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Original poster

What do you think about council housing and people who live there?

231 replies

Borntolurk · 07/03/2023 15:56

Genuinely curious about this. We finally received a council tenancy four years ago, after privately renting for upwards of 11 years. We are very grateful that we have the house we do, and treat it well. The security felt and ability to feel like we have an actual home (as opposed to house sitting), is immense.

However, I’ve had people I know suddenly become less interested in being friends, when they found out that our property was rented from the council. Others let slip accidentally/without realising what they were saying, that we should accept whatever happened to our house (shoddy contractor’s work for example) as it was ‘free’. Sigh.

So I guess I’ve been wondering whether this is the general consensus these days, and why do folk feel this way? Experience? Lack of other affordable housing? I can understand that!

Thanks for your thoughts.

OP posts:
averylongtimeago · 07/03/2023 17:07

I grew up in a council flat. Some of my relatives still live in the same house or flat they lived in when I was growing up.
Why should I look down on you?

TwilightSilhouette · 07/03/2023 17:07

Are they actually looking down on you OP or are they jealous?

Lovemusic33 · 07/03/2023 17:08

I think there’s often jealousy when someone gets a council house/flat, the rent is a lot less that a privately rented house and often they come with a long or life long (secure) tenancy.some people just don’t like the idea of someone else getting something for less than what they pay which in a way is understandable but if they were your friends they should be happy for you.

I have lived in my council house for 13 years, lost a couple friends when I moved but most friends were pleased for us.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
WiIson · 07/03/2023 17:10

I'd just think well done for getting somewhere to live.

mdh2020 · 07/03/2023 17:13

I grew up on a council estate and we thought we were very lucky. Dont know what sort of accommodation my parents could have afforded otherwise. No one ever looked down on us. DS brought a friend home from work who slept on a mattress on the floor and was very happy. We later discovered her father was CEO of a very large company. DH came from a large house in the Midlands but never commented on where we lived. I am very sad that there isn’t more social housing available when it is so desperately needed.

Sarahcoggles · 07/03/2023 17:13

It's unlikely anyone on MN will say anything negative about council housing and council tenants as they will get roasted alive, so you won't get an answer to your question OP.

Fuwari · 07/03/2023 17:14

I grew up in a privately owned home, which was later repossessed! So home ownership has never seemed that secure to me. It's only yours as long as you can make the repayments. My mum was a total snob about council housing. The type that wouldn't let us play with kids from "the estate". Life circumstances meant I ended up in SH. Now I have a lovely place and my mum admits she was wrong! Some people will be snobs about it, some will be jealous. You have a secure home and that's the important thing.

321gogogo · 07/03/2023 17:15

I used to be a council tenant. 6 years ago we moved to a housing association because we wanted the kids to have a garden. Our rent has now more than doubled, but we are still considered social housing tenants.

Hindsight is wonderful, we should have just stayed in our flat!!

Tumbleweed101 · 07/03/2023 17:15

I grew up in a council property and rent a council property now. When I was growing up it was all about the stigma of living on rough estates, drugs etc. It has definitely shifted that more and more people are envious of the security and more realistic rental costs now that housing prices are too high for many to easily buy.

Personally I feel very grateful that I am able to rent the property I have, even though my rent will jump up quite a bit come April it still is affordable compared to the same house privately rented.

IHeartGeneHunt · 07/03/2023 17:16

I live in one and I'm great. Seriously, though, my neighbours are all lovely, it's quiet, it's clean, it's next to all the transport links, beside a park with a green flag award, I love it here.

gogohmm · 07/03/2023 17:16

Obviously they are not true friends!

Council tenants moaning about not having a new boiler or kids having to share does grate a bit I admit, as private renters are paying far more for often worse homes and owners are paying for everything and often can't afford to move to a bigger house. Just being honest.

My advice is that if they don't want council tenants as friends good riddance but try to be tactful about maintenance etc as we all know private landlords are worse

PleaseJustText · 07/03/2023 17:19

These days there's less stigma but more jealousy and resentment. A lot of people are struggling to rent and if they had the option would have a council house.

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 07/03/2023 17:20

Not a lot really - grew up in a council house.

The only think I think of now is that right to buy was an absolute piss take if a mistake, and should be stopped asap

AnneLovesGilbert · 07/03/2023 17:20

You privately rented for 11 years, what did you think of council tenants then? Happy for them? Bit jealous?

