New legislation from the UK government means that, from 1 April, a deduction will be imposed on housing benefit claimants in council or housing association homes with a spare room or rooms in their homes. The new rule is estimated to affect more than 2,200 council house tenants in Highland.
The Highland Council is already undertaking an exercise to contact all of its tenants who are affected by the “bedroom tax”. The Council takes the collection of all monies due very seriously, and has a policy of early intervention and support mechanisms in place to help people in financial difficulty. In advance of its benefits changes the Council has reviewed its allocations policy, and has given additional priority to help people affected by the “bedroom tax” to move to more suitable property.
Leader of the Council, Drew Hendry, and Chairman of the Council’s Welfare Reform Working Group, Alasdair Christie, have also asked that a report be prepared for the April meeting of the Council’s Finance, Housing and Resources Committee to attempt to provide reassurance to vulnerable tenants. Councillor Hendry said “We will ask the Committee to consider a proposal that for a transitional period of one year, where the Directors of Housing & Property and Finance are satisfied that tenants who are subject to the bedroom tax are doing all they reasonably can to avoid falling into arrears, the Council will use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction.”
The Highland Council last year set up a cross party group which has examined and commented on the Welfare Reform proposals and lobbied local MPs urging changes to the legislation. Councillor Christie, said: “The Committee will be asked to reaffirm that the Council will continue to do all it can to influence and initiate changes nationally and to work with residents who are negatively impacted by changes to the benefits system.”