High joint income and in social housing with no plans to buy. Celebrate or selfish?

[SocialHousedNHappy]

I’ve been wondering about for some time and completely understand the dire and desperate situation that many people and families find themselves in. But… I hate the way that social housing is seen as only for the most desperate, when it was introduced as a housing option for all.

My household brings in a healthy income and we pay less than 10% to our monthly rent. This means we get enjoy a modest lifestyle and put some money aside for adult DC for when they’re older - they can then choose to buy whatever they fancy, car, house deposit, uni, whatever as will be their choice.

I hate that people seem to think that I should give up my secure tenancy and move into private rent. Looking on rightmove, a comparable house would be around 3x what I’m currently paying in rent, and to be honest, I wouldn’t move to private rented ever again. But why do people react as thought I’m doing something wrong, in the same way as they think of benefit cheats? I think the govt should be put under pressure to build more social housing - proper social housing, rather than the current situation where people are pit against each other and blaming each other for what is clearly a government failing.

I don’t want to sound like I’m gloating, because I’m not, but I don’t see why I should feel bad and not celebrate the life and comfort that my social housing has allowed me to enjoy.

I’m genuinely interested to hear if anyone agrees and feels the same.

@OrangeSprout

• We (tax payers) are paying for your rent. You are stopping people get the lift up they need. What a total disgrace.* This is amazing, are people this dim, SH tenants pay rent, tax, council tax, they're not all on benefits

Please explain how this system would work.

Beezknees - You would have to be on a very low income as a pensioner to get full housing benefit. We are nearing retirement age and own our property outright. I am so glad that we don't have to worry about the extra expense.

I know some people can't afford to buy, but I think if you can, you'd be a fool not to. Just my opinion anyway.

“In every major city in the world there is a housing crisis. How did this happen and what can be done about it?

Everyone needs and deserves housing. But today our homes are being transformed into commodities, making the inequalities of the city ever more acute. Profit has become more important than social need. The poor are forced to pay more for worse housing. Communities are faced with the violence of displacement and gentrification. And the benefits of decent housing are only available for those who can afford it.” (In Defense of Housing, Madden and Marcuse, 2016)

Why would I choose to leave decent social housing - my home - only to pay more for worse housing?

Because you have been given help to get that housing and you now no longer need that help. Others do and by keeping the property you are preventing them from having it.

For those who are saying the taxpayer does not subsidise social housing, look at the wider picture: Where do you think councils get their money from?

A combination of council tax, government funding, business rates.

So everything they spend is funded by tax payers one way or another. Their money does not grow on tree...

Taxpayer money goes into maintaining, building and administrating social housing.

Are you the family near me who’ve just been
moved to a 4 bed semi with huge garden close to the town centre? Mum drives a Range Rover and the 17 and 18 year olds “kids” got minis for their 17th birthdays?! Lovely for you- but shit to be taking advantage while other families are stuck in unsuitable accommodation while you can clearly afford to buy (if you didn’t spend it all).

@SocialHousedNHappy ''Why would I choose to leave decent social housing - my home - only to pay more for worse housing?''

Because it is not your home/property.

It belongs to the council and should be used for people in real need. Your situation means that you are not in need...you are comfortable enough financially to pay for your own accommodation.

What you're doing is perfectly rational under the current rules. I don't blame you.

However, I do think that, for as long as there is a shortage of social housing (which is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future), then it should be means tested, and those with the greatest need should be given priority.

Of course, in an ideal world, there would be enough social housing for everyone who wants it, but sadly, we don't live in an ideal world, so I think it should be allocated to those who need it most.

It's the system that's at fault though, not the individuals who take advantage of it. And don't even get me started on the right-to-buy nonsense!!

You’d still be taking up a house that a desperate family need though wouldn’t you ? If your rent is so low why haven’t you saved up the deposit and bought one yourself ?

“Because it is not your home/property.”

I’m afraid you’re a little mistaken - it’s not my property but it IS my home.

