To think that there is a misunderstanding about social housing.

If your house is paid off though, you own it.
Someone in social housing does not own their home, they they have to supply wallpaper/paint, carpets, white goods. All those things are catered for in private rentals.

If you have a mortgage, you are not at threat of being evicted if you behave antisocially. You wont get evicted if you wont let contractors into your home. Social housing tenants have to be good all round people to stay where they are. People with mortgages don't have to behave a certain way to stay housed.

Is that a race to the bottom comment? If so, you're still paying your mortgage off on a property you own. You're not paying rent on a HA one, and they do come with bare floors as even if the carpets are laid 5wks before they're still ripped out.

Also paying for a new boiler is a big red herring, as regardless of HA or private rental. Nobody is paying for a new boiler unless they have a mortgage. Plus of the HA/council do upkeep your garden they just run the sit on mowers over it. They're not popping round to plant pansies.

If you've shelled out 3.5k on a new boiler then that's because you're investing in the house you're paying for. Nobody renting regardless of circumstances is going to be doing that are they? It's not like they'll take it with them when they move.

Well I don’t now I’ve been paying my mortgage for 12 years, no. Have I been able to replace my flooring? No. Have I done anything to the garden minus general upkeep? No. Did my boiler get replaced by the council when it broke? No, I had to put 3.5k on a credit card.

ignorant yes. Do you have the £1000’s to hand for a deposit and advance rent for a private rental?

no

and what about the money I’ve spent on my HA home? Upgrades,flooring,garden,decorating,minor repairs?? Do I get reimbursed?

but it’s pointless worrying because I DO still need the tenancy so I will remain

I don't think this makes sense to me really. The funds for social housing come from taxation. It's a limited pot we all contribute to. We are not suggesting people give up their own personal funds over and above the taxes they pay.

So, this is the problem isn't it. I love the idea of social housing but if it's not accessible for the people coming after those "rattling around our 3 bedroom house" it's irrelevant if it's paid for, partially paid for etc etc. Whatever it is, it's subsidised. If it's not available equally, which it's not now, it's unfair. Lots of people in private housing expect to move in their lifetime, it isn't ok that an 18, 20 or 30 year old boy now doesn't have the same access those before him had. It needs to be distributed fairly.

Ignorant of what? Staying in council house you no longer need is ignorant of the housing crisis.

My parent's HA offered them money to move.... but there was nowhere for them to move.

I’m all for shorter council house tenancies. I think a lifetime tenancy where there is a shortage of council houses is necessary. I’d favour a five year tenancy. After 5 years you have to re-apply for your home and you are assessed on the points you have now, not the points you had when you started. For example, if you need a large home because you have 3 kids and they all move out, you are given a smaller home. If you increase your salary and can afford to buy, your point score is lower so you may not have your tenancy renewed, but - you are given an incentive such as the deposit for a new home. 3 tenancies and you’re back to the bottom of the list (could be 5, if I’m in a generous mood) There would be exemption for low paid public sector workers.

The point of social housing was to help people improve their situation. It’s too easy to do that and still benefit from social housing when you can afford to pay privately. I don’t begrudge paying tax to subsidise housing for those who need it, but I do begrudge paying it for people who have lived in social housing for 20 years and are earning above the average wage.

Whether it is HA or Council run, this housing is subsidised in some way. Councils may not give money directly to housing associations but they do offer land deals to these organisations. The Council will sell a site at below market value. That is money that isn’t coming in to the council’s finances. Where a private developer is building affordable homes, the council uses that as planning gain instead of other aspects such as improving infrastructure, building schools etc. Again that’s money the council is having to pay elsewhere. They offer grants and matched funding in some instances.

The private property market isn’t particularly lucrative on its own, market rents aren’t generally inflated that much. Housing associations can offer lower rents because their costs of building are reduced. The spec of housing association homes is lower, generally, and their land costs are often very low.

My HA don’t move you out if under occupying….its not a thing. Never heard of that before

What if she doesn’t engage with the ‘moving out’? If her tenancy is a lifetime tenancy ( like mine, so no, I’m not moving out because I have a spare room now) they cannot force her

One bedroom flat in a tower block? What does her tenancy agreement say?

Er, yes you do need to move out of a 3 bed semi after k8ds have moved out.
My DM has been told she has to downsize now me and sibling have moved out.
She's been told house is needed for families.
What she's being offered by the council to live in instead of her 3 bed semi house that she's lived in for 25 years and maintained beautifully is bloody horrible, miniscule and depressing.

That's pretty hard to measure/evaluate. There could be very reasonable reasons why someone doesn't increase their earnings, such as only being able to work certain hours due to childcare, a disability meaning they may struggle to increase their hours. Or it may be that just can't be bothered.

What about the people who could increase their earnings, but choose not to?

If they were unable to increase their earnings they presumably wouldn't be over the threshold for social housing.

Add to that, my HA home is built for people with disabilities. If I move out because I have bought somewhere I would need to retrofit everything that is already here, the wide doorways, high up plug sockets, low down light switches, flat entrance / exit.

There is money available from the government for that but why should taxpayers pay when I am currently adequately housed.

I do however think that if you have received HB or UC housing element if you buy a HA or council property that should be added on to the cost. Actually I'm not sure you should be able to buy HA/council properties but as you can then it should not be subsidised as much as it is.

Exactly, couldn't afford it anyway.

Yep, I don't understand how anyone can think someone in social housing would give it up to go into the private rental sector.

I've been down both roads and the upheaval of moving from rental to rental isn't fun. Add in most places won't accept pets, you can't paint walls/or even put pictures up, on edge in case something gets split on carpets with kids, waiting on white goods repairs if not your own stuff. Landlords deciding to sell, rent hikes.

Obviously the main issue is never feeling settled and like it's your own home. Which is fine when you're happy to move around more I guess, less so when you want to feel you can paint your kids room the colour of their choice, or be able to spend money on furniture without worrying will you have to get rid if it won't fit the next rental.

Just answering in general. Private landlords have been evicting families left right and centre. Under section 21. Someone could end up in temporary accommodation for a long time. Find a private rent be there a year or 2 then go through the same thing all over again. Sometimes it's worth the long process to get secure long term housing.

I'm talking 27 years ago, not many private rental then.

Sorry, could I ask a rough indication of where this is please? Feel free to pm if you'd rather not say on here. Thanks

If so social housing isn't subsidised why do did you go through that long process? Surely private rental would have been much quicker and less stress.

Yes, my DP was too under section 21 as his flat was sold to a new landlord who wanted to turn it into a HMO. It took my DP several months to find somewhere else to live. His new landlord even offered him a sum of money to move out ASAP but there was just nowhere for him to go. The private rental market is pretty dire too. About 30 people interested in each property.

Because they do, even I had to many moons ago. Was on the housing list for 5 years. Priority back then been made homeless with a baby and landlord selling up.