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?

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

It's a general statement that I believe to be true. Individuals get treated badly, both tennants and LLs.

But in general, private tennants do not get treated badly.

[BeeBee12]

Also landlords love hb its why most go in to it.Its easy money for them

[expatinscotland]

'Expat- if I was in a 2 bed house & I didn't need a 3 bed I wouldn't bother with it. Why would I want to skint myself paying for a bigger place when I don't need one? This is what I've been trying to say.'

Because you may not be able to afford the appropriate alternative on the private market due to LHA caps.

[cantspel]

No they are not paying his mortgages. They are paying their rent.

[usualsuspect]

The rent pays his mortgage though. So the tax payer is buying his house for him.

Can't hear you saying how wrong that is.

[Emmielu]

I wouldn't be able to afford it expat you're right. But again I don't see why people should have places with more rooms than what they need when there are others that need the space.

[BeeBee12]

Hb does buy the landlords house thats why there are so many landlords

[cantspel]

It is not wrong. It is a business like any other. As it happens he doesn't have mortgages on all the properties and no where near 100% mortgages at that.

It would be wrong to buy property and leave it empty.

[expatinscotland]

'But again I don't see why people should have places with more rooms than what they need when there are others that need the space.'

Because they have nowhere else they can afford to go, in all likelihood.

[Emmielu]

If they go for places that are too big for them then they're effectively making themselves skint. Isn't is common sense to only stick to what space you need?

[Glitterknickaz]

It is going to cause us problems.
Because of the kids' differences (all ASD but present completely differently) the boys sharing a room is untenable. It affects their mental health and actually they've ended up really hurting each other because they can't cope with the sensory overload from each other.

We're now in a house where they have their own rooms but this is going to affect us as on paper they should share.

The fact they cannot share has been backed by the consultant paediatrician and SS by the way. We can't move and put them in the same room. Not an option.

[usualsuspect]

But you moan about the taxpayer paying for extra bedrooms but not about HB being used to pay off LLs mortgages.

You can't pick and choose what to moan about.

[expatinscotland]

'If they go for places that are too big for them then they're effectively making themselves skint. Isn't is common sense to only stick to what space you need? '

They are not and never allocated places that are too big for them from social housing unless they presented with that need when their tenancy began.

No one rocks up to the council or HA and says, 'I need a 4 bed,' and gets it unless they have that need.

And, once those circumstances change, due to LHA caps and lack of landlords willing to take HB, they may not be able to afford to move.

[MagicLlamaStrikesBack]

Usual If you dont agree with HB essentially buying a house for someone, then what would you suggest? Someone has to own private lets. (note I can barely afford my own house let alone a buy to let one aswell)

Are you advoctaing that private LLs dont accept HB and therefore the tax payer is not buying their houses for them?

Do you advocate more social housing so that the money goes back into the general coffers?

Do you agree that Right to Buy schemes are wrong, and essentially the tax payer buying houses for people?

[OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos]

HB doesn't buy LLs houses. HB pays rent, and that covers maintenance, the LLs time in sorting out problems, repairs to anything that needs fixing.

Being a LL isn't as easy as taking money from one person and paying it to the bank.

Anyone had the opportunity to become a BTL LL back in the days of 100% mortgages, I don't understand why LLs get such a slating on here. No one ever complains about the individuals that bought their council houses for way less than market value, and that contributed to the housing problems we have now just as much. In both instances, it is the systems that have been to blame, the banks for giving out 100% mortgages and the councils for selling off their properties. The individuals have done nothing wrong.

[cantspel]

They are not paying the mortgage. They are paying rent on a property. It is then up to the owner how he uses this money.

Some will be using it to pay mortgages, some wont have mortgages.

Are you saying no one should rent property out unless they own it outright?

[usualsuspect]

I'm saying that people choose what to moan about. People are so quick to say why should we the taxpayers pay for someone to have a bedroom they don't need.

But no one gives a stuff that the same tax money often buys a house for a LL.

[expatinscotland]

Also, the rules do not affect the largest group of over-occupiers: pensioners.

[FiveMonths]

I feel sorry for people who will have to move, but I think it is possibly fair for new applicants iyswim - those who have not yet moved in and settled and so on. I don't know enough about it to say.

We are in private rental and I have a fairly large bedroom, which is used for storing all the bedding, lots of baby equipment and toys and so on, also has the only bathroom as an en suite which obviously we all share.

my two children share a very small bedroom, they have bunks but most often decide to sleep in my bed with me.

I'm expecting another baby, we don't want to move so the baby will be in with me for at least the first few years, probably till it starts school - by which time ds1 will be a teenager, and I have no idea how we will manage.

Might have to think about sleeping in the living room on the sofa, so he can have the big room.
At least I'm not likely to be hounded out of a place that is too small, that's a positive.

[expatinscotland]

Many will not be able to move, so they'll just be poorer.

[MagicLlamaStrikesBack]

But that would be solved by not letting HB tenants in Private lets, which people then moan about.

Personally I think they should build more social housing and scrap Right to Buy.

[usualsuspect]

Exactly expat, but thats a good thing apparently.

But after all why should someone in social housing have something that they haven't got.

[expatinscotland]

Because to move, you need to have the money for that, too - first month's rent, deposit, moving costs, able to pass a credit check, letting agent fees if need be, etc.

[usualsuspect]

I agree I think they should scrap Right to buy and build more social housing.

[cantspel]

But then people moan landlords wont accept hb.

It seems like they can never win. If they only take private they get slated and if they accept hb then people moan they are getting their mortgage paid.

It is better that landlords provide decent homes and some get hb for it than leave property empty or exclude a large number of the population becasue they dont want benefits claimants