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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:
Kendodd · 07/03/2023 20:28

My overriding thoughts on council housing is that there isn't enough of it.
Council housing provides a secure affordable long term home that people can make their own, decorating, planting a tree in the garden etc.
A mass council house building programme is the single biggest thing the government could do to reduce poverty and improve lives in the UK in my opinion. It would also raise revenue for councils through rents and more than pay for itself in no time. The private sector has completely and utterly failed to provide secure affordable accommodation for the population and it's long past time that the government should have stepped in.

x2boys · 07/03/2023 20:31

gamerchick · 07/03/2023 20:16

You have to be actually on the tenancy here to inherit it. Living in the house makes no difference now.

Show quote history

Yep.that was what we were told when we got our house,I have a joint tenancy with dh,if he died before me I inherit the tenancy as a sole tenant and vice/ versa it doesn't continue to be inherited by various family members .

slowquickstep · 07/03/2023 20:42

Shinyandnew1 · 07/03/2023 19:16

On the other side is a Advanced Practise Nurse and her accountant wife, all have lived there for over 30 years.

Is it the case then, that once you are given a council house property that no matter how much you earn, there is no expectation that you would move out?

There is no expectation that you will move out as you are not given a tenancy based on your earnings. Bob Crow the ex RMT union general secretary made a stand about not moving out of his Council house.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
whynotwhatknot · 07/03/2023 20:48

its the system they should be mad with not you-i couldnt give a toss my best friend live sin social housing with a lofe long tenancy i told her to never leave

buying a huse is a pain the arse and the criteria is unfair

hope your very happy in your new home

whynotwhatknot · 07/03/2023 20:49

oh and get new friends -real friends wouldnt care where you live

slowquickstep · 07/03/2023 20:49

Bivarb · 07/03/2023 19:22

I wouldn't judge. I live in a housing association flat (there aren't any council properties in Scotland, it's only housing association).

I'd love to get a house with a garden but I'm very greatful for what I have. I went from a damp 1 bedroom private let flat to a 2 bedroom housing association high rise flat and save £60 a month in rent. I wish more people could have social housing.

There are many council houses in Scotland.

slowquickstep · 07/03/2023 20:52

Tooscaredtopost · 07/03/2023 19:18

NC for this as I’m sure my opinion will be unpopular!

Personally I don’t want to live near council housing as I think generally the people who live there are more likely to commit crime and behave anti socially than those living in private rented or owned housing. I also do look down on some people in council housing because I see them as “not paying their way” (I am aware that council housing is not free but it’s not market prices).

Part of this is definitely jealousy - I live in central London and paid thousands a month in rent and now in mortgage while people in very similar properties round the corner get a massive subsidy that I pay for through taxes. Part of it is fear - I now live close to a massive council estate and the quickest way to my kids nursery is to go through it, I now don’t go that way because when I have I’ve been shouted and spat at multiple times, seen people obviously dealing drugs, people screaming at each other in the street and witnessed a mugging. Clearly these things happen anywhere but in my limited experience the frequency is higher in council estates than elsewhere.

Obviously the above is both a prejudice and a massive generalisation so when I meet people who live in council housing I don’t immediately assume that individual fits any of the above stereotypes. I have plenty of friends who grew up in council housing (though in the interest of transparency I don’t think I know anyone well who lives in council housing now).

So I guess my conclusion is I think people in council housing are mostly the same as people not in council housing but the concentration of criminality and antisocial behaviour is higher.

I am sure we could name many, murderers, rapists, thieves and ne'er do wells who have owned property. Must be awful being such a snob.

Beeswood · 07/03/2023 20:55

My Gran lived in a council house and when I came to buy a property I bought an ex council house. It is a semi-detached bungalow in a cul-de-sac.

I coudn't afford anything else and have been very happy with my choice.

One friend did advise me not to buy on a council estate. I have seen no trouble in the 21 years I have owned my property.

bugsinmybrain · 07/03/2023 20:55

I'm extremely grateful for the longterm roof over my child and I. I'm disabled and I get such an amazing community around me living in a council block - when I've had to go into hospital as an emergency, I've always had neighbours who are known and trusted to offer emergency childcare until a relative can get to us, when there's been antisocial behaviour (had an arson attack on our home and a knife wielding weirdo come at me) I've always got a community behind me day or night that jumps into the street to help

Yes, the area does attract unsavoury people but they tend not to live here and those that do are for the most part amazing people I wouldn't be without

If I won the lottery tonight - I would ofc free it up to someone who needs it more but I know I'd very much miss having such a great support from my community

I grew up middle class- perhaps knowing 3 people on the street

I could tell you the names of everyone in my block and one over, I could tell you what they do for work or why they don't and I know if I ever scream - they all come running. When someone dies - the whole street is out to welcome the funeral procession

I'm so much happier raising my child in a council block than I think I would be in a mansion tbh

catherinecawoodrtd · 07/03/2023 20:55

Shopper727 · 07/03/2023 19:04

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.

Best of luck and many years of happiness in your new home.

whynotwhatknot · 07/03/2023 20:55

@Tooscaredtopost biggest serialkiller was a doctor

get off you high horse

JenniferBooth · 07/03/2023 20:58

RTB is not the only reason there is a shortage of social housing It is due to regeneration gentrification and stock transfer and well those who work for HAs know it but they are happy to go along with tenant blaming because it suits the agenda against tenants. Try reading Municipal Dreams The Rise and Fall of Council Housing by John Boughton.

And i knew the "all in this together" shit during Covid was just that .......SHIT which is partly why i didnt follow all the Covid rules. Because i knew it would be back to the default setting of looking down on us soon enough.

gamerchick · 07/03/2023 20:59

You're wasting your time. Anyone who thinks SH has a subsidy attached is obviously a bit thick and not worth paying attention to.

