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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off at people's attitude towards "poor people"?

111 replies

WriterofDreams · 01/06/2011 21:42

We are in the process of buying a house and of course we've been chatting about it with a few people. I'm from Ireland and I haven't lived here long so people don't know me that well. I've lost count of the number of times that people have warned me off different areas because "it's near a council estate" or "they are ex-council houses." What they don't realise is that I grew up on a council estate and my family was quite poor. The way they warn me you would think people in council or ex-council houses have a contagious disease (perhaps called "poverty"??) and that they should be avoided at all costs. Naturally this makes me feel like shit, as though if they knew where I came from they wouldn't consider me good enough.

The reason it really surprises me is that living in a council estate isn't a source of shame where I'm from. I went to school with people whose parents were millionaires, people whose parents were professionals and people who were from council estates like me. People don't tend to be segregated according to how much money they have.

As it turns out we're in the process of buying a very nice ex council house that is about twice the size of the houses in "better" areas and costs less than half the price. So I'm happy about that :) but disappointed that my "friends" clearly don't think the area I'll be living in is suitable for them :(

Is this just a southern thing?

OP posts:
chicletteeth · 01/06/2011 22:06

Nancy 66 so true.
I grew up in Fulham in London and despite the astronomical costs of housing in that area both then and now; as you say, you aren't far from a council estate.

They built one near our house as a child, right down the road from us, on the Thames just along from where the boat race starts at Putney Bridge.

Was a nice estate then and is still (kind of) nice now; although much of it now privately owned.

MumblingRagDoll · 01/06/2011 22:07

I also think that assuming or labelling all council tenants as "Poor People" sounds bloody stupid and naive.

Ooh....look Tarquin! There are some poor people! Look! You can recognise them by their homes! Yes....they live on Council estates dontcha know!

Fancy that.

Original poster
WriterofDreams · 01/06/2011 22:08

I've lost your meaning mumbling -are you agreeing with me?

OP posts:
Thingumy · 01/06/2011 22:10

Most of the council houses around here are sold (we bought one).

I'd love to live more rural in a ex council house as they usually have alot of land here (up to half acre in some area's!) and are well built.

All my family have been in council housing at some point and most are living in council housing -some bought and some still council tenants.

I don't think I've ever been judged because of where I live or where I was brought up (sort after area now due to the green areas) and If I have they certainly would be 'friends' for long.

storminabuttercup · 01/06/2011 22:10

don't think i know anyone who didnt grow up on or near a council estate......

i also dont know that many people i would consider to be that poor

this thread is leaving me a bit confused!

chicletteeth · 01/06/2011 22:10

She's agreeing with you Writer

GypsyMoth · 01/06/2011 22:16

how do you feel about Housing Association homes and tenants??

Thingumy · 01/06/2011 22:18

I'm not sure why 'poor' means council housing.

Why did your parents get their housing OP?

Mine just applied for a new house on a newly built house 33 years ago.

My father was working 60 hours a week and wasn't poor,I was 2 and my mother was a sahm and their large private rental flat was a bit damp and they wanted a modern house.

Hardly shit street for them.

VforViennetta · 01/06/2011 22:19

I grew up in a Town which is basically 70% council estate Grin, never experienced crime first hand thankfully, my parents were never burgled once in 30+ years, but perhaps that's because they were well liked. We had a lovely childhood mostly, lots of kids playing out, parents races round the block Hmm.

I don't live there now, but the crime stats are really really bad (on that website where you can look them up by street).

No idea if it worse though, probably more drugs, even when I was a kid you could tell the dealers by who had a satellite dish, there were a couple of rough families you would avoid. My sister still lives there and seems happy, just seems like a normal place, not beirut.

Niecie · 01/06/2011 22:19

People avoid council estates not because of the poor people but because they have high levels of crime. There are areas in our town where the council/housing association put the problem tenants. You wouldn't want to live there if you were buying one of the houses. The house wouldn't be a good investment because it would be difficult to sell, maybe difficult to get insurance for your car or building or the area may be run down because there is no point making things 'nice' if they are just going to be vandalised and destroyed. If i told people to be wary of buying an ex-council house that would be why - it would have absolutely nothing to do with how much money they did or didn't have.

Totally agree that living in a council house does not mean you are poor.

Original poster
WriterofDreams · 01/06/2011 22:20

We were given a house by the council because my dad lost his job in 1983. I don't feel anything about housing association homes and tenants tiffany, I'm not sure why you're asking.

OP posts:
Original poster
WriterofDreams · 01/06/2011 22:23

That's my problem, Niecie, the attitude I've come up against is that a council/ex-council house is somehow infra dig for people in our group (academics and professionals) and that people who live there are automatically poor, which of course isn't true. Maybe I just know a bunch of incredibly snobby people!

OP posts:
Tortu · 01/06/2011 22:24

Live right next to a council estate right now and know it has a negative impact on our car insurance. However, again I live in London- so impossible not to be next to an estate!

Writer, check out the mortgage people carefully. We got declined a mortgage by a major bank because it was for an ex-council house (two double bedrooms, balcony, near a tube station- lovely). Whilst they eventually admitted that they had made a mistake, we had moved on by that stage. I hear the people who were selling had the same problem with other buyers too.

Tortu · 01/06/2011 22:24

Sorry, that was a blatant hijack.

Original poster
WriterofDreams · 01/06/2011 22:26

That's really weird Tortu, do you know why that happened?

OP posts:
NettoSuperstar · 01/06/2011 22:26

Haha.
Yes, it's just a southern thing.
Here, up north, in Scotland none the less, people love me because I'm poor.

Deffo a regional thing.Smile

Thingumy · 01/06/2011 22:31

I think it depends on your area and the estate.

Our council estate has hardly any crime but the one across our small town has a higher petty crime rate (car damage and mainly teens out drinking),I wouldn't want to live there and it's literally a 20 minute walk from here.

We've lived here for 4 years and have had no hassle,it's so quiet and most people look out for their neighbours but then again we could have some shitty tenants or owners move in and problems could arise-surely that's the same scenerio for private or council houses?

chicletteeth · 01/06/2011 22:42

Yeah, must be Netto because I'm southern Hmm

Up North does not generally refer to Scotland.

Scotland, is errr, well Scotland.

Whilst it's up North, it's not 'the North'

zukiecat · 01/06/2011 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wubblybubbly · 01/06/2011 22:43

Surely almost everywhere is next to a council estate? Unless we insist planners leave a few miles of green belt, or possibly security walls, between council dwellers and the real people Hmm

MenaZovut · 01/06/2011 22:46

I lived on Council estates, tbh it's why I'm more likely than most to come out with stuff like this. 'Snobs' rarely know the difference.

GooGooMuck · 01/06/2011 22:47

FWIW OP I understood what you meant about a 'southern thing' as in 'is it like this in other areas'.....

Anyway, I think it is a fear of crime.

I think, big house, nice garden... Grin

MenaZovut · 01/06/2011 22:48

I must say though I have a very difference experirnce to what others are describing. In London I've never seen a pleasant estate. I'd happily take an estate in another area.

usualsuspect · 01/06/2011 22:51

Bloody nora

We are people just like the you lot ..we don't have 2 heads

chicletteeth · 01/06/2011 22:52

Where in London Mena?

The aformentioned 80's council estate in my earlier post, used to appear in music videos due to one of the houses being snapped up early.

I clearly remember seeing the Verve jamming away in one of the houses, in one of their videos.

Doesn't matter where in London you are, there are council estates. Even in Knightsbridge and in the nicer areas they tend to be better (although the Worlds End estate in Chelsea is pretty rough and does seem to buck this trend)