Honestly, do you judge people who live in council estates?

[Dotcheck]

So, I live in my own home on a council estate. I’m well educated, and have always worked in a job which requires a degree + a post graduate qualification, but is poorly paid.
I’m grateful I own my own home. I’m divorced, never remarried so moving hasn’t been an option.
After my divorce, I bought my ex husband out, but qualified for a mortgage by the skin of my teeth. I believe I’m really lucky- many people can’t afford to buy their own home, and in many places in the world, people live in awful conditions.
However, I recently changed jobs and I’m now in a place which has more ‘middle class’ people. I hate those sorts of designations but there we are.
I’ve heard so many people make off handed comments about council estates and the people who live there. Although I do feel grateful to have my own home, I’m heartbroken/ furious that my children may be judged for where they come from.
So- do you judge? Or have you had those experiences?

I’ve owned my ex council house for nearly 30 years and have never heard anything negative like that.

Most people will judge, yes. Most people will also be too polite to tell you.

I used to live in a high rise and absolutely there’s an attitude about it. However I knew a number of professionals who lived in the same block. It is what it is.

Also I did buy a house in UK which was on the border of a council estate. When I asked to view it the agent suggested it might not be ‚up my street‘ because it was close to a council estate and my kids would end up in the same school as the council estate kids.
Knowing what I know, I bought the house, my kids did go to the same school and surprise surprise! They are all just kids!
I now live in another country and the attitude doesn’t exist here. It’s a curiously British thing really.
Screw the haters OP!

These days it's all mixed together anyway.

No, I don’t judge people for living on a council estate. I grew up on a council estate and the house I live in now (which I bought) is an ex council house.

Some people can’t differentiate between decent people who live the best lives they can and the people who don’t look after their children properly and are unable to regulate their own emotions and just live chaotic lives - however, often this is because they have their own problems and have never been taught or shown another way to live. I try to remember that.

I think people who’ve never had to pull themselves up in any way just think everyone has the same upbringing and opportunities they have had. And that’s why they judge.

Just bloody tell them your story, if you feel comfortable. Some people need to be shaken out of their smug complacency.

It is very unfair, but lots of people do make assumptions about people based on where they live.

Can you trade up at some stage?

These days our council estate is full of private buyers and the houses are not cheap, and it's the same across the city, the days of estates being enclaves seem to be over in our area at least.

I get a bit jealous to be honest. Private renter £1400 a month two bed property. Sil never worked a day in her life. 4 bed council house to her self rent paid by benefits never had to worry about being kicked out. Been there 35 years, regular new kitchen bathroom etc.

Sadly yes, in real life , not mumsnet, of course some people judge council housing be it rented from an HA or owned, estate or stand alone .

On here it’s all they are massive on huge plots, and I’ve lived in many places in the uk and travelled all over and never seen these mythical council mansions. I grew up in one, and folks judged, they still do. but the sort of person who does this, isn’t worth anyone’s time.

I judge people who judge those who live in council houses.

I'm a home owner and unfortunately I've heard many snobby views about those who live in social housing from neighbours over the years.

Read the objections to any planning application for new social housing to see some fine examples of snobbery and prejudice.

Our estate is mixed private and social and private rental

It's safe and friendly and I know people will judge but they just show the limited value of their judgement

A lot of the judgement comes from those who actually WORK in the housing sector. They assume that people are at home all day every day. They ALL assume it. Friend of mine recently had a letter sent to him saying the fire door safety company needed to check his front door. It was a THREE DAY call.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4922126-to-think-a-three-day-call-is-not-an-appointment

I managed to buy my ex council house for very little and now have no mortgage. Ive rennovated it and now its worth twice what i bought it for! Also have 2 degrees and run my own business but my profession (freelance musician) is not well paid either! But im happy ansld secure. Im in yorkshire on top of a hill with a panoramic view of hills and rivers. Absolutely idyllic! So what if its an ex council? Ive got a huge garden and 3 bedrooms! No one has ever been snobby about it to be fair. Now all the privately owned ex council houses are being snapped up by young couple who do them up to give themselves a reasonably proportioned family home just like I did. I just wanted a family home I could afford. My son has a lovely room and a garden to play out in. All I've ever wanted! So people can be snobby if they want, but we're doing just fine!

No.

My grandparents always lived in council properties.
My mum lives in one.
My best friend lives in one.

They wouldn’t become ‘better’ people if they moved to privately owned or rented properties. They are (were in the case of my GP) great people, the location of their house and the ownership status doesn’t define them or change that.

I don't. But some will. But that's down to them.

Often the judgiest are those who have only just recently "climbed up" and therefore feel they have to distance themselves or something. ( Hyacinth Bucket style)

I don't judge people whether they own/rent /social rent either

Particularly these days when so many people only make it onto the housing ladder due to vast gifts from family. It's not even an indicator of prudence or hard work, it's often just an indicator of the good fortune of being born into a property owning family.

I don't judge, probably because I live in a council house, but I work with lots of people who do. Just let it go over your head. Be proud of who you are and what you've achieved. FWIW I think people will always find something to judge someone about some are just more open about it than others. If you had a big house on a private estate you'd be posh or a snob

I judge people who are on benefits when they could be working, and I judge a million different people for a million different reasons - but I absolutely do not judge people who live in council houses.

I own my ex council home. The estate is part owned, housing association and private rental.

It's a horrible place to live. No community due to bad design and dodgy people everyone has to avoid. I spend too much time reporting fly tipping. No one will tackle the problems as we're not worth it. Even the local council and councillors are too scared to get a grip with it.

The day I move from here I will celebrate.

Basically, I judge most of my neigbours for being anti-social and not wanting to make this place nicer.

Yes people judge.
I live in a private housing estate that isn’t in the right area. Houses are €200K less than houses a five minutes drive away. I am judged.

No. I seek out mixed areas to live in. Avoid the snobs if you want to live in a nice community!

What a great reply, was trying to say the same but you’ve nailed it !

Lets be honest there are nice council estates and some utter shithole estates. I unfortunately spent a few years on the latter and had to put up with a few problem familes. To be honest I could not wait to get out and I felt sorry for the good folk who for whatever reason did not have that option and had to endure crap services, crap schools and complete disinterest from the police insofar as dealing with antisocial behaviour. To be honest when I meet fellow professionals who have managed to escape some shitty sink estate I have enormous respect for them.

The worst neighbours I have come across have been owners. I'm proud of my lovely little council bungalow. I have never been able to afford a mortgage. I'm perfectly law abiding and decent.
My biggest bugbear is the lack of council housing. It should be the norm for rental.

I don't, and wouldn't.
I know for a fact that loads of folk do though.
Some folk always judge others, it seems to make them somehow feel better about themselves.