to think the 'decent homes standard' is the joke of the decade?

[ladyfirenze]

Has anyone had their council homes 'upgraded' lately? Mine was done over christmas. Me and dc's were strongly advised to de-camp to a property provided by the council. This meant entirely moving house/storing white goods etc. Six weekd later we moved back. During this time we had a new kitchen put in, and new radiators as well as a re-wire.

I knew that I'd have to redecorate the whole place (three bed flat) but was promised help with the cost.

We got £160.

Also, because of the building, we had to use 'trunking' for all of the re-wire.

It looks shite. The trunking is cheap nasty looking crap, badly done. They had to come back over a period of two weeks after I'd returned to do 'snagging' and there are still bits which are sub-standard work.

The kitchen is okay, but wasn't actually done to the agreed plan. They had a huge hoo ha when I asked them to, and due to an exposed meter it couldn't be left. Their customer care is rubbish, and I was accused of being responsible for the kitchen not being correct... wtf??

six weeks on and I'm slowly getting the house sorted. I'm quite cabaple, but there are many who aren't, and will be left in a worse position than before.

Hijack not quite over ever I need to thank you for the offer of a PM. I will take you up on that

Of course CH tenants should have decent homes and have repairs and improvements done by the council.

But what I hate is the attitude that others have the choice to rent CH, but choose to buy. In many parts of the UK it is extremely difficult to get a CH. Not a CH in a "good" area, but a CH full stop.

If you don't have children, in many places your only choice is privately renting or buying.

And many people privately rent or buy in undesirable areas. I know people who have bought in rough estates, who live next door to drug dealers or other problem tenants. They don't do this because they are stupid, but because they can't get a CH and buying is often a lot cheaper than privately renting.

The real problem is that they are not enough CH any more and people who would have had no problem getting one in the past, have no chance of getting one these days.

take care mist I am here if you need any advice, it may not be what you want to hear but I will always be truthful.
:)

If you go on to the alzhiemers society website they have a wealth of information that can really help you. Not sure how to link but you can find it through google

No chipping -of course landlords should not have to lower their rent. I am just saying that it is ridiculous that rents are so high, that we are in a situation where the average rent is much higher than the average mortgage. Part of the reason for that is a lack of social housing. Rents should be lower for all - NOT lowered.

That doesn't make sense, Dilly. How can they be lower but not lowered?

It's a dream - an ideal - not suggesting we can do so practically. In an ideal world etc etc it would be nice if rents were lower - we are not in an ideal world so they are not. Easy.

Private rents will only BE lower when there is enough affordable housing to go round. Until there is there will be threads like this one with everyone sniping at each other because they think the grass is greener one side than the other.

Private rents will only drop when house prices do.