Housing Chief Fires 'Bedroom Tax' Warning

The proposed ‘bedroom tax’ on underoccupied homes could create more problems if a lack of affordable housing is not addressed, a housing chief has warned. Bob Taylor, chief executive of Knowsley Housing Trust, said that the continued debating of the ‘bedroom tax’ was masking problems around the supply of affordable homes and that wider welfare reforms may lead to a different housing crisis over the next 20 years. Mr Taylor said: ‘While trying to resolve existing problems, we could be creating further problems for the future. It is about providing the right new homes and making the best use of existing homes so that we maximise the numbers of people who can live comfortably and acceptably in the homes available. A bedroom tax won’t release homes easily, and people on benefit will then find themselves worse off.’ Read more on Inside Housing.