Is the bedroom tax applicable to those living in their own houses?

[carella]

I live alone in a 3 bed house and am very worried that i'll lose 25% of my housing/ mortgage benefit.

I have to start paying 20% of my council tax from April and feel that i won't be able to cope. Help please!

[LindseyMid]

No, afaik it's council & housing association owned homes only.

housing.org.uk/policy/welfa...

[esagestapo]

Its only council tenants that they are targeting with the bedroom tax and from the 1st April 2013 they will also have to pay a portion of benefit, 20% in council tax.

[littlemisshurty]

It's 5to 14% of tax..il lose my home if th ok s goes ahead I have to miss bills to eat.but I know they are telling ppl with own homes to consider moving if have a house with more than 1spare room as my parents got a letter asking if they would move and they would get help with moving fees they own their home....so I don't think be long b4they start on private homes.

[Hidden]

People who also own their own homes but are on very low income and received full council tax benefit will also have to pay. A proportion from April . In my own case we will have to pay 25% this new council tax year.

[Hidden]

It's only Council and Housing Association tenants that'll be affected at the moment.

[bumblebee57]

I thought it was everyone on housing benefit, with council, HA, or private rent/owned homes, to get the HB bill down.A lot of people are confused about this, me included, because there's a lot of differing opinions. What is obvious is that it's NOT to reshuffle housing stock to the right sizes of people's needs, as pensioners are exempt.So I read somewhere the other day. So all the pensioners who have brought their children up (who have grown up and gone) in a 3/4 bed house, and are still living there, get to stay there, when another growing family could have that house, are exempt from BT too. Where's the sense in that?

[sueuk]

Its just council / rented accomodation although the changes to council tax benefit affects every-one

[fibro]

i thought I read somewhere that it could effect the council tax benefit for those in their own homes, but i cant find it now. It might be worth giving your council tax department a call on Monday to double check as you may find they end up paying you less benefit and you may have to pay some of your council tax…but please don't quote me on any of that . i was trying to find where i read it and cant sorry, so it may not have been official info just someone chatting about it like we are.

i hope all is ok for you, but it wouldn't hurt to double check with them direct xx

[jayjayboy]

As far as I am aware it is any-one who gets housing benefits, my sister has ONE spare room and she was hoping to be exempt from paying the bedroom tax as she has a son who is in the army, ( he does have his own house down south) we are in scotland, He was blown up in afghanistan and lost both his legshas a shattered pelvis,one of his hands was hanging of but they managed to save it,His both hands were 'degloved' he has had loads of operations and skin grafts etc.He is now walking a short distance on his prosthetic legs but will always have a wheelchair When he comes to visit her she needs the room for him, but she has been told that he does not count as the person has to be living with you, and as he is still in the forces,( he is actually still at headely court just now for rehabilitation) he does not count as needing the room. He fought for his country, but now his mum who is on benefits will have to pay £12 a week if she wants to stay in her present house. Just doesnt seem fair that they do not bend the rules a little.