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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:
BIossomtoes · 13/05/2025 12:07

Pickledpoppetpickle · 13/05/2025 11:57

No, it's not the case that the entire rent is profit. There is insurance, repairs, gas and electric inspections, tax.....

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There’s buildings insurance and an annual gas check, those make a very small dent in the profit. Of course there’s tax, why on earth wouldn’t there be?

Pickledpoppetpickle · 13/05/2025 11:57

BIossomtoes · 13/05/2025 09:37

Many landlords rent out unmortgaged properties that they manage themselves. The entire rent is profit yet they still charge “market rent”.

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No, it's not the case that the entire rent is profit. There is insurance, repairs, gas and electric inspections, tax.....

ArminTamzerian · 13/05/2025 11:04

Macaroni46 · 13/05/2025 00:34

Lots of posters claim this but actually when I was renting out property, the rent only just covered the monthly mortgage payments, insurance and letting agent fees. Let alone repairs and upkeep. If I’d charged any less I’d have been running it at a loss. As it was, it barely broke even. No real profit. So the rent wasn’t inflated. It was covering outgoings.
I shall sit back now and await the onslaught of ‘landlords are evil’ and all out for profit/greedy bastards etc.

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So eventually you own a house that someone else paid the mortgage on.
Pretty huge profit to be had at that point, don't you think?

gamerchick · 13/05/2025 10:03

Macaroni46 · 13/05/2025 00:34

Lots of posters claim this but actually when I was renting out property, the rent only just covered the monthly mortgage payments, insurance and letting agent fees. Let alone repairs and upkeep. If I’d charged any less I’d have been running it at a loss. As it was, it barely broke even. No real profit. So the rent wasn’t inflated. It was covering outgoings.
I shall sit back now and await the onslaught of ‘landlords are evil’ and all out for profit/greedy bastards etc.

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The profit is a fully paid for house that you didn't really pay for at the end. Landlords seem to think they're badly done to if they don't make profit on the way.

BIossomtoes · 13/05/2025 09:37

Macaroni46 · 13/05/2025 00:34

Lots of posters claim this but actually when I was renting out property, the rent only just covered the monthly mortgage payments, insurance and letting agent fees. Let alone repairs and upkeep. If I’d charged any less I’d have been running it at a loss. As it was, it barely broke even. No real profit. So the rent wasn’t inflated. It was covering outgoings.
I shall sit back now and await the onslaught of ‘landlords are evil’ and all out for profit/greedy bastards etc.

Show quote history

Many landlords rent out unmortgaged properties that they manage themselves. The entire rent is profit yet they still charge “market rent”.

Macaroni46 · 13/05/2025 00:34

BIossomtoes · 12/05/2025 14:20

That just means market rents are vastly inflated. Cheaper doesn’t mean subsidised.

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Lots of posters claim this but actually when I was renting out property, the rent only just covered the monthly mortgage payments, insurance and letting agent fees. Let alone repairs and upkeep. If I’d charged any less I’d have been running it at a loss. As it was, it barely broke even. No real profit. So the rent wasn’t inflated. It was covering outgoings.
I shall sit back now and await the onslaught of ‘landlords are evil’ and all out for profit/greedy bastards etc.

Kirbert2 · 12/05/2025 14:27

Macaroni46 · 12/05/2025 14:04

All valid reasons. But to those who say council rent isn’t subsidised - it clearly is significantly cheaper!

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When I moved from private rental to council, I paid £50 less. It's now gone up by £50 so I'm actually paying the exact same amount I paid when I rented privately.

BIossomtoes · 12/05/2025 14:20

Macaroni46 · 12/05/2025 14:04

All valid reasons. But to those who say council rent isn’t subsidised - it clearly is significantly cheaper!

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That just means market rents are vastly inflated. Cheaper doesn’t mean subsidised.

Macaroni46 · 12/05/2025 14:04

WildflowerConstellations · 11/05/2025 09:39

I should also say that there are so many reasons that a household may be in social housing and have a car. For example, an applicant may have mobility needs then their children may grow up and get a decent job while still living with them. They may have been living in multi generational household in social housing, and the adult children may have been given a place of their own to live to facilitate the tenant downsizing, or simply to relieve overcrowding. They may have a child that has severe respiratory issues and the accomodation they were living in in the PRS was making them very ill so the council rehoused them. A pregnant woman may have become homeless, secured social housing then met a new partner who works. Similarly, a woman may have escaped domestic abuse and then rebuilt her life rather than being on the streets with no opportunity to do so. A severely disabled person may be on high levels of benefits but unable to find a home in the private sector that meets their needs and have a motability car. They may be a care leaver and the council is providing a home in recognition of their vulnerability as a result of likely adverse childhood experiences and realising that as a responsible corporate parent you don't just dump care leavers in the street at 18. Some allocation schemes also prioritise people who are making a community contribution on top of their housing needs. Christ there are so many reasons. Also in some areas the rent prices are simply so high that average income families cannot afford to find another home at the end of a tenancy, and became homeless. There are thousands in TA right now who work but can't access the private rented sector because it is simply very expensive and so far above private rent. For example in some inner London areas a 3 bed flat costs say 800pcm in social rent. You might be able to afford that and a car, but that doesn't mean you could afford the 3500pcm in private rent!

Edited

All valid reasons. But to those who say council rent isn’t subsidised - it clearly is significantly cheaper!

HamptonPlace · 12/05/2025 11:58

XenoBitch · 09/05/2025 17:42

So there would be no incentive for anyone to earn more.
People who want to buy property tend to make that their aim and will work upwards to be able to do so.

A lot of people just want a safe and secure place to live in, and if they get a social housing property will see no real need to increase their income (under your rules). Why would they if they get evicted?

I guess you would then make it a thing that anyone in social housing is forced onto courses to make them be able to earn more... so you can evict them.

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I agree with this- “People who want to buy property tend to make that their aim and will work upwards to be able to do so” I don’t find it inconsistent with my view on this topic, if they want high income, home ownership BOOM, what’s not to like?

WildflowerConstellations · 11/05/2025 09:39

I should also say that there are so many reasons that a household may be in social housing and have a car. For example, an applicant may have mobility needs then their children may grow up and get a decent job while still living with them. They may have been living in multi generational household in social housing, and the adult children may have been given a place of their own to live to facilitate the tenant downsizing, or simply to relieve overcrowding. They may have a child that has severe respiratory issues and the accomodation they were living in in the PRS was making them very ill so the council rehoused them. A pregnant woman may have become homeless, secured social housing then met a new partner who works. Similarly, a woman may have escaped domestic abuse and then rebuilt her life rather than being on the streets with no opportunity to do so. A severely disabled person may be on high levels of benefits but unable to find a home in the private sector that meets their needs and have a motability car. They may be a care leaver and the council is providing a home in recognition of their vulnerability as a result of likely adverse childhood experiences and realising that as a responsible corporate parent you don't just dump care leavers in the street at 18. Some allocation schemes also prioritise people who are making a community contribution on top of their housing needs. Christ there are so many reasons. Also in some areas the rent prices are simply so high that average income families cannot afford to find another home at the end of a tenancy, and became homeless. There are thousands in TA right now who work but can't access the private rented sector because it is simply very expensive and so far above private rent. For example in some inner London areas a 3 bed flat costs say 800pcm in social rent. You might be able to afford that and a car, but that doesn't mean you could afford the 3500pcm in private rent!

WildflowerConstellations · 11/05/2025 09:19

@ArminTamzerian I can give examples - people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition which is being negatively affected by their accomodation may be prioritised for social housing. People who are overcrowded. People whose accomodation is hazardous. People who have mobility needs that can't be accommodated in the private rented sector (this is a big one as disabled people often find the private sector inaccessible). Also people fleeing domestic violence and abuse, or harassment. People who need to live in a certain area to access specialist medical treatment.

WildflowerConstellations · 11/05/2025 09:14

ArminTamzerian · 11/05/2025 00:45

It's kinda how it works. I had to be under a certain income to get on the list.

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No it's not. Local authorities have to give reasonable preference to certain groups based on different kinds of housing need. Some local authorities have criteria about income or savings or assets to show that an applicant doesn't already have a property or couldn't reasonably be expected to buy one. They're not required to do that by law and some don't. That's not the case for all of them and there may also be exemptions to those kinds of tests for people with certain housing needs.
Social housing isn't just for the poorest people. It's for people who are less likely to be able to meet their own housing needs in the private sector for a range of reasons.

ArminTamzerian · 11/05/2025 00:45

WildflowerConstellations · 10/05/2025 21:34

You've fundamentally misunderstood that you don't just get a council house for being poor. That's not how it works.

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It's kinda how it works. I had to be under a certain income to get on the list.

WildflowerConstellations · 10/05/2025 21:38

@Macaroni46 you also are not obliged to feel sorry for people living in council houses. Why would you? And how do you know that if that same tenant gave up their home for the applicant on the waiting list, they don't simply become the PRS tenant struggling on the list themselves?

WildflowerConstellations · 10/05/2025 21:34

Macaroni46 · 10/05/2025 13:54

I agree but I can see already the comments of ‘ooh but then there’s no incentive to increase your income’.
One could argue, why bother trying to get a mortgage if you can live cheaply in a council house? Obviously if people did this the system would collapse!
Can those posters in favour of lifetime tenancies really not understand how galling it is for those of us struggling to pay private rent or high mortgage rates (due to interest rate increases) to see some people in council properties with new cars etc when we’re struggling to make ends meet? The people I feel most sorry for are those who don’t qualify for social housing or are stuck for years on a waiting list struggling in private rentals.

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You've fundamentally misunderstood that you don't just get a council house for being poor. That's not how it works.

TheFastTraybake · 10/05/2025 19:36

Macaroni46 · 10/05/2025 13:54

I agree but I can see already the comments of ‘ooh but then there’s no incentive to increase your income’.
One could argue, why bother trying to get a mortgage if you can live cheaply in a council house? Obviously if people did this the system would collapse!
Can those posters in favour of lifetime tenancies really not understand how galling it is for those of us struggling to pay private rent or high mortgage rates (due to interest rate increases) to see some people in council properties with new cars etc when we’re struggling to make ends meet? The people I feel most sorry for are those who don’t qualify for social housing or are stuck for years on a waiting list struggling in private rentals.

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Jealousy is no basis for a housing policy.

Digdongdoo · 10/05/2025 18:26

Boomer55 · 10/05/2025 16:56

So….give up your home and apply for social housing. Simple.👍

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Yes that's totally how it works. I shall just hand my keys back to the bank and stroll along to the council offices for my new keys... great idea.

Cyclingmummy1 · 10/05/2025 17:08

Macaroni46 · 10/05/2025 13:54

I agree but I can see already the comments of ‘ooh but then there’s no incentive to increase your income’.
One could argue, why bother trying to get a mortgage if you can live cheaply in a council house? Obviously if people did this the system would collapse!
Can those posters in favour of lifetime tenancies really not understand how galling it is for those of us struggling to pay private rent or high mortgage rates (due to interest rate increases) to see some people in council properties with new cars etc when we’re struggling to make ends meet? The people I feel most sorry for are those who don’t qualify for social housing or are stuck for years on a waiting list struggling in private rentals.

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I understand it's galling if someone is living of the state and appears to have a higher standard of living, but why should someone who has paid full rent for their entire working life give up their home because someone else has a perceived greater 'need'.

There still seems to be a lack of understanding about council/social housing. I really don't understand why so many MNers think it would be fine to evict one family from their home to replace them with another. Who does this benefit?

ERthree · 10/05/2025 17:06

I t is disgusting how many "be kind" mums on here would be happy to see children being evicted from their homes because their parents have been promoted and earn a few pounds more than a figure the council have plucked out of the air after being bombarded by the "be kind" mob.

Boomer55 · 10/05/2025 16:56

Digdongdoo · 07/05/2025 18:15

Why not? I could afford a luxury car were my mortgage reduced to the social rent of the identical houses on my road. Easy to see how truly affordable rent, minimal maintenance costs and career progression could give someone a lot of disposable income.
Whether or not it should is another question....

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So….give up your home and apply for social housing. Simple.👍

Grammarnut · 10/05/2025 16:47

Arran2024 · 10/05/2025 14:34

Lots of people don't want to live in council properties. It varies around the country but in some towns the council housing is old fashioned, cramped, and not very desirable.

If some people with money want to live there, that's up to them. They probably value the family connections and sense of community.

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If council houses are cramped they must be post Parker Morris standards. Houses built after the repeal of these basic standards are much smaller, whether social housing or private housing. Thank Mrs Thatcher for cramped houses.

Grammarnut · 10/05/2025 16:42

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.

Not everyone living in a council house is on benefits. Which has already been said several times. Also, that a new car on finance is easier to get than a second hand one - not sure this is entirely true, I have bought second hand cars on finance in the past, but it maybe the case now. Also, people on PIP (like my SiL who suffers from the results of an aneurism and my DNs who are both wheelchair bound and one tube-fed - and none of them live in council houses btw) need it - it's very difficult to get.

BIossomtoes · 10/05/2025 16:32

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/05/2025 14:35

Why should I scrimp and save to pay a mortgage and build savings when I could just spend all my money and then get a council house?
A mortgage is an investment that offers opportunities that will never be available to social housing tenants,
You can retire abroad using your home to finance a villa, as a rental or buying.

You also get to keep ALL your income once the mortgage has been paid off. And there’s the small fact that property increases in value. Apparently ours is “worth” about four times what we paid for it 26 years ago.

JenniferBooth · 10/05/2025 14:37

Arran2024 · 10/05/2025 14:34

Lots of people don't want to live in council properties. It varies around the country but in some towns the council housing is old fashioned, cramped, and not very desirable.

If some people with money want to live there, that's up to them. They probably value the family connections and sense of community.

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yeah some of these posters would be the first to moan if their taxes went up to pay for social care because family members cant care for elderly relatives because they have had to move too far away OR had to move because of the short term tenancies they are so in favour of

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