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

[Borntolurk]

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.

Both sets of grandparents were council tenants and did buy their semi detached homes in the 1980s, which was good for them but not for the nation iyswim.

I sort of feel if I had airs about council houses one of my nans would appear and give me a thwack.

There is obviously not enough social housing, everyone should be entitled to secure housing regardless of your income or ‘need’ and there shouldn’t be a point where you’re kicked out if you earn too much as pointed out by a pp, nobody would then go on to do bigger and better things. They need to build more social housing and get rid of Buy to let mortgages :)

If think.ypu were lucky as far more people want social housing than there are homes to offer them.

Have you considered that maybe the council housing costs reflect the real costs and in fact the private market costs are too high, rather than vice versa.

My mortgage costs me roughly the same as what it would cost to rent my house from the council. On the upside; I’ll have paid it off by the time I’m 40. On the downside; I’m 100% responsible for all repairs (of which there are a lot because it’s a 100 year old ex council house)

Will also add that we try our best to make sure our house and it’s surrounds are in good order; definitely no old sofas or fridges in the garden! We’re also very aware of the stigma, although we live in a lovely village that’s generally always been very inclusive of all residents, and try to be good neighbours to the folks in the mostly home owning surrounding properties. We don’t want to perpetuate the myth! We’ve had terrible neighbours before; council, private and homeowners, so I’d hate to inflict that on anyone else!

They are not true friends.

Definitely OP.

We had one of the outsourced contractors come to redo the heating, I left out tea/coffee as I had to go to work and he said "Oh,I didn't realise people in council houses worked"

My manager said to me last month "You can't help it that you live in a council house"

I think I'm the luckiest person alive personally.

I think the same about council housing tenants as I do about homeowners and private renters - absolutely nothing at all.

My own life is too busy to find the time or energy to concern myself with other people's business.

This.

Your friends are knobs. I’m apparently, quite posh (i don’t think so, but have been told 😂) and I actively encouraged a friend to get a council property due her circumstances. I’m as happy to visit her there as her privately rented place. It’s lovely actually, much nicer than her old place.

I live in an HA property, and I'm very very grateful that I'm here. On my FT wage, I wouldn't have been able to afford a private rental, plus childcare. I've always worked, and always paid the rent on time and kept the place in good order (as any tenant should!). I'm considerate towards my neighbours, and my kids know to be the same.

What do I think of other people in Council/HA properties? I don't think anything at all. It doesn't bother me who lives where. I have friends who own their own homes and friend who rent.

Worst thing Thatcher ever did. I know a lot of people liked the idea of buying their homes cheap off the council and thousands did, but the money wasn't ringfenced to build more. And you have council houses which are currently lived in by people (including 1 union leader) who earn enough to buy their own but don't let the property go to those who really need it. And then the difficult thing of someone who has lived in a three bed council house and brought up their children there but doesn't want to or can't downsize now they're solo. I have no skin in the game but would look down on people who looked down on people for anything to do with their housing.

See, I really can’t be mad at right to buy except from the fact that the money wasn’t reinvested in housing.

It allowed my very working class parents the chance to get on the housing ladder; something they would have never done otherwise.

I wouldn't think anything of it of someone lived in a council house. To be honest, I'm not even sure if I would notice, I haven't made a study of where the council estates are near me.

I don't agree with the right to buy, and I'm inclined to think that, given the shortage of social housing, it should probably be means tested with priority given to those most in need. That might mean people having to move if their circumstances improve, which I know is controversial, but if we don't have enough housing stock, then I would rather it went to those who can't afford other options. Of course, an even better solution would be to invest in building more council houses so that there are enough for everyone who wants them.

I guess it's jealousy. We are all struggling, why should some get help and not others? It's normal to feel this way I think but not normal to blame someone personally, friends should be pleased when friends have something positive happen.

I suggest you watch How to get a Council House (8 years old but probably worse now) and see just how "easy" it is to be housed by the Council!! Some were being sent to Birmingham and Luton (from Brent Council in one show), or out to Essex or Hertfordshire (Barking and Dagenham Council show).
Just saying.

I agree with this.

I’m a LL and my tenants pay in line with social housing rates.

I’ve made a profit over the years even taking one expensive eviction and refurb (ironically the only well paid “professional” tenant I’ve had) into account.

Even if I had a mortgage on it, which I’m fortunate not to have, I would have more than broke even.

Granted that’s not what most LLs are looking for - they want high profit - but it’s absolutely enough to cover costs of the property and associate issues.

In our council area you have to bid for a house and it will then be allocated depending on your priority need. I just checked on the council website and even in the shitty areas there can be between 50 and 100 people going for every house.

At least with council housing you will usually have a secure home as long as you don't breach the tenancy conditions. Private rental gives no security at all and some people have no choice but to private rent despite a view held by a number of posters on MN that all you need to do to be able to buy your own home is to work two jobs and not buy takeaway coffee.

So I would say good on you OP. Enjoy your home and cut all the judgemental idiots out of your life.

My only concern about council housing is that you have to pay rent for life where as once a mortgage is paid off it's paid for.

But that’s just the same as privately renting-you don’t own the house then either.

If everyone who got social housing just got given the house they lived in after renting for a few decades, the social housing stock would be in even more depleted than it currently is!

I'd say that they are lucky. I live in a private rented house and pay nearly double what my nextdoor neighbours pays for literally the same house but is owned by the council.
They've got a much nicer kitchen and bathroom and the security of knowing they won't get asked to leave in a few months or years if the owners decide to sell.
They both work and can afford a nice holiday a year as well as a caravan that they go away in every few weeks.
But I'm generally happy for them (both work for the NHS and deserve it) I just wish banks would make it easier to get a mortgage for people, as my mortgage would be cheaper than the rent I pay and I've never missed a bill or rent payment.

I’m from a very middle class family and I now have a council house. It’s frowned upon massively! Just a selection of comments I’ve received from my own family are

‘Oh you have a new sofa- how does someone in a COUNCIL house afford that ??’

‘How sad you’ll never be a homeowner’

‘How embarrassing for the children - people won’t want their children to come round for play dates you know!’

‘you married beneath yourself. We told you to marry above your social class and now you live in a council house’

‘Its a free house for life so you won’t get any inheritance’

Wow nice family, mine have never commented like that.

Jealous is how I feel but with no rancour.

I’m single, over 50, no kids, no parental help and now, will never get a mortgage (too old).

I didn’t realise how important it was to get on the property ladder in my 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. Or rather, I guess I assumed it would be a purchase with a lifetime partner and that’s not happened so I’ll have to work to pay extortionate rent till I drop dead. Fun times ahead.

I genuinely mean it when I say ‘no rancour’. Good for you and it must feel lovely to have that security! I just wish we had lifelong rents in this country. Ah, to live in Scandinavia.

Mine are particularly spectacular arseholes 😂 it’s a good job I’m thick skinned

After 5 years of being homeless in temporary accommodation I’ve finally been allocated a house for myself and my children. Spent the last week packing and waiting for our keys, need to floor and furnish it and literally have nothing but we will get there. It’s in great location for my sons school - previously 2 buses away seems to have nice neighbours and a lovely park nearby.

it’s been tough but I really don’t care what anyone else thinks. I’ve always paid my bills but being a single parent having our house sold by the landlord then not being able to get anything else caused our homelessness. My kids will share a room and we have a little garden but after moving 3 times in 5 years and my kids wanting some stability - youngest has asd we are over the moon. However it’s not all amazing as my son is really struggling with the change, he’s happy but it stirs things up for him.