MORE than 600 council tenants affected by the "bedroom tax" have fallen behind on their rent, the Advertiser can reveal.
As of the start of February, 407 under-occupying council tenants impacted by the flagship policy were in rent arrears, a council spokesman said – down from 639 at the start of October.
The total amount owed by under-occupying council tenants is now £20,438, according to the authority.
The coalition government introduced the so-called "bedroom tax" last year, cutting housing benefit for tenants with rooms deemed to be spare. The controversial measure was introduced in April.
Councillor Alison Butler, Labour's spokesman for housing, believes the tax misses the point when it comes to Croydon's housing problem.
She said: "The crux of the matter is always lack of supply and Croydon [council] are simply not doing enough to address this. Whatever your views on the bedroom tax and other housing benefit restrictions, they can only be fair if there is a smaller alternative for people to move to.
"In Croydon this is simply not the case, so people are being penalised for something they have no control over."
She added: "The council have done some work in this area and for that I give the team credit.
"But, I believe what we are seeing now is those who thought they could manage and whose arrears are just rising and the more difficult cases where there are no easy solutions."
The council spokesman said the authority has not evicted any under-occupying tenants due to rent arrears and is providing support including financial help to those affected.
He said: "We are working to help tenants with their finances by providing support finding employment, debt advice and how to prioritise and manage their money.
"In addition, we may be able to offer funding to help tenants, and this will be considered on a case-by-case basis."
Labour councillor Simon Hall said residents in his Fieldway ward were finding it difficult to "make ends meet" due to the bedroom tax and other benefits cuts.
He said: "All these different things coming together is causing some real hardship."
