Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood tackles Government over so-called Bedroom Tax

“What goes around comes around...

Maybe there are some young families that could well and truly use a 2-3 bedroom house right now - I do not dispute that BUT...

In 5, 10 or maybe 15 years time whoever might take over my place could well find themselves in the same boat as me? Being screwed for every penny once the kids have left home. will they be so ready and willing to give up their home as quickly as they would like me to give up mine?

I DOUBT IT VERY MUCH?

Perhaps there should be a policy whereby anyone who has lived in premises, who's circumstances have changed due to the effects of time, that they be left in peace and security? We are talking that we were allowed by the system to build a home - and that very same system should not now destroy it?

Thanks for reading...”

“Just a quick word about the general assumption that the affected people are all on the scrounge...

Far from it - there are also lots of workers on low incomes who receive benefit and will be hurt just as much as those not at work. Also there are many tenants who probably pay there way?

One or two posts seem to be assuming that all council houses are occupied by scroungers that simply want to keep up the lifestyle of workers? Admittedly there could be some, but to generalise that way is offensive to the people that truely are being caught between a rock and a hard place. For the majority of people affected this is a real bitter hard pill to swallow.

If the government truly wants to house families perhaps they should think about enforced purchases of homes and houses that are owned by under-occupiers with rooms to spare and force them to buy single apartments? Or force them to take in lodgers too?

I know that sounds ridiculous but it could help - couldn't it? Whatever next? ;-)”

“This is stupid...

So many being caught in this trap with so few places available? I am personally going to suffer from this but what makes no real sense is that even if we all wanted to save money and downsize there is basically nowhere for us to go?

Also it could cost a lot of money to move - such as removal expenses, new items like carpets, leaving behind any home improvements you have installed, perhaps even special needs fittings?

I personally put this to my council yesterday and said "What if I am ready and willing to leave my home of OVER 30 years to downsize - would you help with any expenses? Would you then excuse me from the bedroom tax because I was willing to vacate?"

The answer was a resounding "NO. You have to take that all costs on board yourself AND if we have nowhere else to place you then you will still have to pay the bedroom tax." This sounds like nothing more than a benefit money making exercise to me? Especially when there aren't actually anything like enough one-person properties available?

None of the above even takes into account how you would react to more than likely having to leave your neighbourhood and friends behind and go somewhere you are likely to feel isolated and miserable? On top of that it is common knowledge moving house can be one of the most stressful things going.

To even things up a little I do feel that it is difficult when there are families needing somewhere to go - I was personally in that situation myself when I first moved here with my partner and two young children, but because they have grown up does that mean I am no longer able to stay in my home? My partner left me with two girls for another bloke and maybe one day I shall meet someone else that would be happy to move in with me?

One of my girls has been on the council waiting list for a place of her own - one bedroom or otherwise and is stIll waiting - AFTER 16 YEARS? So how the hell are they going to re-locate all of the people they are about to charge bedroom tax to?

Most likely also the people most affected are the one's least able to pay?

Finally even if anyone was prepared to take in lodgers what happens - the council assume an income of £70 I believe - first £20 of which is disregarded and then 85p in the pound clawed back? Sounds like a tough thing to make it worthwhile to me? Please forgive me if wrong on this one? Is taking in lodgers really the answer?”

“I think the priminister should spend a few days in the real world then he would change a lot of things!!”

“Kent:

You're assuming an awful lot as in the majority of cases the people in these homes are working people, usually in low paid jobs; hence the reason for social housing, for those in low paid jobs so they can continue to do them and remain in work rather than be benefit scroungers. Do you know how many of these Sky dishes actually work? it may be that they used to have Sky when they could afford it, but cannot now and the dishes remain up, or previous tenants had them installed. Then of course it could be that those working in these houses can actually afford Sky because they don't, or rarely drink and don't smoke.

The issue of rent is interesting as people in social housing pay considerably more then they would with a mortgage, assume they get a social house at 25 and remain there until they're 75, they pay a lot more in rent than they would with a mortgage on a similar sized property.”

“"why is it when you drive round a council estate you see so many sky dishes that i ca'nt afford because i'm working?"

Is that your experience kent? How do you know whether the houses with the dishes are owned by social housing landlords or owner-occupied? How do you know whether or not the occupants of those houses with dishes work or not? Perhaps they just earn more than you?”

“simple solution. have another child then you can fill that bedroom and. get more beer and fag money. these people dont know how lucky they are having a house cheep rent with no boiler repairs etc to pay for. why is it when you drive round a council estate you see so many sky dishes that i ca'nt afford because i'm working?”

“Bedroom Tax is social cleansing, people need to understand, fall victim being unemployed due ill healh or struggling give a job and you got a spare bedroom, it is to drive out poor peple out of housing into flats. and got working households to buy up the larger council houses, leaving local authorities with mainly flats.”

“The benefit system and social housing has reach crisis point, the last Labour government and this government fail to tacmkle immigration, and has caused housing shortages problems, it the bottom end of society who have to suffer, them at the top of society out of touch. and dont careless, and Mps have 2 or 3 homes, why dont they give them up, one rule of the rich and one rule for the poor.”

“This situation needn't have arisen if the cash from the sale of council houses was allocated to spend on the construction of new social housing in areas of deficit, these being mainly three and four bedroom properties.”