Weymouth protest against 'bedroom tax' (From Dorset Echo)
When news happens get involved. Send your pictures, views and video to us by text and email
Weymouth protest against 'bedroom tax'
2:44pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News
Weymouth protest against 'bedroom tax'
PROTESTORS gathered in Weymouth to campaign against a controversial welfare reform.
Dozens gathered at the Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Offices at North Quay today to voice their opposition against the bedroom tax.
The reform, also known as the under-occupancy penalty, is due to come into effect in April and will cut the amount of benefit people are entitled to if they are considered to have a spare bedroom in their council or housing association home.
Organiser Michael McManus said it will affect hundreds of people in Dorset and the rest of the country.
He said: “We want the government to listen to the people who they are hurting and who will be upset by this.
“There are hundreds in Dorset and we’ve got people coming from out of the county as well.
“So many people will be affected by this.”
He added: “The government is putting this tax on people’s bedrooms, it’s not housing benefit cuts it’s basically a tax.
“They are actually not giving you what you need to live on, it’s mental.
“How many one-bedroom properties are there in Dorset, there are people who want to live in them but not enough available.
“There are a lot of questions to be answered.”
Mother-of-two Rachel Mcgarvey said she will be more than £50 worse off each month, which is money she can’t afford.
She said: “I’ve got two sons, one is disabled and because they are both under 16 they are supposed to share.
“It’s going to cost another £53 a month for the third bedroom that we need, I don’t even know how I will find that money.
“The room is tiny, it’s such a small space, what really upsets me is that I was in a two-bedroom property which was actually bigger than the three-bedroom one I’m in now.”
A Facebook group set up by Mr McManus has attracted almost 300 supporters in the first two days of being online.
The protest is part of larger marches in cities across the country against the tax, which are taking place on March 30.
Mr McManus said he is not affected personally by the policy, but many of his immediate family and friends will be.
“They are targeting vulnerable people, those who are disabled or recovering from illness,” he said.
“Some people find it difficult to stand up for themselves, so it’s important that we all speak out about it.”
For more information about the protest, search Dorset Bedroom Tax on Facebook.
Local councillors suppported the protest
COUNCILLOR Mike Byatt turned out in support of the protestors.
He said: “As a labour councillor I’m upset about what the government is doing and I went to the protest because people affected by this need every bit of support they can get.
“They are the ones experiencing the outcomes of policy.
“The government is actually hurting people locally and all over the country.
“It’s not fair and the government needs to be held account for what they are doing.”
Tell us what you think?
Would you be affected by these changes? Do you think the housing benefits system is fair?
Email rachael.burnett@dorsetecho.co.uk or call 01305 830982 to have your say.
Comments(50)
shy talk
says...
3:20pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Is it me or is everything rubbish?
says...
3:40pm Fri 15 Mar 13
.
I live in a 3 bedroom house with 3 children. It was my choice to have 3 children, and 2 of them share a room.
.
It is not ideal and it would be lovely for them to all have a bedroom each.
.
The reality is that I cannot afford a 4 bedroom house.
.
Of course, if my house was heavily subsidised by other people (who cannot afford the perfect house, yet have to pay for other people's) I would be able to live in a house with space to spare.
.
The reality is that people are living in houses that are unsuitable- either they do not have enough space, or they have too much.
.
It is not your house, so be bl00dy grateful- if you boiler breaks, a door needs replacing, new double glazing, new bathroom, new kitchen- and it doesn't cost you a penny.
.
Yet still you complain.
misshls
says...
4:03pm Fri 15 Mar 13
dorchris
says...
4:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13
2 single people/couples were put into 2 bed places even if they asked for smaller, are they now expected to become homeless?
3 in the real world most jobs don't pay enough to enable people to live a decent lifestyle, most have to claim some benefits to help out, now they are having that help snatched away
4 this reduction will not save any money, in fact it will cost more, to move to a 1 bed private place will cost a lot more in housing benefit than in social housing.
5 people have a right to stay in a home they have lived in for years, people become unemployed through no fault of their own and have paid taxes, it's not their fault they have fallen on hard times and need some help, it could happen to anyone at anytime, now thousands risk homelessness and will be shoved in B&Bs costing the councils thousands, but hey that's ok isn't it.
Top Gear
says...
4:42pm Fri 15 Mar 13
dorchris
says...
4:53pm Fri 15 Mar 13
biggestoaf
says...
5:02pm Fri 15 Mar 13
mickmackay
says...
