Two thirds of those hit by bedroom tax are in debt

Nearly two out of every three households who are affected by the coalition government's 'bedroom tax' cannot find the money to pay their rents, according to new research for the National Housing Federation.
 
An Ipsos MORI survey of 183 housing associations found that 66 per cent of their residents hit by the bedroom tax – or 'withdrawal of spare room subsidy' – are in rent arrears. More than a third (38 per cent) were reported to be in debt because they were unable to pay the bedroom tax. This is equivalent to 72,000 housing association tenants in England alone who are in rent arrears because of the policy, the Federation calculates.
 
More than one in seven households (15 per cent) hit by the bedroom tax had received an eviction risk letter by October 2013 and are in danger of losing their homes.
 
National Housing Federation chief executive David Orr said: 'You can argue over what to call the policy, but there is no disputing the impact that the bedroom tax is having across the country. It is heaping misery and hardship on already struggling families, pushing them into arrears. Now many are at risk of being evicted because they simply can’t find the extra money to pay their rent'.
 
Source: Press release 12 February 2014, National Housing Federation
LinksNHF press release | BBC report | Guardian report

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