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Original poster

Private renting so much more than housing association!

306 replies

Generationrenter · 07/03/2019 10:06

Just moved to a new build and the rent is £1300pm, neighbours are HA tenants and paying £500 for the exact same house. We both earn around the same amount.

I’m not saying their rent should be more and think HA properties are great (I’ve been on a waiting list for 6 years as renting is bankrupting me so certainly not knocking it!) but surely efforts should be made within budgets that make HA rents so low to reduce private rents?

I know private renting has become so unaffordable but is there anything that can be done? £800 difference a month for the same house just seems insane!

Guess it is just a vent but it doesn’t make sense to me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Generationrenter · 07/03/2019 19:02

Didn’t see your post, sorry.
As evidenced by mine and other posters that’s not always the case though. Unless £500 is classed as the affordable rent, in which case I have no idea what the social rent would be!

OP posts:
Myusernameismud · 07/03/2019 19:08

Affordable rent is up to 70% (I think, can't be sure) of market rent. It's only being used for new tenancies really, precisely for the reasons you are putting across. There are people who can't afford a market rent, but also don't need really cheap housing to be able to make ends meet. In time, this will become the norm.

itsbritneybiatches · 07/03/2019 19:17

I was never " in need"

I could of afforded a private rent. I put myself on the list and they knew my circumstances and offered me my house.

It's not just for people who are "poor".

Believe it or not lots of people do not put themselves on the list because there is this stigma attached that only the poor need or can apply for social housing. Anyone can.

Depending on where you live is how king you wait for one.

Can you put other boroughs in where you would want to live.

For mine I listed loads! More opportunity.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Property
itsbritneybiatches · 07/03/2019 19:18

There is a super nice area by me. If I'd of put that and only that on my list I'd still be waiting

HelenaDove · 07/03/2019 19:31

The trouble with that suggestion is that you then end up with ghettos. The HA now seem to be happier allocating flats to people involved with drugs. I have my suspicions as to why when i see what is happening in other areas.

Original poster
Generationrenter · 07/03/2019 19:45

But why would you end up with ghettos? My suggestion would bring more social housing. Do you think people affected would leave if there rent went up but still not up to private levels?

OP posts:
EwItsAHooman · 07/03/2019 19:45

I was never " in need". I could of afforded a private rent. I put myself on the list and they knew my circumstances and offered me my house.

Same here except we have a bidding system so we got to choose which houses we were interested in and wanted to be considered for. We've had two previous properties before we moved into this one a few years ago, the longest we were on the bidding list was six months and that was by choice as we wanted somewhere near to DS school.

DravenRainrix · 07/03/2019 19:47

Do you think people affected would leave if there rent went up

You do.realise that homelessness right now incredibly.high.
Do.you think doubling some people rent would help.that or make.it worse?

EwItsAHooman · 07/03/2019 19:50

It is similar to benefits in the sense of its a govt scheme aimed at helping people financially.

No, it's really not. Being adequately housed is a right not a privilege and anyone can apply to go on the housing list. It is not the same as benefits and it is not financial assistance.

Why are the only people being considered by posters those who were once declared ‘in need’ enough of a council property?

Social housing isn't just for people "in need". Councils may prioritise allocations based on need but that need isn't solely financial need, they also look at whether someone is currently adequately housed, whether they have links to the area they want to move to, whether they need to move to give or receive care, etc.

I’m curious as to why people don’t think high earners should have to pay slightly more if it meant helping others? Do you feel the same way about taxes?

Do you think private landlords should means test rent and increase it for higher earners?

Original poster
Generationrenter · 07/03/2019 19:51

I think increasing rents would increase the amount of properties being built so homeless people could actually be housed rather than whole families sleeping in b&bs while people earning mega money continue to occupy houses at less than half the market rate. If it’s means tested, it is also unlikely to have any major detremental effects.

OP posts:
EwItsAHooman · 07/03/2019 19:56

I think increasing rents would increase the amount of properties being built so homeless people could actually be housed

You have a poor grasp of the underlying issues associated with homelessness if you think it's that simple.

PiebaldHamster · 07/03/2019 19:58

You are extremely naive if you believe increasing rents will translate into more social housing. The reason homelessness is at an all-time high is due to austerity policies.

DravenRainrix · 07/03/2019 20:00

If it’s means tested, it is also unlikely to have any major detremental effects.

Ok.
So Tom and Barbara have a Social home, they're currently unemployed.
if Tom and Barbara get jobs, it would be pushing them beyond social housing and they have to leave.
Why would Tom and Barbara get jobs?

HelenaDove · 07/03/2019 20:06

Generation what im seeing is HAs letting places go into managed decline then wanting to demolish and rebuild Then the tenants cant afford the new rents so cant rent the flat their old one has been replaced with.

And i think UC has accelerated this.

itsbritneybiatches · 07/03/2019 20:08

Evils I bid for this house. They don't supply pictures of the inside for any houses. Just a front facing one of the outside.

itsbritneybiatches · 07/03/2019 20:10

The problem is that there is less social housing to go round in areas that are over populated.

Twerking9til5 · 07/03/2019 20:11

“They both now earn over £120k between them and pay £120 a week rent for a nice 3 bed townhouse in West London. “

And meanwhile the council is paying £1,300 pcm in housing benefit to a private landlord for some other family who need a 3 bed flat.

This is the scandal: council’s are paying private landlords to pay off their multiple mortgages in their property portfolio, instead of investing in new council housing.

It is obscene.

Imissgmichael · 07/03/2019 20:12

Gamerchick in a way social housing is subsidised because they’re not for profit. Therefore the Inland Revenue is missing out on tax and therefore tax payers are missing out on revenue.

HelenaDove · 07/03/2019 20:16

the link is about housing associations btw

itsbritneybiatches · 07/03/2019 20:16

Op I really sympathise with you but if you want a HA house it would seem you would need to move to another area.

Not a great option I admit. But if you want the HA property you need to go to an area that has them available.

I do sympathise with you but I guess I'm lucky that where I live there are loads. New builds too. Loads of them.

HelenaDove · 07/03/2019 20:17 
i  just  cant  do  this  anymore  .
EwItsAHooman · 07/03/2019 20:18

Evils I bid for this house. They don't supply pictures of the inside for any houses. Just a front facing one of the outside.

Same, then it's a bit of a gamble when you go to view.

We turned one down as it needed around four months of work doing before we'd get the keys and another because there were full damp-traps absolutely everywhere (know the ones with the beads in?) as well as a wet room that stank of mildew and we knew it had a damp problem.

EwItsAHooman · 07/03/2019 20:19

This is the scandal: council’s are paying private landlords to pay off their multiple mortgages in their property portfolio, instead of investing in new council housing.

Amen to that.

The biggest recipients of housing benefit, money from the public purse as is so often spouted at people claiming benefits, are private landlords.

MyDcAreMarvel · 07/03/2019 20:21

My suggestion would bring more social housing
Op do you really believe the reason we don’t have more social housing is due to the governments lack of money Grin
It’s idealistic , nobody is that naive surely.

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