Bedroom tax

[katie_lou]

Just wondered what everyone's opinions are on this , I am torn over it .

I agree that some people are in houses they don't need as the houses are simply to big for 1 person and that house would benefit a family .

However I also think its sad when a person has lived there for over 30 years and due to there children growing up and moving out are now being made to pay this bedroom tax on there family homes , however someone in work did make a very valid point stating that people who have lived in these council property's for so long seem to forget that it's technically not there house and they are borrowing it off the council and if they no longer require such a large house the council should have the right to rehome them in suitable accommodation .

What do you all think x x

 

[Linny1989]

I agree! If your in council or housing association its not technically ur home x

 

[wifeywifey]

I agree although I think they should take circumstances such as disability into consideration. People who are in desperate need of homing can't get help with suitable housing because of people taking for granted the system and seeing it as a right. Im in private rented and might get kicked out at the end of my tenancy but council tenants never have to worry.

 

[tambo1976]

I think its disgusting that this rule doesn't apply to pensioners tbh, they are the majority of people who live in 2/3 bedroom houses either alone or as a couple. It only applies to people of a working age. I just think once someones family grows up then it is time to pass the home onto a younger family who need the space and garden.

For many years now I have known people, including myself, who have lived in flats with 1 or 2 bedrooms and no garden yet on the same street a pensioner lives in a 3 bedroom house (where 2 of the bedrooms remain completely unused) alone with a garden that they are to old to tend to. If the council moved these people into smaller, more manageable and more affordable accommodation then it would free up thousands and and thousands of homes that young families desperately need and would use to the full potential.

When I read about the bedroom tax I was chuffed. I finally thought they were doing something brilliant and was looking forward to seeing more young people living in houses and older people living in flats/bungalows. When I found out pensioners were exempt from the rule I was gobsmacked!

Anyone who has been crammed into a 2 bedroom council flat with 3 children and no garden will completely understand why I feel this way and please don't say "well go private then" because private housing is becoming so expensive it is just not an option for everybody. Also anyone who has been waiting on the council housing list for many years will also understand my feelings I'm sure.

The only way I managed to break the cycle was to purchase a house, which tbh I couldn't afford and work stupidly long hours night shift so I could be there in the daytime and school holidays to look after my 3 children because if I had to pay childcare as well then we would have been living without enough money just for basic food and bills paid.

Honestly the bedroom tax could have made a huge difference. What a waste of a really good idea

 

[katie_lou]

I think they type of house the council gives people needs to suit there needs so for example . 1 person living in a 3 bed house doesn't have the need or all them bedrooms .

Also some old people who live in houses can't manage stairs anymore would be better suite to a bungalow ( however I can imagine theses not many of these available) .

I feel so torn about it , there's a man who lives in my mum and dads street who I have known all my life . He lives in a two bed house with his mum an she passed away over a year ago now . That man has lived in that house for I've 50 years but due to this bedroom tax he has to move as he can't afford to pay for the extra room that was his mothers .

X x x

 

[tambo1976]

I do understand it must be hard if an elderly person has lived in a house for many years. But why should they assume that just because they have lived there a long time then they have a certain "right" to remain there? As you said in your first post, it's technically not there house. It doesn't belong to them and it is very selfish for people to think that they should remain in a house that is obviously far to big for there needs.

I can 100% say that when my children grow up and leave me I will happily move into somewhere smaller. I actually think it's stupid not to. Heating a smaller home is cheaper and not having to look after a garden anymore seems like a big bonus to me lol

 

[katie_lou]

I do understand it must be hard if an elderly person has lived in a house for many years. But why should they assume that just because they have lived there a long time then they have a certain "right" to remain there? As you said in your first post, it's technically not there house. It doesn't belong to them and it is very selfish for people to think that they should remain in a house that is obviously far to big for there needs.

I can 100% say that when my children grow up and leave me I will happily move into somewhere smaller. I actually think it's stupid not to. Heating a smaller home is cheaper and not having to look after a garden anymore seems like a big bonus to me lol

Haha I am the same , I don't want to be rattling round a house on my own that's bigger than it needs to be . I had no idea though that it don't apply to old people . Does it also only apply to people who receive housing benefits as am sure that's the case with Liverpool council xxx

 

[tambo1976]

Yeah it applies to anyone who is in receipt of housing benefit and who is of working age x

 

[Mrs N]

I completely agree with it, if it is council housing then why should someone have the space they just don't need? If we don't do this then yet more money will have to be spent on yet more council housing, I want a government who can help my children when they are adults not one that has no money from creating housing when it already exists if people act responsibly!
Xxx

 

[SpinSugar]

I agree with it. Yes its hard having to leave a family home or an area you live in, but as someone pointed out,if u rented privately the landlord could kick you out with just a few months notice. And not many retired elderly people who own their home could afford to run a big house, so they would be forced to move too.