There are way too many people living in cities that they simply cannot afford to live in, they cannot afford to rent privately of buy, then they are left scrambling for sometimes low quality/ run down social housing,
A lot of these people would be better off moving to small towns / villages outside the cities, they quite often do in skilled work which they can get in a lot of areas, if they moved outside of the cities they might have a chance of buying / renting their own place.
Where i grey up there were some small cottages ( quite old) in the neighbourhood, that were initially owned by the council and were rented out to council tenants in an effort to get them out of the maybe overcrowded towns, they were small 2 bed cottages in an acre of land where people could grow their own vedge and keep horses / other animals if they wanted, the old people living there seemed quite happy and probably had a better quality of life that living in some tiny little council house in the town.

I think governments should consider doing something like this again,

As I previously mentioned, I’ve no desire to buy a house. I don’t see why home ownership should the default.

Ive seen the stress and problems my fiends and family have encountered - debt, repossession, depression, overworked, forced to remain in marriages and relationships they’d rather be out of - yet relatively little happiness and, among other reasons choose not to go down that route.

Celebrate.

If you give it up then some immigrant who'll not have paid a penny in, will claim everything they can and won't want to work will be housed there.

As high earners you pay more tax than most.

Well done OP.

I don’t think you’re wrong - I presume you were in a worse situation at one point which allowed you to get into social housing? I don’t think I would move out if I had the luxury of only spending 10% of my income on rent. But the problem is not going to be fixed by you leaving so maybe just don’t tell people you live in social housing. They won’t bring it up. You are wrong however when you say social housing is for everyone - as if this was true many people wouldn’t be struggling. Would be great if it was for everyone though!

But if only 10% of your income is going on rent, why can't you save enough to be able to buy somewhere without your mortgage costs being massively increased compared to your current rent?
There would then be the advantage that once the mortgage is paid off, you won't have to use any of your pension to pay for housing and you would end up better off in retirement

You’re not doing anything wrong but I am a little jealous and bitter about it when we are both working full time but on low incomes, not entitled to any benefits or social housing and our rent is astronomical!

Life is unfair tbh. I’ve just started a second job to cover our rent increase and I’ve had to stay up all day after working all day yesterday and all night last night.

I agree with you. Unfortunately my husband did not and so we gave up my council place and bought our own house and now struggle daily. The enormous worry of debt and repayments looming over us every day.

we haven’t had a holiday or even a weekend away in years. Everything is secondhand. Can’t afford to get a car…… but the kids have a garden to play in which they rarely do.

you pay taxes etc so I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Live your life and be happy.

And yet SH tenants on here were moaned at for not having enough space to self isolate during Covid There were even some absolute morons who told us to use our spare BATHroom.

HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES WHO WANT TENANTS WHO CAN AFFORD THE RENT

WAKE UP

I completely understand why people choose to stay in social housing, rather than privately rent or buy. I'm sure most would in your shoes. Like you say, only 10% of your income goes on housing costs, how many people can say that?!
But morally is it right when so many people are desperate for housing, who absolutely couldn't afford private rent?
It's completely the system/governments fault, not yours. Personally, I think that the council/housing association rent should be on a sliding scale based on income. So tenants would pay a proportion of and up to, private rental rates. If people choose to stay in their homes paying the full amount, that's their choice. But it would make the system fairer overall. The extra money could be used to cover the costs of new houses or rental payments to people who are on the list, waiting for a home to become available.

We have private landlords that only allow tenants with incomes below £3ok to rent. They are taking a very low rent compared to commercial rents. It's the decent thing to do if you can afford to be interested in social mobility.
If you are higher rate tax payers, so £100k plus. I would be saving for a deposit if I was you. I spent £412k on Rent. However I saved a deposit last year and moved. My house after some small works has increased by 20%.

Labels and narratives ascribed to Social Housing tenants often fail to consider the circumstances that brings families to where they are today.

Seriously, you ought to have a word with yourself. I’ve said repeatedly that I don’t want to and have no intention of buying. Why should I? Affordablility isn’t a valid reason for me.

Why would you suppose that I might have spent all my money.

Exactly why social housing shouldn’t be run by private businesses.

I think you don't want to give up your nice lifestyles, do you, if you choose to buy somewhere? Your disposable household income would plummet. But you don't want to say so.