To think being able to use housing benefits as a mortgage is unfair?

Lenders are regulated so they could be given no choice. Just as they’re no longer able to disbar benefit claimants as a condition of BTL mortgages.

This!! Also, since UC has been introduced, not many people will be receiving just HB. I haven't looked in detail but is the proposal to allow money received from HB only to be used or if you receive the housing element in UC you can include that?

This sounds like another Tory soundbite to me.

People should check their eligibility as many more are entitled to top ups than claim them. My friend split from her husband last year and despite having a full time okay paying job gets some UC. She only checked as she was trying to prove to someone she wouldn't get anything.

This policy won't work, but it is sad how people punch down to people on benefits when God forbid there's something they see that might benefit them. Why not be annoyed at the government rather than those struggling to make ends meet, many of whom either do actually work or can't work for a plethora of reasons. Sad and ignorant.

I agree @Blossomtoes
It's the usual poorly thought through crap he spouts when in trouble.
AND it pits people against each other. Horribly.
The problem is a lack of secure decent affordable public housing.
The rich get richer and smirk whilst we all scrabble against each other.

Will the banks get on board with it?
Hoping that 07/08 years may give them a clue to be wary.

In my area it is true those estates improved as a result of homeownership, but now those houses are in the hands of private landlords and far worse than it was as a council estate, with no security of tenure and homes poorly maintained.

Yes it does! If you have another home to move to - you are not homeless. People have to be very frail or have dementia and unable to be cared for at home to live in a care home now. The care home is their suitable home for their needs. In no way are they homeless. That's ridiculous.

I'm gobsmacked , but not surprised , as it'll be his rich chums that will clean up here no doubt.
Helping those on benefits isn't the Tory way , usually. It all smells like a kipper to me and will only cause more problems a few years on when he is writing his memoirs and twisting the truth leaving it all for someone else to sort out.

@ivykaty44

Apparently the discount received on HA or council properties will be classed as the deposit. Whether lenders will accept this or not, remains to be seen. They usually like to see a strong saving history.

I suspect we will be looking at tax payer guaranteed special mortgages for the lenders to get on board with this.

Don't be ridiculous

So poor people should move and potentially leave jobs and family support just to be able to buy a house?

I used my assets to fund myself before resorting to taxpayer benefits which is what we all should do as responsible citizens.

it’s what many people do, and get into debt before claiming any benefit

oroblem is then they have often got debt which is difficult to get out of - so not a great option

Indeed. If we need care, our house might easily have to be sold to pay for it. It seems fair enough to me.

I grew up in an area of social deprivation in the 80's. It was rough but definitely became nicer through the 90s as people took advantage of right to buy. With home ownership they were better off working in many cases including my Mum's. There are benefits to these schemes.

That's because old people's home is now the care home. They don't actually live in their previous home anymore.

Its completely uncomparable.

People on low incomes but working who don't qualify for benefits are totally screwed in this country.

it shows how out of step Doris is with people on benefits.

whilst many are working, their ability to save enough for a deposit on a house is going to take a considerably longer time

then which lenders would actually agree to a mortgage for those living on benefits or topping up working low salary with benefits? None have stepped forward

often many on benefits have had troubles with money, it’s just the way things are, so without a decent credit score, if they can find a lender into this scheme the likelihood of passing a credit check maybe low

where in the country can you find a house cheap enough to be purchased on working benefits - which top out for a single parent with childcare at approximately £40ish grand - but affordability reduced due to nursery

its all shambolic to try to get those on benefits to vote for him

The proposed idea is absolutely bonkers and will never happen. I also wonder why the PM thinks it will be a vote winner among Conservative supporters?

But it's given everyone something to talk about again

Anytime you are forced to move from your home is being made homeless. The fact you find a place to go to, doesn’t negate that fact.

So the government is going to underwrite the other 60% for when the owners default on their mortgage due to excessive repair bills? Refusing to pay the bill for up keep of the communal grounds?

It will help those who currently have a mortgage but lose their job/ become unable to work.
Some people won't choose to take up the offer- if you own you have to pay for repairs/upkeep if you rent your landlord pays that.

I didn’t “get fucked over”

I used my assets to fund myself before resorting to taxpayer benefits which is what we all should do as responsible citizens.

Why is it “being fucked over” to have to reduce your circumstances to the same level as every other benefits recipient before taking handout?

I’m not “better” than people on benefits who never had the opportunity to save a deposit and own a home in the first place. I don’t deserve to have my assets protected because they’re in bricks and mortar while their assets are all in cash. I’m not special.

The government have relied on bank forbearance and in a time of increasing house prices, that has made commercial sense to lenders. Ie mortgage holidays etc.

What expertise does Boris have except wasting money saying he will do things that are purely headline grabbing and then the ideas never coming to fruition?

I'm in London so I'm thinking of the water cannon he purchased which were illegal to use and the garden bridge as a start.

He needs to get better advisors and cabinet ministers.

Elderly having to sell their house to pay for care homes is irrelevant. They can't live in 2 places at the same time, it's not like they are being made homeless!