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Original poster

To want to scream at twats posting shite false crap about the bedroom tax

141 replies

BrittaPie · 08/04/2013 10:01

Eg 'muslims can turn a room into a prayer room and it is exempt'

'Sex offenders are exempt'

Etc etc etc

One just told me to check google, so out of curiousity I did. The ONLY source was ridiculous bnp affiliated blogs. Not even the actual BNP.

Twats.

(Not Muslim, a social housing tenant or a sex offender, btw. Just not a twat.)

OP posts:
TheHumancatapult · 08/04/2013 11:38

Mrsbucket

And keys not forget childcare for these free courses and transport to get to them either

MrsBucketxx · 08/04/2013 11:38

do you blame them though expat, once bitten and all that.

DisorganisednotDysfunctional · 08/04/2013 11:38

This "spare room tax" is even more badly thought out than last year's moronic pasty tax. I think it's gonna be a killer for the Tories. Not quite as bad as the poll tax, but getting on that way.

The Observer reported that there are apx. 180,000 families in social housing who might be affected by this "tax", but that there were only 85,000 suitable smaller properties. So there's a 100,000 shortfall of families who won't be able to downsize however willing they are...

Of course the way to escape this "tax" is to move from, fex, a 3 bedroom council house to a 2 bedroom privately rented property and claim housing benefit for that. Huge difference in rent, of course. 100,000 families moving into private rented accommodation would cost the taxpayer a hell of a lot more than the current situation.

A neighbour told me that one local council approaches suitable families and retired people with the offer of a couple of thousand pounds to downsize. This covers the costs and disruption: carpets & so forth. People may have been in the same house for many years, made gardens, etc, and they need an incentive. The council only makes the offer when it knows it has smaller properties available. Of course, this is anecdotal, but I'm told the approach works, and it seems far more sensible than asking the impossible from already skint families who can't afford a moving van.

YouTheCat · 08/04/2013 11:39

Dancemom, it is called Discretionary for a reason - it means at their discretion so probably most people wouldn't be able to get that anyway and I can't see it covering most deposit costs, which are astronomical.

JakeBullet · 08/04/2013 11:39

Has MrsBucket understood yet that education is NOT free if you are on benefits?

Or is she just continuing to spout shit on a topic she knows nothing about. Hey....here's an idea MrsBucket...why don't YOU get an education before posting shite on MN.

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:40

' It annoys me to think there are people who could well afford their own house taking up a council house. Why should they get a house for life and others spend years on waiting lists and in crowded conditions.'

And those who do not claim HB are exempt.

The real question needs to be why is private letting so expensive, because HB is paid to those in private lets and in employment. The majority of those who claim HB, roughly 80%, are in employment.

The bill has grown because housing in general has become so desperately expensive.

EggsEggSplat · 08/04/2013 11:41

Exactly, Expat.

And in many areas there are no smaller social-housing properties available, so people will be forced to go into private rentals where a one-bedroom flat costs more than a two-bedroom LA/HA property, but they will be entitled to housing benefit to cover that - so the government ends up paying more.

And there is no security of tenure in the private sector, so people will go fom having a secure, affordable long term home to being subject to eviction if the landlord decides to sell up or raise the rent etc.

The whole policy is a short-sighted, badly-thought-out mess which will probably cost more money than it saves. The real problem is that too many family-sized social housing properties were sold off under right-to-buy and not replaced.

dancemom · 08/04/2013 11:41

DHP rules have changed though to accommodate this new "bedroom tax" and councils have to allocate their DHP budget to incorporate this change and yes, it does include covering deposits. It also covers a situation where a tenant wishes to move out with their own borough / area.

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:42

'do you blame them though expat, once bitten and all that.'

Some of them have never taken HB tenants, MrsB, because they cannot. It doesn't help, though, if those in the social housing cannot move due to 'no HB/LHA'.

Maggysinge · 08/04/2013 11:42

There's always an excuse with the left and there's always someone else to blame isn't there? If people actually took control of there lives and made a real effort we wouldn't be in this mess but no it's always the nasty governments fault and never their own. FFS the hysteria from the left and this forum in particular is astounding but the majority of this country are in agreement that things need to change and you lot will just have to get over and continue to whinge, moan and woe is me on here.