Original poster
Borntolurk · 07/03/2023 21:00

Wow, I’m happily surprised at the positive replies here. Thank you. I’ve obviously just come across a few negative reactions and taken them to heart. I do know there will always be folk out there that’ll make assumptions based on where we live, but I will have to develop a thicker skin I guess!
The one who sort of disassociated with me when she found out we lived in a council house, also, when she employed a cleaner at her home, locked away the valuables and had a lot of anxiety over whether they could be trusted, so perhaps there are more issues at play there, who knows?

OP posts:
User473831 · 07/03/2023 21:01

We need more, it needs to be good quality and we need to stop selling it (I think).

if everyone has a happy safe affordable home the world is a happier place.

BeesOnLavender · 07/03/2023 21:03

buildingourdreams · 07/03/2023 19:55

What happens to people in private rented when they retire ? If they're only on a state pension?

They'll get housing benefit , council tax credit and pension credit on top of their state pension. Their private rent will almost certainly be more than their maximum allowed housing benefit for their area. If they're single or a couple, they're entitled to one bedroom property and the housing benefit will reflect that. If they're in a property with additional bedrooms, a less run down property or a property in a nicer area etc (all of which could incur a higher rent), that's deemed to be their choice. "Full" council tax credit is only 3/4 of the value of whatever the council tax amount is, in some areas of UK. Any shortfall has to be topped up from their state pension and pension credit. If you private rent and have nothing but the state pension and top up benefits, your future is pretty bleak. There's also the issue of becoming homeless if your landlord sells. You may want to try to avoid that with another private rental, but may not meet the income criteria landlords have, leaving you no option but to declare yourself homeless to the council and hope for the best. Unless you have sympathetic family to take you in, be guarantors or fund a private rental etc.

Is it the case then, that once you are given a council house property that no matter how much you earn, there is no expectation that you would move out?

Yes that's currently the rules

icanneverthinkofnc · 07/03/2023 21:06

Any judgement and they aren't friends. Enjoy your home!
I love my little council bungalow. It's warm, ( well insulated) cosy, garden just about big enough, we have car parking off road too. The council were brilliant when we downsized from the house we brought the family up in.
There needs to be a mass building policy to get everyone housed. It's a national disgrace.

That is not the tenants fault!

JenniferBooth · 07/03/2023 21:06

oh and speaking of Covid it was bad enough the rules were used disproportionately against certain sections of society when they were actually in force but to still be doing it..... no excuse. We recieved this letter last month and no its NOT old rules being left on a template We had never recieved this prior to last month.

"it is advisable to wear a face covering. Where residents are not willing to do this we reserve the right not to enter the property and this will be treated as failure to provide access"
PHS Compliance
February 2023

JenniferBooth · 07/03/2023 21:09

They'll get housing benefit , council tax credit and pension credit on top of their state pension. Their private rent will almost certainly be more than their maximum allowed housing benefit for their area. If they're single or a couple, they're entitled to one bedroom property and the housing benefit will reflect that. If they're in a property with additional bedrooms, a less run down property or a property in a nicer area etc (all of which could incur a higher rent), that's deemed to be their choice.

Unlike having children which people are forced into!!!

Some elderly people need a second bedroom so a carer can stay. Disability is not a choice despite what those who work for HAs think!!!!

MaidOfSteel · 07/03/2023 21:16

I don't understand your friends at all.

Real friends would be happy that you finally had a secure home. Not look down on you.

BloodyThursday · 07/03/2023 21:18

I'd have no issues and many friends live in council properties. One thing I'd say I've noticed, is that SOME expect repairs etc done immediately and can be really pissed off when for example they have to wait days for a replacement boiler. Even when ours went and we couldn't get any private plumber to buy and replace in under a week. Expectations seem to be more when they don't have to pay. Maybe it's a lack of experience, I don't know.

Tooscaredtopost · 07/03/2023 21:18

@slowquickstep@whynotwhatknot

Of course I’m not saying that there are no criminals who own/rent privately or are doctors - that would be insane and is demonstrably not true - just that I have the perception that there’s a higher proportion in social, I’d be very surprised if the figures disagreed but happy to be corrected if anyone has evidence to the contrary.

Anyway, I’m going to unwatch this thread now as my opinion is as unpopular as I expected. I’m sure there are others who feel similarly but don’t want the fight and nor do I.

However, @Borntolurk for what little it’s worth even though mine is one of the more negative opinions I also agree that any friends who know you as an individual and distance themselves from you because you’ve moved to social housing are dicks and aren’t worth your time. While I admit to having negative preconceptions, I would never refuse to meet/be friends with an individual based on my perceptions of a group - to do that when you’re already friends with them in particular is awful.

Dragonsandcats · 07/03/2023 21:21

Don’t think I’d think anything about it.

SchoolTripDrama · 07/03/2023 21:21

Ringmaster27 · 07/03/2023 16:37

@teapotfullofsquash the age old infuriation of not being able to save while renting, and rent not being counted towards your credit rating 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
Mortage advisor: “but how do we know you can afford to pay £700 a month mortgage repayment?”
Me: “because I’ve been paying my landlord £1300 a month, on time every month for the past five years 🤨”
Mortgage advisor: “So why can’t you save a bigger deposit?”
Me: “BECAUSE I’VE BEEN PAYING MY LANDLORD £1300 A MONTH FOR 5 YEARS!”
😑😑😑😑
The never ending circle.

Thankfully rental payments are now reported to your credit rating - u less you opt out of it

JenniferBooth · 07/03/2023 21:23

MN........social housing should only be for the desperate.
Also MN...........im not buying a house near that estate. Its a right ghetto

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