HoppingMarchHares · 07/03/2023 17:20

I am in housing association flat. Majority of my work colleagues are in HA too.

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 07/03/2023 17:21

Comedycook · 07/03/2023 16:17

I don't think they are looking down on you...I think many many people just find the system so unfair. Private rent is so expensive and it's so difficult to buy that people feel jealous and resentful that others are housed at a much lower cost.

This. ^

@Borntolurk It is very unlikely that people will look down on you for having a 'council house' especially if they didn't look down on you for having private let.

The 'it's a free house' idea is only peddled by the terminally stupid, and as pps have said, it's very likely people throwing shade on you are jealous. I have met a number of people who are jealous of, and spiteful about people in social housing.

Plenty to be jealous about. Tenancy for life (usually,) affordable rent, quite nice areas for many, repairs on tap, and no 10s of 1000s of £££ for repairs and maintenance over the years. Also no worries if you end up out of work, as you get housing benefit.

I know waaaaay more people who are homeowners mortgage owners who struggle financially, than people who rent social housing who do. The people renting social housing are not 'rich,' but are fairly comfortable, and getting by quite well. Most people I know who 'own' are shitloads in debt, and get further into debt every time the house needs repairs and maintenance.

Iloveenidblyton · 07/03/2023 17:25

No issues with council housing tenants. It’s more the people they are and there can be anti social issues with private tenants too.

Regarding the so called friends who already knew you but decided to reject you just because you moved into a council house, I’d say to you that you’re better off without them.

It’s due to wither snobbery or jealousy, neither of them being good.

Circumstances have weeded out the undesirables from your life and they don’t deserve you.

gogohmm · 07/03/2023 17:26

Seeing some of these rent differentials I can see why people think it's dreadfully unfair that some people get to pay such low rents, no way can £500pcm cover all costs and contribute towards the building cost in London. Where I used to live they changed the kitchens and bathrooms every 10 years, ditto the boiler, had solar panels installed, all repairs done, £500pcm is barely covering this and that wasn't in London (similar private sector housing was £1100 pcm)

SquashPenguin · 07/03/2023 17:31

I’m not sure I agree with lifelong tenancy. People’s situations can change, and I think given the shortage of housing it should remain available/ a priority to those who need it most.

I work as a contractor for a housing association, we see all sorts. Some houses are immaculate, some are squalor, so I don’t really have an opinion on people who live in them either way.

Babybab · 07/03/2023 17:33

My best friends in a council house, she’s had it 10 years since she was a single mum on benefits and now she’s married and her and her partner have great jobs, they’re currently considering whether to buy it. I don’t judge her but I do think it seems slightly wrong for her to still be there, given how many don’t have access. I think given the shortage, people should move on when they no longer need them to free up the stock. But, that is a system issue and not a person issue, so I don’t judge her personally.

motheroreily · 07/03/2023 17:39

Honestly I'm so jealous
As others have said there isnt enough social housing.

vodkaredbullgirl · 07/03/2023 17:42

gogohmm · 07/03/2023 17:26

Seeing some of these rent differentials I can see why people think it's dreadfully unfair that some people get to pay such low rents, no way can £500pcm cover all costs and contribute towards the building cost in London. Where I used to live they changed the kitchens and bathrooms every 10 years, ditto the boiler, had solar panels installed, all repairs done, £500pcm is barely covering this and that wasn't in London (similar private sector housing was £1100 pcm)

I live in South West, been here 20 yrs. 1 new boiler, new kitchen and bathroom, in 20 yrs. My inside doors are not fit for purpose, dread to think what would happen if there was a fire. HA will not change them, I would have to do that.

ZED55JAX0 · 07/03/2023 17:43

I’d not think anything of it! If people are judging you I’d reconsider the friendship it’s not something that any genuine friend would even think about! Even to a non friend I’d not think anything about it

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 07/03/2023 17:43

motheroreily · 07/03/2023 17:39

Honestly I'm so jealous
As others have said there isnt enough social housing.

100% this. ^ Needs another million homes building - at LEAST.

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 07/03/2023 17:44

HoppingMarchHares · 07/03/2023 17:20

I am in housing association flat. Majority of my work colleagues are in HA too.

Exactly. Many people in social housing have jobs!