Labour councillors on warpath over 'bedroom tax' (From Thurrock Gazette)

Our useless, out of touch MP Jackie Doyle-Price voted in favour of the bedroom tax (Cameron's poll tax). She also voted for petrol to go up by 3p, yet expects us to stop giving bankers a hard time.

It's clear who's side she's on.

This policy is causing havoc and wasted resources and is ideological at its root.
I have two bedroom house and my son lives with me for 4 days a week and most of the holidays but the 'rules' deem him a 'visitor' and me an 'under-occupier.' Two years ago I was homeless after a nervous breakdown and had been a school teacher for 15 years. I have my heating off for three days a week already - what will I now eat - cardboard? My M.P (tory) owns a £2.5 million pound house claimed monthly laundry expenses of £87 a month and £100 a week for food. Him getting his underpants cleaned for free is more important than helping the ill and vulnerable hold their families together!!

the bedroom tax is a farce, my friend is in a 3 bedroom house,she has been waiting to downsize long before the bedroom tax was introduced ,she has no option now but to give up her council house and private rent ,which is going to cost more in hb than the rent she was recieving,she works ,so before anyone starts on about her being a scrounger she is on a low wage so gets abit of help, but because she has spare rooms she is haveing to pay the tax.if she private rents she still gets the help as she is not living in a property too big for her needs,but is going to cost hb more money ,work that one out.

The Government is trying to make out that people on benefits are the real scroungers -but this is not so. If the mega rich paid their taxes and didn't stash the money away in offshore accounts, billions would be flowing in -we should be like Japan, tax the top earners 75%. This country has lost any sense of the civic duty and responsibility that wealth should bring. The British public need to wake up to this! To punish the poor and ill is beyond disgust.

There's an easy answer to this. Stop giving people life time tenancies. Give tenancies of between 5 and 10 years. Assess peoples needs and give them the property that suits them at that time. When the tenancy comes up for renewal re-assess the tenants needs. Unfortunately councils don't have enough suitable properties now so this is a complete dogs breakfast of a policy and should be stopped.

Let's not forget that the MPs who dreamed up this 'tax' have been claiming for entire second homes for years, along with free food, furniture, travel... the list goes on. Iain Duncan Smith and his £39 claim for breakfast, anyone?

The Government refuses to introduce a mansion tax and also gives a £45,250 tax break to millionaires, but those at the lower end of the scale who receive Housing Benefit are made to pay an unfair bedroom tax. It's scandalous and is yet more evidence who's side this rotten government is on.

When Cameron was in Davos with all the rich tycoons they ate at one of the most expensive pizza houses in Europe! They really care about public money don't they! Trebles all round old boy!

May i suggest to our LOCAL Labour councillors that they stop playing at being MP's and do what you were elected to do and resolve the LOCAL matters that concern residents.

We STILL have lorries on London Road nearly a YEAR after Labour gained the majority on the council!

You arent MP's, you cannot change decisions made in Westminster, so stop wasting time and get on with the basics that matter to LOCAL people, getting the streets clean, making sure the potholes are filled etc...

Mattster wrote:
May i suggest to our LOCAL Labour councillors that they stop playing at being MP's and do what you were elected to do and resolve the LOCAL matters that concern residents. We STILL have lorries on London Road nearly a YEAR after Labour gained the majority on the council! You arent MP's, you cannot change decisions made in Westminster, so stop wasting time and get on with the basics that matter to LOCAL people, getting the streets clean, making sure the potholes are filled etc...

You can blame Chafford Hundred councillor Tunde Odetola (or whatever his surname is) who petitioned against lorries using Devenshire Road, which is what the road was originally intended for.

next month mattster,the weight limit on devonshire rd has been gone since 12 of november but they will not take the signs down until a roundabout has been put in at the junction with drake rd.

I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

my friend is working ,so dont even go there ,like i said she has been trying to downsize before all this bedroom tax came in,her job is low paid, but she still goes to work,she gets a small amount of hb but pays most of her rent herself,there are not enough properties for people to downsize to,she was made redundent from her last job so had to take what ever job she could get,she has worked all her life,and it is not right when people like you tar everyone with the same brush.

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

You small-minded, stereotypical moron. I bet you vote Tory.

Thurrock Trojan wrote:

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

You small-minded, stereotypical moron. I bet you vote Tory.

