Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why do people look down on council houses

410 replies

Easystuff · 09/09/2023 13:22

Just that really why do others look down on council/social houses. I don't understand. There's no special treatment. It's not unusual, it's been about for many years. It's now pretty hard to get social housing. There are thousands of family waiting lists, being made homeless. Through no fault of their own. It's pretty awful out there.

OP posts:
Zebedee55 · 10/09/2023 16:49

CupOfCoffeePlease · 09/09/2023 14:02

Council housing is really hard to get here so I,think most people who get it will have housing benefit so aren't "paying".

It's a bit of a trap once you're used to housing benefit/dla/etc and hard to climb out of I think.

I suppose I've been in SH since the 70's, when it was virtually available to all -regardless of earnings etc.

Ive never claimed anything, but SH has always suited me. I've always been in nice places, and never felt the need to change anything.

I didn't bother with RTB when it came out in the 80's either.

Its probably changed now.

Janieforever · 10/09/2023 16:49

Sorry 106 a week.

Barbiesback · 10/09/2023 16:50

@Fleur02 People Steel and Rob in the posh areas too. You sound highly bitter it's unhealthy to be wound up about other people's circumstances. What exactly do you want council tenants to do? Move into private??

Craziness.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Benefits General health
Seagullchippy · 10/09/2023 16:50

TooManyClouds · 10/09/2023 16:33

But they're not subsidised. And they're not particularly low rents these days. A social housing rent where I live is around £350 a week.

If they are being let out at below what you would pay for a private rental the same size then they are subsidised via whichever route, per my previous posts.

As the housing is scarce nowadays, it tends to be allocated to a higher proportion of people who are less likely to be able to earn high wages: ex offenders, people with disabilities, single parents, people suffering trauma after fleeing violence or other situations...

This is a very depressing view of humanity, that you don't believe people who are single parents or disabled or have been through trauma etc can ever improve their situation. Many of us are living proof that is not the case. Of course some people will always need support e.g. the very severely disabled, but that does not account for 75-80% of already reduced-rate social housing rents being subsidised further through housing benefit/ UC per the statistics that were posted earlier in the thread, particularly with the long tenures so many tenants have been in situ for years or even decades and had plenty of time to improve their situation.

That and the relatively high rents in newer tenancies mean it's increasingly normal for tenants to need some housing benefits, though of course they'd need far more if they moved into housing owned by people making a profit out of taxpayers' money.

I think you're trying to make some kind of political point here which is not what I'm talking about at all: I'm talking about the economics.

No, not making high private profits does not equate to being subsidised.

keffie12 · 10/09/2023 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Underclass - oh my! I bet you don't see what the people you mix with do. The people you mix with now will all have their skeletons. The difference is they can pay to cover it up. Buy silence

Believe me, a lot of them do. I know that from my own experience of life.

When you're looking down on others and pointing the finger, as you clearly are, you need to realise that you need to bring the finger back three times at yourself.

My God "You think you're better than others" is not a nice character trait to have

Fleur02 · 10/09/2023 16:52

Barbiesback · 10/09/2023 16:50

@Fleur02 People Steel and Rob in the posh areas too. You sound highly bitter it's unhealthy to be wound up about other people's circumstances. What exactly do you want council tenants to do? Move into private??

Craziness.

Not to the same extent, so don’t be so silly.

And no, there’s nothing “bitter” about looking down on the underclass.

Fleur02 · 10/09/2023 16:53

Barbiesback · 10/09/2023 16:50

@Fleur02 People Steel and Rob in the posh areas too. You sound highly bitter it's unhealthy to be wound up about other people's circumstances. What exactly do you want council tenants to do? Move into private??

Craziness.

And it’s steal and rob. Note the spelling and capitalisation.

Zebedee55 · 10/09/2023 16:54

Janieforever · 10/09/2023 16:49

Can I ask where do you live where an average council property rent is 1400 a month?

the average in the uk is currently 106 a month. Central London higher but no where near your levels?

Show quote history

Dunno, I'm paying £900 a month (London commute belt), for a very nice two bed garden flat.

I don't claim any sort of housing benefit.🙄

Barbiesback · 10/09/2023 16:55

@Fleur02 is this what you teach your kids? You sound lovely.

Barbiesback · 10/09/2023 16:57

@Fleur02 what exactly is underclass? You should teach your kids not to look down on people you don't know. Who are you? You are bitter to high heavens.

ell87 · 10/09/2023 16:58

@Janieforever where I live in the south most social housing rents are above £1000 p/m
They vary a lot. I know people who pay £90 pw but then less then 5 miles away someone else will be paying £300 pw for a smaller house just because they rented it recently and the social land landlord decided they could squeeze more money out of the newer tenants. Usually when it's low it's because it's been rented for a long time before landlords (housing associations are landlords) got greedy, and they haven't been able to increase the rent much.

