Housing: Underoccupancy Charge

Baroness Hussein-Ece Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd March 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

On the noble Baroness’s first point, we have made it absolutely clear in our guidance that these can be longer-term payments. One thing that we have done by having a five-year settlement is to give local authorities the confidence to make longer-term payments. The guidance in the manual says that,

“it may be more appropriate to make a long term award in cases where a claimant’s circumstances are unlikely to change, and making a short term award will cause them undue distress”.

We have recognised the exact point that the Baroness makes.

[Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD)]

My Lords, is it the case that current regulations allow for an additional bedroom for a disabled adult who requires overnight care but not for a disabled child in a similar situation? If that is the case, is that fair?

[Lord Freud]

I will have to repeat the answer that I gave to the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas.