Page 10 | To think that there is a misunderstanding about social housing.

Bitchesbelike · 2025-05-06T20:50:45+00:00

On social media, lots of people assume that people in social / council housing are getting a free house and don’t work. i grew up in social housing: my dad worked from age 15 to 65. my brothers have worked since they were 16 and both live in social housing. its not “free housing”: it’s rented, affordable accommodation.

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 20:46

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:42

No - rent is being subsidized when the social housing provider is given government grants to build or buy the house in the first place (as they are). Also social housing providers don’t pay corporate tax and are often funded with grants for other things too. They are not covering the costs of providing housing. The taxpayer is paying for a large part of it.

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What about all the houses built 60-100 years ago. Were they all given grants then?

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:45

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 20:44

So basically I am paying tax on my HA house.

No, we taxpayers are funding part of your housing costs

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:45

And social housing providers get tax advantageous regimes as do councils. They don’t pay taxes on their profits. Housing associations are either charities or are taxed like they are.

you should look into this

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 20:44

So basically I am paying tax on my HA house.

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:43

BIossomtoes · 12/05/2025 20:38

The rents include an element to repay building costs. Any evidence of grants and tax breaks? Of course you won’t be able to find any.

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I’ve just provided some. And it’s total fiction that rents contain an “element to repay building costs”.

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:42

XenoBitch · 12/05/2025 20:36

People on here say subsidized when they are talking about the rent. Multiple comments on here saying just that.
Rent is only subsidized if the tenant is on housing benefit, which a lot of SH tenants are not.

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No - rent is being subsidized when the social housing provider is given government grants to build or buy the house in the first place (as they are). Also social housing providers don’t pay corporate tax and are often funded with grants for other things too. They are not covering the costs of providing housing. The taxpayer is paying for a large part of it.

BIossomtoes · 12/05/2025 20:38

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:35

Absolutely- and ongoing costs are often paid by grants and tax breaks from other sources (not central housing budget).

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The rents include an element to repay building costs. Any evidence of grants and tax breaks? Of course you won’t be able to find any.

XenoBitch · 12/05/2025 20:36

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:34

No one said new homes were not needed. But lots of people on this very thread have claimed social housing isn’t subsidized. It’s a matter of public record that it is.

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People on here say subsidized when they are talking about the rent. Multiple comments on here saying just that.
Rent is only subsidized if the tenant is on housing benefit, which a lot of SH tenants are not.

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:35

Digdongdoo · 12/05/2025 20:33

Grants being needed to build it in the first place pretty much rubbishs the claim that it pays for itself doesn't it?

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Absolutely- and ongoing costs are often paid by grants and tax breaks from other sources (not central housing budget).

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:34

XenoBitch · 12/05/2025 20:31

That is a grant to create more homes... which is very much needed.
I

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No one said new homes were not needed. But lots of people on this very thread have claimed social housing isn’t subsidized. It’s a matter of public record that it is.

Digdongdoo · 12/05/2025 20:33

XenoBitch · 12/05/2025 20:31

That is a grant to create more homes... which is very much needed.
I

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Grants being needed to build it in the first place pretty much rubbishs the claim that it pays for itself doesn't it?

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:32

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 20:14

So that's for new builds.

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The central government housing budget for grants is less than it used to be but still about 10-15 billion a year. Most of it these days is for building or renovation. Of course other budgets and other grants are available for other costs

XenoBitch · 12/05/2025 20:31

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:11

Grants from central government to councils and housing associations. It’s a yearly line in the budget and has been for centuries. Maybe look it up?

www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-new-investment-to-support-biggest-boost-in-social-and-affordable-housebuilding-in-a-generation

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That is a grant to create more homes... which is very much needed.
I

BIossomtoes · 12/05/2025 20:17

CoffeecakeSuncream · 12/05/2025 18:18

If this is fhe case than that is terrible, unless the man has learning difficulties? He could have been added on to his parents tendency years ago, if he has been there for such a long time.

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He does have learning difficulties and mental health problems, it’s right there in the article. It’s heartwarming to see bailiffs behaving with decency. Hats off to them.

