crash2006 Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10301297/UN-report-criticising-bedroom-tax-is-absolute-disgrace-says-Grant-Shapps.html Looks like the government dont like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EUBanana Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Syrian sarin gas. British benefit reductions. I think the UN should have rather bigger fish to fry, and also I'm not sure why the UN is interfering with entirely legitimate, internal, political affairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DabHand Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Yeah bit of a weird one this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntb Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 It is not a tax. Any report or comment that refers to it as a tax cannot be taken seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Self Employed Youth Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) It is not to late to give your own account of how this obscene policy is affecting people. Send your letters or emails to the following address UN High Commissioner for Refugees Strand Bridge House, 138-142 Strand, 1st Floor London, WC2R 1HH Ms Rolnik will present her final report in March 2014. Evidence can still be submitted to srhousing@ohchr.org until 26 October 2013. Edited September 11, 2013 by Self Employed Youth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCountOfNowhere Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 The MSM seems to be a week behind the internet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 It is not a tax. Any report or comment that refers to it as a tax cannot be taken seriously. Yep. And very disappointing that many offical, if non-government, documents call it such when the only tax element in is that levied on the poor bloody worker to fund these free houses. For example the National Housing Federation: Search results for 'bedroom tax'1-10 of about 110 Previous Next Bedroom Tax | Welfare reform | Policy | National Housing Federation Welfare reforms will cut the amount of benefit that people can get if they are deemed to have a spare bedroom in their council or housing association home. New report reveals impact of bedroom tax - 100 days on | Press … 5 Jul 2013 … The bedroom tax is having a devastating impact in one of the poorest areas of the country and is failing to achieve the Government's ambition of … The first 100 days of the bedroom tax | David Orr's blog | Media … 11 Jul 2013 … Last week I was widely quoted in the media saying the impact of the bedroom tax had been even worse than we had feared. Some people have … Size Criteria ('bedroom tax') briefing | Browse publications … 31 May 2013. The Welfare Reform Act gave the Government the power to introduce new size criteria (also known as the 'Bedroom Tax', 'under-occupation … http://www.housing.org.uk/search/results/YmVkcm9vbSB0YXg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tired of Waiting Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10301297/UN-report-criticising-bedroom-tax-is-absolute-disgrace-says-Grant-Shapps.html Looks like the government dont like it. Weird indeed. If there is a human right violation is people not being allowed to build their own homes. Has she commented on this fact? Does she even know about it? . Edited September 11, 2013 by Tired of Waiting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tired of Waiting Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 It is not to late to give your own account of how this obscene policy is affecting people. Send your letters or emails to the following address UN High Commissioner for Refugees Strand Bridge House, 138-142 Strand, 1st Floor London, WC2R 1HH Ms Rolnik will present her final report in March 2014. Evidence can still be submitted to srhousing@ohchr.org until 26 October 2013. Thanks SEY. I think we should tell her about self-building prohibition, forced scarcity, and the consequent rentiers exploitation. Email to: srhousing@ohchr.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
interestrateripoff Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What's this got to do with the UN? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wherebee Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What's this got to do with the UN? especially as I think many of their employees pay no income tax..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@contradevian Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Dodgy scam internet marketer that has numerous online aliases whining about a UN report. All you need to know about the Blue Rentiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest_FaFa!_* Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Weird indeed. If there is a human right violation is people not being allowed to build their own homes. Has she commented on this fact? Does she even know about it? . Yes http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/11/un-housing-bedroom-tax-absolute-disgrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest_FaFa!_* Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 What's this got to do with the UN? She's an inspector from UN habitat, which deals with housing. She appears unimpressed by the social housing sell off too. She was invites by the govt it appears and has written a preliminary report which she is now circulating for comment which she appears to be receiving. Shapps is writing to Ban Ki Moon to complain, what a twonk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazer Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Yep. And very disappointing that many offical, if non-government, documents call it such when the only tax element in is that levied on the poor bloody worker to fund these free houses. For example the National Housing Federation: Tolally agree ,fed up with my tax going to house some bum to lazy to get out bed for work . when I was unemployed I only ever stayed in a shared house and never dreamed of having a bigger house all to myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tired of Waiting Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Weird indeed. If there is a human right violation is people not being allowed to build their own homes. Has she commented on this fact? Does she even know about it? Yes http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/11/un-housing-bedroom-tax-absolute-disgrace Couldn't find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EUBanana Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 From that article, which is a bit more nuanced, I still am wondering why she is here. She seems to me to be a straight out socialist advocating straight out socialism. More housing benefit, more government housing, etc. Absolutely boiler plate leftism. Which is fair enough I suppose, not that I agree with it mind - but that's not hers or the UNs job, but the Labour Party's housing ministers job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EUBanana Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Also the comments on that Guardian thread frankly make me ******ing angry. I don't have a spare room, would like one, and can't afford one. Meanwhile the government steals half my ******ing money to pay for the spare rooms