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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be envious that my neighbour lives in a council house........

304 replies

EnviousEvie · 28/09/2011 10:04

and pays £600 a month less than me for the exact same bloody house (her's is nicer inside) next door to mine?

Difference is hers is a council house, mine is a private rental. The owner of mine bought it from the council and now rents it out while he lives in a 4 bed detached house in a nicer part of town. We pay £950 a month, neighbour pays council £350 a month (3 bed terrace). We had to move here after selling our house last year because DH lost his job and we needed to release the small amount of equity we had to pay the bills we were behind on because we were terrified of being in debt. Our rent is now £150 a month higher than our mortgage was.

We struggle every bloody month and live on 'value' food. We are not entitled to housing benefit (DH now working again after a year, I work part time - 3DCs). Neighbour's DH is an accountant so she can afford not to work at all. That £600 would make a massive difference in our lives but we have not got a chance in hell of getting a council house. There are over 5000 people on the waiting list in my area. We are on the list but have been told that it could be over 5 years before we have a chance. Love my neighbour to bits but can't help feeling pissed off about it!

AIBU to think that this is bloody unfair?

OP posts:
BlobChob · 28/09/2011 13:45

Thanks porcamiseria...I really appreciate your comments. I'm hanging in here...got 4 wee souls who rely on me! :)

I'm aware I could be hijacking the thread here which wasn't my intention but just wanted to highlight the situation here in part of the SE by sharing the subjective.

In the 80's my parents were able to buy their Council house thanks to Mrs T. Back then the RTB scheme was something of a revelation to those who would never own property any other way. My parents were decent, hardworking people, all their lives, who saw an opportunity and took it. I don't think many like them considered how it would affect the families of the future but then I guess they relied on the fact that homes would be built in the social housing sector to match future need/demand. I think as it stands there is something like 5 million people on housing waiting lists across the UK. That's more than grim!

It now looks as though my parents house (not worth a huge amount) will have to be sold to cover the cost of their nursing home care in the near future. As it isn't far from a teaching hospital it will probably end up as another extortionate buy to let private rental.

BlobChob · 28/09/2011 13:48

I hear you purpleflower123...and it's not fair at all. I apologise for my sweeping generalisation.

Original poster
EnviousEvie · 28/09/2011 13:58

purpleflower123 - yes you are bloody lucky. You will benefit for years to come from the money you have invested in your house that you can stay in for the rest of your life if you so wish. Your DCs have a secure home. The much smaller amount that you are paying in rent should allow you to save eventually for a deposit for a mortgage/rental house (as you are so keen to get back into private renting Hmm) or you could maybe afford to do a university course to improve your lot in life and eventually get off the council estate. It must be much less than your private rental. You can bid on a larger house when your DCs are older and as you are already a council tenant it should be easier. Especially in a bungalow as it may be needed for a disabled person.

Talk about ungrateful Hmm.

OP posts:
Original poster
EnviousEvie · 28/09/2011 14:01

Also why would you have a DC3 if you were unhappy about being moved into a 2 bed with 2 DCs already.

OP posts:
begonyabampot · 28/09/2011 14:02

I don't get the you shouldn't be in a council house argument if you are earning more (more than what?). If you apply and get offered one then so what. Some areas mainly only have council housing so where is everyone supposed to go if they are earning what is considered too much to be poor. Council housing should be open to anyone (as it is) though obviously those most in need with get to the top of the list first.

Birdsgottafly · 28/09/2011 14:10

There are 5 HA bungalows empty where i live, they all had parking and landscaped gardens, the youths where i live have made sure that they will never be let to anyone, they terrorise whoever gets them. Most of these children are in privately owned houses or privately rented houses on the estate, so cannot be evicted.

I don't see why i should be forced off my estate by rising rent charges, or anyother decent working person either. Ironically those on HB have moved into better areas because it costs them nothing to live there, i know of two families that have brought down an area.

There are areas of the country where unemployment is high or low paid and people don't have the options that many are quoting on here.

Birdsgottafly · 28/09/2011 14:18

Housing was once part of the welfare stat, it stopped being so during the 1980's, we have got used to the idea that there isn't enough affordable housing to go round, well there could have been (and should be). This can be changed.

I can remember badly maintained council houses being sold off to private buildres at very cheap rates, the conditions were supposed to be that the tenents were to be means tested and the rents adjusted accordingly, but it never happened. Many people have been priced out of the housing market. Good housing is as fundamental as education.

purpleflower123 · 28/09/2011 14:24

I will have to moved to a 3 bed soon anyway as I have a boy and girl sharing, I also thought an old couple would like to swap for a bungalow rather than living in a house, so far I've had no luck.

It annoys me that she gets to live in her 3 bed council house on her own while myself and others like us are squashed in. Her son made my life hell and I had to uproot my DC from their home while she gets to stay exactly where she is.

I couldn't afford to do a university course or save anything as my eastern european husband works his backside off for just over minimum wage as it is. As I said, we get a housing benefit top up as it is as we don't have a high enough income to pay our lower rent. We have no hope of saving anything, it's also not a huge amount less than our relatively secure private let was. The owners had no intention of selling it and priced to get long term tenants in.

