Resident's 'Bedroom Tax' victory

When is a bedroom, not a bedroom? Well according to the law, when it is being used for storage.

Why does it matter? Well it matters to anyone hit by the government's so-called Bedroom Tax.

In the first case of its kind in England, Londoner Surinder Lall's lawyers argued his spare bedroom was actually being used to store vital equipment to help with his disabilty, arguing his full housing benefit should be reinstated. He won.

Our Political Correspondent Simon Harris reports.

Westminster Council has said it won't appeal against the decision but the Government could. Mr Lull's solicitor, Coral Williams, explains the judge's ruling:

Surinder Lall appealed against Westminster Council's reduction of his Housing Benefit, saying he relies on the equipment in his bedroom to lead a normal life. As the sole occupant of his housing association flat in Maida Vale, he was about to have his Housing Benefit cut by £12 a week.

He says:

"It enables me to function independently...."It's a misnomer to call it a bedroom, it's a room that is used for my equipment."

Westminster Council has emphasised responsibility lies with a landlord to specify how many bedrooms a property has, not the council.

Westminster Council spokesperson went on to say representatives have been working to find a solution:

A blind man has won a landmark legal case against Westminster Council over the so-called 'bedroom tax'. A judge has ruled Surinder Lall's second bedroom can't be classed as one.

In the first case of its kind in England, his lawyers argued his spare bedroom was actually being used to store vital equipment to help with his disabilty, arguing his full housing benefit should be reinstated, and he won.

• The Government says the so-called 'bedroom tax' will save £500 million off the benefit bill every year.
• In London, it affects 80, 000 households, two thirds of which are disabled occupants.

• It's a fixed percentage of the Housing Benefit eligible rent. This is set at 14% for one extra bedroom and 25% for two or more.
• Those affected will lose £14 a week on average.
• Housing association tenants lose an average of £16 a week.

• Welfare reforms have cut the amount of benefit that people can get if they are deemed to have a spare bedroom in their council house.
• It restricts housing benefit to allow for one bedroom for each person or couple living as part of the household.
• 80, 000 are affected in London.

A blind man has won his case against Westminster Council after he was told he'd have to pay more for his second bedroom. In a landmark victory, a judge has now ruled in his favour, after he maintained the second bedroom is only used to store necessary equipment for his condition.