TooManyClouds · 10/09/2023 16:58

Yes @morelippy , there are very obvious solutions. Evidence-based policies implemented with a proper, rational economic plan to improve productivity and raise UK living standards, reform our tax system, overhaul healthcare and education and pensions and infrastructure investment and actually make the UK a functional country again. Then salaries will rise in proportion to assets so that living standards can improve and housing will gradually become more affordable alongside everything else improving. It would however, requires that all political parties commit to such sensible long-term plans for key areas on a cross-party basis across successive Government terms, making decisions that are necessary rather than pandering to their respective donors and fanatical party supporters, and the population to accept that nothing is free and everybody must contribute to the greatest extent of their ability. Unfortunately - unless the mentality of our politicians and much of our populace is changed - then there is no viable solution available that doesn't involve crashing the economy even further. For collective benefits to be reaped collective responsibility is a pre-requisite.

ell87 · 10/09/2023 17:02

@Fleur02

The 'underclass' you look down on I can almost guarantee will be stronger then you with more life experience and much more likely to survive a war or apocalypse then you.
Growing up in poverty makes you tough as old boots. You shouldn't look down on them because one day you might need them.

TooManyClouds · 10/09/2023 17:03

No, not making high private profits does not equate to being subsidised.

I don't think you understand the economics of it and the opportunity cost involved, or the necessity that therefore others must pay higher prices to subsidise land being used for these cheaper homes. I've explained all of that earlier. If what you are claiming was true and there was no cost to anybody then why wouldn't Councils just build tons of new social housing for everybody who wants it?

Zebedee55 · 10/09/2023 17:03

ell87 · 10/09/2023 16:58

@Janieforever where I live in the south most social housing rents are above £1000 p/m
They vary a lot. I know people who pay £90 pw but then less then 5 miles away someone else will be paying £300 pw for a smaller house just because they rented it recently and the social land landlord decided they could squeeze more money out of the newer tenants. Usually when it's low it's because it's been rented for a long time before landlords (housing associations are landlords) got greedy, and they haven't been able to increase the rent much.

I don't know - HAs were allowed to raise their rents by inflation+ in April. My rent, as a long term tenant, went up 11%.

Things have changed.😗

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/09/2023 17:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Wow underclass, you sound lovely.

Fleur02 · 10/09/2023 17:05

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/09/2023 17:03

Wow underclass, you sound lovely.

Show quote history

You think there’s an issue with using the standard English word for a group of people? Do you get upset about people referring to the working class or middle class too?

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/09/2023 17:07

We all die and end up in the same place. Class should be abolished.

Zebedee55 · 10/09/2023 17:07

ell87 · 10/09/2023 17:02

@Fleur02

The 'underclass' you look down on I can almost guarantee will be stronger then you with more life experience and much more likely to survive a war or apocalypse then you.
Growing up in poverty makes you tough as old boots. You shouldn't look down on them because one day you might need them.

Quite. Being born just after the war, in poverty, means I've learned to survive - without many meltdowns, or needing safe spaces. 🙄

Not much fazes me, and nothing about life has ever made me look down on others - we all have a backstory, life can change in a heartbeat, and it's wise never to get to being too smug...😏

Catsarego · 10/09/2023 17:12

TooManyClouds · 10/09/2023 16:39

How lovely, insulting people who disagree with you because they think public assets should be allocated to those most in need of them.

I have no interest in politics, thank you, and didn't ask for career advice from you. Being an MP wouldn't be viable for me even if I wished to do it because it'd involve a large pay cut and longer working hours, while also having to deal with abusive people who make spiteful, personal attacks on anybody who disagrees with them, so I think I'll continue in my current role. But thank you for the "helpful" suggestion.

Show quote history

I’ll say it again; social housing is not a public asset. They are owned by private companies. I couldn’t give a toss who lives where but most people are obsessed with home ownership. It’s seen as the pinnacle of success.

Janieforever · 10/09/2023 17:14

I’m not sure to be honest, why people keep quoting these “ where I live the social rent is extortionate” but refusing to say the region.

here is the latest report on social housing, inc demographics and average costs.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2021-to-2022-social-rented-sector/english-housing-survey-2021-to-2022-social-rented-sector

English Housing Survey 2021 to 2022: social rented sector

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2021-to-2022-social-rented-sector/english-housing-survey-2021-to-2022-social-rented-sector

IClaudine · 10/09/2023 17:16

Fleur02 · 10/09/2023 17:05

You think there’s an issue with using the standard English word for a group of people? Do you get upset about people referring to the working class or middle class too?

Show quote history

Well MNHQ seems to agree that your language is problematic.

Catsarego · 10/09/2023 17:18

@Fleur02 I wouldn’t want you as a neighbour. Jeez. The misery. Of course you’d never see that

IClaudine · 10/09/2023 17:18

Re funding. One of the biggest housing associations raises funding via bonds. Not public money.

Swipe left for the next trending thread