639 of York’s 7803 Council tenants were affected last year when the “spare room subsidy” was removed.

New figures reveal that 267 of them now have new rent arrears.

None have been issued with eviction notices.

To deal with hardship cases , the Council has a budget of £300,000 for the current financial year.

Only £207,272 (72.4%) had been allocated by the end of January.

The Council had previously said that it had 1347 people on its housing list waiting for one bedroomed accommodation. Many of these are currently occupying larger properties which would be released for families if under-occupation could be eliminated.

Despite there being numerous one bedroomed properties available on the open market in York, the Council has so far declined to use its £13 million housing surplus to purchase some of them.

A one bedroomed flat of Green Lane in Acomb has a guide price of £80,000

The policy is likely to be challenged at a Council meeting taking place at the end of the month.