The Bedroom Tax affects over 1.6 million people in the UK. 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. Many tenants will be expected to uproot their families,
move away from their communities, their support networks and downsize
to properties that simply do not exist; those who decide to stay will be
constantly battling to make up the shortfall in rent. This should not
be a question of move or stay; it should be about refusing to pay the
tax full stop.
Yet, State and landlord ultimatums of ‘stay & pay’ or ‘move’ have disempowered tenants and landed the blame of a fictitious housing crisis
at their doorsteps. Housing Associations (HA’s) wasted time lobbying a
political Men’s club immersed in escalating the divide between the rich
and the poor. Instead of flatly rejecting the Bedroom Tax in defence of
tenants, HA’s petitioned those in power to be ‘reasonable’ —a petition
that smacked of complicity. That complicity continues as HA’s now
prepare to implement and collect the Bedroom Tax for their own ends and
the governments.
Social Housing is being privatised; it’s written
all over the faces of the ministers and chief executives who in the same
turn ‘console’ tenants who are self-evicting or who will eventually be
evicted. This is nothing other than contempt for tenants and we, as
tenants, must make a stand against this contemptible tax and its
architects.
We argue that a stand now against the Bedroom Tax, based on solidarity and direct action,
will put down roots of resistance to allow us to better defend
ourselves against a broader attack that extends well beyond 2013.
Refusing to pay is a big step for tenants to take, but by standing
together we will be stronger and can support each other. If we do
nothing now, the repercussions of the Bedroom Tax will cause greater
hardship & increased evictions in the run-up to the implementation
of Universal Credit.
If you're combating the bedroom tax, then let us know. Working together makes us stronger.
combatbedroomtax@gmail.com
I cant afford heating now and only eat once a day .Suffer from depression and arthritis in hip.Never will pay this tax its £24 a fortnight for to much if it was say £5 i wouldn't say to much but £24 is my food bill.I hate these tories with a passion so heartless so mean and nasty.We need to vote them out asap.PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteI refuse to pay.I live in south wales ,nothing is being done here we are like lambs to the slaughter .Women in my street are having breakdowns because of this nasty tax.Please let me know if a protest is in my area ,email,daied@hotmail.co.uk
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