attic room must have been signed off with the relevant buidling regulations, as I thought that was a legal requirement, when letting out a property?

    I agree the bedroom has to adhere to the relevant building regulations and have the relevant paperwork signed off.

poppy12345

OP can you confirm if you're renting privately or from social housing?

Lifematters

There is no ‘bedroom tax’ in private rents. Housing benefits use the Local Housing Allowance for private tenants, which is based on your needs and not how many bedrooms you have. 

Loub1980

Thanks all, sorry I was at work! I am renting privately, so now my question seems pointless. Thanks all for clarifying.
I just wont use the 3rd bedroom anyway. 

tomtom256

Lifematters said:

There is no ‘bedroom tax’ in private rents. Housing benefits use the Local Housing Allowance for private tenants, which is based on your needs and not how many bedrooms you have. 

If you want to discuss scemantics, then there is no such thing as a bedroom tax and only an under occupancy charge or local housing allowance, depending on how you rent.

But that doesn't really help the OP.

calcotti

tomtom256 said:

Lifematters said:

There is no ‘bedroom tax’ in private rents. Housing benefits use the Local Housing Allowance for private tenants, which is based on your needs and not how many bedrooms you have. 

If you want to discuss scemantics, then there is no such thing as a bedroom tax and only an under occupancy charge or local housing allowance, depending on how you rent.

But that doesn't really help the OP.

The point being made was that as OP rents privately whether or not the attic counts as a bedroom is irrelevant because the ‘bedroom tax’ doesn’t apply anyway, it is the relevant LHA that matters and that is based on number of people not bedrooms.