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Original poster

Council house advice MIL can’t afford rent.

250 replies

velvetcandy · 27/12/2020 19:17

Does anyone know anything about the old style council house system?
My MIL is in a three bedroom house with the old style agreement back in the 80s she says it’s a house for life unlike the contract you would get today? She’s also on her own, her partner died last year. She’s complaining she can’t afford the £700 rent a month but doesn’t want to downsize does anyone know if they reduce rent? Just to clarify I think she should move to a flat but it’s not my business, what is my business is her asking us for money so I need to get the right information on this, cheers x

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 27/12/2020 19:47

Not a chance would that happen

SavoyCabbage · 27/12/2020 19:50

This is crazy, she's only 61. She needs to either reduce her outgoings or increase what she earns. Or both.

Fuckstickss · 27/12/2020 19:51

How odd. So she wants you to basically pay half her rent for the next 20 something years?

Embracelife · 27/12/2020 19:51

Is sgd allowed to get a lodger? My heighbour in council flat has a lodger
Dont pay for her
Her choice to work more /move /rent out a room

OneEpisode · 27/12/2020 19:51

There might be an option D, depending on the terms of her tenancy. Rent a room?
My dad owns his house and rented a room to students at the nearby university. He chose mature students who had somewhere to go most weekends/holidays.
Does depend on the landlord though in this case.

ForeverBubblegum · 27/12/2020 19:52

In the nicest possible way, it's not your problem to solve. Don't give her any more money, she has plenty of viable options she is just refusing to take them because she'd rather bully you into making sacrifices to give her money, then make any sacrifices herself.

amy85 · 27/12/2020 19:52

Leave her too it, do not pay her rent for her!....she is more than capable of working more to cover her rent....my mum is 63 and works 40-50 hours a week to pay her way

Sassy31 · 27/12/2020 19:52

As other have said some new build flats the rent would be more than what she is currently paying on a three bed. Are you sure that’s the correct rent ? as that seems night for a secure tenancy granted in the 80’s is she council or housing association ?
As she is over 60 she will be exempt from the bedroom tax. She can apply for UC credit housing element and she may also be entitled to a UC top up , if she’s on a low income.
A mutual exchange may also be an option at a later stage.
Age Uk - will be able to advise better on what she can claim going forward. I would suggest she puts in a claim for UC sooner rather than later as they rarely backdate . This can be done via the CAB

OneEpisode · 27/12/2020 19:53

Sorry embrace didn’t see your post!

20mum · 27/12/2020 19:54

Don't help her. Do upset her. Your niceness is a rod for your back. You are setting a precedent for a miserable future, obeying her commands and unreasonable demands for another 40 years. If this were a partner, it would be seen as the red flag it is.
She could, of course, do something unselfish for once in her life and take in people who are known to social services as needing care and shelter, in those surplus bedrooms. If she does take lodgers though, I guess it will probably be only to fill her bank account through air b n b, while laughing at homeless people.

NotStayingIn · 27/12/2020 19:56

As she is only 61 you would be utterly mad to help pay her rent. Seriously, don't do it! If she was say 80 I may be more inclined to say if you can help her stay where she is happy then it's worth it. But sorry, at 61, she needs a realistic solution. And realistically, she can't afford the house she is living in. I would be happy to help her look into options, but I wouldn't give her any money.

Original poster
velvetcandy · 27/12/2020 19:56

Thanks at least we know they won’t reduce rent!!

All I know is she said it’s the original council tenant agreement whatever that is.

I think she’s going to either move or work more

I do feel bad for her but I guess that’s life, my mortgage wouldn’t be lowered I guess !

OP posts:
Serena1977 · 27/12/2020 19:57

I think she is naive and selfish. At 61 she should know that you cant just ask for a lower price. I could try it with Tesco for my cart of shopping.

3 bed are in such huge demand since a lot were bought on the right to buy scheme.

She's lucky she has options though.
A. She could earn more
B. She could buy it from the council or you could buy it for her so when she dies it's yours.
C. Move to a 1 bedroom bungalow or flat. The council will help with finding a new place and probably give decorating vouchers.
D. She could wait for eviction and be moved to a homeless shelter or bus shelter.

And no she cant sub-let a bedroom as a pp suggested.

GloGirl · 27/12/2020 19:57

You cant help everyone

20mum · 27/12/2020 19:58

@amy85

Leave her too it, do not pay her rent for her!....she is more than capable of working more to cover her rent....my mum is 63 and works 40-50 hours a week to pay her way
Good for your mum, amy 85
Original poster
velvetcandy · 27/12/2020 20:02

@Serena1977 😂😂😂

OP posts:
cactusisblooming · 27/12/2020 20:02

In some boroughs a cash incentive of ££££ is given to encourage under occupiers to downsize, would this encourage her? She cannot afford to stay there and unless you want to be subsidising her for up to the next 20-30 years OP then you need to tell her it is very much your business.

kkneat · 27/12/2020 20:03

If she is a council tenant she should contact her Local Authority. and ask about incentive schemes to downsize. 75 per cent of new council tenancies are still secure/assured tenancies. She can stipulate that she won’t downsize unless it’s to a secure tenancy. Otherwise get her to do a benefits check to see what she might be entitled to to help cover rent in her current house

IHateThesePosts · 27/12/2020 20:04

Rent will not be reduced, if she qualifies for housing benefit they will deduct from that ‘the bedroom tax’
She will be exempt from the bedroom tax once she reaches pension age.
If she is struggling and in receipt of any amount of housing benefit she can apply with a DHP form that will cover excess costs if she qualifies (based on her incoming and outgoing costs). This is a limited award so may only cover her until she a) reaches pension age b) moves out.

Given the council housing crisis they’ll be keen to get her moved on to somewhere smaller. She may find a lovely swap online with a family in a smaller place nearby.

catsarecute · 27/12/2020 20:07

Has she made a claim for housing benefit/universal credit? If she's entitled to some housing benefit or rental liability part of universal credit, she may be able to get a top up called discretionary housing payment via the council - more info here:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments/claiming-discretionary-housing-payments

CoffeeRunner · 27/12/2020 20:07

As she has a prime property - a family house which are much needed - she would probably be able to skip the list for something really nice if she was willing to downsize.

All areas are different, but while I was working as a community Carer, a couple I visited managed to bypass the 5 year waiting list for a 1 bed bungalow in a certain road as they were giving up a 4 bed house.

Her rent for that home absolutely will not reduce. But the council will usually bend over backwards to get her out of the family home into something way more suitable.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/12/2020 20:07

I would be surprised if she isn't entitled to some benefits, as long as she works 20 hours a week (or whatever it is). If her earnings are just about covering her £700 rent, I am certain she can claim something.

Or of course take a lodger - living in SW London she can easily earn half her rent tax free.

I would not be in any rush to move if I were her - I don't think she would necessarily end up paying less.

AlwaysCheddar · 27/12/2020 20:08

Sorry by wtf should taxpayers subsidise your mums rent?! She needs to go to a smaller property.

turnthebiglightoff · 27/12/2020 20:09

My dad pays £800 for a 2 bed council flat in London. He's 68 and only received state pension. No savings, no work pension (self employed all his life). It's terrifying.

MrsCremuel · 27/12/2020 20:13

They won't reduce her rent but may offer incentives for her to move. Those tenancies aren't offered anymore and councils are keen to move people on from them as they have very little control. Hence why she is still there in a 3 bed in her own. It's very hard as it's her home but it's not the way of the world any more. My parents grew up in houses where they had a lifetime tenancy and many of their friends who are still housed by the council are more or less forced out.

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