'bedroom Tax' - Anyone Agree With It?

[Gromit]

The so called 'Bedroom Tax' starts today. Anyone receiving Housing Benefit (HB) who has a spare room will have their HB reduced.

Will it solve the housing shortage?
or
Is it a cynical stealthy way to cut the benefits bill?

[emmie]

well i am in the same boat and won't be asking my poor old mum for help any day soon, i think i would rather quit this world than do that quite honestly.

[Sharingan]

Can you tell us if your husband works for an employer or for himself Desktop? It will help with suggestions.

[naomi24]

Brick and wall ... nothing new there.

[Baldric]

///dad still pays income tax now so he pays for us///

[naomi24]

^^ Yep.

[naomi24]

^^ As I said ... brick and wall.

[HAWKE]

there are people we know of who live in 3/4 bedroom houses on their own, they have now been offered one bed flat with all moving expenses paid.One has decided to stay & pay the extra tax. So no one is being forced out if they are prepared to pay the extra money .There is a housing shortage ,& families waiting for accommodation in larger houses, so it seems a fair thing. Also isn't it a waste of money heating a large house for one person.

[emmie]

it won't solve the housing crisis, that means building more homes, if they build more places in the capital i wonder where they are going to put them. I had a look at one local estate agents as i know they have lots of very expensive properties on their books, one recently built private dwelling one of three in a row, is on the market for 2.5 million, and no i don't live in Millionaires or Billionaires row, just plodding along in a bog standard area, it was nice enough once, but not upmarket. The local council has allowed the developers free rein providing they either stump up some money to add to their coffers, or include social housing in the package, most of which they seem to have reneged on.

[EDDIE51]

Desktops husband works as a taxi driver, we have been told. He rents the taxi and so is effectively self employed.

[Sharingan]

Thank you Eddie, that makes it more difficult to help her.

[craft1948]

I'd dispute the 'effectively' Eddie.............

[Sharingan]

I don't suppose you know if it's a real taxi or a private hire car do you Eddie?

[maggiebee]

Desky, sorry if I sound a bit unsympathetic, but you and your husband always seem to have enough money for records and CDs. Didn't your husband just spend rather a large amount on two records?

[1ndex]

If adult offspring from council house tenants didnt get priority councilhousing, that would ease the load

[EDDIE51]

Craft , I know the system the cab company own the car and rent it to the driver then take a % of every fare as the rental fee, the driver keeps the rest. They are classed as self employed, I personally know several drivers who work to this system.
Desktop I despair , you had a job as a toilet cleaner but gave it up after 1 day because the toilets were dirty and you had to clean up some poo.

[friedgreentomato]

£60 I believe that would pay 4.2 weeks of the bedroom charge!!

[chaptazbru]

But em you voted for this vile lot didn't you? The tories are notorious for not caring about anyone who isn't at least a milionaire!

And no, I don't agree with this tax.

[emmie]

fgt, and you never cease to amaze me with negative comments no matter how bad things are. You are not in this position, good for you, i am.
Bitter over losing my home, i will be if it comes to that, bitter at losing my o/h, well it did come to that, and my job that too.

[emmie]

Index, who said that children get priority?

[emmie]

chapta, i don't believe that it would have just been the nasty tories, this has been discussed for a long time, it's just that it has now come to fruition, also that it's down to the councils to implement, as they are the ones who have the housing stock, and quite honestly i suspect i won't vote ever again, or will put the x to the monster raving loony party next time out.