Bedroom tax: Domestic violence victim may lose home after panic room is classed as spare bedroom

A domestic violence victim may lose her home after a panic room protecting her from a violent ex was classed a spare bedroom. 

The mum-of-one was abused by the thug, also arrested for attempted murder of a police officer. He began to make threats against her and cops insisted she had a panic room installed. 

The woman – whose name we are withholding – shares a three-bedroom house in Nottingham with her son and will lose 14 per cent in housing benefit because the room is deemed a “spare”.

She said: “I spend every day in fear and the security in place at the house is something I need. “I don’t know how I’ll pay the bedroom tax. I cannot move out as they won’t replace the room.” A panic room is a bedroom converted into a high-security area with solid door and barred windows.

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen said: “This lady needs protection and help – not penny-pinching bureaucrats. The Government has lost the way on bedroom tax. “What will it save? Peanuts – and the damage will cost a fortune.” 

Around 660,000 people could be affected by the tax – including hundreds of domestic violence victims with panic rooms.