Page 11 | AIBU to question Reform's plan to prioritise married couples for social housing?

QueenSophia · 2026-08-24T13:01:27+00:00

Reform have proposed to prioritise social housing for various groups : 'Rules would be changed to reserve at least half of all social homes in England for British-born workers aged under 35, with prioritisation also given to married couples, veterans, victims of domestic violence and care leavers.' I agree with DV victims, those with children, care leavers : veterans are also at high risk of homelessness. But why prioritise married couples over single people? I'm not convinced that's fair. I assume it's to encourage marriage which is a good aim but I'm not convinced if this is the right decision.

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:51

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:44

Well thats part of being in a society isnt it. Child free ppl subsidise parents People with big careers get subsidised by care workers on minimum wage caring for their elderly relatives so their career isnt disturbed. then theres childcare

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You’re the one who claimed it wasn’t subsidised.

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:50

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:44

Well thats part of being in a society isnt it. Child free ppl subsidise parents People with big careers get subsidised by care workers on minimum wage caring for their elderly relatives so their career isnt disturbed. then theres childcare

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Then those same care workers get vilified for living in social housing told its subsidised and that they should be grateful

Anarchy99 · 24/08/2026 17:49

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:44

Well thats part of being in a society isnt it. Child free ppl subsidise parents People with big careers get subsidised by care workers on minimum wage caring for their elderly relatives so their career isnt disturbed. then theres childcare

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Sadly it is.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 24/08/2026 17:46

It seems strange that Nigel Farage is not announcing this considering his massive win the other week. Come to think of it I have not seen him do an interview since the by-election. Where is he??

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:44

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:41

Of course council housing is subsidised, otherwise everyone in them would rent privately. What a ridiculous claim.

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Well thats part of being in a society isnt it. Child free ppl subsidise parents People with big careers get subsidised by care workers on minimum wage caring for their elderly relatives so their career isnt disturbed. then theres childcare

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:41

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:34

They shouldn’t have to, however if they want their relationship to be recognised by the state in other ways it’s sort of part of the deal, no?

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Well it seems to be recognised by the state when it comes to council tax JSA Universal Credit. but im sure you didnt mean to be hypocritical

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:41

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:40

he needs adaptations which have been refused. and its not bloody subsidised.

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Of course council housing is subsidised, otherwise everyone in them would rent privately. What a ridiculous claim.

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:40

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:37

So a disabled adult being housed by the council? Not sure how that’s disproving my point.
Disabled adults already receive additional appoints when trying to claim housing vs an able bodied single adult, and rightly so. That doesn’t mean an able bodied single adult “deserves” to be housed in a 2 bedroom at the expense of the council.

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he needs adaptations which have been refused. and its not bloody subsidised.

Anarchy99 · 24/08/2026 17:39

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/08/2026 14:07

It’s tosh- said people never get near the social housing register as in areas of high demand it will almost exclusively be people with disabilities, vulnerabilities and multiple children who willl secure social housing in the first please. In areas of London no one else has got near the top of the list in a decade.

they don’t even mention children- so we’d have a single mum of 4 in a hostel whilst a married couple take priority over the children?! Who would want to live in that world

They said on the lunchtime news that it was married couples with children - Reform want everyone to have lots of kids anyway

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:38

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:34

They shouldn’t have to, however if they want their relationship to be recognised by the state in other ways it’s sort of part of the deal, no?

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www.theguardian.com/law/2017/nov/28/unmarried-woman-wins-legal-battle-over-bereavement-damages

saraclara · 24/08/2026 17:38

Winter2020 · 24/08/2026 16:48

I think the point with veterans is that their homelessness can stem from difficulty reintegrating into civilian life and trauma/PTSD/ physical injury from their service to their country so we have a duty to look after them.

Veterans already get priority over almost everyone. The homeless ones on the street have problems that prevent them settling into a secure home. It's all very sad, but it's also very difficult to help them.

Livelovebehappy · 24/08/2026 17:37

Mountainpika · 24/08/2026 14:55

What about unmarried couples? Or doesn't Reform count them as equal to married couples?

I would say, as is frequently pointed out on MN, that if you intend to have children, it’s always advisable to get married to protect your rights should you ever separate.

Bringemout · 24/08/2026 17:37

How would people prioritise? However you do it someone is going to be aggrieved .

