About 600 families in the Suffolk Coastal area have been affected by the so-called “bedroom tax” – with many now wanting to move home.

Doreen Savage, cabinet member for housing at Suffolk Coastal council, said families hit by the removal of the spare room subsidy had lost housing benefit of between £10 and £25 a week.

Fewer than 20 families though had been affected by the benefit cap – although the weekly reduction can be significant, averaging £62.

She said: “We continue to work closely with those customers affected by these changes to offer advice and assistance, including Discretionary Housing Payments, in partnership with the Housing Options Team, CAB, SNAP, voluntary and charitable welfare groups.

“This change has also increased the number of people seeking to move.

“As part of our homelessness strategy we will be working with registered providers to make the best use of stock, particularly as the biggest need is for one-bedroom properties which come up very rarely.”