DWP Interim review of bedroom tax

DWP Interim review of bedroom tax

The DWP has now issued the interim review of the bedroom tax. The document can be found here -https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/329948/rr882-evaluation-of-removal-of-the-spare-room-subsidy.pdf

 

The notable headlines are …

• Social landlord rent arrears rose by 16% between April 2013 and November 2013.
• The percentage of tenants who have been able to downsize is very low (a stated aim of the policy): 4.5%
• The percentage of tenants who have moved to the more expensive private rented sector is low : 1.4%
• The percentage  of tenants subject to the bedroom tax who are in arrears because of the reduction is 59%.
• Number of notices seeking possession served on ‘bedroom tax only’ arrears (to Nov 2013): 13,356 (10% of those affected)
• Number of possession proceedings brought on ‘bedroom tax only’ arrears (to Nov 2013): 1,628
  Number of suspended possession orders (SPO) (to Nov 2013): 407
  Number of outright possession orders (to Nov 2013): 138
  Number of evictions (on bedroom tax only cases): 45