Council Accused of 'Persecution' Over Bedroom Tax

Wirral council chiefs have denied claims they are “persecuting” people affected by the bedroom tax. It follows the decision by the council to appeal after losing a case against a tenant who told a tribunal her “spare room” was too small to be classed as a bedroom. Green Party councillor Pat Cleary said the council should have accepted the ruling. Cllr Cleary said: “Rooms below 50 square feet cannot be classified as bedrooms. In the private sector it is illegal to rent out such a room as a bedroom. So, that should be that. But not in Wirral where the council has written to this tenant and is seeking permission to appeal this judgement. In other words, Wirral council does not accept that a room of 36.5 square feet should not be classified as a bedroom. “Apart from the moral issues involved, there are also important financial issues. How much is it costing to contest these appeals? “Why is Wirral doing so when it is clearly the remit of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)?”  Read more on the Liverpool Echo website.