5:16pm Fri 15 Mar 13
cj07589 wrote:sorry sir but your not looking at this the right way are you, what about the ones who want to downsize but can't as theres not enough homes to supply to them, what about the lady who has had a £50,000 extention for her needs will you pay for her to downsize and pay another £50,000 to sought her needs, no I did'nt think so.
If you want the luxury of an additonal spare bedroom then you should expect to pay for the pleasure. Obviously this should NOt apply to the seriously disabled who can justify the need. Why should others pay for your indulgences?? Good on the Governement I say they should be making far deeper cuts to the welfare budget and have my full support in doing so.
mickmackay
says...
5:18pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Is it me or is everything rubbish? wrote:would you be saying all this if you needed the help, please don't tarn the same brush as if you were in need we would be backing you too
In the real world, where people work all hours and earn too much for housing benefit (or have money saved) they have to make do with what they can afford. . I live in a 3 bedroom house with 3 children. It was my choice to have 3 children, and 2 of them share a room. . It is not ideal and it would be lovely for them to all have a bedroom each. . The reality is that I cannot afford a 4 bedroom house. . Of course, if my house was heavily subsidised by other people (who cannot afford the perfect house, yet have to pay for other people's) I would be able to live in a house with space to spare. . The reality is that people are living in houses that are unsuitable- either they do not have enough space, or they have too much. . It is not your house, so be bl00dy grateful- if you boiler breaks, a door needs replacing, new double glazing, new bathroom, new kitchen- and it doesn't cost you a penny. . Yet still you complain.
cj07589
says...
5:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13
mickmackay wrote:Rubbish, why should state funded houses that are not utilised effectively not be re-assigned to upeople who could make the most of it? If I want an extra room then I move house and pay more rent for it why on gods earth do you think you are more special than the rest of us plebes who pay our way in life???
cj07589 wrote: If you want the luxury of an additonal spare bedroom then you should expect to pay for the pleasure. Obviously this should NOt apply to the seriously disabled who can justify the need. Why should others pay for your indulgences?? Good on the Governement I say they should be making far deeper cuts to the welfare budget and have my full support in doing so.sorry sir but your not looking at this the right way are you, what about the ones who want to downsize but can't as theres not enough homes to supply to them, what about the lady who has had a £50,000 extention for her needs will you pay for her to downsize and pay another £50,000 to sought her needs, no I did'nt think so.
niceonecyril
says...
5:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13
niceonecyril
says...
5:36pm Fri 15 Mar 13
cj07589 wrote:Why should I give up my home, a place I have lived in for 20 years? at a rent I might add that was legally agreed, why do YOU think you are more special than anybody else? Yes you might pay your way in life, but that won't always be the case, and then you will look back and think why was I such a pompous moron.
mickmackay wrote:Rubbish, why should state funded houses that are not utilised effectively not be re-assigned to upeople who could make the most of it? If I want an extra room then I move house and pay more rent for it why on gods earth do you think you are more special than the rest of us plebes who pay our way in life???
cj07589 wrote: If you want the luxury of an additonal spare bedroom then you should expect to pay for the pleasure. Obviously this should NOt apply to the seriously disabled who can justify the need. Why should others pay for your indulgences?? Good on the Governement I say they should be making far deeper cuts to the welfare budget and have my full support in doing so.sorry sir but your not looking at this the right way are you, what about the ones who want to downsize but can't as theres not enough homes to supply to them, what about the lady who has had a £50,000 extention for her needs will you pay for her to downsize and pay another £50,000 to sought her needs, no I did'nt think so.
I'mavoter
says...
6:51pm Fri 15 Mar 13
While the idea has some merits in principal, it is too rigid, and is being rushed in too quickly. This is likely to affect millions of people across the country, and if they all had to downsize to a property to suit their current needs, there simply isn't enough properties available for that.
Chav_Scum
says...
7:02pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Please engage brain!
There might not be a glut of VACANT small properties at the moment - but that is because there are overcrowded families currently crammed in them!!
common cence
says...
7:07pm Fri 15 Mar 13
I'mavoter
says...
7:42pm Fri 15 Mar 13
common cence wrote:Ooh ouch! Let's hope you never fall on hard times mr common cence !
You dont have to look back to far to find out most of these people on benefits are SCROUNGERS and they are like that because they get to much out of the system i/e sky tv, internet, food, and the list goes on , I was one of 8 kids plus mum and dad in a 3 bed house with no bathroom and a outside loo, anyone who needs help should get some help , but not be better off scrounging than people working, work shy plebs , chaves , give em a bowl of rice and send them on there way ,,,
Ever heard of the old saying "there by the grace of God go I" ?
