Tenants across Pembrokeshire trying to move home to avoid the burden of the so-called 'bedroom tax' imposed by the Government are likely to face lengthy waits to downsize their properties.

Earlier this month the UK Government welfare reforms 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.

Graham Holmes, director of housing at Pembrokeshire Housing said that of the 2,200 tenants 270 had been affected by bedroom tax. Most have one extra room and 36 have two or more.

And there are 364 tenants on the council and Pembrokeshire Housing register to move to small accommodation.

Mr Holmes said: "People who are affected will have to pay extra money because their housing benefit went down - all our clients will have to find £190,000 to make up the short fall, the average payment is £13.50.

"If every household wished to move to suitably sized homes, they would need 126 one bedrooms, 112 two bedrooms, 29 three bedrooms and one four bedrooms.

"But that's assuming everyone would want to move. The supply of one bedrooms is the one that unlocks everything. We're not going to be able to solve it straight away, it might take two or three years to help everyone who wants to move," he added.

"It's a lot of money for people to find that are already on a low income. Nobody moves for free and it's not something the landlord's done, it's not something the tenant's done, it's just something we have had put on us.

Mr Holmes said that in the last 12 months 76 one bedroom homes were made available to tenants, but added that there may be others who start paying the extra costs and then decide to downsize if they cannot maintain the costs.

One man from Hakin, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he has been trying for 15 months to be rehomed in a one bedroom house by the County Council but has had no luck.

With a three-bedroom house which he no longer needs after his children flew the nest he is now facing a 25% cut in his housing benefit which will have to be paid from his £70 a week benefits.

This has left him struggling and the stress is taking its toll as he already suffers from ill health.

"I'm packed and ready to go," he said. "I could be in a one bedroom and someone else could have this place but they haven't got the accommodation to put me in."

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said that tenants can opt to move to alternative accommodation by transfer or mutual exchange.

There were 91 mutual exchanges in the year 2012-13 compared to 72 the previous year.

One bedroom homes make up just 16.6% of council stock.

Information was sent to all tenants by the council and Pembrokeshire Housing and meetings arranged with those wanting more information and to reassure residents who are not affected, such as pensioners, that they did not need to worry.

Tenants having to make payments for the first time were also assisted and information made available. Priority is also being given by Pembrokeshire Housing to those wanting to downsize and there is financial assistance available to help with moving.

Six people have moved since the changes came in just weeks ago, Mr Holmes said, and swapping is also encouraged.

He added: "The message we want to get across is we're here to help."

A council spokesman added: "We are aware that many households in Pembrokeshire will be adversely affected by the recent housing benefit reforms and we have support and advice available to them.

"If tenants have any concerns they can ring 01437 764551."

For more information visit www.pembs-ha.co.uk or www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk.

 

Bedroom tax scam

 

Elderly householders in Pembrokeshire have been warned to be on their guard against a phone scam.

Last week an 86-year-old house owner was phoned by a man purporting to be from the county council.

The caller said he would be visiting her in order to measure her bedroom to ensure she complied with the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ introduced recently.

“Fortunately the lady’s son rang us to check the validity of the call and we were able to reassure him that it was a hoax” said council spokesman, Len Mullins.

“The legislation only applies to council and housing association tenants of working age. It does not apply to private householders nor to pensioners.”