Bedroom Tax

[AndyPlumber]

I am enquiring on behalf of family members. We have just been told by them that they are paying £50 per month bedroom tax. They are private home owners, mortgage free but in receipt of disability benefit, both are registered disabled and they are exempt from paying council tax due to being disabled. Is it correct that they are being charged a monthly bedroom tax?

[renegadeimp]

IF its their house then they shouldnt be charged anything. The 'bedroom tax' is basically charging extra for a spare bedroom on PUBLIC housing. This means council houses or housaing association in the form of a reduction in housing benefit..

 

If its their own home, bedroom tax wont even be thought of.

 

I think you need to go back to them and ask again,

[Conniff]

You don't actually pay anything, it is a deduction from 'housing' benefit, disability benefit doesn't count.

 

Also, as said above, the under-occupancy charge only applies to Council and Housing Association housing, not private owner owned housing.

[antone]

Adding further agreement to the answers given above.

 

The "Bedroom Tax" (Under Occupancy Charge) is applied as a reduction in the Housing Benefit paid to people who rent their homes from their local council. It was designed to discourage "under occupancy" - that is, people remaining in social houses which are too large for their needs. I'm not opposed to this idea on general principles, but the implementation takes no account of the realities of social housing supply and demand.

 

Anyhow, it does not apply to home owners (who are not eligible for Housing Benefit) or those who rent their homes from private landlords, to whom different rules are applied. Whatever your family members are referring to, it is not a Bedroom Tax.

[stu007]

Also which area of the UK are the family in that you are asking for and are you sure this £50 is for bedroom tax and not water & sewerage?

 

The reason I mention this is in Scotland water & sewerage is part of your council tax bill and even if your disabled and exempt from paying full council tax you still have your water & sewerage charges to pay.

 

Obviously this is different in England as the water & sewerage charges aren't included in council tax as these are via water companies.

[antone]

The reason I mention this is in Scotland water & sewerage is part of your council tax bill and even if your disabled and exempt from paying full council tax you still have your water & sewerage charges to pay.

 

 

Hadn't thought of that. Good point.

[mikeymack2002]

Also which area of the UK are the family in that you are asking for and are you sure this £50 is for bedroom tax and not water & sewerage?

 

The reason I mention this is in Scotland water & sewerage is part of your council tax bill and even if your disabled and exempt from paying full council tax you still have your water & sewerage charges to pay.

 

Obviously this is different in England as the water & sewerage charges aren't included in council tax as these are via water companies.

 

Unless the LA are resellers of water that have overcharged it's residents! I have a thread on this matter.

 

Refunds are now being made to these residents for the overcharging...

[AndyPlumber]

Hi Thanks for your replies

 

My family members live in Oldham, Greater Manchester

I have told them to ring the council office Monday morning to find out more regarding the £50 a month they are being charged,

they are not in receipt of any housing benefit just Council Tax reduction.

[Shoelover]

I'm wondering if they are having to contribute to the council tax- are they retirement age?

[Shoelover]

Hi Thanks for your replies

 

My family members live in Oldham, Greater Manchester

I have told them to ring the council office Monday morning to find out more regarding the £50 a month they are being charged,

they are not in receipt of any housing benefit just Council Tax reduction.

Just being nosey really... Did you get to the bottom of this? X

[brassnecked]

It might be a contribution to the council tax, if the whole bill is not covered by the C Tax relief.