Bedroom Tax Bites As Tenants Choose Between 'Heat or Eat'

Thousands of low-income tenants have been plunged into "heat or eat" hardship as a result of the bedroom tax, a government-commissioned analysis of the policy's impact reveals. The study, published by the DWP, finds that 60% of the 523,000 tenants affected have been unable to meet housing benefit shortfalls of between £14 and £22 a week in full.  The report finds that hard-pressed tenants are cutting back on food and energy, or running up debts with friends or high-credit lenders to try to meet rent payments. Although one in five claimants has registered an interest in downsizing, shortages of smaller properties mean just 4.5% of tenants had been able to move to a smaller home. Four-fifths of claimants told researchers they were finding it "very" or "fairly" difficult to meet the shortfalls, and many said they would continue to spend less on household essentials over the next 12 months. Download a copy of the report from the GovUK website.