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:37

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:31

Oh yeah they are SO prioritised.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/elderly_parents/5567388-you-have-a-car-so-you-can-access-the-community?page=1

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So a disabled adult being housed by the council? Not sure how that’s disproving my point.
Disabled adults already receive additional appoints when trying to claim housing vs an able bodied single adult, and rightly so. That doesn’t mean an able bodied single adult “deserves” to be housed in a 2 bedroom at the expense of the council.

Somersetbaker · 24/08/2026 17:36

They could make a start on the housing problem by making Farage give up 4 of the 5 properties he owns. Perhaps he could live in Clacton.

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:34

Mountainpika · 24/08/2026 17:27

Why should couples have to go through some sort of formal ceremony approved by the state? It's no-one else's business if they want to live together. Nothing to do with the state (or the church). Some chose to have a ceremony of some sort, others don't. entirely their choice. If they don't want a formal marriage, they can still make wills etc. to cover future situations.

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They shouldn’t have to, however if they want their relationship to be recognised by the state in other ways it’s sort of part of the deal, no?

mishmashmess · 24/08/2026 17:34

It is a load of cobblers. But then again, they are being influenced by James Orr, who has US evangelicals pulling his strings alongside sweaty ham faced billionaire Peter Thiel, who's a pro-natalist, obsessed with making women parp out as many babies as possible, whether these are wanted or not. But hey, our role in life as women is just to be a vessel, isn't it, and never mind any other ambitions we might have.

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:31

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:25

Which would be specific to a disabled person, which are already prioritised.
An able bodied single person does not need two bedrooms. You posed it as single people just generally deserving additional room, that’s not quite the same thing as now saying a disabled adult would need it.

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Oh yeah they are SO prioritised.
www.mumsnet.com/talk/elderly_parents/5567388-you-have-a-car-so-you-can-access-the-community?page=1

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/08/2026 17:29

Winter2020 · 24/08/2026 16:48

I think the point with veterans is that their homelessness can stem from difficulty reintegrating into civilian life and trauma/PTSD/ physical injury from their service to their country so we have a duty to look after them.

Paramedics have higher rates of PTSD . Coroners. Frontline healthcare. All higher. They also serve us. I'd argue in a way that affects us all day-to-day. Nurses have high rates of occupational injury. As do care workers.

It would be far better to have decent PTSD treatment and disability provision for everyone. Rather than specifying armed forces.

Mountainpika · 24/08/2026 17:27

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 16:38

Why would the state recognise a relationship when the couple have chosen to leave the state out of their relationship by not marrying or entering into a civil partnership?

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Why should couples have to go through some sort of formal ceremony approved by the state? It's no-one else's business if they want to live together. Nothing to do with the state (or the church). Some chose to have a ceremony of some sort, others don't. entirely their choice. If they don't want a formal marriage, they can still make wills etc. to cover future situations.

Mycatisreal · 24/08/2026 17:26

FFSItsTooHot · 24/08/2026 16:59

So are they going to turf unmarried couples,who may have been there for years,out of social housing?

No of course not. It’s just all empty bollocks.

ThatBreezyScroller · 24/08/2026 17:26

I think single people should be prioritised (with or without DC).

It’s almost impossible to get a private rental or mortgage as a single person and having 1 income.

You are always going to be in a much more secure position as a couple - you have 2 incomes, 2 sets of families for guarantors or somewhere to stay in an emergency etc.

Midnightmoonface · 24/08/2026 17:25

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:22

err disability somewhere for an overnight carer to stay.

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Which would be specific to a disabled person, which are already prioritised.
An able bodied single person does not need two bedrooms. You posed it as single people just generally deserving additional room, that’s not quite the same thing as now saying a disabled adult would need it.

BermudaRhombus · 24/08/2026 17:25

It’s very unlikely that Reform will get into a position to be able to enact any policies. So it’s all academic really. Nigel, Richard and Zia like to cosplay being cabinet ministers, but it’s all just a fantasy.

JenniferBooth · 24/08/2026 17:25

oldwhyno · 24/08/2026 17:09

Devils advocate, but two people make better use of a one bedroom flat than a single person.

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then there should be no moaning from the HA about the fact there is twice as much stuff in the flat