Bedroom tax in the North East

The controversial so-called Bedroom Tax has come in to force.

Under the new scheme, residents in social housing with one spare bedroom will have their housing benefit cut by 14%, while those with two or more unoccupied rooms will see it reduced by 25%.

Protests against the measures have been taking place across the region.

• UK
• bedroom tax
• Teesside

Families across the region will have their benefits reduced from next week if they live in a council house and have one or more spare rooms under the so-called "bedroom tax."

The government wants them to downsize, saying it will free up more space and bring down the benefits bill.

It has been dubbed "the bedroom tax" - and one family says that the move will force them into poverty, without money for food or heating.

You can watch the full report from Frances Read below.

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside

Peter Newell from Billingham says that he feels "disgusted and let down" by the government who have implemented the benefit changes.

He lives with his wife in a three bedroomed house which is specially adapted for his disability, although he says that he would be happy to move into a two bedroomed house but there aren't any available with the adaptations he needs.

Paul says that under the new "bedroom tax" he will lose £15 a week which will make it hard to pay for food or heating.

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside

A man fighting government plans to introduce the 'bedroom tax,' claims he has found a loop-hole which could make people exempt from paying it.

Currently, anyone living in social housing will receive less benefits from next month if they have unoccupied bedrooms.

Michael Brennan, from Newcastle, relies on a disability benefit. He says the government is wrong to tax him on a space which is too small to be classed as a bedroom.

Watch the full report from Jonny Blair below.

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside

North East MPs are being urged to ensure the Government's "bedroom tax" is rigorously evaluated before it comes into force.

Housing association Riverside has written to MPs to ensure the Welfare Reform Bill is fully scrutinised, as it estimates nearly 7000 tenants will be affected by the new tax.

Under the reforms families considered to have too much living space by local authorities will receive reduced benefit payments.

North East constituencies most likely to feel the full force of the reforms include Gateshead and North Tyneside where a quarter of Riverside households will be affected.

We are very concerned about the impact of benefit cuts on our tenants and the business, having campaigned against a number of aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill as it went through Parliament.

"While the Welfare Reform Act is now on the statute book, there are still changes the Government can introduce to help mitigate the impact including undertaking a comprehensive review of the policy."

Riverside is trying to mitigate the impact of the reforms under its B!G Changes campaign and is targeting those at risk to explain their options, including seeking to downsize, take in a lodger and 'stay and pay'.

"We are asking MPs for their support in ensuring that any evaluation is undertaken quickly, independently and thoroughly.

"It also needs to be sufficiently broadly scoped to consider the financial impact of the policy, its impact on individuals and the wider neighbourhood impact."

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside

A crisis meeting has been held on Teesside about controversial government plans to introduce the "bedroom tax."

After April, people living in social housing will lose some of their benefit according to the number of spare bedrooms they have.

You can watch the full report on that below.

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside

Social housing organisations and tenants from across the North East are holding a meeting in Wynyard on Teesside to discuss what the proposed tax will mean for them.

The plan is to mobilise a lot of support against the proposed tax.

• UK
• Bedroom Tax
• Teesside