Benefit changes: Residents look to 'swap properties'

People in Croydon who may lose out of benefits as the government changes its rules on spare bedrooms have said the changes will have a big impact on their lives.

The Discretionary Housing Payments fund, which critics have called a "bedroom tax", would see people having their benefits reduced if they are deemed to have a empty bedroom in their council or housing association home.

At a housing event in Croydon, residents Barry Vincent, Anne McGlahan and Christine Mercer talked about how the changes will impact them while Michelle Smith from the National Housing Federation (NHF) said there are concerns that in the long term, the changes could push the housing benefits cost up.

The government says it needs to end the "spare room subsidy" to help those in overcrowded homes.