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.

Most people I know think it extremely immoral to own housing rather than for it to be a social asset, as it's a basic human right, so they would consider it wrong to buy a home rather than to remain in council or social housing. People have fought long for these homes and for our communities and families have lived here for generations.

It's bizarre hearing people on here talking as if it's somehow morally acceptable to make a vital human need a commodity, twisting things upside down.

People can also simply disagree without automatically being jealous. It's such a weak argument.

I suggested social housing be an option for all and was called a communist! 😂

Yes, this was the same with my husband and I. The housing association was in the process of building a new estate and wanted to fill it with hard working decent families. We would never give up our tenancy and are so much better off financially/we don’t have to pay for repairs or any maintenance. We would be bonkers to give it up. DH when we were looking for a house wanted us to privately rent somewhere. So glad I dug my heels in!

Yeah, me 😄 I should've qualified "know". My beautiful London post-divorce flat: redundancy + chronic illness -> mortgage restructure + mis-selling + insurances barely worth the paper -> default -> sold to a young couple for the amount outstanding = homeless Garlic.

Now in a HA shoebox in a place not of my choosing, but I'm grateful that it's safe & warm. I shouldn't have to be grateful, and I should never have had to be homeless. My views haven't changed since I was a high-earning homeowner, but harsh personal experience has certainly confirmed them.

But we are not buying housing from the public are we. That’s effectively what a lifetime tenancy is. So your argument doesn’t stand up at all.

Yeah - saying that does NOT make you a communist! 😆

I agree. I think theyre trying to reassure themselves as engaging with the arguments is too uncomfortable

Glad you are OK-ish now!

Good for you OP, I'm glad you're happy and comfortable. This is what social housing should be for! We just need more of it.

The only way I would have issue with your current set-up would be if you were using any spare money to do buy to let landlording and getting outrageous rents out of others whilst you were enjoying fair rent.

Agree with the Thatcher bashing post and that the subsequent right wing philosophies around social housing being sold to the private sector has ruined this great social equaliser. I do worry Labour, who will probably have their turn in power next, will probably do eff all since Starmer seems to all but nod along to some outrageous Tory policies for fear of being labelled shock horror left wing....

It most definitely is not an option for all, a lot of people wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting one as they would be on the bottom of the list forever.

At first OP I thought you were taking the piss, that you have a six figure income and spend 10% on rent and keep the other 90%.

Anyway.. it's not the government that pays to subsidise you, its the taxpayer, the government only has money through taxes or borrowing which the taxpayer will pay for.

If the Government were to build enough social housing for everyone then you would not be able to keep 90% of your pay because your taxes would be a lot higher.

So if you live in socially tax payer funded housing and can easily afford private housing because 90% of your earning is for savings/fun and I'm alright Jack, can you really square that with your conscience...

She “worked hard” with the assistance and privilege of lower rent and the guarantee of housing. She was fortunate to get that and the security has allowed her to increase her salary enough to buy a home and not need government support. She is now denying another family the same chance.

I think you're a bit confused about the system: there's no such thing as long term unemployment benefit here in the UK; you can only receive out of work benefits (which come to about £80 a week, so not enough to cover bills and food) if you can prove that you're looking for work for 35 hours a week and take any job you can reasonably do. Otherwise you'll have the money stopped.

Nah, no way. I am just embarrassed for the naysayers/critics/people slating people in social housing. And yeah many of them ARE jealous. Or they have zero clues what they're on about. And in case you haven't noticed, me AND a number of others have been engaging with the 'haters.' Do keep up! 😆

You do need a house, yes. You could argue that, considering the current housing situation, you could be given notice so that you could save for a deposit to rent or for a mortgage, rather than putting is aside for your children.

You have done nothing wrong, but I would feel uneasy in your situation.

Why do so many people know your financial situation though?

Please don't make up lies about social housing being "taxpayer funded." It isn't. This is a particularly vicious lie used to attack people and is a form of hate-speech.

Wow, you are so lucky! I don't live in the UK and social housing here is only for those with limited assets/income. I can afford private rent for now, but there will come a time when I get older when the idea of moving if my flat is sold won't be attractive, so I am going to have to try and reduce my assets so I am eligible for social housing.

However, I can't help but think that if there isn't enough social housing then surely those with the greatest need should get priority.

Why would they be jealous of something they don't agree with? It makes absolutely no sense, especially if they are in their own secure housing.

What is there to be jealous of, exactly?

You sound like you’re trying to brazen your way out but it isn’t quite working

I think social housing should be for those in need. And once 'back on their feet' should have to move on.
Why should I subsidise people who earn the same as me?!

Erm...you don't "subsidise" it. If you genuinely don't know that, please educate yourself.

Also it’s not really about jealousy, I own a house. However I grew up in a council house and remember the day a family of 5 moved in next door after the old lady living there died. They’d waited 12 years for a garden. The children played on the trampoline till 1am in the morning. How joyful for them.

Someone is out there now longing for that while OP can afford to move but chooses not to. Not really the idea of social housing is it. It helps you when you’re in need. OP is no longer in need.

101% this. It's just another daft myth/lie/piece of bullshit concocted to make people hate people in social housing!