I would consider going back to private let as it would give me a choice of where I live and bring up my children but unfortunately that isn't an option for me right now.

OpinionatedMum · 28/09/2011 14:31

A degree is no guarantee of a well paid job.

JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns · 28/09/2011 14:32

Council housing is imo a fucking joke!

We spent SIX MONTHS homeless, there answer was stick us in a bnb, me, dp, ds and dd. Both under 5. There was another family in there with ONE child they got a 3bed house in our local area, which isn't there's because mum abuses the child, blamed the situation.

Two court battles and thousands of pounds of debt in our name and the admit they have a duty to house, another 2 months after this decission was made a mner pmd me some links I found a housing charity, and I contacted them and got moved away from home :( but to a reasonable private rent, £650pcm. In less than 6weeks.

Because me and dp are just normal family were totally forgotten about.

JjandtheBeanlovesUnicorns · 28/09/2011 14:35

And don't even get me started on under occupied houses I know of FIVE single people in 3 and 4 bed houses near schools, one of which NEVER stays there ever, and also one subletting, it frustrating but there's nothing you can do.

OpinionatedMum · 28/09/2011 14:36

Don't consider private renting purple flower. You are entitled to what you have. Your dc's will have no security.

People should fight for their own rights not deprive others of theirs.

Talk about spiteful Hmm

MrsVoltar · 28/09/2011 14:41

Surely its possible a lot of these 'old people' living in 3 bed homes own them? Lots of council houses were bought with the schemes mentioned above.

Those who can't get council/HA housing, is it that there is nothing available in your area or anywhere at all?

Feminine · 28/09/2011 14:43

purpleflower I am Shock

have you really no idea how lucky (and better off ) than so many people right now?

even if you have a boy and girl ...they will be expected to share for quite a while yet!

porcamiseria · 28/09/2011 14:43

purpleflower

sorry but whats the issue? you have HA housing right?

do you know why I only have 2 kids? as I cant afford a 3rd, so can you see why some people may get annoyed that you have a 3rd kid and then expect council to move you "I will have to moved to a 3 bed soon anyway as I have a boy and girl sharing"

most people that own their propetties or rent just get on with it, and yes they have one kid in wth them and 2 in the spare room.

sorry I dont want to pick on you, but you sound really entitled

purpleflower123 · 28/09/2011 15:03

Where have I said that I'm not grateful for a roof over my head? I have only pointed out that not everybody in council or HA housing is better off, it is still a struggle.

I'm not about to abort my child because it will be a squeeze to fit it in, as I said I'm making the best of what I can, this is not something I have chosen. I can fit 3 children here at a push, which is what I will be doing. I had my son and daughter when I lived in a 3 bed property and got moved to a 2. I was told at the time I would have to be moved again. I'm not just having more and more children to get a bigger home. I would have got it eventually whether or not DC3 was on the way or not.

I had a nice home adequate for my needs, I wouldn't wish the last year I lived there on anyone, afraid to be in my own home.

Feminine · 28/09/2011 15:05

Well purple you are still better off than many.:)

Out of interest ,how old are your children?

And yes, I am sure that last year was hell ...you have been given a life line though-you can see that right?

Feminine · 28/09/2011 15:07

Also, emotive comments like "I am not about to abort my child ..." are totally void...nobody said you should Confused

purpleflower123 · 28/09/2011 15:15

No body said I should but are asking why I'm having a 3rd.

As I said I'm grateful for a roof over my head, just simply pointing out that its not a bed of roses being in a council/HA property as people seem to think it is . I know there are others worse off than me, alot of them are council/HA tenants too surprisingly.

Feminine · 28/09/2011 15:24

How old are your children? :) purple

Debs75 · 28/09/2011 15:32

You should blame Mrs T. She introduced right to buy which has been a good system. What she also did though was prevent councils from using the cash from the sales to build any more council houses. By doing this she singlehandedly took thousands of council houses away from people who desperately needed somewhere to live.

In our town we have just had some houses built which some are for council rent. Theya re the first council houses to be built in the city for 25 years.

I would also blame your landlord. It should be illegal to buy a council house and then rent it out for such a high rent or to ban those on housing benefit from renting it

usualsuspect · 28/09/2011 15:54

The simple answer is there are not enough council houses ,its hardly council tenants fault that private rents are too high

The private sector needs to change ,more long term tenancies would help for a start

council house envy on MN makes me laugh tbh ,as if most on here would actually want to live on a council estate

Feminine · 28/09/2011 16:05

Don't you think though usual that private renters envy the security ,council tenants (rightly) enjoy? :)

I agree totally with your post.

Empjusa · 28/09/2011 16:05

What Usual said. Being jealous of council tenants is mad, it's so difficult to get a place that you really need to be in deep shit before you can get anywhere. On top of that, the state of most council places.... Fucking hell, you wouldn't touch a private rent that looked like that. The problem lies with the ridiculous private rental market, and the lack of social housing, not with the tenants.

usualsuspect · 28/09/2011 16:11

See I live on a council estate and quite like it ,its actually a nice place to live but I've read enough posts on MN to know most on here wouldn't

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