'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?

[ummmm]

You know how bereavement feels, bednobs.

[thejudderman]

Why should we the tax payer pay for someone to live in a house with 3 bedrooms if they only need 1 or 2?
If I as a home owner couldnt afford a 3 bedroom house I would have to down size to a 2 bedroom. Why should anyone on benefits, be they scroungers or legit, have more than they need?
I agree with it 200%!!

[emmie]

it's the worse feeling in the world, then it just gets worse...

[Sharingan]

So someone with 3 downstairs rooms but only two upstairs rooms is only living in a 2 bedroomed house even though it has the potential for four bedrooms? That's even more stupid.

[friedgreentomato]

desktop - get a job then!

[1ndex]

Sherigan, properties are designated by their council tax band

[friedgreentomato]

And you do have some spare money - the money you spend on CD's and records will cover it!!

[daffy654]

thejudderman, there are not properties for these people to downsize into. Do you really think the councils/housing associations have tens of thousands of empty properties on their books for people to move into?

[joko]

http://combatbedroomtax.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/how-to-combat-bedroom-tax-with-tape.html

http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/overcrowding%20excerpt.pdf

is this no longer the case then?

[emmie]

so hypothetically, a person downsizes to smaller property, that 1 bed will cost in rent say 200 a week, but the property that person currently occupies is half that in rent, so in effect it won't save any money for the government, taxpayer, but in fact double the bill, that is if the person gets housing benefit. If you don't mind or have to move out of the borough, town, city, if there are no or few smaller properties to rent in your local area, or indeed in the city, so that means that the person has to upsticks from their home of x years, from their community, provided they have one, and any kind of support, and literally start again. If the person has no family elsewhere then you have a difficult situation, because that person is then somewhat isolated, after all it takes time to establish new contacts, as you have left the old ones behind, and new support, be it doctor, dentists and all that, including any longer term support if you have a disability, mental or physical or both, see how this works...
i have seen how this hasn't worked for others, downsizing only works if there are decent enough properties to move to, those who perhaps have owned their own homes and can afford to downsize, thus free up space and money too from the sale of their property to somewhere smaller.
I have no further answers or comments, we all have our opinions,

[Sharingan]

I didn't think council tax bands had anything to do with the number of bedrooms just with property value.

[joko]

thing is, if none of this were happening, if private landlords put the rent up many just wouldnt be able to afford it and would have to move - you couldnt just argue with the landlord and demand he allow you stay, claiming its not fair, and what about my roots etc.

and if you worked and paid your rent and it went up you would still have to downsize if you couldn't afford it.

regarding flats above shops and people with 2 homes etc - thats irrelevant - those people OWN those properties and can do what they like with them ... they are private properties.
you cant expect them to just give them up because the council wants them to.

[Boto]

Council tax bands have absolutrly nothing to do with the number of bedrooms but with the capital value of the property.

[thejudderman]

Actually Daffy654. You will find there are a huge amount in private rented housing payed for by us the tax payer!! I know of a family who's rent is £1500 a month, none of them work. Its outrageous!! Theres 6 of them living in the house. Get them out. I have no sympathy whatso ever..... Theres far to many people taking the piss. Even the legit benefit claimants take the piss. Why should they live better than those of us that work??? If you truely need benefits thats fair enough,(but im sure most could get off their lazy fat backsides and work!) But there is NO WAY you should have more than you need. And DEFINATELY NOT live better than the hard working family next door!

[anneasquith]

just a wee thought, please dont assume everyone receiving benefits is fiddling the system.

[Boto]

Judderman, I so agree with you. This 'bedroom tax' does not affect me as I own my house - I worked hard and saved hard to buy my own property. I know not everyone can do this but we all have our own priorities when it comes to how we spend our money. It is galling to see many people on benefits who prefer to spend my taxes on cigarettes, drink etc. No-one should be better off on benefits.

[daffy654]

thejudderman, this 'bedroom tax' does not apply to the people who are in privately rented accommodation, only those in local authority or housing association.

[pdq1]

To avoid paying the tax you can take in lodger/s. Surely that will cure the homeless problem at a stroke?

[Connemmara]

boto were you tilly2 last week