No yolk: ‘bedroom tax’ payers offered Creme Egg
A housing association is offering a Cadbury’s Creme Egg as a reward to tenants who keep up with their rent despite being hit by government welfare reforms.
The not-for-profit social landlord Valleys to Coast (V2C), based in Bridgend, south Wales, wrote a letter to tenants thanking them for continuing to meet payments following the introduction of the so-called bedroom tax in April last year.
New rules mean working age people living in the social rented sector see their housing benefit cut if they have spare bedrooms, forcing them to pay more rent or move to smaller accommodation.
The government call it “removing the spare room subsidy” and say the policy will cut the benefits bill and free up wasted space amid long waiting lists for social housing.
Labour refer to the change as the “bedroom tax” and the party has pledged to scrap it.
Read more: 'Bedroom tax' - one year on, is it working?
‘Challenging time’
A letter to tenants signed by V2C’s Head of Neighbourhoods Nigel Draper said: “The Bedroom Tax was introduced just over one year ago and Valleys to Coast Housing would like to thank you for your efforts to pay this shortfall.
“V2C understands that this has been a challenging time and wants to recognise your payment efforts.
We would like to offer you as a small thank you… a free Creme Egg. Letter to tenants by V2C landlord
“We know that money is much tighter now with household bills such as food and fuel having increased year on year.”
The letter goes on to remind tenants that they can discuss money problems with a team of advisers.
It ends by saying: “As well as thanking you by letter we would also like to offer you as a small thank you by offering (sic) a free Crème Egg should you call into the office during the month of April.”
‘Bizarre and obscene’
V2C resident Kay Harris, a member of a local anti-bedroom tax group, called the offer of the free 60p chocolate egg “disgusting”.
Jamie Insole, from Cardiff & South Wales Against the Bedroom Tax, told the Daily Mirror: “”It is rare that one encounters anything so simultaneously bizarre and obscene.”
But Mr Draper defended the letter, saying: “The letter of thanks and small gesture of the Creme Egg is an important recognition to those tenants who have struggled to find additional rent due to the UK government-imposed Bedroom Tax policy.”