Reblogged from speye:
Want to hear about the ‘absent parent’ that got granted a ‘spare’ bedroom for his son?
This happened last week in Newcastle and I have spoken with the successful claimant and this will really interest all concerned with the bedroom tax and especially those tenants whose councils have said we have no discretion.
The male (M) and his female partner (F) split up 3 years ago and amicably agree a joint custody arrangement of the only child (C).
M leaves the family home (mortgaged so no HB) and for the first few weeks goes to sleep at a friends. Then seeks a 2 bed social housing property for himself and his son.
The HA is reluctant yet advises that his former wife (F) writes in to say how often C stays with M (the joint custody order still to be agreed by the court) This is done and M takes possession of a 2 bed social housing property and his son (C) stays regularly.
Then comes the bedroom tax and M is determined to have a 1 bed housing need and the bedroom tax is deducted at 14%.
M asks the council to review the case and Newcastle Council does and the case is referred for appeal. The appeal is then deferred by the council and the council reviews its decision again and decides to award M a 2 bed housing need and thus not liable for the bedroom tax.
So what happened?
M issued the council with evidence of his joint custody with his son (C) and cites sections 20-21 of HBR 2006; the Children Act and Human Rights Act. The council it appears – wisely – decide that a court order which awards joint residency or custody means the son (C) is ordinarily resident at two homes and such a court order and continued adherence to it overrides the ‘housing need’ guidance given by the DWP in the bedroom tax.
This decision should give heart to the many ‘absent parents’ (and I detest that term!) who are in the same boat. Some of these may well not have a court order detailing the arrangements yet I see nothing to stop a couple getting a letter drafted and notarised or swear an affadavit and then present as evidence to the council that the child or children live with both parents.
Many tenants will have hears their council say we have no discretion in the determination yet this is not the first case of a council increasing the ‘housing need’ above the DWP guidance. The successful appeals in Redcar, Hereford and Glasgow did the same by allowing disabled couples a bedroom each….and none of those were the first to do this as Oldham Council did this at review stage in early October and ahead of those three judgments.
And of course there is the old argument that there is no legal definition of ‘sheltered housing’ yet HB departments decide daily what is and is not sheltered housing on a daily basis and have done for decades.
In summary, tenants appealing the bedroom tax should take heart from this and it will give hope to the ‘absent parent’ whom the government has said to hell with your child arrangements we are hitting you with the bedroom tax.
It should also give heart to those tenants who have been told by their councils that “we have no discretion” which has always been a nonsense as the sheltered housing analogy above proves.
It will give heart to all separated parents as the bedroom tax has proved a huge strain on both parents involved and damaged the children of separated parents no end which just adds to their hurt of their parents separating in the first place and the callous disregard to that and to higher costs that will have for the public purse ignored by IDS and the DWP.
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