I'mavoter
says...
8:11pm Fri 15 Mar 13
common cence wrote:'Common cence', my father worked hard all his life, and was never out of work, but sadly died at the age of 57. my mother worked until she was 72, she lived in a council flat, later a housing association flat, and she did receive help with her council tax and rent, so effectively was on benefits. Are you calling her a 'scrounger'
You dont have to look back to far to find out most of these people on benefits are SCROUNGERS and they are like that because they get to much out of the system i/e sky tv, internet, food, and the list goes on , I was one of 8 kids plus mum and dad in a 3 bed house with no bathroom and a outside loo, anyone who needs help should get some help , but not be better off scrounging than people working, work shy plebs , chaves , give em a bowl of rice and send them on there way ,,,
Think twice before you open your fourth mouth, mister !
I'mavoter
says...
8:13pm Fri 15 Mar 13
I'mavoter wrote:Sorry that should have been foul mouth, not fourth.
common cence wrote:'Common cence', my father worked hard all his life, and was never out of work, but sadly died at the age of 57. my mother worked until she was 72, she lived in a council flat, later a housing association flat, and she did receive help with her council tax and rent, so effectively was on benefits. Are you calling her a 'scrounger'
You dont have to look back to far to find out most of these people on benefits are SCROUNGERS and they are like that because they get to much out of the system i/e sky tv, internet, food, and the list goes on , I was one of 8 kids plus mum and dad in a 3 bed house with no bathroom and a outside loo, anyone who needs help should get some help , but not be better off scrounging than people working, work shy plebs , chaves , give em a bowl of rice and send them on there way ,,,
Think twice before you open your fourth mouth, mister !
I'mavoter
says...
8:15pm Fri 15 Mar 13
Chav_Scum wrote:What all of them ?
To those stating 'BUT THERE ARE NO 1 OR 2 BEDROOM PROPERTIES!'
Please engage brain!
There might not be a glut of VACANT small properties at the moment - but that is because there are overcrowded families currently crammed in them!!
charles1
says...
8:22pm Fri 15 Mar 13
And also if people were willing to downsize they should not have to pay this new Tax while they have to wait for a property to become available. There Rant Over.......
jinglejangle
says...
9:26pm Fri 15 Mar 13
JamesYoung
says...
10:29pm Fri 15 Mar 13
niceonecyril wrote:Because it is not YOUR home.
cj07589 wrote:Why should I give up my home, a place I have lived in for 20 years? at a rent I might add that was legally agreed, why do YOU think you are more special than anybody else? Yes you might pay your way in life, but that won't always be the case, and then you will look back and think why was I such a pompous moron.
mickmackay wrote:Rubbish, why should state funded houses that are not utilised effectively not be re-assigned to upeople who could make the most of it? If I want an extra room then I move house and pay more rent for it why on gods earth do you think you are more special than the rest of us plebes who pay our way in life???
cj07589 wrote: If you want the luxury of an additonal spare bedroom then you should expect to pay for the pleasure. Obviously this should NOt apply to the seriously disabled who can justify the need. Why should others pay for your indulgences?? Good on the Governement I say they should be making far deeper cuts to the welfare budget and have my full support in doing so.sorry sir but your not looking at this the right way are you, what about the ones who want to downsize but can't as theres not enough homes to supply to them, what about the lady who has had a £50,000 extention for her needs will you pay for her to downsize and pay another £50,000 to sought her needs, no I did'nt think so.
Why should i give up my 3 bed rented house on Poundbury if i can't pay the rent?
Why should the bank repossess the house that i've been paying a mortgage on for the last 20 years?
Why should you benefit from lower property rents than me, when you may just earn the same as me but got the house twenty years ago when you didn't and nobody has reviewed your entitlement since.
The thing is, you are being asked to pay a little more for your extra bedroom. It will still be below market rate, i can guarantee.
Top Gear
says...
10:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13
JamesYoung
says...
10:31pm Fri 15 Mar 13
charles1 wrote:This argument has a lot of merit.
Alot of people who are on benefits that are suddenly faced with this new tax would only be too happy to downsize to avoid this further cost to there low benefit income, but if you ask the Housing about downsizing they reply with !! well im sorry we just dont have the properties to give you !!
And also if people were willing to downsize they should not have to pay this new Tax while they have to wait for a property to become available. There Rant Over.......
