Council Homes Set To Shrink In Bedroom Tax Shake Up

Homes set to shrink in Welwyn Hatfield to beat the ‘bedroom tax’

MORE than 100 homes are to “shrink” as housing chiefs aim to beat the controversial ‘bedroom tax’.

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A reclassification set to be discussed today (Thursday) could see officials try to circumvent controversial benefit reforms.

Roughly 100 three bedroom houses look set to be classed as two bedroom homes, as one of the rooms is less than 50 square feet.

Under plans being weighed up, the third bedroom would be classed as a box room – meaning tenants will not be hit in the pocket.

A government shake-up means benefit claimants now receive lower payments if they have a spare room in their council or housing association-owned home.

More than 800 households have been affected in Welwyn Hatfield.

Several other four-bed homes will be relabelled as three bedroom properties.

Conservative councillor Roger Trigg, executive member for housing, said: “We think some 50 square feet is small enough to not be a bedroom, it might be enough for a little computer study.