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Bedroom Tax megathread

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Well it is age discrimination then because people over 60 are exempt if they are on housing benefit with one or more spare bedrooms. Why should this only apply to the under sixties?

I did not say that it does/should nor that it doesn't/shouldn't; only that the UNO should (but doesn't!) mind its own business.

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Well it is age discrimination then because people over 60 are exempt if they are on housing benefit with one or more spare bedrooms. Why should this only apply to the under sixties?

 

I think that only counts for people that were 60 and over when the bedroom tax came into force. Don't think it counts for people turning 60 now.

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The top rate of tax used to be 9%. And people thought that was far too high! Seriously, we have gone mad as a people. We expect the government to do everything for us, up to and including wipe our kids arses. As a result so many people have become infantilized. So we have children starting school not toilet trained, unable to speak, sit up unaided, eat with cutlery, not even knowing their own name. Why? Because their parents see it as the governments job to teach them.

 

I read an article about the bedroom tax earlier on an american site. People were dumbfounded when it was explained to them what the "bedroom tax" was and that some British people thought they were entitled to free rooms at government expense and were up in arms at the thought of having to pay £14 for them. Somewhere we have completely lost sight of reality in this country. We have grown adults whining like children who's parents have told them they are too old for pocket money and need to get jobs if they want to have nice things.

 

Can you post the link to the American site? I'd be interested to read their views, and to see how you explained it.

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It was the FARK site. I didn't post about it, I was just reading comments on there about it.

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It was the FARK site. I didn't post about it, I was just reading comments on there about it.

 

Thanks.

 

Maybe I went to the wrong thread but somebody took the trouble to explain the unfairness of it being applied across the board. The rest of it looked like idiots posting knee jerk reactions.

 

Obviously the big problem with the tax is it being applied retrospectively to existing rentals. If you think about it and was applied to new rentals only would prospective tenants be unhappy about a new place that perfectly suited their needs while not having to pay extra? ;)

 

The unfairness of the policy is clear. The potential power of it as a long-term driver for housing provision has been wasted, toxified. Idiocy.

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You'd just get people not moving, even if they could move for work. We have to become more mobile as a society. Look at Americans. They think nothing of moving from coast to coast to find work, and it benefits them as a nation. Meanwhile we have people still waiting for the factory or mine down the road that closed 30 years ago to re-open.

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You'd just get people not moving, even if they could move for work. We have to become more mobile as a society. Look at Americans. They think nothing of moving from coast to coast to find work, and it benefits them as a nation. Meanwhile we have people still waiting for the factory or mine down the road that closed 30 years ago to re-open.

 

Why wouldn't people move?

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Most people agree with the "bedroom tax". For the BBC to bleat about it would just reinforce the fact that so many extreme leftists work there. They are supposed to be a broadcaster for all of Britain, not just the left. Miliband coming out against it just re-inforces the perception of Labour being a party for people on benefits.

 

You need to get out more. Stop reading the SUN and THE DAIY FAIL and try to see important issues from other peoples perspectives. We have a party of privilidged Posh Boys in power and all they do is persecute and try to punish the less well off.

Why do I care ?? I don't have to worry about this or any other tax or benefit, I'm self sufficient [almost] but the constant attacks on the poor do cause concern amongst THINKING people. Who will they pick on next ?? You perhaps ??

I'm no fan of Milliband or any other 'upper crust' socialist, he's lost the plot.

Unemployment is being managed by importing foreign migrant workers, most of them are good hardworking people BUT they add to the problem of finding decent employment. Wages are being held down....but the rich get richer.

Its no coincidence. Poverty is being deliberately managed.

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Consideration for the rights of others? Do you not thing giving people free homes at the expense of working people is showing consideration? And the additional £14 for a spare bedroom quite a good deal, all things considered?

