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AIBU?

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Original poster

To keep our council property when we can technically buy?

236 replies

HungaryForLove · 26/11/2025 17:25

Hi all,

My partner and I are TTC and thinking about our future. Ideally, after I have a baby I only want to work maximum 2 days weekly so I can be around for our kids, and also save on childcare costs. Partner earns about £35k/year before tax/pension, and we have around £16k in savings. We wouldn’t be claiming UC, just child benefit.

We currently live in a council house that my partner grew up in — he inherited it when his mum moved abroad. It’s a 3-bedroom house. Rent is £480/month. The estate is fine, some people are bit rough around the edges but they never give us any trouble and there’s actually a nice community. I regularly walk to the local shop at night and never feel unsafe. It’s full of young families.

The alternative is buying a 3-bedroom house (we need 3 bed as want 2 DC and I often WFH), which seems to start around £160,000 here and with the 10% deposit of £16,000 our savings would go back down to £0 with no buffer for house maintenance, car issues, maternity leave etc. Also with a 30-year mortgage (we’d need 30 years to be able to afford the monthly payments) at 4.35% interest, I’d realistically need to work 4–5 days a week just to cover costs. I am currently only earning £26,000 full-time. Working so many days would mean barely seeing our kids and only taking home less than £1000 anyway after childcare, and that’s with taking into account the 30 free hours as you still end up paying hundreds a month anyway (I know this from my sister who uses our local nursery 4 days a week for her son who is soon changing to 2 days as she will pay nothing then).

If we stay in the council house, we could comfortably manage on one full-time income and one very part-time income and retain over £10,000 in savings (that would otherwise go on house deposit) to get us through maternity leaves etc, and the a portion of the money we’d otherwise spend on mortgage interest we would invest. Even considering rent going up a few percent per year, we’d still be much more comfortable.

So, AIBU for wanting to stay put in our inherited council house for now, even though we could technically afford to buy? I’m not saying we would stay forever but at least until the expensive childcare years are over, and maybe by then mortgage rates will have become more reasonable and I could go back to working full-time and we’d only be paying wrap-around care.

I do appreciate we are in a fortunate position to be even able to make this choice. Me and DP did grow up in severe poverty, I had alcoholic gambling addict parents and DP is originally from a very deprived country which his DM has moved back to and neither of us will inherit anything. Just to add context.

OP posts:
Thechaseison71 · 28/11/2025 08:57

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 18:56

Erm… council housing is in fact subsidized. Initially through government grants used to fund the construction of new homes and to cover some operational costs. While the goal is for the housing to be self-financing through rent, the initial construction is heavily supported by taxpayer funding, and subsidies can continue to cover the difference between rent income and costs, although this practice has been reduced over time. Due to the lack of affordable council housing in this country, you are in a very privileged position to be in a council home.

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So all the council housing built in the 50s 60s and 70s ( which was when loads built( certainly hasn't been subsided by any of today's workers has it? And the grants that " may" have be given at the time will have long ago been paid off in the 60/70 years of rent already paid on these properties

So how then are today's taxpayers subsidizing the current council tenants

Seymour5 · 28/11/2025 08:35

HoskinsChoice · 26/11/2025 18:12

The OP is a very long post so I'll summarise. Despite being able to afford to be independent of the state, you would like to live in a tax payer supported house that you don't need so that you can give up work whilst blocking the use of the property for someone who actually needs it.

Yes, thats unreasonable and immoral. You know that otherwise you wouldn't have asked. Do the right thing.

(And if you won't do it for someone who needs it, do it for yourself. There is nothing that is economically sensible about renting instead of buying).

It’s not tax payer subsidised. Councils have a ‘housing revenue account’, where the income from rents is used for repairs and maintenance and other related housing costs. As has already been explained, as a ‘not for profit’ landlord, they can pitch their rents far lower than private landlords.

I think lots more housing of this type is needed, not just for ‘the poorest’ but for working families on low to moderate incomes. If the OP and her DP take on a mortgage, and then lose their income for any reason, they would be in a far worse position than if they continue to rent. Stick it out OP, it’s the responsible choice for now.

