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Original poster

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

780 replies

SocialHousedNHappy · 27/11/2023 21:57

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Original poster
SocialHousedNHappy · 07/12/2023 17:38

Startingagainandagain - If you work for a homeless charity, you’d sure know that I’ve not taken a house from someone who needs it more.

Do you tell your clients that your help is only to secure stop/gap housing and therefore must move on once their lives improve?

Not that I’d ever consider it, but a quick search on RightMove tells me that I couldn’t even afford the rental charges or mortgage by myself for a house of the same size and similar location…

Maybe I’d have considered moving/buying/renting if I didn’t like the house or it was in an undesirable area. But I do, so <shrug>

OP posts:
Startingagainandagain · 07/12/2023 18:09

@SocialHousedNHappy

''Startingagainandagain - If you work for a homeless charity, you’d sure know that I’ve not taken a house from someone who needs it more. ''

You can't just repeat the same excuse over and over again it won't turn it into a fact...

There is a dire shortage of social housing and the aim of social housing is to house people who have no option to rent privately/own their own home and who are vulnerable in one way or another.

None of this applies to you.

Startingagainandagain · 07/12/2023 18:12

The smugness is rather sad I must say.

You played the system and the current rules allow you to stay put. It does not mean people have to agree with you.

And I really would not gloat about it on thread like this. Really tasteless.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
browneyes77 · 07/12/2023 18:31

Startingagainandagain · 07/12/2023 18:12

The smugness is rather sad I must say.

You played the system and the current rules allow you to stay put. It does not mean people have to agree with you.

And I really would not gloat about it on thread like this. Really tasteless.

Edited

How did the OP play the system?

She was given the property at a time when she needed it. She didn’t ‘play the system’ to get it. She fitted the criteria at the time to receive it.

Her financial situation since then has improved. She doesn’t have to move. And she also doesn’t have to put herself in a worse financial situation just to put someone else in a better situation. She has an assured tenancy and has a right to be there. She hasn’t played any system.

Boomboom22 · 07/12/2023 19:13

But op, you have outright said in your last post that you see why you having much more disposable income than others comparable to you but not in ha housing could be seen as immoral. Do you really think you are so much more deserving than those who earn more or less than you? We don't live in a state with housing provided in this way and you know new tenants are not allowed these contracts anymore mostly.

bemusedmoose · 07/12/2023 19:26

As a lone parent of 2 (thanks tondick of an ex husband) i cant afford private rent and due to social housing being full of people that can afford private rent me and my kids get 'temporary housing' in my area that's 5 years in a shelter before you might get an offer. Meanwhile i have to walk by the social housing with their BMWs and designer gear in the pouring rain while my holey shoes let in water and only eating once a day because im going broke trying to privately pay for a too small house to keep us out the shelter for as long as i can.

So i get that it's a smart move on your part and technically you aren't doing anything thing wrong.. But morally... There's kids in homeless shelters because they can't get social housing because it's full of people that can afford other choices.

Original poster
SocialHousedNHappy · 07/12/2023 19:28

Boomboom22 · 07/12/2023 19:13

But op, you have outright said in your last post that you see why you having much more disposable income than others comparable to you but not in ha housing could be seen as immoral. Do you really think you are so much more deserving than those who earn more or less than you? We don't live in a state with housing provided in this way and you know new tenants are not allowed these contracts anymore mostly.

I definitely didn’t say either of these things.

If that’s how it reads, must be a typo, my phrasing or your interpretation.

OP posts:
2jacqi · 07/12/2023 19:29

@SocialHousedNHappy you joined the queue and you got a house! well done. not your fault if others cannot get one. cat among pigeons here but maybe if there was less single parents all wanting and less single absent dads all wanting then there might be enough to go round!! you stay where you are OP!

Boomboom22 · 07/12/2023 19:42

You said this:

realise that I’ve been slow to grasp that many of the objections aren’t actually about that, it seems some are really opposed to a system that leaves social housing tenants with more disposable income than homeowners.

1975wasthebest · 07/12/2023 19:43

No, she hasn’t played the system, but she certainly is playing it now.

Original poster
SocialHousedNHappy · 07/12/2023 20:08

I would rather move to another area with a shorter wait for social housing than wait over 2 years in the existing area. Actually I did pretty much that.

Posters have already said that there are places in uk with little to no waiting lists. I think we can agree that it’d be pretty shitty to suggest that those waiting years for social housing have a choice to move where it is more available. And therefore are long-term homeless / temporary accommodation by choice. So, no, that’s not what I’m saying at all.

