Bedroom tax

[DiddlePlumbs]

My OH's parents live in a 3 bedroom council house. They've lived in it for 40 years and raised 3 out of 4 of their children there. Up until a year ago my partner still lived there and his parents sleep in different rooms - one of them shouts in their sleep a lot and the other just needed their own bed a few years ago due to medical issues. They're both in their late 70's.
Within two weeks of us moving out (I moved in there for a year or so) the council had already contacted them asking if they'd downgrade to a smaller home. They really didn't want to - obviously it's been there home for 40 years so they politely refused. They were heartbroken when we moved out because they thought the council would just evict them and place them into a smaller home.
Now however, we're moving back in with them in October time to raise baby, so they won't have to downgrade.

I do believe that there is a point to bedroom tax, and that there are a lot of homes throughout the country that have many empty, unused rooms that could go to a needing family. But at the same time, if I'd of had to help my OH's parents move out of what they call their family home, I think I'd of been devastated for them :/

In conclusion, I'm on the fence. I think they need to look a lot deeper in to it.

 

[Linny1989]

Also I think grand parents want to room for when the grand kids stay over. It's a hard one x

 

[redbear]

i think if they had medical issues for needing separate rooms and not just separate beds then they should be given a two bed but again its people thinking its there house when its not its rented that's the problem. without been harsh they had 40 years to buy it from the council at a reduced rate assuming one of them was fit to work in the last 40 years x

 

[Lolly85x]

It's hard. Really hard. I do see both ends of the situation.

But I think something that sticks in my head is that these as council houses, there not owned by the tenants.

 

[Linny1989]

Yea same! It's hard but they are council n can do what they want with em x

 

[cosmicgirl]

I know lots of people who would love a spare room for when cousins/grand kids/family come to stay but that to me is a luxury.
I also know people who have 3 kids sharing a small room and need more space, that's a necessity.
These houses are owned by the council so you have to live by their rules, as you would for any landlord.
People should always regard the council as a landlord x

 

[Linny1989]

Yea I agree! Be nice to have the extra room for grand kids etc. I have a 2 bed house 2nd room is so tiny! And my kids r sharing. Got another on the way. X

 

[redbear]

Wouldn't everyone like a spare guest room? but people that buy there houses sometimes dont have that luxury so think its a bit much to expect it from the council. It shouldn't have gone on for so long, if they had always had this rule then there wouldn't be people living in them for years and years and not wanting to leave. Its not there house, but unfortunately because its secure people start to think it is. I think they also need to draw a line somewhere, if they allow for grandkids (when they dont allow for actual children if your a weekend dad btw) then they will start allowing for that third cousin who stays once a year and so on until its stupid.
Anyone with grandkids would be using it as an excuse to not loose money even if they never babysat.

 

[mirime]

without been harsh they had 40 years to buy it from the council at a reduced rate assuming one of them was fit to work in the last 40 years x

But isn't part of the mess we're in caused by the selling off of council houses without building enough new? Maybe they didn't believe the right to buy was a good idea - and after 40 years in the same house you are going to see it as your home regardless of who actually owns it.

 

[tambo1976]

without been harsh they had 40 years to buy it from the council at a reduced rate assuming one of them was fit to work in the last 40 years x

But isn't part of the mess we're in caused by the selling off of council houses without building enough new? Maybe they didn't believe the right to buy was a good idea - and after 40 years in the same house you are going to see it as your home regardless of who actually owns it.

I disagree. I think that the reason we are in this mess isn't because of selling off council homes, it is because we have had millions of people seeking asylum here and they have taken a large % of council/ HA houses. In the area I used to live so many council flats/houses were taken by polish and romanians that they even built a huge supermarket to cater for them. That is another subject though so I'll steer clear.

I still think that is is wrong for pensioners to be exempt from the bedroom tax. If everyone had to follow the same rule then it would have been a very good idea. Also just because you have lived in a house for 40 years then you should consider yourself lucky to have had a house bigger than your needs for so long, not unfortunate that you now have to move on and allow a growing family to make good use of the house. I think it is selfish to think otherwise

 

[Titch85]

My grandparents have just downsized from a large detached 4 bedroom house, to a 2 bedroom bungalow. Yes they owned it, they designed it and had it built for them, and yes they were sad to leave it BUT they saw the sense in moving to a smaller house. Their view was "it's just a house, family will visit us anywhere and our memories go everywhere with us" maybe more people should have this outlook!

 

[redbear]

i just think they don't need a three bed house for two peopk when there are some family's crammed into a one or two bed. i think people who don't need council houses but are allowed to stay has caused this they shouldn't have been left 40 years there and moved on as soon as there kids were moved out that way they wouldn't be as attached to it. they may think its there home but its not at the end of the day its rented if they wanted to have been forever home they should have got a mortgage and a house instead of relying on the council. its hard when you know someone personally its hard to see it without emotion x

 

[Lolly85x]

My grandparents have just downsized from a large detached 4 bedroom house, to a 2 bedroom bungalow. Yes they owned it, they designed it and had it built for them, and yes they were sad to leave it BUT they saw the sense in moving to a smaller house. Their view was "it's just a house, family will visit us anywhere and our memories go everywhere with us" maybe more people should have this outlook!

This is exactly what my mum had to do when me and my sister moved out. She downgraded from a 3 bedroom house, to a 2 bedroom flat. Luckily she still had an extra room because my sis is back saying with her for a while.
But maybe if these people in te big houses were paying mortgages and full rent/bills etc then they would be willing to downsize.

When it comes down to it really the people it affects are living in a council property, being paid for by the tax payer. Why should they be allowed the privilege of rooms for there grandchildren? Separate rooms etc... When there is couples who worked all there life's own property and don't claim benefits that cannot afford these luxuries?

 

[redbear]

^^ agree 100%

My grandma moved into a one bed bungalow because she couldn't afford the bills and rent on a bigger house, she pays £300 a month rent and if you saw the size of it you would laugh, but it was cheaper than a two bed house so she moved. she is 75 and managed to move without it killing her, in fact its made her happier because she ended up needing her hips done so couldn't have done stairs now anyway.

 

[BabysMomma]

In NI I reckon if they took the time to check up on the properties they rent and how many live in them they could look for people to swap...maybe it's not a feasible option as I know there simply aren't enough small flats/houses available for people here, but there have been people here that I've heard of going knocking on people's doors asking if they'd like to swap because they need to downsize due to the bedroom tax. A lady at a mother and tots group told me that it happened to her about a month ago but her house is even too small in her opinion for her family so that particular swap wouldn't have suited her. I wouldn't mind a smaller house to be honest...less to clean...and I have a near 16 year old DS and a 20 month old daughter and living in a 3 bedroom council property...the 3rd bedroom is enough for a cot and a wardrobe but a bedroom is to sleep in so how much stuff really do you need in a room other than somewhere to sleep and something to contain your clothes. However I can see both sides and why it's upsetting to some people. I am great believer though that memories follow you wherever you go. x

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...yed-to-allow-for-house-building-29170584.html

 

[Linny1989]

I have a sentimental box with my kids stuff in like 1 st outfit n congrats cards etc! I'll take them wherever I go x