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 20:14

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:11

Grants from central government to councils and housing associations. It’s a yearly line in the budget and has been for centuries. Maybe look it up?

www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-new-investment-to-support-biggest-boost-in-social-and-affordable-housebuilding-in-a-generation

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So that's for new builds.

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:12

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 19:51

🤔grants that they have to pay back.

You don’t pay back grants. Housing providers often do get subsidied loans as well as grants tho.

User46576 · 12/05/2025 20:11

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 19:36

Grants to who? Could you link me to this information please

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Grants from central government to councils and housing associations. It’s a yearly line in the budget and has been for centuries. Maybe look it up?

www.gov.uk/government/news/2-billion-new-investment-to-support-biggest-boost-in-social-and-affordable-housebuilding-in-a-generation

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/05/2025 19:51

🤔grants that they have to pay back.

JenniferBooth · 12/05/2025 19:51

OneAmberFinch · 12/05/2025 19:19

In London new social housing doesn't generally go to those people. Zone 1/2 premium housing is frequently occupied by people not even in work at all. I think people would feel a lot better about it if, say, there were a scheme where doctors in the local NHS hospital could get the subsidised housing as part of their compensation package for as long as they worked in the NHS, likewise teachers etc.

Obviously zone 1 London is a fairly unique case in the country

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4741212-to-think-housing-associations-are-going-to-have-to-start-doing-checks-outside-office-hours?page=1

to think housing associations are going to have to start doing checks outside office hours. | Mumsnet

The amount of checks HAs have to do is increasing Gas safety checks are once a year and have been around for a while. Electric checks are every five y...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4741212-to-think-housing-associations-are-going-to-have-to-start-doing-checks-outside-office-hours?page=1

JenniferBooth · 12/05/2025 19:46

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 19:36

Grants to who? Could you link me to this information please

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i was just about to ask the same thing

JenniferBooth · 12/05/2025 19:45

OneAmberFinch · 12/05/2025 19:19

In London new social housing doesn't generally go to those people. Zone 1/2 premium housing is frequently occupied by people not even in work at all. I think people would feel a lot better about it if, say, there were a scheme where doctors in the local NHS hospital could get the subsidised housing as part of their compensation package for as long as they worked in the NHS, likewise teachers etc.

Obviously zone 1 London is a fairly unique case in the country

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lol the housing associations would never be able to cope with the work schedules of tenants in those kinds of jobs

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 19:36

User46576 · 12/05/2025 19:16

It absolutely is a matter of public record that social housing is subsidized. The government pays billions in grants every year never mind tax breaks and other subsidies

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Grants to who? Could you link me to this information please

OneAmberFinch · 12/05/2025 19:19

Grammarnut · 12/05/2025 18:04

The rent isn't intended to make a profit over and above maintenance costs etc. unlike private renting, which is. That's one reason social housing is cheaper. But people living in social or affordable housing are paying a proper rent and will be people in jobs that do not pay very well but which we need, e.g. teachers, police, nurses etc.
I think a better solution would be to pay those workers more - but hey ho!

Edited

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In London new social housing doesn't generally go to those people. Zone 1/2 premium housing is frequently occupied by people not even in work at all. I think people would feel a lot better about it if, say, there were a scheme where doctors in the local NHS hospital could get the subsidised housing as part of their compensation package for as long as they worked in the NHS, likewise teachers etc.

Obviously zone 1 London is a fairly unique case in the country

User46576 · 12/05/2025 19:16

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 19:13

It's not subsidized by the taxpayers. Not sure where you get that idea from

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It absolutely is a matter of public record that social housing is subsidized. The government pays billions in grants every year never mind tax breaks and other subsidies

FedupofArsenalgame · 12/05/2025 19:13

User46576 · 12/05/2025 19:11

Social housing is subsidized by the taxpayer so it can be offered at below market rates. Councils and housing associations are often very bad at building and maintaining housing at a reasonable cost so even though the taxpayer is paying they are sometimes rented at the same amount as private rental property

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It's not subsidized by the taxpayers. Not sure where you get that idea from