Friday 25 January 2013

Housing association to offer cash bribes to shift tenants out of their homes




Another contemptuous move by housing associations today as one ‘social’ landlord is considering the idea of offering bungs to shift tenants, hit by the Bedroom Tax, out of their homes. Aster group is offering to pay tenants the amount they would lose due to the Bedroom Tax if they move. 

From the 1st of April 2013, tenants of housing associations & social landlords will be hit by a possible 25% cut in their housing benefit if they under-occupy their home. This means: 1 spare room will see a 14% reduction in housing benefit; 2 spare rooms will see a 25% reduction in housing benefit. 660,000 tenants & their families will be affected nationwide.

In simple terms, it’s a bribe, a bung that underlines the contempt that housing associations have for tenants, to think that they might be tempted by the lump sum and give up their community, friends, support network, and crucially their home, in order to appease the forthcoming headache facing housing associations (HA’s). Here in Liverpool, one HA had the gall to consider getting tenants to work, unpaid, clearing litter, etc. to make up the shortfall in their rent. Let it be known, Housing Associations are no better than the bailiffs they’ll send round to collect the Bedroom Tax.

That’s why it’s important that we, as tenants, make a stand together and take action against the government, housing associations, collection officers, bailiffs, and the Bedroom Tax.

This should not be about 'move' or 'stay': it should be about refusing to pay the unjust tax full stop.

email combatbedroomtax@gmail.com for more info.

No comments:

Post a Comment