ThistleTits · 28/11/2025 08:20

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 26/11/2025 17:29

Of course you are. Why should taxpayers subsidise your family?

They are taxpayers and she specifically says they will not be claiming benefits. 🙄

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 28/11/2025 02:48

Make sure your name is on the tenancy. Not just his name.

MouldyCandy · 28/11/2025 02:15

Not read the whole thread:

OP - if you want to have DC and reduce your earning power by going PT at work you need to get married to your partner. You are putting yourself in a very financially precarious position otherwise. Use £1k of your savings and get this done.

Also - on ML and whilst you are working PT (will your employer let you drop to 2 days/wk?) your DP/DH ought to pay into a private pension for you to cover the reduction in both your and your employer contributions from you working PT.

I would suggest your joint pot might not stretch to this, for two DC, if you buy a house.

Namechangerage · 28/11/2025 00:49

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 26/11/2025 17:29

Of course you are. Why should taxpayers subsidise your family?

Oh do bore off.

This couple have been fortunate - they have done everything by the book and the council are happy for them to stay. Of course they should stay there while they prepare for the future.

Congrats OP and don’t question it - yes you’ve been lucky but it doesn’t mean you should not make the most of it!!

JungAtHeart · 27/11/2025 23:29

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 18:56

Erm… council housing is in fact subsidized. Initially through government grants used to fund the construction of new homes and to cover some operational costs. While the goal is for the housing to be self-financing through rent, the initial construction is heavily supported by taxpayer funding, and subsidies can continue to cover the difference between rent income and costs, although this practice has been reduced over time. Due to the lack of affordable council housing in this country, you are in a very privileged position to be in a council home.

Show quote history

I beg to differ. The government has a duty to provide social housing. Saying that it’s subsidised through grants is akin to saying that anybody accessing the NHS rather than paying for private health care is being subsidised by the tax payer. Where would you have the people who have not been afforded a decent education, or risen above a minimum wage salary live? Because ‘market rent’ is a capitalist construct. Not for profit is exactly what it says. Rents do cover the costs.

TwinklySquid · 27/11/2025 23:19

You do what works for your family. That’s what everyone else would do- no matter what they say online.

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 18:56

JungAtHeart · 27/11/2025 18:01

Do you realise that council housing is NOT subsidised by the tax payer? It’s charged at not for profit levels. Unlike private rents.

Show quote history

Erm… council housing is in fact subsidized. Initially through government grants used to fund the construction of new homes and to cover some operational costs. While the goal is for the housing to be self-financing through rent, the initial construction is heavily supported by taxpayer funding, and subsidies can continue to cover the difference between rent income and costs, although this practice has been reduced over time. Due to the lack of affordable council housing in this country, you are in a very privileged position to be in a council home.

JungAtHeart · 27/11/2025 18:01

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 26/11/2025 17:29

Of course you are. Why should taxpayers subsidise your family?

Do you realise that council housing is NOT subsidised by the tax payer? It’s charged at not for profit levels. Unlike private rents.

Thechaseison71 · 27/11/2025 12:17

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 26/11/2025 17:29

Of course you are. Why should taxpayers subsidise your family?

How are taxpayers subsidizing the property.? They are paying the rent

Pennaleft · 27/11/2025 11:58

Trumpisacunt · 27/11/2025 11:45

But you would get your discount with RTB and after the 5years you can use the equity that you got via the discount as a deposit for another .. A 35% discount would be worth 70k to you if the property is worth 200k and you'd be bonkers not to utilise this ....

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Not any more, the discounts were capped last year so the max is now £38k, or even lower (down to £16k) in some parts of the country. Financially the savvy thing to do would have been to make an application last year to lock in a higher discount (I have relatives who did this as they have a discount of £136k and their sales have still not gone through as there was a huge influx of applications which has caused a backlog). But OP would only expect a discount of £16-38k now, though that is still not to be sniffed at and it seems a bit daft not to consider it to speed up getting on the housing ladder (many mortgage lenders accept the discount as part of a deposit).