EverythingIsTicketyBoo · 08/04/2013 11:43

I was talking about this with DH the other day, and I think some of the housing rules have been changed by stealth to make this work in the government's favour. 4 years ago I was in a 2 bed HA house. I got pg again and the HA told me that I would be over crowded and they could move us to a 3 bed house suitable for my teenage (and disabled) DS and the new baby. This was done before baby was 6 months old. Now we are being told that our HA house has a spare room as we have 2 boys. So at some point they have changed the rules to fit their purpose!

Maggysinge · 08/04/2013 11:43

Their not there.

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:44

'DHP rules have changed though to accommodate this new "bedroom tax" and councils have to allocate their DHP budget to incorporate this change and yes, it does include covering deposits. It also covers a situation where a tenant wishes to move out with their own borough / area.'

It is discretionary and it's also finite, so HAs and councils must be very careful with those to whom it is paid out due to the fact that once it's gone, so far, it's gone. Our own HA is only paying it to disabled people at present, who have adaptions made to their home.

DolomitesDonkey · 08/04/2013 11:44

The only tax involved here are the British tax PAYERS!

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:45

'There's always an excuse with the left and there's always someone else to blame isn't there? If people actually took control of there lives and made a real effort we wouldn't be in this mess but no it's always the nasty governments fault and never their own. FFS the hysteria from the left and this forum in particular is astounding but the majority of this country are in agreement that things need to change and you lot will just have to get over and continue to whinge, moan and woe is me on here.'

Plenty of those affected are disabled. Are they just not taking control of their lives and making a real effort?

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:47

80% of those in receipt of HB are in employment and paying tax.

The reality is the cost of housing is well above min. or low-income wage, so these people claim HB/LHA to keep the roof above their heads. Yet they are to blame somehow?

JakeBullet · 08/04/2013 11:47

...and shall I say that the right wing voters are heartless scum? Hmm

Generalising, MUCH about left wing voters Maggie Hmm

I know....I'll blame everyone else for the fact my child is autistic shall I...then moan because I can't work at the moment....and moan because I had no say in being allocated a three bed place and am now facing a cut which will see my life becoe harder than it already is. Still as long as people like YOU can sniff and say "serves em right" all is well.

Yep...you are right...all my fault.

God some folk here are THICK!

YouTheCat · 08/04/2013 11:47

What about those who can't then, Maggy? Those with very young children who are on their own through no fault of their own? What about the disabled who may well be able to work but you try finding a job in the current climate?

Crass and lacking in compassion.

dancemom · 08/04/2013 11:47

HA's don't issue DHP, that's up to your Council so HA have no say over who can claim it. And your Council are obliged to allocate a percentage if their DHP budget towards this specific situation. Priority is given to foster caters and disabled needing room for medical equipment or in properties which have been adapted for ongoing weekly DHP payments to meet their shortfall but there is also a budget for other situations.

Maggysinge · 08/04/2013 11:48

I have a disabled cousin and you know what, yes he gets on with it and has done for years with no whingeing and expecting everything to be done for him. Like I said no matter what you lot will always come up with excuse after excuse and never will take any personal responsibility for yourselves.

BumpingFuglies · 08/04/2013 11:49

No "hysteria" here. Mainly educated opposition to a policy which makes the poorest and most vulnerable poorer.

Yes, get off your arses and make an effort. Hmm

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:49

Ours is not using it for deposits, dance, assuming you could find a LL who will take kids and DSS/HB/LHA.

TickleMyTitsTillFriday · 08/04/2013 11:50

When universal credit comes in, it will include Hb with one payment, does that mean that the private landlords not taking Hb will no longer be a problem? As it's all paid in one sum?

I would LOVE to rent a house from ha or council, private rents are ridiculous and we will be paying this for years.

I'm not entirely sure I'd be moaning tbh.

expatinscotland · 08/04/2013 11:51

'I have a disabled cousin and you know what, yes he gets on with it and has done for years with no whingeing and expecting everything to be done for him. Like I said no matter what you lot will always come up with excuse after excuse and never will take any personal responsibility for yourselves.'

PMSL! Some people are so disabled, Magg, they need someone to help them even get on a toilet. And they are affected by this.

YouTheCat · 08/04/2013 11:51

Just because your disabled cousin can 'get on with it' doesn't mean that everyone with a disability can.

And what about parents who are carers for their kids with disabilities? Should they dump their kids and get a job? When my ds was young the only job I could take on was term time only and part time because there were no childminders who could cope with his needs during holidays. Should I have dumped him somewhere inappropriate (and possibly endanger him) so I could get a fulltime job?

Some people on here are just utter twats.