MPs vote in favour of private member’s bill introducing exemptions to the bedroom tax
MPs have today (5 September 2014) voted 304 to 237 in favour of a private member's Bill to introduce exemptions to the bedroom tax.
The private member's bill (The Affordable Homes Bill), introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George and on its second reading, has two aims. Firstly, it proposes to introduce three new exemptions to the application of the bedroom tax deduction from housing benefit (or the housing element of universal credit) for claimants who are deemed to be under-occupying their social rented homes. The exemptions would apply where:
- the claimant's accommodation has been adapted for themselves, their partner, or a close relative who lives at the property, and the cost of that adaptation is above a specific threshold;
- an extra room is required because the claimant, or their partner, or close relative living at the property, is in receipt of any component of disability living allowance or personal independence payment and they are not reasonably able to share a bedroom with another person (one extra room allowed); or
- neither the claimant’s landlord nor a local authority, where it is not the landlord, has made a reasonable offer of alternative accommodation.
Secondly, it proposes to secure a review of the availability of affordable and intermediate housing by the Secretary of State. On completion, a report of the review would be laid before Parliament.
Disability Rights UK Policy and Communication Manager Philip Connolly said:
"Disability Rights UK thanks the 304 MPs who voted for this private members bill. It shows the ability of parliament to resist unfair Government legislation.
Large numbers of disabled people stand to gain from these exemptions. We are delighted."