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bedroom tax - please explain

wendyocd

I don't understand what or who the bedroom tax is aimed at. I have three children, the oldest who is four years old, is autistic and we are looking at getting a four bedroom house. Will this tax mean that children can't each have their own bedroom or does it just mean people who have empty spare bedrooms that aren't in daily use will be targeted by the bedroom tax?

Is anyone able to explain this tax please?

My two oldest children are boys and my youngest is a girl. My oldest son isn't able to share a bedroom with his brother as he physically attacks him to the point of drawing blood and causing his younger brother serious injury. At the moment the younger son and daughter share but I would like them to each have their own rooms.

I just don't understand what the exact aim/purpose of this tax is.

  • Hi,

    First thing to say is this is a measure applied to people living in council homes. If you are renting privately or own your own house then these measures wouldn't apply to you. 

    The principle is that people living in a council property (or social housing as it's referred to in some reports) that have a spare bedroom. Under government proposals council tenants with one spare bedroom would lose £12 per week, tenants with more than 2 spare bedrooms would lose £22 per week.

    To be specific, with the current wording of the Bill social housing is defined as - 

    "In relation to a dwelling of which the landlord is a local housing authority or a registered provider of social housing"

    The Lords felt that this should be restricted only to properties with 2 or more bedrooms or properties with 1 bedroom where people were offered alternative housing. 

    There are some more details here - 

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8957475/Peers-reject-bedroom-tax-reforms.html 

    This relates to clause 11 of the Bill (hope this link works). I can't see any reference to an age where children should be entitled to a room but I can't guarantee that. - 

    http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2010-2012/0124/lbill_2010-20120124_en_2.htm#pt1-ch1-pb4-l1g11 
     

    Hope that helps