Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter
The Bedroom Tax didn't exist under Labour, so exemptions weren't required for social housing. The 'Spare room subsidy' was a notional idea invented by the Cameron Government- previous to this it was simply the rent payable.
It's correct that exemptions weren't made for overlarge properties (which may or may not be bedroom related) in the private sector, instead the local authority had the discretion to top up the Housing Benefit for those in a vulnerable situation using regulation 11 or by making payment/s under the 'exceptional circumstances' rules. This system was much more flexible and dynamic than the present exemptions list.
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Prior to 2010, there were limited(eg too disabled to be expected to move, reached state pension age) exemptions for excess bedrooms for HB in the private rented sector. Any that were there would've automatically been there for the social sector. The NEW post 2013 exemptions applied to both the private and social sectors. That is because they use the SAME underlying law. Those in the private rented sector can
now have a "spare" bedroom for an overnight carer or to store a large amount of medical equipment.
Any definition of what constitutes a bedroom is pretty much the same as before. Where there have been minor changes or clarifications, they would've happened irrespective of the "bedroom tax". They are part and parcel of what happens over time.