Dedroom Tax

[driverdale1]

Can anyone tell me for FACT ..not hearsay, i have heard that if the spare bedroom is less than 70sq ft it is classed as a boxroom and not a bedroom therefor cannot be taxed as a spare bedroom, my son graduates soon and wants to flat share with a friend therefor this little room will be empty ..approx 56sq ft, what would be next step when i get the bill from council?...many thanks in advance.

[jackthehat]

1. No, it's incorrect.
2. Do you live in Local Authority Housing?
3. There is nothing you can do, at present except pay, as required.

[cazzz1975]

no one can tell you for a fact, its a rumour running around social networks, you would be best advised to phone your local council and ask them.

[ummmm]

It's a stupid rumour.

[McMouse]

It's a grave situation.

[sara3]

I wonder how small my smallest bedroom is.. and if, in fact, I'm in a 2 bed house and not a 3 bed house!

[sara3]

McMouse, lol

[VHG]

>>>taxed as a spare bedroom

Since when do you get TAXED on a bedroom?

[Nibble]

Ah! I found where this started from.....

The ICC 2006 International Residential Code states: no habitable space may be less than 70 square feet. A bedroom is considered a habitable space. Some building officials do not concider the closet part of that space and some do. Best to ask your building department.
Although this is a code reference, it is not a code interpretation. Codes vary from area to area and should always be verified with your local authority. Some areas do not use the IRC and some amend the IRC. Your local building official can help you much more than I can.


However, as the "boxroom" is already classified, and certified as a habitable space, then the tax is payable, and the charge will be levied. IMO

[buildersmate]

We did this question less than a week ago. Surprised it didn't flag up as a related topic before you posted it.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Property/Question1227122.html

It isn't true, for the purposes of assessing overcrowding because a room less than 70 sq feet is 'acceptable' for a child under 10.

No-one knows whether local authorities will use the same assessment - you'll have to ask them.

[New Judge]

"Since when do you get TAXED on a bedroom? "

Quite so, VHG. As far as I can remember a "tax" is a sum of money paid to a government. This proposal is NOT a tax. It is not a sum of money to be paid to a government. It is a reduction in benefits and it's about time the media stopped referring to it as a tax.

[emmie]

sorry but i have asked about this and if it says bedroom then the tax applies.

[emmie]

those affected look upon it as a tax, i am one of those people who it will affect, it's another nail in the coffin of my life.

[EDDIE51]

Your property is classified as 2, 3, 4 bedroom etc, you can't claim it is not a bedroom no matter what it is used for. I know people who have turned a bedroom into an office or play room but the classification as a bedroom remains.
The only way i can see that MAY work is to knock the walls down and make 2 bedrooms into 1 then apply to have the house reclassified as 1 bedroom less. But they have probably thought of that one and ruled against it.

[lcg]

thanks for responding back to people who took the time to help you.