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?

I think a lot of the problems in private rental are the greedy landlords who can charge thousands of pounds per month for property not worth a 10th of that simply because the tax payer will pick up the tab, it is about time the government put sensible caps on the rental cost of property which in turn would bring housing benefit down to a sensible level. Perhaps if the same HB system that is used in N.I was put into place then people could afford decent housing at low costs which in turn benefits the tax payer and the HB provider.

but why is private rental so much more expensive Thats what I want to know.

I know a couple of people who have BTL properties, and they are not making bucketloads off the back of their rent. The rent tends to cover their mortgage and general repairs.

I come back to that we need more social housing, scrap RTB and ill add in cap private rental.

That or all start living in tents on common land, bet that'd motivate the powers that be!

Maybe her Maj could let a few of her rooms out?

I mean it's obscene how many bedrooms shes got going spare.

Anyone who thinks that £14 a week to some people is not a big deal is a bit out of touch really.

It is a big deal to some, but it is a spare bedroom in housing subsidised by the taxpayer. People should downsize.

Downsize to where exactly? Because if they downsize from a council property to a private rent they will be even worse off.

Usualsuspect why do you always come across as full of the politics of jealousy?

Maybe her Maj could let a few of her rooms out? - couldn't agree more. She didn't even let anyone sit in her spare seat at the Olympics, that would have helped save the taxpayer £2000.

Jealous me? nah I think you got that the wrong way around.

But its not that simple is it. e.g I moved out at 19 to live with my friends, 18 months later I was pregnant. I moved back home to live with my dad after my delightful partner tried to beat the baby out of me.

If dad had been a HB tenant, once I moved out he would have had to downsize as he would have an an extra room, but I wouldnt have been able to move back in. Where would I have gone?

My bro moved out to go to uni, he had a breakdown and moved back home. If dad had downsized (either through choice as he thought he had got rid of us or forced because of HB not subsidising extra rooms) there would have been nowhere for us to go back to. And even better than that, under 25s will be expected to go and live with their parents under these new HB rules!

Im confused about how its going to work and I agree with the fucking policy!

Madness

Is there any form of housing benefit cap in Britain, what is the maximum anyone can receive in HB per month?

I don't see how both the downsizing policy and the no HB policy for under 25s can ever work,

usual maybe the plan is to drive all the under 25s back home and then the people with spare bedrooms wont have spare bedrooms anymore. That would free up houses I guess

My relative has HB of £103 a week at the moment to pa for her 4 bedroom house. When the "bedroom tax" comes in, she will only receive £75 HB, having to find the remainder herself.

However, average 1 bedroom private rental in her area is £100 a week, HB will cover that for private renting but only pay £75 social housing rent.

This is not all about money as in my relative's case she is going to pay the same amount (from HB) for a smaller property. This is about freeing up houses for families who are desperately overcrowded or homeless.

I honestly think it doesn't go far enough and we should also be doing something to incentivise under occupying pensioners to downsize too.

It's madness

Where would you like all the pensioners to go?

Stick them in a nice high rise?

Surely people cant expect to keep bedrooms empty for years just incase their grown up son/daughter needs someone to put them up for a while?

groundhogmum, could I ask if the 103 pounds HB per week covers all the rent or does your relative have top it up?

groundhog if your friend downsizes it this means that a family with 3 or more children have a home to move into and that will save the taxpayer a heck of a lot more.

Bureni that covers all the rent - I am well aware how good that is!!

Usual - we have lovely bungalows and flats in our area which are specified over 55's only. In my 4 year wait for a property the over 55 availability hugely outweighed anything suitable for families. Why should anyone have a taxpayer funded 4 bedroom house when they live alone? Especially as our area has a shortage of family sized properties.

cantspel No but the son/daughter cant claim housing benefit if they are under 25 I think because the expectation is that they should go home to live with their parents.

I believe the policy is the right thing to do, I believe benefits should be there for essentials. I dont think extra rooms are essentials, and therefore shouldnt be funded.

But I am a bit confused about where everyone is supposed to go