Bedroom Tax

[ilovemarkb]

Does the bedroom tax apply to people who own their own homes and are on benefits?? or is it just people who live in council / housing association?
properties thanks

[Old_Geezer]

Housing Benefit is to help you pay your rent if you’re on a low income. If you own your own home then you have no rent. So are unaffected.

[factor-fiction]

Just those in council/HA housing I think. I recall that HB levels are set differentlyfor other categories

[EDDIE51]

Only applies to social housing. But housing benefit limits are being applied to all housing benefit recipients .

[factor-fiction]

What happens with those who rent privately though, O_G?

[Graham-W]

Let's just make this clear. There is no such thing as "bedroom tax".
There has been a reduction in housing benefit for people in rented accommodation who have more bedrooms than they need for the nuber of people living there.

[Graham-W]

^number^

[Old_Geezer]

https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

It seems if you rent privately you can still qualify for Housing Benefit and so would still be subject to the "bedroom tax".

It's just a label Graham. :-) Less benefit or more taxation, it has the same affect on your financial state.

[factor-fiction]

I think the label was a very clever move though Graham by opponents of the change. The government should have got in first by labelling it 'a reduction in the spare bedroom subsidy'.
But for those who have to make up the shortfall in their rent I can see why its impact would be the same as a 'bedroom tax'

[Graham-W]

It should have been made more clear that the changes being made are to encourage people on housing benefit to downsize, where possible, thereby releasing larger properties for larger families who are in need.

[EDDIE51]

Use this to find the maximum housing benefit for your area and number of bedrooms.
https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx
This shows the MAXIMUM that you can get in each area and size of house , many people will not qualify for the maximum.

[ilovemarkb]

thanks for the info guys!! Somebody let slip that they pay bedroom tax but for years weve been lead to believe that its there own house and they have lots of money!!! My lips are sealed !!

[factor-fiction]

The government tried to make that point but it didn't hit the mark because (a) it was clouded by stories of individual cases involving disability etc
(b) opponents argued (and may have been largely right) that there aren't enough smaller properties available
(c) more notice should have been given- maybe 12 months- to give councils time to find alternative accommodation and give people chance to move

[factor-fiction]

^ sorry, my reply at 10:13 was in response to Graham's point at 10:08

[Old_Geezer]

It's that sort of manipulation I tend to object to. Wording stuff to sound reasonable but in affect to persuade me. Does it really matter what the justification is for wielding the stick ? I don't see this is going to make massive inroads into providing further accommodation anyway. I'd think it's a bit of an own goal, annoying tenants, but I guess one could say it'll affect mainly voters who wouldn't vote Conservative anyway.

[EDDIE51]

They may well still be getting a reduction in housing benefit but it is due to the system I gave the link to a diffrent system from the 'bedroom tax' , but many people are getting the two confused.

[heathfield]

The government have invented a perfect example of "Catch 22". If you have a spare bedroom, you'll lose money. So to keep the money, move into a smaller property. Can't, 'cos councils haven't got any to spare. I hope this goes the same way as the 'pasty tax'.

[DangerUXD]

There is no such thing as "bedroom" tax.

[kloofnek]

Unfair as it is...it only affects Council and Housing Trust tenants.

[kloofnek]

Oh ,don`t forget ,if the spare room is less than 70 square feet...it is not classed as a room...Maggie Thatcher decided this.So get your tape measures out and do some checking up.If this is your case and you are hit with this "bedroom tax"..fight it!!!!!

[factor-fiction]

Isn't that an urban myth, kloofnek?
Have you got a link to anything official on that please?