I have a right to my opinions. For your information I dont vote at all and my opinion comes from my own personal experience of living in a council flat, with a partner and raising a child and both working. I have alot of friends and their parents who have never worked who live in 3 bed houses and pay £10 a week rent and have the nerve to turn their nose up at me for living in a flat while they have 100ft gardens. They refuse to downsize as they feel they have a right to live off benefits. There is the properties to downsize to but most people refuse places without gardens etc, have you been on Home Swapper lately? My point of view is if you cant afford your rent then downsize. lets hope before you judge my opinion you actually live if a council home and have friends on full benefits getting more then you when you both work.

little n wrote:

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

my friend is working ,so dont even go there ,like i said she has been trying to downsize before all this bedroom tax came in,her job is low paid, but she still goes to work,she gets a small amount of hb but pays most of her rent herself,there are not enough properties for people to downsize to,she was made redundent from her last job so had to take what ever job she could get,she has worked all her life,and it is not right when people like you tar everyone with the same brush.

I will swap with your friend. I have a two bedroom flat and am more then willing to pay full rent and council tax for her home. If she is really willing to swap I would be able to give you my email address. I live in Stifford Clays.

I'm more concerned about the amount of foreigners getting council houses than the amount of bedrooms people have.

hilton85 wrote:

little n wrote:

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

my friend is working ,so dont even go there ,like i said she has been trying to downsize before all this bedroom tax came in,her job is low paid, but she still goes to work,she gets a small amount of hb but pays most of her rent herself,there are not enough properties for people to downsize to,she was made redundent from her last job so had to take what ever job she could get,she has worked all her life,and it is not right when people like you tar everyone with the same brush.

I will swap with your friend. I have a two bedroom flat and am more then willing to pay full rent and council tax for her home. If she is really willing to swap I would be able to give you my email address. I live in Stifford Clays.

she needs a one bedroom place ,as she is on her own,and needs to stay in her area because of work ,she dosnt mind moveing to a flat ,but there are no one bedrooms ,and alot of people need one bedroom now because of the bedroom tax , a couple are only allowed one bedroom places,thankyou for the offer tho.

little n wrote:

hilton85 wrote:

little n wrote:

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

my friend is working ,so dont even go there ,like i said she has been trying to downsize before all this bedroom tax came in,her job is low paid, but she still goes to work,she gets a small amount of hb but pays most of her rent herself,there are not enough properties for people to downsize to,she was made redundent from her last job so had to take what ever job she could get,she has worked all her life,and it is not right when people like you tar everyone with the same brush.

I will swap with your friend. I have a two bedroom flat and am more then willing to pay full rent and council tax for her home. If she is really willing to swap I would be able to give you my email address. I live in Stifford Clays.

she needs a one bedroom place ,as she is on her own,and needs to stay in her area because of work ,she dosnt mind moveing to a flat ,but there are no one bedrooms ,and alot of people need one bedroom now because of the bedroom tax , a couple are only allowed one bedroom places,thankyou for the offer tho.

there must be someone out there who would swop with you, stifford clays is a nice area,she has been asked to swop to some horrible places,and i dont blame her for turning those down.

hilton85 wrote:

Thurrock Trojan wrote:

hilton85 wrote:
I am all in favour of the bedroom tax. If you didn't receive benefits you wouldn't be affected. I'm sick of the amount of people not working and living as a single person in a 3 bed house paying £10 a week rent, its absolutley discusting. Its like they all think they have gone out and earned their benefit money, remember they haven't and its workers like us that have and we end up with nothing. Time they all get a jobs and paid their rent or stop moaning because your handouts are being stopped. Their are lots of cleaning jobs on the Jobcentre plus website. A lot of people fake illnesses and pretend they don't have partners living with them so I hope this hits them really hard. As for the people who have real disabilites (which isn't many at all) who cannot work I hope you get this problem sorted and I'm sure you will. This should no way affect our disabled and OAPS.

You small-minded, stereotypical moron. I bet you vote Tory.

I have a right to my opinions. For your information I dont vote at all and my opinion comes from my own personal experience of living in a council flat, with a partner and raising a child and both working. I have alot of friends and their parents who have never worked who live in 3 bed houses and pay £10 a week rent and have the nerve to turn their nose up at me for living in a flat while they have 100ft gardens. They refuse to downsize as they feel they have a right to live off benefits. There is the properties to downsize to but most people refuse places without gardens etc, have you been on Home Swapper lately? My point of view is if you cant afford your rent then downsize. lets hope before you judge my opinion you actually live if a council home and have friends on full benefits getting more then you when you both work.

why wont any of your friends swop with you ,there is a two bedroom house in tilbury,that has been empty for nearly a year,the old lady passed away,and now her daughter is claiming that she lived there which is aload of rubbish,the daughter has a private house and has never been on the waiting list ,but she is fighting for this house,the fraud department have been informed of all this ,but it is still empty and she is still fighting for it,i know all this because my aunt lives in the same road .maybe you should get back on to the council.