But what I am saying is many posters are pretending they are concerned about homelessness, when what they’re really passed off about is their owned warped sense of what social housing is for, and who should occupy it. It’ clear to me that their worry is that side by side - house description, car, appearance, job, finances - it wouldn’t be easy to pick out who lives in social housing, and someone taking a punt might just pick them and not me. And they couldn’t countenance any possible association with the stigma, narratives and stereotyping that surround social housing tenants, who are expected to live with them without challenge - and be forever indebted and moved on at the will of people whose primary interest is to affirm their own status as haves and brand people in SH as have nots, but not honest enough with themselves to admit that.

Im done here. Shame the thread took a left back…

OP posts:
1975wasthebest · 07/12/2023 20:16

OP, the level of obfuscating and deflecting you’ve been doing is, quite frankly, laughable.

MaryGreenhill · 07/12/2023 20:18

Can't you buy the house you are living in OP?

stomachameleon · 07/12/2023 20:30

@SocialHousedNHappy are you a 'have' or 'have not'?

gertiegirl · 07/12/2023 20:34

It's interesting that the OP hasn't replied to any of the posters who have said they really need social housing and their views on her position. Lots of engagement and commentary about how people supposedly view those who need it but nothing when posters have said they are in temporary accommodation and desperate for help

Doggymummar · 07/12/2023 20:40

Where I live you can't get social housing if you earn over £60k jointly, so we have no chance, but also don't earn enough for a mortgage so are stuck paying £1500 rent. It makes no sense.

XenoBitch · 07/12/2023 21:57

1975wasthebest · 07/12/2023 19:43

No, she hasn’t played the system, but she certainly is playing it now.

Unless a condition of staying where she lives is that she earns less than a certain amount, then no, she is not playing the system.

browneyes77 · 07/12/2023 22:32

1975wasthebest · 07/12/2023 19:43

No, she hasn’t played the system, but she certainly is playing it now.

No she isn’t.

She is in a home she was allocated and has a legitimate assured tenancy for. She managed to get herself in a better financial position over the years. That’s all. She isn’t playing any system.

JenniferBooth · 08/12/2023 19:20

@bemusedmoose Why do social housing tenants who are random strangers to your children owe them more than their OWN FATHER does?!!!!

updownleftrightstart · 09/12/2023 08:03

MaryGreenhill · 07/12/2023 20:18

Can't you buy the house you are living in OP?

But this would be worse! As she has pointed out if she did that she’d be removing that house from the SH stock permanently. For whatever reason she doesn’t want the responsibility of owning and why would that be different if it was this specific one she bought rather than any other house?

OP is not playing the system at all. It’s just the system is crap, and needs changing.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/12/2023 11:06

gertiegirl · 07/12/2023 20:34

It's interesting that the OP hasn't replied to any of the posters who have said they really need social housing and their views on her position. Lots of engagement and commentary about how people supposedly view those who need it but nothing when posters have said they are in temporary accommodation and desperate for help

It’s because the OP doesn’t give a shit about them

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 09/12/2023 12:05

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/12/2023 11:06

It’s because the OP doesn’t give a shit about them

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Don’t really think it’s the OPs job to solve their problems tbf. It’s the failure of successive governments to invest in social housing which has caused these problems not the OP.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/12/2023 16:24

FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 09/12/2023 12:05

Don’t really think it’s the OPs job to solve their problems tbf. It’s the failure of successive governments to invest in social housing which has caused these problems not the OP.

Show quote history

Not the OPs job but pretending less fortunate posters don’t exist betrays a bit of an “I’m alright Jack” mentality.

JenniferBooth · 09/12/2023 17:22

SinisterBumFacedCat · 09/12/2023 16:24

Not the OPs job but pretending less fortunate posters don’t exist betrays a bit of an “I’m alright Jack” mentality.

Show quote history

Well my experience of the "im all right jack" came from the people who were able to wear masks towards those that couldnt. The attitudes towards those that couldnt were disgusting but thats allowed when you are on "the right side"

gertiegirl · 09/12/2023 21:24

@JenniferBooth can you elaborate on what you mean? I've seen a lot of conjecture here about people pretending to care when they don't yet the OP has blatantly completely ignored every poster who has said they are desperate need of housing. Of course it's not her problem to solve but I agree that it does reek of an im alright jack mentality, especially when she started the thread to explicitly ask if people think it's wrong for her to be in social housing when they can afford private housing