Edinburgh adopts no eviction policy for bedroom tax

The local authority agreed that ‘where the director of services for communities was satisfied that tenants who were subject to the under-occupation charge had done all they reasonably could to avoid falling in to arrears, then all legitimate means to collect rent arrears should be utilised except eviction’.

Under the under-occupation penalty, which is frequently referred to as the bedroom tax, social housing tenants of working age who are on housing benefit have their payments cut if they have one or more spare bedrooms. The reform, which came into force on 1 April, affects around 3,800 Edinburgh council tenants.

Councillor Ricky Henderson, convener of health, social care and housing, who proposed the motion, which was passed by the policy and strategy committee on 16 April, said: ‘It is essential that people make every effort to pay their rent as this funds housing services and investment. However, this decision will protect our tenants from losing their home due to the impact of the “bedroom tax”.’