This policy is designed to get the British to 'budge up' and make room for more immigrants, who tend to have larger families.
If the Tories get away with it, expect Labour to extend it to private dwellings when they get in.

Can't anyone see that it's the richest that are the real shirkers? They invest their money abroad and hide it in offshore tax havens. The whole idea is to scapegoat the poorest and take our attention off the 'real' cause. Remember: it was the banking system that got us here - not benefit claimants! The theory is that the rich make us all better off by 'the trickle down effect' but now't is trickling down because the rich white knuckle their billions. Keep wake to this!

I've made a freedom of information request to the council for them to clarify how many people are affected by this and t owhat extent. Also for them to detail how many empty properties they have of varying size. What their tenancy tuirnover is and what their policy is regarding priority needs for housing. I would hazard a guess that they won't supply the information as it may show up the Labour councillors to be scaremongering as usual about this. We shall see.

ebagumtrebor wrote:
I've made a freedom of information request to the council for them to clarify how many people are affected by this and t owhat extent. Also for them to detail how many empty properties they have of varying size. What their tenancy tuirnover is and what their policy is regarding priority needs for housing. I would hazard a guess that they won't supply the information as it may show up the Labour councillors to be scaremongering as usual about this. We shall see.

The figures can be found in the reports given to various committee meetings of the council.

The Council offers £1000 to move, moving costs and rent free for a year for people to downsize.

Priority is being given to those impacted by the so called 'bedroom tax'.

The so called bedroom tax only affects working age people - it doesn't tackle the hundreds of single pensioners living in 3 and 4 bedroom council houses.

A_N Other “The so called bedroom tax only affects working age people - it doesn't tackle the hundreds of single pensioners living in 3 and 4 bedroom council houses.”
But it only affects those in council housing AND on housing benefit. I would think the majority of pensioners (like my mum and dad) got through their lives having to live within their means and prioritising money, rather than the materialistic must have, buy now pay when/if ever culture, where the priority will be fags, booze, satellite TV, mobile phone, rather than boring things like rent, bills and food. When I was growing up it was drilled into me, pay your bills before anything else and borrow as little as possible or if you do borrow pay it back ASAP, which is why our mortgage was paid off with 10 years to spare.
My parents live in a 3 bed council house and pay all of their rent and bills in full. If the council tried to move them into some crap hole of a flat just to appease a form of social engineering, I’d not be best pleased.
I wonder if our socialists would see this form of social engineering extended to the privately owned, where there are many, many more pensioners and people with grown up living in larger homes than they might be deemed too big, as their families have now moved out. Where I live there are at least 15 like this all within a stone’s throw. Most of these like us are mortgage free, so one likes to think free of any social engineering experiments.

Dave_ wrote:
A_N Other “The so called bedroom tax only affects working age people - it doesn't tackle the hundreds of single pensioners living in 3 and 4 bedroom council houses.”
But it only affects those in council housing AND on housing benefit. I would think the majority of pensioners (like my mum and dad) got through their lives having to live within their means and prioritising money, rather than the materialistic must have, buy now pay when/if ever culture, where the priority will be fags, booze, satellite TV, mobile phone, rather than boring things like rent, bills and food. When I was growing up it was drilled into me, pay your bills before anything else and borrow as little as possible or if you do borrow pay it back ASAP, which is why our mortgage was paid off with 10 years to spare.
My parents live in a 3 bed council house and pay all of their rent and bills in full. If the council tried to move them into some crap hole of a flat just to appease a form of social engineering, I’d not be best pleased.
I wonder if our socialists would see this form of social engineering extended to the privately owned, where there are many, many more pensioners and people with grown up living in larger homes than they might be deemed too big, as their families have now moved out. Where I live there are at least 15 like this all within a stone’s throw. Most of these like us are mortgage free, so one likes to think free of any social engineering experiments.

If your parents are clogging up a three bedroom council house when they only need a one bedroom property THEN SHAME ON THEM. They are SELFISH and preventing a homeless family from having the home they need. No wonder this country is in the state it is with selfish uncaring people like your parents.

I hope the above comment is meant to be tongue in cheek.

Short term leases are the answer and i am afraid that pensioners should be moved into smaller accomodation to allow families the same luxury of a house and garden as they had with their families. I saw an elderly lady on the telly this morning saying she wouldn't move because she has done alot to the garden! I think the under occupancy measures should apply to anyone claiming housing benefit whether in social or private accomodation. There will be alot of people with children sitting on the housing waiting list desperate for a house whilst 3 bedroom properties are being occupied by one person. Thats not what social housing is about.