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The bedroom tax has left me constantly sick with fear The bedroom tax has left me constantly sick with fear
(3 months later)
I chose this house for its open view across a park. It was derelict, unloved, left empty for years while the owner slowly faded in a nursing home. The area wasn't so great then, in the 1980s. The park was full of gangs at night.I chose this house for its open view across a park. It was derelict, unloved, left empty for years while the owner slowly faded in a nursing home. The area wasn't so great then, in the 1980s. The park was full of gangs at night.
We took out a mortgage, a 100% millstone, and a home improvement loan to make the house habitable, install central heating, fix the rotting floorboards and the crumbling brickwork.We took out a mortgage, a 100% millstone, and a home improvement loan to make the house habitable, install central heating, fix the rotting floorboards and the crumbling brickwork.
Then, suddenly, I was widowed. Life was turned on its head. Alone with a small child. The mortgage and loan became something confusing and unmanageable. Interest rates rose and the building society was closing in.Then, suddenly, I was widowed. Life was turned on its head. Alone with a small child. The mortgage and loan became something confusing and unmanageable. Interest rates rose and the building society was closing in.
I had heard of the mortgage rescue scheme. The housing association sent a surveyor round to see if they wanted to buy the house; rescue it, and me, at the eleventh hour. Luckily they did and they got themselves a bargain. Eighteen months later the house was worth many times what they'd paid for it.I had heard of the mortgage rescue scheme. The housing association sent a surveyor round to see if they wanted to buy the house; rescue it, and me, at the eleventh hour. Luckily they did and they got themselves a bargain. Eighteen months later the house was worth many times what they'd paid for it.
Never mind. The rent was affordable and I could go back to university, do a bit of teaching, and fit it around being a mother. Never earning enough to be well off, always stuck for childcare, but things were all right.Never mind. The rent was affordable and I could go back to university, do a bit of teaching, and fit it around being a mother. Never earning enough to be well off, always stuck for childcare, but things were all right.
I didn't mind that I was now renting the house: it was a home, not an investment.I didn't mind that I was now renting the house: it was a home, not an investment.
Later, now just me at home, rattling around the empty nest and ready for change, I asked to be moved, transferred to a nice neat flat for one. I put my name on the housing exchange list.Later, now just me at home, rattling around the empty nest and ready for change, I asked to be moved, transferred to a nice neat flat for one. I put my name on the housing exchange list.
But the housing association hadn't done some major repairs so I couldn't move, or find a property to swap with, until they were done. It was policy. I was trapped, unable to move on to the next stage of my life, in a house that was becoming miserable and cold.But the housing association hadn't done some major repairs so I couldn't move, or find a property to swap with, until they were done. It was policy. I was trapped, unable to move on to the next stage of my life, in a house that was becoming miserable and cold.
I had to get a solicitor. The repairs were finally completed. I almost fell in love with the house again, now it had double glazing and you didn't have to wear 12 layers of clothes to bed.I had to get a solicitor. The repairs were finally completed. I almost fell in love with the house again, now it had double glazing and you didn't have to wear 12 layers of clothes to bed.
My mother became very ill. I did the right thing and put everything on hold. Meanwhile, I too had been diagnosed with a serious illness. I was assessed for disability benefits and put on employment support allowance (support group). My savings gradually eroded and the rent was now paid by housing benefit.My mother became very ill. I did the right thing and put everything on hold. Meanwhile, I too had been diagnosed with a serious illness. I was assessed for disability benefits and put on employment support allowance (support group). My savings gradually eroded and the rent was now paid by housing benefit.
Before my mother died I promised her something: there is a treatment for my condition, not a cure as such – only a 50% chance of improvement with very toxic side effects over a gruelling 12-month regime. But it had to be done soon: the worse I got the less likely the treatment was to work. I told her I would do it. Give it a go. I put moving to one side, concentrated on my health. The house became my sanctuary again as I prepared for what I knew would be a brutal battle.Before my mother died I promised her something: there is a treatment for my condition, not a cure as such – only a 50% chance of improvement with very toxic side effects over a gruelling 12-month regime. But it had to be done soon: the worse I got the less likely the treatment was to work. I told her I would do it. Give it a go. I put moving to one side, concentrated on my health. The house became my sanctuary again as I prepared for what I knew would be a brutal battle.
Then the government brought in the bedroom tax.Then the government brought in the bedroom tax.
Overnight, the house became a disturbing combination of home, prison, hiding place and guilty under-occupier's hoard of spare rooms. I feel constantly sick with fear.Overnight, the house became a disturbing combination of home, prison, hiding place and guilty under-occupier's hoard of spare rooms. I feel constantly sick with fear.
I can't make the numbers work. I can't magic the money up from somewhere. There are still no neat little flats around here. Contemplating treatment seems impossible: I can't do two major problems at once.I can't make the numbers work. I can't magic the money up from somewhere. There are still no neat little flats around here. Contemplating treatment seems impossible: I can't do two major problems at once.
The final irony: the housing association would sell the property if I move out. I'm not depriving a family of a home. The area is lovely now. I knew it would be one day. The park across the road has won awards.The final irony: the housing association would sell the property if I move out. I'm not depriving a family of a home. The area is lovely now. I knew it would be one day. The park across the road has won awards.
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