The focus should be on whether there are enough houses to receive people who want to move, not whether or not it is fair to force somebody in a state owned asset to pay a market rate for the use of that asset. It isn't fair, but it applies to everybody. Rents in the private sector are already crippling those of us who have to pay them. I don't feel wealthy enough to subsidise others, sorry.
JamesYoung
says...
10:36pm Fri 15 Mar 13
The same is not true of private housing.
http://www.datasprin
g.org.uk/Downloads/2
009-19%20Residual%20
income%20FINAL.pdf
JamesYoung
says...
10:38pm Fri 15 Mar 13
I'mavoter wrote:Sadly, you are describing the generation of council tenants that were the pillars of the community.
I'mavoter wrote:Sorry that should have been foul mouth, not fourth.
common cence wrote:'Common cence', my father worked hard all his life, and was never out of work, but sadly died at the age of 57. my mother worked until she was 72, she lived in a council flat, later a housing association flat, and she did receive help with her council tax and rent, so effectively was on benefits. Are you calling her a 'scrounger'
You dont have to look back to far to find out most of these people on benefits are SCROUNGERS and they are like that because they get to much out of the system i/e sky tv, internet, food, and the list goes on , I was one of 8 kids plus mum and dad in a 3 bed house with no bathroom and a outside loo, anyone who needs help should get some help , but not be better off scrounging than people working, work shy plebs , chaves , give em a bowl of rice and send them on there way ,,,
Think twice before you open your fourth mouth, mister !
I think the poster was referring to the current crop, which i'm sure your mother and father would struggle to identify with.
JamesYoung
says...
10:38pm Fri 15 Mar 13
I'mavoter wrote:Sadly, you are describing the generation of council tenants that were the pillars of the community.
I'mavoter wrote:Sorry that should have been foul mouth, not fourth.
common cence wrote:'Common cence', my father worked hard all his life, and was never out of work, but sadly died at the age of 57. my mother worked until she was 72, she lived in a council flat, later a housing association flat, and she did receive help with her council tax and rent, so effectively was on benefits. Are you calling her a 'scrounger'
You dont have to look back to far to find out most of these people on benefits are SCROUNGERS and they are like that because they get to much out of the system i/e sky tv, internet, food, and the list goes on , I was one of 8 kids plus mum and dad in a 3 bed house with no bathroom and a outside loo, anyone who needs help should get some help , but not be better off scrounging than people working, work shy plebs , chaves , give em a bowl of rice and send them on there way ,,,
Think twice before you open your fourth mouth, mister !
I think the poster was referring to the current crop, which i'm sure your mother and father would struggle to identify with.
fedupweymouth
says...
10:52pm Fri 15 Mar 13
cj07589
says...
11:50pm Fri 15 Mar 13
niceonecyril wrote:No need to call your self names Cecil, the I'm alright jack attitude is loud and clear. Don't worry about others who need the extra space eh! Disproportionate sense of entitlement right there folks!
cj07589 wrote:Why should I give up my home, a place I have lived in for 20 years? at a rent I might add that was legally agreed, why do YOU think you are more special than anybody else? Yes you might pay your way in life, but that won't always be the case, and then you will look back and think why was I such a pompous moron.
mickmackay wrote:Rubbish, why should state funded houses that are not utilised effectively not be re-assigned to upeople who could make the most of it? If I want an extra room then I move house and pay more rent for it why on gods earth do you think you are more special than the rest of us plebes who pay our way in life???
cj07589 wrote: If you want the luxury of an additonal spare bedroom then you should expect to pay for the pleasure. Obviously this should NOt apply to the seriously disabled who can justify the need. Why should others pay for your indulgences?? Good on the Governement I say they should be making far deeper cuts to the welfare budget and have my full support in doing so.sorry sir but your not looking at this the right way are you, what about the ones who want to downsize but can't as theres not enough homes to supply to them, what about the lady who has had a £50,000 extention for her needs will you pay for her to downsize and pay another £50,000 to sought her needs, no I did'nt think so.
cj07589
says...
12:02am Sat 16 Mar 13
fedupweymouth wrote:Well said! Having just got home near midnight after a 70hr week and then reading the self righteous rubbish here about how hard done by the subsidised state housing tenants are moaning about making small sacrifices and the crud about contracts obligations whilst completely ignoring the many others who are worse off and cant get any social housing is totally disgraceful and shameful. Double standards selfish hypocrites.
if you dont like it rent privately like the rest of us!
Howlin Wolf
says...
8:18am Sat 16 Mar 13
Everyone else should only be allowed to redeem financial support and a pension based on what they have put into the system based on their NI and Tax to date.
