What are your views on the bedroom tax?

[Cheekychops84]

the new tax for hb claimants where u loose some hb for bedrooms u don't need? we work so at the moment won't b affected but if workers later on down the line are affected I think is a bit unfair as we are paying all rent and bills ourself at the same price as Private Rent?

But people dont have some God given right to live in a simelar neighbourhood in a place they have stamped their personality on to be paid for by the state no matter how many children are growing up in overcrowded conditions because there isn't a social house for them.

That lovely MN phrase Sense of Entitlement is ringing through loud and clear from some of these posts and it's so selfish.

I realise it might be tough for people to have to move if they don't want to, but this stuff happens to owners as well as renters. For many reasons. It's life.

'But equally, if you are wealthy you shouldn't be paying the same for a council flat as someone who is earning peanuts.'

Or have your buy-to-let properties paid for by taxpayers via HB?

Owners have an asset. These people do not. In addition, unless they are offered another HA/council property, many will be unable to secure another tenancy - lack of landlords willling to take HB, rent to people with children, money for moving, etc.

But hey, to the wall with 'em, they're only the people caring for elderly in care homes, providing vital but low-paid service to the rest of us, etc.

Quick question, sorry if it has been answered.

My parents own their home so are not in this situation, I'm just curious. They are a retired couple with a 3 bed house.

The do a lot of child care for my neice, including having her stay overnight with them about 3 nights a week.

They also have us staying with them a couple of times a year for 1-2weeks a go.

Where would they stand if they were on hb?

Are they pensioners? If so, nothing. Pensioners are exempted from this.

Sorry! I see they are retired. Nothing would happen to them.

They'd still get all their normal HB even if over-occupying.

It will effect us now, (DH made redundant 2 weeks ago ). We live in a 3 bedroom HA house. I have 3 girls and there's me and DH. But DSD at almost 20 and working full time doesn't get put into the equation when we're claiming HB as she works. So even though all our bedrooms are occupied (with 2 of those bedrooms having 2 people each in them). We can't downsize because then DSD would be homeless.

I know we have some money taken off our HB because DSD works under the old system. Which she now has to make up from her wages (we didn't take any keep off her when DH was working). Which is fair enough, but under the new syste, they're going to take even more money off our HB because they don't count DSD in the equation. Which is a bit stupid if you ask me. SHe can't afford to move out because she's on minimum wage and all the private rentals in our city even for bedsits are ridiculous. So we're stuck!

Landlords will start taking hb expat as that is what happens when there are no council houses in an area and a lot of people are on low income.

If they can't secure another tennancy then they won't have to move.

So what if owners have, or had, an asset? What difference does that make to the way you feel if you don't want to move? Money, if you still have it, isn't going to make any difference to things like moving away from an area you know well and such like.

Owners can work in care homes and work in not very well paid jobs too you know.

Stacee, your DSD would probably be able to claim HB to the value of her room.

'If they can't secure another tennancy then they won't have to move.

So what if owners have, or had, an asset? What difference does that make to the way you feel if you don't want to move? Money, if you still have it, isn't going to make any difference to things like moving away from an area you know well and such like.

Owners can work in care homes and work in not very well paid jobs too you know.'

No, they'll just be poorer.

So what if owners have an asset? Well, they have something they can rent out, for one. They may have capital to release to afford a private rent, they have something to sell if they can. Those are some pretty major differences from a tenant in a HA/council property.

My objection to this was never about someone's need to stay in a particular area, so I don't really know why I'm responding to that element of your posts.

Mine is that it's all ill-thought-out plan, and exempts the largest percentage of over-occupiers, who also don't have anywhere else to go in many places.

Thanks expat.

so everyone in in social housing is a low paid carer work?

None of them are feckless or earning over min wage?

And everyone one who owns their own home is well off, living the life of riley and so should just suck it up and keep paying their taxes.

There are reasons you need an extra room, as I said in my case on page 5 that case is disability. Doctors and SS have said we need to stay in a 4 bed.

We're now going to have to find extra funds to stay here.

Oh and the rent here isn't a quarter of private rents, it's 70% of private rent around here govt are forcing HAs to raise rents to 70% of private levels.

'so everyone in in social housing is a low paid carer work?

None of them are feckless or earning over min wage?

And everyone one who owns their own home is well off, living the life of riley and so should just suck it up and keep paying their taxes. '

Of course they are all feckless and don't pay tax or are multi-millionnaires. That's why they all need punished! Except nice old people who over-occupy. They're all lovely WWII veterans or tragic widows.

Owners can claim HB, too.

Good. About time. The only fair way is to make HA rents closer to private rents. Then they wouldn't have to mess about with these silly extra room rules.

Glitter don't worry, it doesn't affect those with care needs. Disabled tenant or partner who needs non resident overnight carer will be allowed an extra bedroom

taken from here www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/bedroom_tax.aspx

Ah as always when the entitled money for nothing crowd know their argument is lost and without reason they resort to ad hominem about little old ladies or the handicapped.

Novak who are you referring to there?

Am I 'entitled money for nothing'?

It's a real situation, it's really happening, and it's really happening to my family.

Why assume everyone who has a different viewpoint from yours is on benefits?

I've tried to explain over and over again why I feel this policy is ill-thought-out and therefore will not achieve its aims, but only make poor and working poor even poorer, because the problem is lack of affordable housing to rent and insecure tenancies in the private sector.

Oh and the circumstances of my life mean I'm now on carers allowance in social housing wheras ten years ago I was in a well paid job and a homeowner, it could happen to anyone.

Is that why people deride me, cos they think then it won't happen to them? It might.

I am an entitled sort, and pride myself on it.

Honestly though, I've given up on this sort of thread, because the ignorant won't listen.
Pointless exercise.

Owners can claim HB, too.

no they cant.

Stacee, your DSD should be able to get housing benefit if she is on a low income. She could then rent a place of her own, and she should certainly apply for a housing association flat. If not she could then claim the amount you have to pay extra for the room.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

Owners cant claim hb if me and dh were in a rental we could claim but not in a mortgaged flat although would count as low income.