of others. That's the injustice here. And the people who get largesse from government thieves are effectively rentiers too. I'll happily swap my digs with some downsizing rentiers council house with the spare room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_renting Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Where the Government has fallen down is in it's failure to ensure that there is somewhere for people with 'excess' bedrooms have somewhere to downsize to. There is no building programme to speak of, house pices are propped up, and immigration unchecked. Letting out the spare bedroom may not be a realistic option either; (I am not sure, but any income from that would be offset against other benefits, like JSA?) and sharing your home with a stranger is not something done lightly. There just aren't enough small / single bedroom properties available. The problem in the UK is availability, and affordability, of accomodation, and remember, our homes, no matter how many bedrooms, are far smaller than the equivalents in most European countries anyway They want us all packed in like sardines while they go grouse shooting on the vast areas their ancestors cleared. MPS are not limited to single bedrooms for their taxpayer-funded second homes. C***s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_renting Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Wait! I know the solution! The Great Unwashed should have more kids to take up the excess bedrooms. * I dont really see them this way - the 'tax' affects 660,000 households apparently, many people working hard and scraping by on a minimal wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Self Employed Youth Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I don't have a spare room, would like one, and can't afford one. Meanwhile the government steals half my ******ing money to pay for the spare rooms of others. That's the injustice here. And the people who get largesse from government thieves are effectively rentiers too. I'll happily swap my digs with some downsizing rentiers council house with the spare room. A lot of the people affected are in Northern towns with relatively low housing demand. We will end up with homeless people and empty 3bed properties. The solution will be to demolish said housing due to low demand instead of reducing rents. When demand is high, the solution is to increase rents, not build more. The bedroom tax is 14% and 25% of applicable housing benefit. However target rents determine social housing rent levels. The difference between rents based upon number of bedrooms is 11.25%-9.09% and 22.2%- 20%. The bedroom tax exceeds the rent differential, and in that respect it is most definitely a tax. People in 1 bed social housing now get more housing benefit than people in 2bed, 3bed, 4bed if deemed to require only 1 bedroom due to the bedroom tax reducing peoples housing benefit below the 1bed rate. So if the bedroom tax is to be a spare room subsidy, the amount of hb reduced should be 11.25%-9.09%, not 14%, for 1 'spare bedroom', and 22.2%-20% instead of 25% for 2 'spare bedrooms'. There is also the issue of bedroom size, living room, dining room, storage room, prayer room, reception room provision etc. The bedroom tax is ill thought and unworkable across the UK, it may make sense in certain parts of the country, but what would make far more sense is to build more housing, both social and private. We must also remember that there is massive manipulation of the housing market, whereby rents are set, underpinned and subsidised directly and indirectly by the government. The bedroom tax is a tax. If you believe it is a subsidy, then surely one would also argue council tax for the unemployed after CTR (limited council tax benefit) is not a tax. For it functions exactly the same as rents - housing benefit and the bedroom tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EUBanana Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We must also remember that there is massive manipulation of the housing market, whereby rents are set, underpinned and subsidised directly and indirectly by the government. Yup. Hence why we need market liberalisation of housing, especially building new housing, urgently. Unfortunately the trade unions and Left in general seem to be spouting the usual rubbish: more benefits, more government involvement. I think the state has done quite enough damage already. Meanwhile the so called free market right are actually the rentier right. Nobody supports actually fixing the problem therefore. The bedroom tax is a tax. Then you go and ruin it. If you believe it is a subsidy, then surely one would also argue council tax for the unemployed after CTR (limited council tax benefit) is not a tax. For it functions exactly the same as rents - housing benefit and the bedroom tax. Pretty much true, yes. If someone is on benefits they can't truly be said to be paying tax at all. However, council tax applies to everybody, therefore for working stiffs it very much is a tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10301297/UN-report-criticising-bedroom-tax-is-absolute-disgrace-says-Grant-Shapps.html Looks like the government dont like it. Are they saying everyone should have at least one spare bedroom each? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okaycuckoo Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) Yes http://www.theguardi...solute-disgrace She cited the government's "help to buy" scheme and failure to replace homes removed from social housing by two decades of tenants' right to buy their council homes, adding that "housing needs not housing markets" should be at the heart of government decision-making."It is possible to stimulate the economy and construction industry if you provide more social housing and affordable housing," Rolnik said, adding that such a recommendation would be made in her final report. Judging by her specs she's long-sighted, which is quite brave with those crow-feet. Still no idea how the UN got involved - edit: found this in the comments: As a Special Rapporteur, Ms. Rolnik is an independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country’s situation or a specific human rights theme. This position is honorary and experts are not United Nations staff nor paid for their work." Edited September 11, 2013 by okaycuckoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Judging by her specs she's long-sighted, which is quite brave with those crow-feet. Still no idea how the UN got involved. I don't see how taking bedrooms that they don't need or pay for off people is an issue for the UN. If they said it's depriving a separated parent to the right to a family life by not allowing them a bedroom for one night a week visits then I'd still think it was none of the UN's business. If they UN want to bring their tents and aid to the UK then they are very welcome. I do think a few minor changes to it's implementation would make it acceptable to almost everyone. 1. Only have to pay the charge after you have had 2 offers of alternative accommodation refused. 2. It be applied equally to old people. 3. It be implemented on those with most spare rooms to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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