Hundreds up sticks across Black Country as bedroom tax bites

Residents have been calling in the removal vans across the Black Country and Staffordshire after being told they would face a cut in benefit payments if they wanted to keep their homes.

But thousands of tenants have agreed to stump up potentially hundreds of extra pounds in rent each year after they decided to stay put.

As part of an overhaul of the benefits system, which came into force in April, anyone of working age in council or social rented housing faces a 14 per cent or 25 per cent cut in their payments if they have one or more spare bedrooms.

Walsall Housing Group has re-housed 89 of its 228 tenants who have asked to downsize. Just over 2,200 have said that they wish to pay the shortfall and stay in their current home.

Sandwell Council has received 103 inquiries since April.

Deputy council leader Councillor Mahboob Hussain said: "Tenants affected who want to downsize are given a high degree priority in order to try and find an alternative property and we are also promoting mutual exchange as this doesn't rely on vacant properties occurring."

Wolverhampton Homes director Mark Henderson added: "We've done a lot of work with tenants who were going to be affected by the changes in the lead up to April. Around 360 of those we spoke to expressed some sort of interest in downsizing, but most made the decision to stay where they were and try and make-up the financial shortfall to pay their rent. Since April we've been able to help 66 tenants find someone they can swap their home with, which is good news."

Dudley Council says 81 tenants have downsized to smaller accommodation since April while Stafford and Rural Homes says 25 residents have asked to move.

Cannock Chase Council which owns around 5,500 council houses, said it had 28 tenants who had downsized since April this year and another 28 who were looking to move to smaller homes.