Thousands in Nottingham to be hit by 'bedroom tax'
NOTTINGHAM City Council has vowed to fight the Government over plans to introduce a "bedroom tax" which will hit people on low incomes who have spare rooms.
The council has launched a petition against the move, which comes into force in April and will affect more than 6,000 people in the city.
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Hard hit: Wendy Morrison and Susan Henderson
The Government wants to reduce housing benefit for people with spare bedrooms. The council said this would equate to about £10 a week less for those with one spare room and £20 for those with two.
People will have to pay the extra cash or move to a smaller house.
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The latter is not easy as they will have to join a waiting list and it could be years before they manage to move.
Speaking at the full council meeting yesterday afternoon, Councillor Dave Liversidge, portfolio holder for housing, adults and community sector, said: "It's stupid that people have to keep moving house, in theory, because of their circumstances.
"People don't move. I haven't moved for 33 years. People are emotionally attached to their houses."
He said the council will lobby the Government on its plans to cut housing benefit for thousands of Nottingham's citizens.
"I think at the very least they should think it through; even though it's unfair, they could make it less unfair."
Betty Hart, 77 of Aspley, is worried about the effect it will have on her daughter Lynda Hore and her disabled husband, Leonard, who are in their 50s. The couple live in a three-bedroom house in Tunstall Crescent, Aspley, which has been adapted for Mr Hore, including the installation of a stair lift.
Mrs Hart says her daughter's husband sleeps in the second room when he is in pain, to avoid disturbing his wife.
"They will lose £20 per week for the two bedrooms – that's £80 per month. If they had a spare £80 a month they wouldn't be on benefits. We're helping them out each week with their groceries."
Children under 16 of the same sex are expected to share a bedroom and children under 10 are expected to share regardless of gender.
The Government says the tax will encourage tenants to downsize and save cash in the welfare budget. It says it is not fair for people to live in homes that are too large when millions are waiting for council houses across the country.
6 Comments
by TAXPAYER7
Friday, February 15 2013, 4:16PM
“Nottingham City Council should remember the "city homes for pals"scandal before giving lectures on the allocation of social housing. I wonder what ever became of the ivestigation into that sordid affair.”
by CALTHROSS
Thursday, February 14 2013, 7:48AM
“Bedroom tax is totally unfair.
It is not the fault of the people that there is a housing crisis.
Many good family homes in Nottingham and around the UK have been converted into student accommodation,buy to lets etc,then there are all these immigrants coming in with large families and more to come next year onwards.
Also Labour's "baby boom policy" benefits for babies,no need to work just get paid for having babies,social housing thrown no matter what your age.
Why should the people have to pay for politicians/councillors failings?”
by bestwoodbob
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 7:52PM
“Im glad i bought my 4 bed detached corner plot house when i did,
because now the kids have all gone i can sleep in any room i want!
might rent the middle room out tho.....”
by minverman
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 9:51PM
“I pay full rent for a flat because single,i want house so can have garden and drive,so dont mind paying any extra as work,quiet a lot peaple offered me a exchange.but council wont allow as a house is for a family.fair enough?so were are all the flats in nottingham,for these peaple on benefits or top up tax credit,private sector? where rents are sky high and not secured tenancy.I urge everybody not too pay,go to court and see what happens,its not only bed tax,council tax will be introduced as well.better still dont pay tv licence then that will save a few quid. ps dont open the door? all the best peaple nottingham.”
by torvilldean
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 9:33PM
“Just silly! I dont agree with it and hope their petition works!”
by harrystotle1
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 2:33PM
“The irony.
I don't recall the City Council making much of a fuss when they misallocated 3,500 council houses themselves. In fact they went to great lengths to brush it under the carpet via an internal "investigation".”