To think if you're a fan of the bedroom tax

[NicholasTeakozy]

That means you are at best a spunktrumpet and at worst a cunt. short video and see what it's doing.

call it what you like sock. can you name and shame the councils who are doing this dreadful re-designation of living rooms into bedrooms. I am not pro it and wouldn't ridicule anyone who used a nickname that was well understood.

I don't have a problem with benefits paying the amount for bedroom entitlement.

However in the South East all the one and most of the two beds are flats. Most of the town new builds are over pubs /Tesco Expresses/or similar. Not ideal for raising your wholesome family with no space and lots of late night noise.
No body should live in anything a Councillor wouldn't be happy with IMO.

My tiny kitchen has a breakfast bar separating it from a space which is just about big enough to house a little table and a drying airer. I've heard of HAs trying to say that this can be a bedroom.

Brecon - because we've never insinuated that there aren't people severely affected by it. In fact, we've acknowledged that there are and suggested that those who are particularly passionate because of any number of reasons get more involved. Whether that be writing to your councillor or even becoming one.

I strongly feel that as far as this issue is concerned, taking your vote elsewhere will do nothing as no major political party intends to reverse the changes. None. So those who feel passionately must do more.

It's a possibility. I've seen the OP posting at plenty of other times and so presume she/he has reasons for not coming back to this thread yet.

Corrina - I'd be very interested to hear which HAs you've heard do this and from whom?

Odd, Jolleigh,I thought I saw you agreeing up there that the whole thing was 'left-wing bollocks propaganda'. Unless that was a joke, in which case, har-de-bloody-har.

It is. I call it propaganda because despite all their arguments, they have no intention of reversing it. So they've helped put fire in the bellies of the masses purely to gain votes. Voting Labour won't reverse the bedroom tax.

mummymeister youve made a valid point, I suppose. Ive just looked up how to become a Parish Councillor online..theres a booklet..so I will take a look.

I believe this country is becoming increasingly right wing and am not sure that tide can be reversed. I hear working class people talking about those affected by Tory policies, those deemed to have less, in such cold harsh terms that Im actually shocked.

And so you're aware...I just called it propaganda. You may want to re read the thread to get who said what straight.

Even Labour are pseudo tories. Milliband has fuck all to say about mean Tory policies. Self serving MPs just keeping their heads down so as to hold onto ministerial post and keep getting the big salary, long holidays, and perks. God knows what will happen in 2015. I dont even think Labour deserve to win, for their utter weakness in the face of Tory attrocities. I guess theyd be the lesser of 2 evils tho. But, still...

To give a full list would put me in rather a difficult possibly problematic situation as well as also being quite unfair on a few other mumsnetters. however many that are doing so are already in the public domain. These include a couple in Scotland 3 in the south west and at least 1 in each other area of the uk I believe some have even put it on there own websites and its talked about on the dwp's own website.
(That's seriously not a cop out if any of the MNers who have pm'd me for help about this want to openly talk about it I'm sure they will)
If a LA or HA reclassified a property to downsize it so it officially had less bedrooms, then that action will be subject to a review and possible catastrophic results for that LA/HA's entire housing benefit budget as its been made possible to remove the ability to manage HB withdraw the subsidy for it in order to sanction the LA/HA.

They can reclassify a 3 bed as a 2 bed if its no bigger than a 2 bed on the same street or if its been permanently adapted or the reclassification was scheduled for good reason prior to jan this year but they cannot do it just because they want to be nice at least not without risking the entire subsidy.

However they do have absolute discretion to reclassify rooms as bedrooms that were not previously considered as such this clause is actually written into the legislation so dinning rooms and box rooms are fair game there is also no size restriction even if lots of people think there is because the minimum size only matters with regard to over crowding.

However there are legal challenges going on in some cases where this has happened and I'm very interested in the results.

Totally reasonable OP. Although I wouldn't bother with the spunktrumpet business and just head straight to cunt.

The policy reform is very sensible, why people in social housing should have vacant bedrooms is beyond me.

If they have children who live with the other parent then somewhere for them to stay at the weekend.

In my case because my property is built to be wheelchair accessible, and they only built 2 bedroomed ones.

... and Nicholas is nowhere to be seen. off to name change and create another political thread using clever sweary words no doubt

Personal attacks are always funny and clever. Except this one. I've used this name for over 18 months, though I must admit I'm due a change. Sorry I disappeared, I was sleeping, surely that's allowed?

If you think this policy isn't causing havoc you're living in cloud cuckoo land. All they're doing is switching the cost from central government to local, meaning council taxes will go up and they'll blame that on benefit claimants. Don't forget most benefit claimants are in work and have to claim due to low wages and high rents. The best and fairest way to reduce the benefit bill is to pay a living wage and cap private rent.

I for one think the bedroom tax is a completely pointless excercise soley to bring more money to the pot. Basically robbing people blind.
Not many houses have been freed up by this as there isn't anywhere smaller to move in to.
The only solution to the housing situation is to build more affordable housing, doesn't take an idiot to work that out.

But of course they don't want to do that as it costs money, instead they are making peoples lifes hell in the hope they will go off and die. It is already happening, people commiting suicide as their daily struggle to live has been made worse by this so called 'tax'.

I'm lucky not to be in the situation myself, but i completely emphasise with those in the situation they have no way of getting out of.

Politicly this was started by the conservitives but the truth is labour don't give a stuff either so it will never change.

The problem I have with the social housing benefit cap is that there is a lack of smaller council houses.

People can't move to a smaller house/ flat if there are none so they're just stuck where they are, not being able to afford the rent.

It's an awful, heartless policy. I totally second Nicholas' idea of capping private rents and paying decent wages.

If this "tax" was really about freeing up larger properties for social housing then why does it only apply to those claiming benefits/housing benefits?

I was amazed to hear that my childminder who lives in a HA house and has a spare bedroom does not pay this because she pays her own rent, which is subsidised.

It is just penalising those who are on low income, not fair!

Jolleigh that is just the point though. I dont have more bedrooms than necessary. In a 3 bed with 7yo Dd with Health Issues and a 4yo Ds. All of my 3rooms are occupied by myself, Dd and Ds. Yet I'm subject to the charge because the 'Reforms' have said they have to share. Ill thought out Policy at best ~

mycatoscar The 'Private People have to pay the subsidy charge thing' didnt wash with me from day one. DM used to rent a 2bed house with me and Ds sharing the 2nd Bedroom. She still had to pay a big chunk of the Shortfall that HB wouldnt pay and well, that wasnt because of an empty spare room was it? I'm talking years ago though so admittedly laws might have Changed ~

Still a massive fan of the housing benefit decrease here.

I don't doubt there will be problems during the crossover, but in the long run it is clearly the fairest thing for everyone else.

Fairer on those who are working to pay for their own homes or pay their own rents who are expected to work longer hours or make other sacrifices if they fancied having a couple of spare bedrooms, and it's fairer on other council tenants who get crammed into the smallest possible flats available and have to lump it.

SaucyJack many of those who work also have to claim HB subsidies. Sock I completely understand where you are coming from. There's a Lady around my area that turned her Dining Room into an extra bedroom because the LA told her she will be waiting years for a property. Guess who's now been subject to the 'Bedroom Tax' ? ~