The first detailed research commissioned by the Government into the Bedroom Tax  has been carried out by Cambridge University’s Department of Land Economy.

It shows that in areas where people are most likely to be affected, they are least likely to be able to find suitable alternative accommodation.

Cambridge Labour Party Candidate Daniel Zeichner says that the findings confirm that the policy implemented by the Government  is deeply flawed, and has created misery, rather than the mobility which was promised:

 “Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in Government rammed this unpopular policy through, claiming that it would free up accommodation. The Cambridge researchers found that, in reality, most are unable to move, and over half have had to cut back on basic essentials such food or heating to pay the hated Bedroom Tax. Worse still, over 100,000 people haven’t paid anything at all and are building up arrears which will ultimately lead to eviction. Here in Cambridge we have seen exactly what the researchers have found -; very few suitable properties available, so very few people moving.  The Bedroom Tax causes misery not mobility -; Labour will abolish it next year, but if the Conservatives stay in power, we face a crisis in a very few years time, as huge numbers of people face a crisis.”

The report, Evaluation of Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy: Interim Report can be found here:

http://www.cchpr.landecon.cam.ac.uk/Projects/Start-Year/2013/Spare-Room-Subsidy-Household-Benefit-Cap/Interim-Report