A LOOPHOLE in the TV licensing law has stirred up anger among pensioners living in West Somerset.
John McCarthy, head of retirement housebuilders McCarthy and Stone, has been contacted by elderly people concerning the concessionary licence after he wrote a letter in the Free Press in July.
Mr McCarthy highlighted the fact that over-60s living in sheltered housing pay only £5 for a TV licence but if the local authority or housing association scheme becomes self managing, the fee is the normal £101.
Mr McCarthy wrote: "Note, the difference in who manages the scheme, not the status of the residents who could be owner-occupiers, tenants or shared ownership buyers.
"In contrast, where a scheme run by a private managing agent is taken over by the local council, the licence suddenly drops to £5.
"This kind of favouritism is impossible to justify in an age when the private sector has an ever-growing role in the management of publicly provided services."
He also said the £5 fee increased twentyfold if the house manager or warden's hours are cut to fewer than 30 per week.
This has led to "absurd situations" such as one pensioner who told how he pays the full fee simply because the warden has to cross the road to visit four bungalows for disabled people.
"Another misses the £5 licence because his warden job-shares," he said.
Mr McCarthy attacked the complex rules which dictate whether the residents of a sheltered development should or should not get a cheap licence. It may even hang on the position of footpaths.
Mr McCarthy has presented each case to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which has promised to review the concessionary licence rules by the end of November.
He took the complaints to Robert Wallich of the department's broadcasting policy division.
Mr Wallich told him: "The Government accepts that the existing concessionary scheme is imperfect and unsatisfactory. It generates many complaints particularly from pensioners in non-qualifying accommodation."
The Government is currently at the stage of public consultation over concessionary licences as part of a general review of the future funding of the BBC.
Mr McCarthy added: "It's scandalous that elderly people, especially some of the most vulnerable ones in our society, should be at the mercy of such badly-crafted rules.
"The Government must act quickly to clear up this mess and ensure any concessions are applied fairly and correctly," he said.
McCarthy and Stone builds almost three quarters of Britain's private retirement housing, most of which is under private management and therefore unaffected by the concessions.