Trumpisacunt · 27/11/2025 11:45

HungaryForLove · 26/11/2025 22:50

We can do Right To Buy but we don’t see the point of that really as we’d still be responsible for repairs etc and end up paying mortgage interest. We would rather stay here on the council tenancy until we have a larger deposit that would allow us to buy another home comfortably rather than buying a home and being on the bones of our arses afterward which would be the current situation.

Edited

But you would get your discount with RTB and after the 5years you can use the equity that you got via the discount as a deposit for another .. A 35% discount would be worth 70k to you if the property is worth 200k and you'd be bonkers not to utilise this ....

keepingsanity · 27/11/2025 10:53

DownThePubWithStevieNicks · 26/11/2025 18:18

You can barely afford to buy, so I’d stay in the council house.

Think very carefully about what would happen if you split from your partner, after kids and after reducing your income to buttons. Would the house still be his? Where would you go then?

This!

if you split up you may not have a home if you stay in council. If you buy you are racking up equity which can be split.

I’d be very careful what you decide and think long term.

ittakes2 · 27/11/2025 10:29

HungaryForLove · 26/11/2025 18:03

We’re both full-time working tax payers and have been for years, so you can forget the “us versus you” attitude. I work in healthcare and my partner works an essential job in the border force

Edited
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I think when people say ‘subsidise’ what they mean is the gap between the council charging lower than market rates and the actual market rates. Ie if the council was to charge market rates then the council would make more money which could go to more people in need and the tax dollar goes further. And what council housing would become is stability for people over private lettings rather than stability and cost savings.

If you have this great deal and you are happy living there - there is no reason to move. Especially when you plan to have young children and childcare expenses / raising kids is very expensive. Owning your own home is just more expense. It makes more sense for you to save until kids are older

BackToLurk · 27/11/2025 10:12

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 10:04

It’s morally wrong though isn’t it. You are no longer in need of subsidised housing. In fact, you’ve made money from it if there’s £16k of savings there. Your home should be going towards a family who needs it. It’s not a level playing field, and you know deep down you’re exploiting the system.

Edited
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Don't be ridiculous. The OP has said that they are not claiming any sort of housing benefit. As has previously been pointed out, this means that private money is being directly put into social housing. Given that between two thirds and three quarters of council house tenants receive some form of housing benefit, the irony is if they did move out at this point the chances are the new tenants would indeed be in receipt of 'subsidised housing'. It's also ironic that some PP are suggesting Right to Buy which would remove the home from the housing stock permanently.

Yes social rents are lower, but they are probably where rents actually should be if it wasn't for the rapaciousness of many private landlords

justasking111 · 27/11/2025 10:10

HungaryForLove · 27/11/2025 10:01

carry on with the rotten tomato throwing, I’m not going to make my life harder because of it

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You have a sensible head as a young couple. Stick to your plan and ignore the outliers.

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 10:04

HungaryForLove · 27/11/2025 10:01

carry on with the rotten tomato throwing, I’m not going to make my life harder because of it

Show quote history

It’s morally wrong though isn’t it. You are no longer in need of subsidised housing. In fact, you’ve made money from it if there’s £16k of savings there. Your home should be going towards a family who needs it. It’s not a level playing field, and you know deep down you’re exploiting the system.

Original poster
HungaryForLove · 27/11/2025 10:01

berlinbaby2025 · 27/11/2025 10:00

@HungaryForLove You’re not breaking the law or any guidelines so of course the council say you’re not abusing the system. This isn’t about the law and you know it.

carry on with the rotten tomato throwing, I’m not going to make my life harder because of it

OP posts:
berlinbaby2025 · 27/11/2025 10:00

@HungaryForLove You’re not breaking the law or any guidelines so of course the council say you’re not abusing the system. This isn’t about the law and you know it.

BackToLurk · 27/11/2025 09:57

RedToothBrush · 27/11/2025 00:22

Even if house prices go up 1.5% annually for the next five years, a house that's currently £160,000 will be £172,000. A 20% deposit still clocks in at £35,000 for that.

Realistically I question whether you'd be able to save for that if you don't think you could afford a mortgage now. Biting the bullet and buying the house now puts the money into the house rather than burning up in rent or annual house prices increases.