 

it's not a flat rate of "£14" though, Happ. the figure of 14 is the percentage of the rent for one "spare" room, and on a rent of £100 per week, will work out at £14. a lesser rent will have a proportionately smaller charge, and a higher rent, such as the ridiculous rents (which can be into the thousands of pounds a month), as are charged in London, will be proportionately higher.

 

A person with a second "spare" bedroom or more will be charged 25% of their rent.

 

It doesn't take into any consideration whether a "spare" room is needed for medical or disability equipment, or is part of an adaptation for a disabled child's needs (despite what the Guff may say) as evidenced by the parent who has had £60,000 worth of adaptations made to her home, to enable her disabled child to live as part of the family unit, yet is now facing the penalty for having a "spare" room.

 

It does not take into consideration the availability of smaller properties, let alone smaller properties which have adequate adaptations for the tenant's needs... even if they are willing to move, they still pay the penalty until an alternative property comes available, which could be years, if a property with adaptations are necessary.

 

It doesn't take into consideration the situation of a disabled person living in an adapted property who, to avoid the penalty, would have to move out into an unsuitable property, and wait (often 12 months or more) for an assessor to come and assess the adaptations needed to THAT property... then wait for the assessor's decision to be accepted (if it IS accepted) then the wait for the funds to become available under a Disabled Facilities Grant, and then wait for the works to be carried out....

 

It doesn't take into consideration the social situation of a disabled person, living in an adapted property, having their support network on their doorstep, such as family and friends nearby, their church, temple, synagogue or mosque nearby, doctors' surgery on hand... again, the hardships faced by that person and their family and friends, perhaps the F&F having to travel long distances, to get to the person's new property to provide the necessary support.

 

It takes no consideration of the person's well-being, or ability to move (the person may be too physically disabled to pack up their home, the person may suffer from mental health issues, which would put a tremendous strain on the person's mental well-being, on being forced to move. It could also place a greater financial strain on the tenant, already suffering with the financial penalty of the "bedroom tax" which will undoubtedly have an impact on the person's physical and mental health)

 

It does not consider the impact of social isolation on the tenant forced to move, moving into a less pleasant area, for instance, where anti social behaviour is rife, feeling discouraged from going out for fear of violence... (ditto for the person's F&Family) The difficulties of having to learn the "map" of the new, unfamiliar area.

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You seem to be concentrating on a very small minority of disabled people who actually need that extra room, and whilst you're right in that case it's only a very small percentage of people receiving housing benefits.

 

As for the 'impact of social isolation' well if they don't like any of the discounted housing available to them they are free to choose to live where they want - but if you're going to be picky about it you have to accept you must pay for your choices.

 

Council tenants can't have their cake and eat it too, it's not how the system should work.

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You seem to be concentrating on a very small minority of disabled people who actually need that extra room, and whilst you're right in that case it's only a very small percentage of people receiving housing benefits.

 

As for the 'impact of social isolation' well if they don't like any of the discounted housing available to them they are free to choose to live where they want - but if you're going to be picky about it you have to accept you must pay for your choices.

 

Council tenants can't have their cake and eat it too, it's not how the system should work.

 

To be honest, the main problem is the lack of 1 bed properties. Until this problem is addressed bedroom tax can not be a serious solution. I am sur)prised no dodgy (maybe responsible builder, has tried to build a block of 1 bed properties, and charge the maximum Housing benefit allowed.

I feel, that people who live in private rented accommodation, should not be allowed to receive more in Housing Benefit, than the highest price paid for a council for public housing. Any shortfall should be made by the tenant.People in social housing are probably taking the least, and being punished the most.

A maximum amount of Housing benefit that can be awarded would be a more sensible solution. There are more sensible solutions, to our housing shortage than the bedroom tax. Rent control. A contribution of 5% by all claimants claiming housing benefit.

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I agree, and it's probably a case where the cause and solution to the problem is the authorities.

 

Excess red-tape and overly harsh planning controls have stalled the private property market, and councils wouldn't even consider building their own places anymore.

 

The government/councils need to break the deadlock and fund some new council developments to provide the housing market with some relief.

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