Under-occupancy (Bedroom Tax)

What are the changes?

The UK Government has decided that from 1st April 2013 current and future working age tenants renting from a housing association or other registered social landlord may have their Housing Benefit reduced if they have one or more spare bedrooms.

Note: These changes do not affect pension age customers. Pension age is currently 61+ years old. From 1st April 2013 this will increase to 62+ years old.

How many bedrooms is my household allowed?

The government has decided on a method for working out the number of bedrooms a household needs.

Based on this method a bedroom is allowed for the following people:

• A single adult aged 16 or over or adult couple
• Any other single adult aged 16 or over
• Two children under age 10 (regardless of gender)
• Two children of the same gender.
• Any other child
• A carer (who does not normally live with you) if you or your partner need overnight care

Extra bedrooms are not allowed for children who visit the household at weekends or for foster children.

This means that those tenants whose accommodation is larger than they need may lose part of their Housing Benefit.

How much benefit will I lose?

• Those with one spare bedroom will lose 14 per cent of their Housing Benefit.
• Those with two or more spare bedrooms will lose 25 per cent.

Want to update your household details?

If you have received a letter from us and wish to update your household details, please complete our online form.

Update Household Details

Further information on under occupancy is available in the frequently asked questions page.