Citizens in London & Nottingham win ‘Bedroom Tax’ appeals

A BLIND man who claims housing benefit has won an appeal against paying the so-called bedroom tax - the first of its kind in England.

Surinder Lall would have seen his benefits cut by £12 a week because his local council claimed he had a second bedroom.

But the barrister, who lives in Lon­don, successfully argued the space was used to store medical equipment and not as a bedroom, meaning his case was outside the scope of the tax.

In his decision notice, the judge wrote: 'The term "bedroom" is no­where defined. I apply the ordinary English meaning. The room in question cannot be so defined.'

About 80,000 London households are affected by the bedroom tax, of which more than 50,000 comprise or include disabled people.

The victory could pave the way for thousands more benefit claimants to take their local council to court. Mr Lall said his case should stop local housing departments from using the term 'bedroom' in their tenancy agreements to cut benefits.

Although Westminster council has said it will not appeal the decision, the Department for Work and Pen­sions has said it may do so.

A spokesman said Mr Lall may have won because the room was too small to qualify as a bedroom.

Left: Anna Whyman from St Ann’s, Nottingham, also won her appeal Yesterday.

The ruling comes as the £500-a-week benefit cap comes into place. Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: 'Out-of-work households know they can no longer claim more than the average family earns.'