Nearly 2,000 Dundee households are hit by ‘bedroom tax’

Almost 2,000 Dundee households have been affected by the so-called bedroom tax.

A freedom of information inquiry has found that there are 1,897 households whose housing benefit has been reduced because they have one or more spare bedrooms.

The city council said 1,130 households have received help through discretionary housing payments, totalling £518,891 at the end of January.

Bin the Bedroom Tax campaigner Philip Stott said: “The vote in the Scottish Parliament to pass the 2014/15 Scottish budget did include enough money to ensure no household in Scotland has to pay the bedroom tax from April 1.

“It’s vital that the Scottish Government, Dundee City Council and housing associations act now to inform all tenants that they don’t have to pay from April. They must also let all tenants know what mechanism will be used to exempt all tenants.”

One of those impacted by the benefit cut is Ronnie Swinton, 58, of Coldside.

He said: “I thought I was going to be thrown out on the street.”

Mr Swinton eventually secured a discretionary housing payment from the council to cover the cost, but he is hoping to move to a smaller home.