Bedroom Tax megathread

[Mecky]

The question is are they actually going to try and fix it before the general election.

 

IMO if they don't sort it out then it will be a massive stick for Labour to beat them with, as they've already said they intend to drop it.

(They also freely admitted they still don't know how they're going to balance the budget tho)

 

yeah http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28339128

[Mecky]

And another thing right, pensioners are exempt from the Bedroom Tax. That means a single pensioner can kick around a largely empty 4 bedroom house without penalty which makes a mockery of the so-called housing crisis which was one of the main points for implementation of this piece of nastiness. A person of working age but who is unemployed is adversely affected. That is nothing but pure discrimination. Even more so since some pensioners also get help with the cost of their rent via housing benefit.

[Cyclone]

To politically difficult to apply it to pensioners.

[liza D]

And another thing right, pensioners are exempt from the Bedroom Tax. That means a single pensioner can kick around a largely empty 4 bedroom house without penalty which makes a mockery of the so-called housing crisis which was one of the main points for implementation of this piece of nastiness. A person of working age but who is unemployed is adversely affected. That is nothing but pure discrimination. Even more so since some pensioners also get help with the cost of their rent via housing benefit.

 

 

It's easy to kick the unemployed whilst they are down and get away with it. You only have to read through some of the comments on this thread for proof of that.

 

More pressure= more suicides= saving more cash for the politicians to claim in "expenses"

 

But somebody keeps voting these cretins in, and if not them then the other lot who allowed the Bankers to rip the country off. Joe Bloggs would being doing time for what they did.

 

3 types of law in this country, One for the rich, one for the EU invaders and the like and one for the rest of us. Guess who gets the worst deal.

[Ms Macbeth]

And another thing right, pensioners are exempt from the Bedroom Tax. That means a single pensioner can kick around a largely empty 4 bedroom house without penalty which makes a mockery of the so-called housing crisis which was one of the main points for implementation of this piece of nastiness. A person of working age but who is unemployed is adversely affected. That is nothing but pure discrimination. Even more so since some pensioners also get help with the cost of their rent via housing benefit.

 

Many pensioners would love to downsize, but the choice in Sheffield (of social housing properties for older people) is much more limited than in some surrounding areas. When the Right to Buy was introduced, most local authorities didn't include properties that were very suited to people with disabilities and older people. That meant there was a reasonable choice for older people to downsize into. Sheffield, for some reason, allowed bungalows to be included in RTB. That has left the city with far fewer properties that older people would choose.

 

The second reason that older people don't downsize in Sheffield is the change to the letting criteria. A couple is now only eligible for a one bedroomed property, even when they have the income to pay full rent. For most older couples, one bedroom just isn't enough, especially as so many have family who don't live locally, but who may be needed for help and support. Also, poor health can mean that older couples don't share the same bedroom.

 

On 'First Come First Served' properties for over 60s are regularly advertised, but they are either studio/bedsits or one bedroomed flats. I believe the council are going to look at lowering the age bands as these flats aren't attracting older people. If these smaller properties are open to younger people, they could provide an opportunity for some who are living in larger houses who can't afford the reduction in benefits.

[Mecky]

Seen it all now http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/16/mother-claims-she-shouldnt-pay-bedroom-tax-because-a-ghost-occupies-her-spare-room-4835113/?ITO=facebook

[Anna B]

Many pensioners would love to downsize, but the choice in Sheffield (of social housing properties for older people) is much more limited than in some surrounding areas. When the Right to Buy was introduced, most local authorities didn't include properties that were very suited to people with disabilities and older people. That meant there was a reasonable choice for older people to downsize into. Sheffield, for some reason, allowed bungalows to be included in RTB. That has left the city with far fewer properties that older people would choose.

 

The second reason that older people don't downsize in Sheffield is the change to the letting criteria. A couple is now only eligible for a one bedroomed property, even when they have the income to pay full rent. For most older couples, one bedroom just isn't enough, especially as so many have family who don't live locally, but who may be needed for help and support. Also, poor health can mean that older couples don't share the same bedroom.

 

On 'First Come First Served' properties for over 60s are regularly advertised, but they are either studio/bedsits or one bedroomed flats. I believe the council are going to look at lowering the age bands as these flats aren't attracting older people. If these smaller properties are open to younger people, they could provide an opportunity for some who are living in larger houses who can't afford the reduction in benefits.

 

I've often thought a modern park home might be a possible downsize suitable for an OAP - all on one level and well appointed, but I don't know of any are available round here.

 

Anybody got any experience of them?

[sheff1johnny]

This is more a tongue in cheek question.

If people want to call it a spare room subsidy, rather than a bedroom tax, who should pay more.

Person 1 lives in 1 bed property, 1 bedroom, kitchen, dining room, study, and bathroom, separate toilet. 6 rooms

Person 2 lives in 2 bed property, with kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms living room and bathroom 5 rooms

[poppet2]

This is more a tongue in cheek question.

If people want to call it a spare room subsidy, rather than a bedroom tax, who should pay more.

Person 1 lives in 1 bed property, 1 bedroom, kitchen, dining room, study, and bathroom, separate toilet. 6 rooms

Person 2 lives in 2 bed property, with kitchen/dining room, 2 bedrooms living room and bathroom 5 rooms

 

But if you rent privately and apply for housing benefit, you will be told if you have too many ROOMS for your needs, not just bedrooms!

A separate dining room and a kitchen are two separate rooms, so too many!

You can have one or the other, not both for housing benefit purposes.

You will be told to eat your meals in your living room/lounge/study.

You can't have a kitchen & dining room and a living room.

 

How many council tenants have a separate kitchen and a dining room and a living room?

[charmer]

But if you rent privately and apply for housing benefit, you will be told if you have too many ROOMS for your needs, not just bedrooms!

A separate dining room and a kitchen are two separate rooms, so too many!

You can have one or the other, not both for housing benefit purposes.

You will be told to eat your meals in your living room/lounge/study.

You can't have a kitchen & dining room and a living room.

 

How many council tenants have a separate kitchen and a dining room and a living room?

 

You are wrong. The legislation covers only bedrooms. So you will not be considered as having too many rooms if you have a separate kitchen and dinner.

 

Did you deliberately lie to make your point or is this a genuine mistake. It's just that you started a thread with hundreds of replies and yet you still appear to have next to no knowledge about the topic.