Xx

 

[wifeywifey]

As I said i agree with it. My mil lives in a 3 bed and has done for 30 years she has her grand kids (not my kids my bil) every weekend,they have a horrible home life but two days a week and school holidays they have a room they can each call their own and a stability, fil is a pensioner so they are exempt but if they had to move the kids would lose out.

It's so difficult sometimes to decide what's best and what's right.

 

[Pudds86]

I think its good. If you're living in a house that's bigger than you need and you are claiming housing benefit to be able to afford to live there then surely you should downsize which is what they are trying to get people to do.

Its all a part of the 'a house is not for life' scheme that starts next year. Xx

Tapatalking :-D Can't see tickers...

 

[tambo1976]

As I said i agree with it. My mil lives in a 3 bed and has done for 30 years she has her grand kids (not my kids my bil) every weekend,they have a horrible home life but two days a week and school holidays they have a room they can each call their own and a stability, fil is a pensioner so they are exempt but if they had to move the kids would lose out.

It's so difficult sometimes to decide what's best and what's right.

I'm assuming here so please correct me if I'm wrong

So your BIL's kids visit there Nan every week and they have a room to call own at her house, is that because they live in a council flat or house that doesn't have enough bedrooms so at there own home they don't have a room to call there own?

Because if that is the case then that would be exactly the situation I am talking about. In that situation the BIL's kids should be the ones to live in the house where there are enough rooms and the Nan should live in the smaller home giving those children a permanent home where they have a room to call there own and not just of a weekend.

If I'm assuming wrong then completely ignore me lol x

 

[Pudds86]

As I said i agree with it. My mil lives in a 3 bed and has done for 30 years she has her grand kids (not my kids my bil) every weekend,they have a horrible home life but two days a week and school holidays they have a room they can each call their own and a stability, fil is a pensioner so they are exempt but if they had to move the kids would lose out.

It's so difficult sometimes to decide what's best and what's right.

I'm assuming here so please correct me if I'm wrong

So your BIL's kids visit there Nan every week and they have a room to call own at her house, is that because they live in a council flat or house that doesn't have enough bedrooms so at there own home they don't have a room to call there own?

Because if that is the case then that would be exactly the situation I am talking about. In that situation the BIL's kids should be the ones to live in the house where there are enough rooms and the Nan should live in the smaller home giving those children a permanent home where they have a room to call there own and not just of a weekend.

If I'm assuming wrong then completely ignore me lol x

I think what she means is that their home life is not good with bil and being able to go to their nans and be safe and loved is a real good thing for them. If the nan didn't have that room they couldnt have time away from their not so good home life.

Although my parents don't get housing benefit we have a similar situation in our family where my parents can 'rescue' my nephews from a not so good home life and its so so important.

Tapatalking :-D Can't see tickers...

 

[wifeywifey]

Your kind of right, they have 4 other brothers and sisters so even if the housing was available they still wouldn't be entitled to a 7 bedroom house.

I agree with what your saying, we live in a 2 bed terraced on a main road with a garden that's not really suitable for kids. Id give anything for a house like mil with 2 big gardens and all that space.

It's hard because I agree but between my fils age and how hard the move would be on him and the kids I understand why moving wouldn't be easy on them too.

The kids do have a lot going on at 13 one gets up every morning does kids lunches for school gets them dressed and ready that's just a small part of it.

 

[wifeywifey]

Pudds you worded that perfect.
Thanks

 

[SeonaidMac]

Yeah it applies to anyone who is in receipt of housing benefit and who is of working age x

and in either council or housing association housing... it doesn't apply to people in private lets receiving housing benefit x

 

[wifeywifey]

Private tenants housing benefit is worked out on the entitlement tho based on kids a single person doesn't get enough benefits for a 3 bed house.

 

[SeonaidMac]

No but it costs the government more.. certainly here anyway know someone in 2 bed flat her n her son she gets 800 a month...

 

[Lanesje77]

I live in a local authority house that the bedroom tax is going to be effective as of the first of April. I'd love for someone from the council to come and see my 'spare' bedroom, we have 3 bedrooms, a 7 year old, 8 month old and one due in June....oh yeah I have loads of room, I'm my case it's ridiculous, but I can see where others may need addressing.