If you haven't put anything in, then, hard luck, go get a job. That would make the country less attractive to the UK and EU scroungers who simply look for the low hanging fruit.
koeterwaals
says...
8:41am Sat 16 Mar 13
Mr_Blue_Sky
says...
10:35am Sat 16 Mar 13
Even the disabled, there is always a job they can do in 99% of cases. Sure it might not be the job they wanted when they started out in life, but life sucks, deal with it, better yourself, work hard, get promotions. That's how the rest of us work...
annotator1
says...
10:50am Sat 16 Mar 13
Mr_Blue_Sky wrote:Please qualify your statement by suggesting where the unemployed dissabled will find all of the work you spout about. Can you live on no disposable income? Of course not.
The state is already WAY to generous with people on benefits, the bedroom tax is a very small start, but we need more of the same. Force these people back into work.
Even the disabled, there is always a job they can do in 99% of cases. Sure it might not be the job they wanted when they started out in life, but life sucks, deal with it, better yourself, work hard, get promotions. That's how the rest of us work...
Get in the real World!
JamesYoung
says...
11:49am Sat 16 Mar 13
annotator1 wrote:I think this is fair comment. If you genuinely cannot work then the state should support you.
Mr_Blue_Sky wrote:Please qualify your statement by suggesting where the unemployed dissabled will find all of the work you spout about. Can you live on no disposable income? Of course not.
The state is already WAY to generous with people on benefits, the bedroom tax is a very small start, but we need more of the same. Force these people back into work.
Even the disabled, there is always a job they can do in 99% of cases. Sure it might not be the job they wanted when they started out in life, but life sucks, deal with it, better yourself, work hard, get promotions. That's how the rest of us work...
Get in the real World!
However this should be clearly caveated. If you are in a wheelchair then clearly work is going to be very difficult and I admire people that still manage it. There are many people who are classed as disabled who are perfectly capable of work though. I think the point is the benefits system should focus on supporting those who cannot work not those who won't.
It's a difficult area and I am strongly opposed to the outsourcing of these decisions to companies like ATOS.
shy talk
says...
12:21pm Sat 16 Mar 13
JamesYoung
says...
12:52pm Sat 16 Mar 13
shy talk wrote:A problem which could be solved by introducing annual tenancies. If your income goes above a certain threshold, so does your rent.
A few doors down from me lives a single male, aged about thirty. Good job, nice car, not on any benefits. He rents from the housing association a three bedroomed mid terraced house. So he will not be paying any “Bedroom Tax” for his spare bedrooms. So that's one property not being used to it's full capacity.
More social housing needs to be freed up so that it can used as it was supposed to be used - to house poorer working families, not troublemaking dole bunnies.
Personally i think that once you reach the point where no housing benefit would be payable if you were renting privately, you should be paying a market rent for an equivalent private house and you should lose any right to buy privilege. That way, most people would move into private accommodation anyway as it is generally in a nicer area.
greenglasses
says...
2:00pm Sat 16 Mar 13
1 pensioners are not affected so no freeing up of family homes from them
2 lack of jobs in the area for people to go into and therefore remove themselves from the tax
3 if a family cant afford to stay in a house is there available housing for them to go to in the same area. Will families be moved from portland to littlemoor but then have to bus the children across town for school
4 you have a 3bed house and 2 daughters aged 12&14 you move to a 2 bed house but then the eldest turns 16 and you have the right to 3beds again will you be moved again
Yes there needs to be change but not sure how all this will save any money
radiator
says...
4:21pm Sat 16 Mar 13
sandman223
says...
5:21pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Parkstreetshufle
says...
2:23am Sun 17 Mar 13
cj07589
says...
9:38am Sun 17 Mar 13
Parkstreetshufle wrote:Yes i fully agree with you! its greed and the me, me, me attitude. I'm truly embarrassed by some of the totally self centred and completely shameless comments made by beneficiaries who happily overlook and ignore the plight of others who are worse off.
Our society cannot share anything. Those with money don't want to share their living space. Those not working don't want to either. We encourage people to be greedy and want more all the time. Small wonder there are very serious problems like crime and institutionalised corruption. There really must be something more intelligent than this - it's just so depressing.
I'mavoter
says...
6:21pm Sun 17 Mar 13
Mr_Blue_Sky wrote:Mmmmm over 2 million unemployed, heading towards 3 million .... One wonders if there are really 2.5 million jobs out there, with more people being laid off almost weekly.
