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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if Labour really will scrap the bedroom tax?

285 replies

GaryShitpeas · 05/12/2014 16:34

Not going to go into why i am against it but I am. Doesn't affect me ATM as not on Hb but I probably will need to be in the future.

But I personally will be voting labour for this reason alone ....this is the first time I've ever voted Blush (to my shame) because I want it gone. But I wonder if they'll actually keep their promise.....

OP posts:
Darkesteyes · 06/12/2014 17:26

What Touch Of Natural and some others are saying really is.......

"Ive been mugged so my neighbour should be mugged too"

julesnbump · 06/12/2014 17:56

I agree with the bedroom tax and hope it stays. If you private rent and claim HB they go by the LHA rate so why shouldn't they do it for people in social housing who's rent is considerably cheaper anyway

Original poster
GaryShitpeas · 06/12/2014 18:12

YY darkesteyes Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
GaryShitpeas · 06/12/2014 18:14

Oh and I go to work btw as does dh touchofnatural

OP posts:
AnyoneForTardis · 06/12/2014 18:35

handcream it should be scrapped for disabled people who have adaptations to their homes.

ALL disabled people.

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 20:26

And you can get HB is your rent council OR private? Not sure how people in social housing live off other peoples money?

both groups are getting there rent subsidized by the state in the form of HB, something other private renters don't get. Anyone who doesn't receive HB doesn't have his ability to pay rent rise when rent rises (i.e. they don't get more help as their rent rises); if rent goes too high, they either do without something or move to a cheaper area. Furthermore, one major difference between social housing tenants and private rental tenants is that people who live in social housing have far more protections from rent rises and evictions.

I don't see why pensioners are exempt from the bedroom tax. And then they get more money to pay to heat oversized homes.

TouchOfNatural · 06/12/2014 20:32

Social housing is HEAVILY subsidised rental. I have a friend who pays £650 rent in a 3 bed 2 bath huge garden - social housing.. And the house adjoining theirs (semi detached, so exactly the same) is privately rented at £3,500. Beggars belief. Yet guess who complains about the council... How they should be entitled to more etc etc.. They've been given a grant to refurb their house and complain it's not enough for what they want to do in the house.. Thats the attitude that stinks.

The private renters naturally can't refurb as it's a rental... They could if they owned it only. But at £1,4 million it's out of reach. The point is they do not complain.. They work hard and pay their way sans depending on the govt to pay for their wants.

TouchOfNatural · 06/12/2014 20:35

Darkesteyes I did not say that.. Please don't put your own words in my mouth. I choose to live in the area I live in and make my own way in life, sans complaint or any help whatsoever. Grin

I just hate it when people who have no real right to complain, complain. Confused

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 20:37

The point is they do not complain.. They work hard and pay their way sans depending on the govt to pay for their wants.

sure they complain. I would too if I was being screwed in private rentals in this country.

Wherediparkmybroom · 06/12/2014 21:39

It is not a tax, it is just not paying a subsidy on a spare room!

LegoAdventCalendar · 06/12/2014 21:50

Why is there no bedroom tax/reduction of subsidy for MP's occupying a second home in London large than their needs?

Loletta · 06/12/2014 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

feckitall · 06/12/2014 22:14

I don't 'believe' they will keep pre election promises until they happen..they tell voters what they want to hear!

I have always been led to believe that Council rents are 'fair' rent the inflated private prices are the problem, they then add to HB bill. I can't be arsed to research but I'm willing to bet the HB bill for private rents are bigger than council ones.
Incidentally, my DH has for years believed we would be better off privately renting as many years ago with his ex his private rent was less than three quarters the cost of his first council house. He was convinced private renting was cheaper!! Confused it's taken years to convince him
We pay full rent, full council tax and are not therefore affected by bedroom tax. We will eventually ask to downsize but not until all DC are definitely not boomeranging back!!
My friend is in a HA house and pays not much short of 'private' rents.
The problem is the lack of investment in social housing and stock being sold off without the revenue being used to replace them.
How many people are owner/occupiers in houses too big for their needs..should they be compelled to downsize or rent out spare rooms? No.. of course not..no one would dare say that.
Although I do think MPs should be housed in a block of single bed flats to council standard rather that 'second' homes. Wink

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 22:20

I have always been led to believe that Council rents are 'fair' rent the inflated private prices are the problem, they then add to HB bill. I can't be arsed to research but I'm willing to bet the HB bill for private rents are bigger than council ones.

there's no such thing as "fair rent". there's market rent, which may be crazy high for the average person.

as to the second sentence, how is that computed? if you compare HB in social housing against the "fair rent" they charge and HB in private housing vs market rent, then the game is rigged, right? That "fair rent" in social housing is already subsidised, and if that is not included in the computation then it's really not comparing apples to apples.

How many people are owner/occupiers in houses too big for their needs..should they be compelled to downsize or rent out spare rooms? No.. of course not..no one would dare say that.

that's because they pay for it themselves.

Loletta · 06/12/2014 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TouchOfNatural · 06/12/2014 22:26

Owners own their own house/flat and can live in as big a house as they wish. They pay for that privilege themselves.

Private renters can have as big a house/flat as they want as it's purely based on what THEY can afford.

Those who get any kind of help to pay for the roof over their head .. Whether through HA or council houses are being subsidised so have less say. It makes sense.

TouchOfNatural · 06/12/2014 22:30

Loletta I hope he finds employment soon so he can pay for his own larger home. Life isn't always easy though, that's reality.. There are many people without jobs and struggling and he's lucky he even has a bedsit as many are forced onto the streets through circumstance.

There are many families living in very squalid conditions in the world where 1 person having a bedsit to themselves is viewed a luxury.

TouchOfNatural · 06/12/2014 22:32

Agreed re MPs and their second homes.. It's ridiculous. But govt's the world over are the same.

feckitall · 06/12/2014 22:35

Here is a link on 'fair rent' it was abolished..shows how I'm out of date! Blush I knew it existed though!

www.theguardian.com/money/2012/jun/01/fair-rent-tenants-sitting-comfortably

Loletta · 06/12/2014 22:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

feckitall · 06/12/2014 22:39

Loletta
Yy

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 22:39

For those of you in favour of the bedroom tax, is it fair that a single, unemployed, NRP should live in a bedsit or one bedroom flat with no room for his children when they visit?

so he occasionally needs a second bedroom? What about the family of 3 that lives in a 1 bedroom and are short a bedroom daily and would love to trade up?

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 22:48

You're basically saying "tough luck". Having to claim HB can happen to anyone you know and no, not everyone can get back on their feet in a short period of time

I am not going to speak for touchofnatural, but what bothers me is the unfairness of the system. First, private renters have far weaker protections. If you are lucky enough to qualify for social housing (and many in private rentals would love the security) you simply get a much more secure living situation. Second, I don't understand why HB is tied to the rental price of your local area. I don't think I would qualify for HB ever, but if I get priced out of my neighbourhood I am simply forced to move. I think it's rather nice that HB is tied to local values for a temporary time period so you can get back on your feet, but at some point I think we have to say it's simply too expensive to house you in Chelsea and you have to move somewhere less expensive.

I know people on HB who live in areas where I would love to live, but I really couldn't afford. I am thus subsidising (through taxation) the rent of someone who is worse off than me to live in a better area.

Loletta · 06/12/2014 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

writtenguarantee · 06/12/2014 22:50

If they're squashed in a one-bed its not because the government won't pay for an extra bedroom

it's because they can't find a two bedroom. perhaps that person who is under occupying his home could trade?

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