Torrance calls new bedroom tax an 'unnecessary hardship'

A new tax, which will be implemented in April, is not only being criticised by occupiers but also by MSPs.

The ‘bedroom tax’ which will see tenants having to pay up to an extra £65 per week for having spare bedrooms will affect thousands of people.

Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance believes that this tax will do more harm than good:

“It is obvious to me that its implementation will have a significant impact on many of my constituents.

“When this comes into force, 39 per cent of people in Fife currently on housing benefit will be classified as ‘under occupying’.

“This accounts for approximately 12,500 households.”

Under the new rules, a single person or couple in a two-bedroom house will see their benefit reduced by 14 per cent, and those with two or more spare bedrooms will be cut by 25 per cent.

What’s more is that councils are unable to reallocate houses to those who look for fewer bedrooms as there is simply no houses or flats to allocate.

It will be up to the tenant to find a suitable house swap which is fine for one tenant in a four-bedroom house who doesn’t mind paying an extra few quid a week but it isn’t okay for a four person family crammed into a two-bed flat.

It’s all about fairness and this new legislation hasn’t quite mastered the hang of it yet.