Spare room could cost £500 a year

THOUSANDS of Oldham families living in “oversized” social housing may lose hundreds of pounds a year in housing benefits.

The Government’s controversial “bedroom tax”, which removes a one spare room allowance, is expected to cost tenants around £10 a week in housing benefit.

The Government’s criteria allow a bedroom for each person or couple in a household, but same-sex children under 16 are expected to share, as are any children under 10, regardless of gender.

With nearly 4,000 families living in social housing in Oldham, the change is expected to hit the borough hard when it arrives in April.

Judith Winterbourne, customer-services director at Contour Homes, which provides around 1,500 homes in Oldham, said: “There’s no getting away from the fact that the bedroom tax is going to be introduced in just a few months. If you’re a tenant, you need to find out if you’re affected so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

“You need to contact your housing association. They might be able to help you increase your income, look for training or employment, or look at options.”

Working-age people will have their housing benefit cut if the Government considers them to have a spare bedroom in their housing association or council home. They will lose 14 per cent of housing benefit for one spare bedroom and 25 per cent for two or more.

Contact your landlord for details or find advice online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk.


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