Homeless people in Richmond have been charged full market rates for storage of their possessions while they were being supported by the council.

Now, this “homelessness tax” is set to be taken away to try to help some of the most vulnerable people and families in the borough.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and community safety Councillor Liz Jaeger called the charge “mean-spirited” while answering a question about it at a September 11 council meeting.

She said the tax “places a further financial burden on families and individuals at a time of great stress”, adding: “Our plan is to bring forward very soon in this calendar year a fully charged policy for those reliant on welfare benefits and who the council is assisting through a period of homelessness.

“It’s certainly not as though this very unpopular charge saves the council a huge amount of money; in the overall scheme of things the costs for the service are low.

“It’s difficult to be precise with a demand-led service, however we do expect the cost to be less than £30,000 a year.”

Conservative opposition councillor Peter Buckwell asked Cllr Jaeger whether she had thought about having a maximum amount a person or family could keep in storage at the council’s expense.

He asked: “Considering the amount of stuff the people can collect – much of it unnecessary – does the cabinet member have any plans to limit the amount that the council will store and how that might work?”

Cllr Jaeger replied that this was a “minor consideration”.

Residents can give their views on the proposed change on a consultation page on the council’s website until October 10, and the policy will be discussed at the next relevant scrutiny meeting.