SPEED dating events are usually held for help people looking for love.

But a series of sessions has been launched in Oxford for those after something less romantic – a home with the right number of rooms.

Yesterday, dozens of people went along to Wood Farm Primary School in Titup Hall Drive to the first of the Oxford City Council events, designed to overcome problems caused by the Government’s controversial “bedroom tax”.

The so-called tax was introduced in April and limits the amount of housing benefit you can claim, by reassessing how many bedrooms council tenants actually need.

Those taking part in yesterday’s event were given stickers to wear saying how many bedrooms they currently had and how many they were looking for.

All available properties were displayed on boards and people were able to meet up with other tenants to see if they wanted to swap their homes.

Phillip Ridgley, 49, is facing having to move out of his three-bedroom house in Bernwood Road to avoid a cut in his housing benefit.

He said: “I’ve lived in my house for about 20 years, it’s been a long time. My neighbours know me well and don’t want me to have to move.

“There isn’t much suitable for me so I will have to see what happens. I’m caught between two rocks.”

There are 5,700 people on the housing register in Oxford, with 950 affected by ‘bedroom tax’.

About 30 people attended the Wood Farm event, with other sessions due to be held between now and October, inc luding in Blackbird Leys, Rose Hill and Barton.

Maria and Paul Lockhart live in a two bedroom property and have been looking to upgade to a three bedroom house for three years as they are foster carers.

The couple have two daughters aged nine and 16 months.

Mr Lockhart, who is a PCSO, said: “We would like to have another room so we can take on an older foster child. At the moment we take babies but if we had another room we could take older children.

“We are giving something to the community and the council are trying to help us but they don’t have the properties. We are going to keep going to these events and see what comes up.”

James Pickering, the council’s welfare reform manager, said: “Considering this is the first event it has been pretty good. We weren’t sure what to expect but the feedback has been good.

“There are always more people who need to upsize – that’s just the nature of the way it works.

“We do accept there is a problem and we have invited as many people as we can. It is challenging and to combat that we are getting more people to come to future events.

“For people who are hoping to downsize we are hoping this well be a viable option to solve some of the housing crisis in Oxford. And we are hoping to do something more regular, as opposed to a one-off like other councils have done.”

Future events

Thursday, August 22 – Long Room, Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s

Wednesday, August 28 – Jack Argent Room, Blackbird Leys Community Centre

Thursday, September 19 – Rose Hill Community Centre

Thursday, October 3 – Main Hall, Barton Neighbourhood Centre

Tuesday, October 15 – Long Room, Oxford Town Hall

All events run from 2pm-4pm

Taxing tenants

THE bedroom tax affects people claiming housing benefit for their council or housing association homes

Since April 1, if you have spare bedrooms; you won’t be able to get housing benefit to pay for all of your rooms

The new limit on the number of rooms you can claim for is based on the number of people living in your home. If you have more bedrooms than the new rules say you need, you will be treated as ‘under-occupying’ your home

About 950 people in Oxford are affected

If you have one extra bedroom, 14 per cent will be taken off, while if you have two or more it will increase to 25 per cent

What do you think of the city council’s idea? Have your say letters@oxfordmail.co.uk or write to The Editor, Oxford Mail, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