The state is already WAY to generous with people on benefits, the bedroom tax is a very small start, but we need more of the same. Force these people back into work.
Even the disabled, there is always a job they can do in 99% of cases. Sure it might not be the job they wanted when they started out in life, but life sucks, deal with it, better yourself, work hard, get promotions. That's how the rest of us work...
To all those posters here that keep bleating the same old phrase; Get a Job, Get A Job, might be a good idea to check that there are enough jobs for these people, before you jump on that stock-in-trade rant.
I'mavoter
says...
6:46pm Sun 17 Mar 13
sandman223 wrote:And the majority of those jobs are part-time low paid jobs, the income from which would nowhere near cover the cost of rent & council tax.
Whats all this talk of NO jobs in the area? Im sorry, but i believe this newspaper has a weekly section advertising jobs in the area week in week out?
Just as a side comment, I live in a housing accommodation property, I don't claim any benefit and Magna housing have just increased their "service charges" by 152% !! When I asked Magna where they thought I was going to find this increased amount, their reply was " it is eligible for housing benefit " !!
JamesYoung
says...
12:13pm Mon 18 Mar 13
I'mavoter wrote:Ignoring the fact that 2 * part time jobs = full time income, a fact that seems to elude some people, we are in the middle of a recession.Between 1997 and 2007 we weren't, and unemployment didn't shrink as much as it should have.
sandman223 wrote:And the majority of those jobs are part-time low paid jobs, the income from which would nowhere near cover the cost of rent & council tax.
Whats all this talk of NO jobs in the area? Im sorry, but i believe this newspaper has a weekly section advertising jobs in the area week in week out?
Just as a side comment, I live in a housing accommodation property, I don't claim any benefit and Magna housing have just increased their "service charges" by 152% !! When I asked Magna where they thought I was going to find this increased amount, their reply was " it is eligible for housing benefit " !!
As for your personal challenge, could you please confirm how much per month this service charge increase is, in cash terms?
I'mavoter
says...
6:21pm Mon 18 Mar 13
JamesYoung wrote:What part of 152% increase do you not understand ?
I'mavoter wrote:Ignoring the fact that 2 * part time jobs = full time income, a fact that seems to elude some people, we are in the middle of a recession.Between 1997 and 2007 we weren't, and unemployment didn't shrink as much as it should have.
sandman223 wrote:And the majority of those jobs are part-time low paid jobs, the income from which would nowhere near cover the cost of rent & council tax.
Whats all this talk of NO jobs in the area? Im sorry, but i believe this newspaper has a weekly section advertising jobs in the area week in week out?
Just as a side comment, I live in a housing accommodation property, I don't claim any benefit and Magna housing have just increased their "service charges" by 152% !! When I asked Magna where they thought I was going to find this increased amount, their reply was " it is eligible for housing benefit " !!
As for your personal challenge, could you please confirm how much per month this service charge increase is, in cash terms?
JamesYoung
says...
7:27pm Mon 18 Mar 13
I'mavoter wrote:What part of "in cash terms" do you not understand?
JamesYoung wrote:What part of 152% increase do you not understand ?
I'mavoter wrote:Ignoring the fact that 2 * part time jobs = full time income, a fact that seems to elude some people, we are in the middle of a recession.Between 1997 and 2007 we weren't, and unemployment didn't shrink as much as it should have.
sandman223 wrote:And the majority of those jobs are part-time low paid jobs, the income from which would nowhere near cover the cost of rent & council tax.
Whats all this talk of NO jobs in the area? Im sorry, but i believe this newspaper has a weekly section advertising jobs in the area week in week out?
Just as a side comment, I live in a housing accommodation property, I don't claim any benefit and Magna housing have just increased their "service charges" by 152% !! When I asked Magna where they thought I was going to find this increased amount, their reply was " it is eligible for housing benefit " !!
As for your personal challenge, could you please confirm how much per month this service charge increase is, in cash terms?
For example, my partner paid £1.13 a week service charge. A 152% increase takes that to £7.41 a month. Hardly a bank breaker particularly when, as you don't receive any benefits, you are clearly earning a good wage, certainly better than most council tenants and in receipt of a below market rent property to boot. You probably only pay rent for 48 weeks a year as well.
Your service charge could be £1 a week or it could be £100 a week. That's why i asked what you meant.
D0G_Dorset
says...
7:52am Wed 20 Mar 13
EtaoinShrdlu
says...
11:15pm Fri 22 Mar 13
cj07589 says...
3:13pm Fri 15 Mar 13