COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A so-called ‘bedroom tax’ is set to hit more than 2,300 families who receive benefits in Coventry.



Whitefriars Housing revealed that is the number of its tenants expected to be hit by cuts of between 14 and 25 per cent to their housing benefit.

The Welfare Reform Bill will hit families deemed to have homes bigger than they need and are due to come in to force next April.

As well as Whitefriars’ social housing tenants, there are expected to be many more across the city deemed to be under-occupying their homes.

Coventry City Council is sending out letters this month to those potentially affected by the welfare reform.

Coun Ed Ruane, cabinet member for housing, has warned many people are unaware of the “devastating” impact it will have on vulnerable families,

He said: “These changes mean the new ‘bedroom tax’ will turn a spare bedroom into a very expensive luxury.

“The penalty is £14 deducted from housing benefit, which will mean effectively a tax of £728 a year. To put it in to perspective, this is three-and-a-half times the winter fuel payment.

“I know social landlords such as Whitefriars are doing all they can to make sure that tenants realise what will happen in just six months’ time.

“If people cannot pay the extra it means tenants could have to relocate to find suitable smaller properties.

“The impact this tax will have, particularly on vulnerable households in these harsh economic times, will be devastating.”

Concerns have been raised over the availability of suitable properties for families who need to downsize.

While pensioners will be exempt from the cuts, 670,000 households across the UK face losing up to 25 per cent of their housing benefit.

Coun Ruane added: “One of the things the government does not seem to realise is that this is not just social housing, it is people’s homes.”

Any social housing tenant receiving housing benefit who is concerned about the changes is urged to contact their landlord as soon as possible.

Bedroom tax protest outside Coventry council



PLACARD-WAVING campaigners staged a protest outside the Council House yesterday against the so-called ‘bedroom tax’.

Almost a fortnight after government plans came into force cutting housing benefits to social housing tenants deemed to have a spare room, latest figures revealed 3,180 Coventry families are being hit.

It is estimated 2,556 households are facing a one bedroom reduction with a further 624 deemed to require a two bedroom downgrade.

If not willing or able to downsize the average household will lose £771 a year – or £15 per week.

Up to 50 campaigners listened to passionate speeches outside as councillors attended a cabinet meeting on housing.

They are demanding the council and Whitefriars, as the city’s biggest social housing provider, pledge not to evict those who cannot afford their rent due to the changes

Organiser and anti-cuts campaigners Rob McArdle said: “The four councillors on the board at Whitefriars should be using their influence to say no to evictions. Up and down the country councils are doing this. With 14 per cent cuts people are going to lose their homes.

“Where are the properties for them to downsize to? People should not be living in fear of being evicted. Around 40 per cent of those affected have children. People who have lived in their homes for years are being uprooted to a different area and having to change schools.

“It is callous and cruel.”

Coun David Skinner attended the protest and is one of the councillors who is also a director on the Whitefriars board. The other directors are Labour councillors Tariq Khan, Kevin Maton and Linda Bigham.

Coun Skinner said: “We have agreed none of the individual directors will make a statement. But as (Conservative) shadow cabinet member for housing I recognise what people are saying and I know it’s going to be difficult for some people.

“I’ve just come out here to listen.”

The council has a discretionary housing payments scheme to support a limited number of people whose housing benefit does not meet the cost of rent – and who cannot pay the difference.

Mick Rawson, chair of Whitefriars Housing, said: “We share the council’s concern about the impact of these benefit changes on hard pressed families.

“We are doing all we can to ensure that our tenants receive advice and support. It is important that anyone affected talks to their housing officer as soon as possible.”

E-mail dhpteam@coventry.gov.uk or call 024 7683 2727 for information on the discretionary housing payments scheme.

COVENTRY City Council insists it opposes the ‘bedroom tax’ – but was unclear yesterday whether there are enough homes in the city for people to downsize to.

The council has been working with Whitefriars and the Citizens Advice Bureau to alert those affected to the impact of the changes which came in to effect from April 1.

A statement from Coun Ed Ruane, cabinet member for housing, said: “The bedroom tax is so chaotic – it could actually end up costing more than it saves.

“If families are made homeless or pushed into expensive private rented accommodation the taxpayer could actually be left with a higher bill and still the problem of under-occupancy will not be solved.”