No tenant in Perth and Kinross should have to face the prospect of eviction because of “bedroom tax”.
That was the pledge given by Councillor Dave Doogan during a heated discussion on the implications of ongoing Government welfare reforms.
He gave assurances that the council was using “everything at its disposal” to prevent residents from losing their homes as the controversial proposals take effect.
A report put before members of Perth and Kinross Council’s housing and health committee revealed that only 17% of households deemed to be under-occupying have made inquiries about downsizing.
“Much has been said about these plans and, in a local context, 759 households will be affected,” Mr Doogan said.
“There are also the many people who are deeply anxious about the plans, despite the fact they won’t apply to them.
“It’s a big thing for people and there will be a lag in those coming forward as they get over the denial that they are affected.”
Although the council has offered “every possible” assistance to tenants, there are still question marks hanging over their future.
Mr Doogan was forced to admit that there is a chronic shortage of suitable accommodation for those willing to downsize to smaller properties.
He continued: “There isn’t the turnover there to generate the houses that are needed for people to downsize. There is a method we can use which doesn’t involve taking people out of their homes and that is to build more of them.
“I’m happy to report that in Perth and Kinross, there were 155 social houses completed last year a considerable rise on the previous year.
“What we are now dealing with, however, is the collaborative reduction in capital investment of £7 billion. That’s a lot of houses that could have been built, but weren’t.”
During the meeting, it was revealed that there are more than 1,700 families on the waiting list for two to three-bedroom properties.
Councillor Peter Barrett also highlighted that around 153 households were overcrowded in Perth and Kinross, but incentive schemes to encourage single people to downsize had failed to make any impact.
He added: “I think we need to be proactive in terms of the support we are going to offer tenants and other people who under-occupy their property.”
Councillor John Flynn raised concerns about encouraging tenants to rent out spare rooms as a way of tackling both the shortfall in smaller properties available for lease and overcoming the “bedroom tax”.
Revenues and benefits service manager Lynn Brady said that any attempts to sublet would be looked on favourably and receive the full support of the council.