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Original poster

Council houses owning brand new cars?

736 replies

TheCluelessMum · 06/05/2025 20:52

I’m writing this post with the hopes of being educated, not slandered

however I completely appreciate I may be just completely shot down for asking this.

i live on a new build estate, 12 houses at the start of the estate are council houses. I don’t know this because I’m a snob, I know this because it’s clearly marked on plans when you buy those houses.

i see so much stuff online about how the UK benefits system is failing people, the higher rise of food banks. It’s absolutely abhorrent people are in this situation.

however, when entering my estate today I noticed that each and every single council house had a car newer that a 20 plate. Mercedes, Audi’s, BMW’s even range rovers.. there was not a single house out of the 12 which had an older than 20 plate car.

I am now confused as to why this is the case? Everyone I know (including those receiving benefits) continually speaks about how hard the cost of living is.

so could someone please answer how/why those in what we would presume lower income families, are able to afford such lavish cars.

OP posts:
LadyKenya · 06/05/2025 21:19

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:17

Totally agree.

If I had my time again I wouldn’t buy but I’d get on the council list.

I’m working on getting PIP. And hopefully a motability car. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

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You have to have a severe enough disability though, so if you do, by all means crack on🙄.

Serencwtch · 06/05/2025 21:19

I'm in a council house - got it as a 19 year old as higher band as was in care. Have moved twice via mutual exchange.

I dont receive any housing benefits & both myself & DH work.

DH car is on a salary sacrifice scheme through his work.

There are many people with mortgages & in private rented that receive Universal credit, housing benefit etc

CurlySueAndBillToo · 06/05/2025 21:17

Arran2024 · 06/05/2025 21:12

You make a down payment for a motability car and then you pay monthly for it, all the mobility element of pip. The scheme is a stand alone charity and is not paid for by tax payers.

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And usually a very expensive down payment too. My last car was a people carrier because I needed a big boot to store my electric wheelchair (which I also had to purchase myself). For the car plus the adaptions needed like the hoist to lift the wheelchair etc it was over £4000. Despite living the high life on benefits I had to borrow the money for it from family. I hate this narrative about disabled people driving around in range rovers when so many of us are struggling to get a car that meets our needs and our finances.

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:17

XenoBitch · 06/05/2025 21:13

And who sets market rent? The rents people pay for SH is what realistic rents should be.. none of the hyper inflated figures private landlords are charging.

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Totally agree.

If I had my time again I wouldn’t buy but I’d get on the council list.

I’m working on getting PIP. And hopefully a motability car. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

Coconutter24 · 06/05/2025 21:16

Potsofpetals · 06/05/2025 21:05

Which is all kinds of wrong when there are so many homeless people in this country.

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What do you suggest, make someone else homeless or push a family into poverty to help the homeless?

WildflowerConstellations · 06/05/2025 21:15

Potsofpetals · 06/05/2025 21:05

Which is all kinds of wrong when there are so many homeless people in this country.

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Would you like pp to be homeless so someone else doesn't have to be?

What do you think homelessness means?

How do you know pp could afford to rent privately in their area in a property suitable for their family and needs and wouldn't become homeless without a social tenancy as soon as a landlord put their rent up?

Thewholeplaceglitters · 06/05/2025 21:15

It’s cheaper to lease a car instead of buying one outright. Of course longer term it’s absolutely not, but if you haven’t got money up front to buy something it is. Being able to buy a car outright then keep it until it’s ancient (including paying out for repairs etc) is actually a sign of privilege. It’s why very wealthy people often have quite ancient cars.

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 06/05/2025 21:15

Also…. The rents are not low or subsidised. They are normsl

its the private landlords who inflate THEIR rental prices

Original poster
TheCluelessMum · 06/05/2025 21:14

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 06/05/2025 21:13

No. Not at all

why did you put ‘council’ in your title if you’ve seen plans that say housing association?

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i thought they meant the same thing? Housing association was official name and council house was slang term? I don’t know. Sorry I didn’t know

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 06/05/2025 21:13

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:10

Well, if you consider vastly lower than market rate rent a benefit, then it’s a benefit…

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And who sets market rent? The rents people pay for SH is what realistic rents should be.. none of the hyper inflated figures private landlords are charging.

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 06/05/2025 21:13

TheCluelessMum · 06/05/2025 21:10

plans say housing association. are they not the same thing?

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No. Not at all

why did you put ‘council’ in your title if you’ve seen plans that say housing association?

Arran2024 · 06/05/2025 21:12

Keirawr · 06/05/2025 20:59

More than half new leased cars are on notability scheme. For people claiming disability benefits. Paid for by other people.

10 million people of working age are not working or not working enough and claiming benefits.

Who said claiming benefits is hard. Literally millions are doing and new cars are being handed out on benefits, the likes of which people in work could bill afford.

That’s why the systems is broken and losing so much support.

You make a down payment for a motability car and then you pay monthly for it, all the mobility element of pip. The scheme is a stand alone charity and is not paid for by tax payers.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 06/05/2025 21:12

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:11

IYKYK

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How could I possible no the culture of people who live near you?

XenoBitch · 06/05/2025 21:11

dollyblue01 · 06/05/2025 21:08

Because people who rent from the council or HA work as well surprisingly enough and as the rents are low, can probably afford a nicer car, don’t know if there’s a cut off for people’s income who apply to rent from them or anyone can ? Or they may have mobility , but can’t be the case for all of them surely ?

My local council do operate a cut off. A single person who earns more than £30k or has more than £16k in savings wont get on the council list. But if they are already living in a council house then there is no restriction.

ethelredonagoodday · 06/05/2025 21:11

My grandparents lived in a council house after retirement and had never drawn any benefits other than the state pension. My grandad had been a farm labourer all his life and they’d lived in a tied farm house until he retired. They always had a nice smart car.

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:11

ToKittyornottoKitty · 06/05/2025 21:04

What ‘culture’ exactly?

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IYKYK

Original poster
TheCluelessMum · 06/05/2025 21:10

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 06/05/2025 21:09

Op are they ‘council’ houses or housing association?

plans say housing association. are they not the same thing?

OP posts:
Gattopardo · 06/05/2025 21:10

Well, motability is in the news so, I’m guessing that’s the answer you’re looking for ? 🤨

PluckyCheeks · 06/05/2025 21:10

XenoBitch · 06/05/2025 21:03

A few comments on here have said they live in, or know someone who lives in council housing and is not on benefits.

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Well, if you consider vastly lower than market rate rent a benefit, then it’s a benefit…

Original poster
TheCluelessMum · 06/05/2025 21:10

Itsoneofthose · 06/05/2025 21:09

I hope you find the answer OP but don’t go around in life looking at people’s material haves and have nots. It’s really not a nice trait to have.

I’m not

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 06/05/2025 21:10

I believe that when they get off the boats they get handed the keys to a brand new BMW and a nice house
Its definitely true cos I saw it on Facebook

YouWillFindMeInTheGarden · 06/05/2025 21:09

Op are they ‘council’ houses or housing association?

Itsoneofthose · 06/05/2025 21:09

I hope you find the answer OP but don’t go around in life looking at people’s material haves and have nots. It’s really not a nice trait to have.

Notashamed13 · 06/05/2025 21:08

You can tell all the council houses down or road because they all had new roofing done a year ago......#I'm not jealous lol.....I wish I could get a council house!..... council are the landlords but ironically enough our mortgage is cheaper than council rent....... nice cars could be anything from only fans, loans, credit, parents or disability.......