Bassetlaw: Hundreds of families hit by bedroom tax

The National Housing Federation analysis also show that Bassetlew residents saw an average reduction of £644.11.

Under the new bedroom tax’ rules, council or housing association tenants of working age whose homes don’t match their family size will see their Housing Benefit cut by up to 25 per cent.

The National Housing Federation’s East Midlands external affairs manager, Kate Warburton, said: “These new Government figures show that the bedroom tax is affecting thousands of people in the East Midlands - for many, there isn’t even anywhere for them to downsize to. There simply aren’t enough smaller social homes available, and the cost of private rented housing is rising all the time.”

“The Government says discretionary housing payments will help those who cannot downsize, but there isn’t anywhere near enough money to go round.”

“The bedroom tax is trapping many people in homes they can no longer afford and where they are struggling to pay their rents. It is unfair, badly designed, and must be repealed.”

The new data follows a recent National Housing Federation survey of 51 housing associations which showed that 51 per cent of households affected by the bedroom tax were unable to pay their rent between April and June.