If you already are expecting your husbands career to be better in five years, being extra tight now might not be as bad as you think. If you have that prospect the worry about the risk of the cycle of debt is reduced because you ultimately will have an extra strategy. Remember you can remortgage in a couple of years if it's too much - but you will have bought the house (and therefore aren't going to get caught out on rising house prices).

If you have a mortgage and did get into financial difficulties, you talk to the bank at the first opportunity - it's generally not worth them kicking you out and repossessing. They'd be more likely to let you switch to interest only for a bit - you have age on your side in this respect.

However you do it, the first few years are the worse on a mortgage. Personally I'd get the house before the kids even if you are trying to conceive now, because having kids also affects how much the bank will lend you too and you need to factor this into your plans too. Even if it you pretty much drop a sprog immediately after that (get that mortgage in principle!). I get you want to move quick on the baby, but it does have implications you might not have considered too in terms of borrowing.

I'm very risk adverse when it comes to mortgages / savings. Believe me, I get it. But equally in hindsight we were probably over cautious and made the exact mistake of waiting longer than we perhaps should - which cost us a lot in the long run. If you want to buy you almost have to take that leap of faith at some point because it doesn't ever get easier - there's always some other financial barrier or concern.

This is great advice @HungaryForLove I think you have to set aside the fact it's a council property and treat it like any other rental. You're perfectly entitled to live there and once you do move someone else can live there.

Original poster
HungaryForLove · 27/11/2025 09:52

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 09:42

this is a joke, many people out there do not have this safety net and you’re clearly abusing the system just so you can have children.

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My council don’t think we’re abusing the system.

And yes when we both work-full time, don’t drink or do drugs and are in a happy and stable relationship then we do feel entitled to have a family, deal with it.

I presume you’re writing this post from your home? Aren’t you awful, so many people are on the streets! Maybe you should set up a soup kitchen and campsite in your property.

OP posts:
Original poster
HungaryForLove · 27/11/2025 09:50

In terms of house prices rising and “missing the boat” so to speak, our plan is to invest our disposable income to make up for that. If we were to move now we’d lose our savings straight away and once we have a baby (which we’re actually trying for, I may already be pregnant) no longer be in a position to save for years and as I said, anything going wrong would throw us in to debt. We’d also have to take on a 30 year mortgage if we started now. I’m 24 and partner is 28 so we have plenty of time. We’ll likely need to work well into our 60s anyway and even if we end up taking a 25 year mortgage when my partner is 35 for example then it would be paid off by 60.

we have calculated if we stay in our current home, we already have our emergency fund and can start investing straight away. We can afford to invest £800 monthly and should be able to maintain this even if I go very part-time after having a child, having taken into account all costs we need to consider (increased food, increased heating, childcare should be free of very low cost if I only work 2 days).

We would review again in once we are done having children and the nursery years are over and I can go back to full-time work and only need to pay wrap-around care. Hopefully by then we would have a 20% deposit. Even if house prices have risen - we are assuming this will be offset by the childcare years being out of the way, DP hopefully having his promotion and me going back to work full-time. Hopefully would be in a position to take a 25 year mortgage. I know that all of this is just assumptions but even so we just don’t feel ready to buy yet. We are giving up security for a huge risky liability. All the homes in our budget have issues and need work

OP posts:
WiggyWiggyImGettingJiggy · 27/11/2025 09:46

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 09:42

this is a joke, many people out there do not have this safety net and you’re clearly abusing the system just so you can have children.

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How is op abusing the system?

She is on the tenancy, they are paying rent, everything is legal and above board.

She's using 'the system' for its intention.

PeonyPatch · 27/11/2025 09:42

HungaryForLove · 26/11/2025 23:03

Exactly my thoughts. I do feel guilty because technically we do have a deposit and are eligible for a mortgage so we could go, but we can only afford lower-end houses with issues and if anything with the house goes wrong we are screwed and are instantly in huge debt before we’ve even brought a child into the world. We could end up in a cycle we’d never get out of I fear and potentially never be in a comfortable enough position to have a child.

I just don’t think we are ready yet. I think I would at least want to get the nursery years out of the way.

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this is a joke, many people out there do not have this safety net and you’re clearly abusing the system just so you can have children.