Bedroom Tax Bill Would 'Create More Administration for Social Landlords'

A proposed bill to exempt hundreds of thousands of households from the bedroom tax would lead to legal challenges, appeals and more administration costs for social landlords, sector experts have warned. A private members bill to change the bedroom tax, tabled by Liberal Democrat backbencher MP Andrew George, passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 306 votes to 231 last Friday. Giles Peaker, partner at law firm Anthony Gold Solicitors, said social landlords would have to monitor bids through their choice-based lettings systems to see who has rejected a reasonable offer of accommodation. They would then have to share the information with the local authority housing benefit department. Read more on Inside Housing.