‘Bedroom tax’ to affect students

**From April, the introduction of the new ‘bedroom tax’ will mean 670,000 “under-occupying” tenants are faced with a decision: move to a smaller property or cough up (between £11 and £20 a week) for bedrooms deemed to be in excess of their needs, as part of a government initiative to cut £500m per year off the housing benefit spending bill. **

“Spare council house bedrooms are a luxury the country can no longer afford”, claims Lord Freud, the welfare minister.

But the effect that this will have on poorer students, away at university for the majority of the year and therefore not entitled to a bedroom, is causing concern.

“The cost of student accommodation has doubled in the past decade”, says NUS President Liam Burns.

“All this means that, if students are unable to return home for the holidays due to parents having to downsize, the cost implications…are likely to be severe.”

Student loans are calculated on accommodation costs for term-time only. In effect, this means that the poorest parents will be forced to choose between being financially penalised for keeping their child’s bedroom or relocate to a smaller property – effectively making their child homeless for the holidays.

But the cost for parents sacrificing their housing benefits in a bid to keep the ‘spare’ bedroom has wider ramifications than originally perceived.

Last year the NUS’s “Pound in Your Pocket Campaign” investigated the finances of 14,000 students, discovering that over half received support from their family. If less fortunate parents are no longer in a position to finically support their children due to losing their housing benefits, campaigners worry that students will struggle to afford basic living costs such as rent and utility bills.

In turn, this may dissuade poorer students from persuing higher education, unable to afford the costs of university life.

Hannah*, a second year Mathematics student is deeply concerned by the reforms.

“My friends already tease me for my for being tight, but it’s all fun and games. I have to be careful with my money because my mum is on her own and can’t support me financially.

“But what we’ll do when the new bedroom tax comes in, I just don’t know. We only have two bedrooms as it is and I don’t fancy the thought of top-and-tailing with my mum!

“We can laugh about it at the moment, but I’m seriously worried about next year. Living off-campus will be more expensive as I will be paying rent for accommodation even during the holidays.”
James*, a third year Economics student equally anxious:

“My father died last year and Mum couldn’t afford to keep the house what with me and my two brothers all away at university.

“I’m moving home in June, so at least we’ll be entitled to one bedroom, but will that mean me and my two brothers will all be sharing?

“I’m starting a graduate job in September and I don’t want to be sleeping in a bunk beds with my brothers aged 21!”

Last week David Cameron pledged to look at “any individual case” for those affected by the benefit cuts, but despite widespread criticism and two defeats in the Lords, Ministers have pushed ahead with the policy, effective as of April