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Grenfell Tower survivors 'could be hit by bedroom tax'

At least 79 people have been killed in the disaster REUTERS
At least 79 people have been killed in the disaster REUTERS

Grenfell Tower victims could be hit by the so-called “bedroom tax” if they are rehoused in bigger homes but should be treated by councils as a “priority” for payments to offset its effect, the Government has said.

Residents of the west London tower block who are given bigger homes could be subject to the removal of the spare room subsidy – branded a bedroom tax by critics – the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said in an urgent bulletin.

Although the bedroom tax does not apply to people in temporary accommodation, it may to victims housed in permanent accommodation.

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“We would advise that in these circumstances any requests for a DHP (discretionary housing payment) to meet rent shortfalls should be treated as a priority,” the DWP said.

It is understood that the Government has identified DHPs as the quickest way to help those affected, but there is no guarantee that those moved into bigger housing will receive them for the duration of their tenancy.

Victims may also be forced to apply to their local authority for a payment, but councils are being encouraged to take into account whether they are placing victims in bigger homes and should be able to allocate them DHPs in those circumstances.

Giles Peaker, a solicitor specialising in housing law, told Inside Housing, which first uncovered the DWP bulletin, that the Government will eventually have to find a longer-term solution.

“In the first place people should not be being put into properties where they would be subject to the bedroom tax,” he said.

“Any re-housing ought to be suitable, which would include affordability and the number of rooms.

“They would have a clear case for DHPs… but it’s not a permanent solution.”

The DWP has placed three specialist welfare advisers at the Westway Centre, near the tower in north Kensington, to help victims and to try and ensure they do not unnecessarily lose any payments in the wake of the disaster.

Protestors marched through London today (June 21) seeking justice for the Grenfell victims and survivors. (GETTY)
Protestors marched through London today (June 21) seeking justice for the Grenfell victims and survivors. (GETTY)

Manslaughter charges

Manslaughter charges are being considered by detectives as it emerged the structure had failed fire safety tests.

Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said a faulty fridge started the inferno.

Cladding and insulation encasing the building did not pass any fire-safety tests, she added, increasing concern the 24-storey block’s facade accelerated the blaze’s spread.

As police continued to unpick the roots of the disaster, Ms McCormack said a string of criminal offences were now being considered.

Documents and materials had been seized from a “number of organisations”, she added.

Faulty fridge

Thousands of people have been urged to contact Hotpoint after police revealed the Grenfell Tower fire started in a faulty fridge-freezer manufactured by the company.

Hotpoint said 64,000 units of the same model were made between 2006 and 2009, when they were discontinued, adding that the number in circulation would be lower given the time period involved.

Scotland Yard has raised concerns with the Government over the fridge-freezer, but said the FF175BP model had never been subject to a product recall.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has ordered an immediate examination of the unit by technical experts to establish the cause of fault.

At least 79 people have died following the fire at the London tower block (Rex)
At least 79 people have died following the fire at the London tower block (Rex)

A nationwide problem

A national safety operation is under way to identify buildings with cladding akin to that used on the Grenfell Tower.

So far the Government has received samples from 11 high rise buildings in eight local authority areas where the cladding has failed safety tests.

Here are some of the buildings where problem cladding has been identified:

London: Chalcots estate, Swiss Cottage; Rivers Apartments, in Tottenham

Manchester: Village 135 development, Wythenshawe

Plymouth: Mount Wise Tower Estate

Salford: Cladding on nine high-rise blocks in the Pendleton area of Salford

Sheffield: Harold Lambert Court in the Park Hill area of the city

Halifax: Three blocks (Jumples Court, Mixenden Court and Wheatley Court) in Lower Mixenden, a village outside Halifax