A number of people who may have otherwise had to pay the so-called bedroom tax are set to benefit from plans to convert spare bedrooms into bathrooms by social landlord Magenta Living.
The plan by the biggest registered provider of social housing in the Wirral is thought to impact on around 200 homes at first, The Independent reports. Officially, the reason for the conversion of bedrooms into bathrooms is home improvement but the move does also mean that people will dodge having to pay tax on their spare room.
Magenta Living’s chief executive, Brian Simpson said: “Magenta Living is developing a scheme to relocate poorly insulated prefabricated bathroom units which were fitted many years ago to the rear of some houses into the inside of these homes.
“The consequence of this work will be that the number of bedrooms will be reduced in these properties. We have not yet consulted our tenants on the scheme and are not able to comment further at this time.”
Coming into force in April 2013, this welfare reform impacts on about half a million of the poorest people in the country who’ve experienced a reduction in housing benefit of £14 per week on average. The new reforms state that people lose 14% of housing benefit if they have a spare bedroom and 25% of their benefit if they have two spare bedrooms.
The ex Welfare Minister and current Labour MP for Birkenhead, Frank Field said of Magenta Living’s plans: “The bedroom tax is iniquitous and Magenta is clearly undertaking this review with tenants in mind and I think they need to be applauded. I hope this encourages others to follow suit.”
In addition to helping potential victims of the “bedroom tax”, this new scheme by the social landlord should improve the bathrooms in the process. Rather than having a non-superior bathroom at the back of their houses, these individuals could enjoy a bathroom upstairs – and one they could possibly decorate as they wish with various bathroom products such as towel rails, lighting, and bathroom furniture.
A bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in a house, so having one in a more convenient location upstairs and possibly in better condition too has to be beneficial for the tenants. A downstairs bathroom is fine – but an upstairs one is usually preferable as it means individuals can access the room more comfortably at all hours of the day and night.