Benefit cuts for empty bedrooms 'will not work'
A HOUSING association says plans to cut benefits to tenants who have spare bedrooms will not work because there are not enough properties to downsize to.
Under the proposed Welfare Reform Bill, working-age tenants who under- occupy their homes could face benefit cuts averaging £14 per week, unless they move to a smaller property.
Derby Homes, the organisation which manages housing on behalf of the city council, estimates it has about 3,000 tenants who could lose benefits.
Housing association Riverside, which has 136 properties in Derby, said 25 of its tenants would be affected.
Warren Smith, chairman of the Riverside Tenants' and Residents' Federation, said: "Even if people who are affected wanted to move, there are simply not enough smaller housing association and council properties to go round."
Riverside is stepping up its campaign against the plans.
Following lobbying by the housing sector, the House of Lords voted against the Government's plans in December.
An amendment to exempt families with just one spare bedroom who are unable to move to a smaller property was supported by 258 to 190 votes. However, the plan will return to the House of Commons in the coming weeks.
3 Comments
by dannybbbb
Wednesday, February 15 2012, 9:43PM
“A year ago i told housing association my Mums moving abroad this Feburary and im going to be homeless because no one will employ me, i was told im entitled to £350 a month and to find somewhere. A year later i've just found someone who will rent to a DSS tenant. I went back to Derbyshire housing to tell them i've found somewhere, they said Mr Cameron has reduced it to £229 a month, there is nowhere for £350 no matter £229, they said we know its disgraceful, i said what am i supost to do, they said the crack hostel is my only option. This is a year of my life wasted. This Mr Cameron needs a kicking, i was just starting to like him as well. Can anyone tell me of anywhere in Derbyshire i can rent for £229 a month or where theres any jobs? A robbery is my only option but i've never broke the law before and expect i'll get caught. At least in prision i will have a roof over my head i supose. Even if i use my jobseekers allowance to make up the difference it leaves me needed to find £10 a week and i wont be able to eat. I dont want to think about bills.”
by sharon_derby
Tuesday, January 24 2012, 9:01PM
“i know lots of couples who have council property and not longer have children at home which means extra rooms, and even more families who would happily swop for these larger home because there is not enough space in there homes. home swapping needs more legislation to help with the whole housing crisis. Especially as the tax payers are helping subsidise the rent, maintainance and building of the social housing”
by janine2011
Tuesday, January 24 2012, 10:32AM
“If there are no smaller properties available then it would be unreasonable to cap the rent if there are spare bedrooms. Some people are in private rented homes who cannot afford to move because agents want huge deposits that are impossible to find, as well as the fees for the actual tenancy agreement, yet would love to downsize to save on heating bills etc. The council won't house them, they are deemed adequately housed nor can the tenant give notice hoping to be housed as homeless, the council would refuse saying they made themselves homeless by terminating the their tenancy. Catch 22 and the tenant cannot win. I can see the need to cap as some private landlords are plain greedy charging extortionate rents and would rather evict a tenant than take a cut in their income but is that fair on the tenant? More importantly where can they go if there are not enough council houses?”