The post you are reporting:
Vic.
You are right, that couples in 3/4 bedroomed premises should be asked to downsize.
However there are many problem with this issue and again you are right that this is not the right way to go about it but you are wrong about it being about getting a few extra bob out the public because it is going to cost far more to implement that it ever save the taxpayer.
One problem is that many of these couples, especially the elder ones, do not know themselves that they would move, if they were given the opportunity.
My own Mum & Dad were classic examples of this. When sat in their 3 bed house, long after we had all left home, both were adamant they would never be forced to move out of their home, even when they were struggling with illness. Seeing them struggling, I went to the council and when a vacant 1 bedroom flat with on-suite disabled bathroom became available, I got the keys and without telling them, I took them to view it.
The moment they stepped through the door, they could not wait to move in.
The problem is today, there is little or no vacant properties for people to move to even if they want to move.
DDC does not have enough disabled adapted properties, which I believe must be breaking some EU rule or law, perhaps someone from the council could answer that question for me?
Another problem would be the assistance fund set up to help people downsize has run dry due to this benefit cut.
And another problem is that tenants wanting to move, have to access the internet and navigate a complicated website which is pointless for our elderly people many of whom do not have access to the internet.
Instead of wasting money on paying a team to collect this rent or evict tenants if they don't pay up, why don't this same team help people to downsize?
I am pleased to praise the Dover team, dealing with concessionary applications, they are helpful where they can be but are under great pressure, to deliver what is expected of them.
This must be stopped now.
Give this team different instructions to concentrate on helping people downsize amicably and without threat of eviction.