Bedroom Tax Unlawful

The Court of Appeal ruled bedroom tax to be 'discriminatory' and 'unlawful.'

10:09 28 January 2016

The Government’s so-called “Bedroom Tax” policy has been declared discriminatory and unlawful by the Court of Appeal. The policy reduces housing support for people with more than a certain number of bedrooms or are considered “under occupying.”

 

The policy, which was introduced in April 2013, has been criticised for causing poverty, disproportionally affecting the disabled and hitting people who have nowhere suitable place to move to.

 

One of the two successful appeals was brought by a woman who had been a victim of domestic violence. Her home has been specially adapted to include a panic room. The second appeal was brought by Paul and Susan Rutherford who were hit by bedroom tax for using an extra room for overnight carers and specialist medical equipment to address the needs of their severely disabled grandson, Warren.

 

Beth Grossman, head of policy at disability charity Scope, said: “For the vast majority of disabled people these are not spare bedrooms, these are essential rooms.”

 

“Many people need a room for specialist equipment, or so that their disabled child can sleep separately from their siblings, or with a carer.

 

“We’ve spoken to disabled people who aren’t able to share a specially adapted bed with their partner, and have to sleep in a separate room. They’re being forced to move, or find the extra cash they don’t have to pay their rent.

 

“Life costs more if you are disabled. Scope research shows disabled people pay more for all kinds of everyday things – on average a premium of £550 per month. We should be looking at ways to bring costs down rather than ramping them up.”