to think that elderly people living alone in 3/4 bed council houses should not have a choice about whether they want to stay there?

[BlessYouToo]

In fact, they should be moved into one bedroom accommodation as soon as the kids leave home (this should have happened years ago of course). Having a 'spare' bedroom in case the grandchildren come to stay should not be an option when they are in state owned properties.

I have today been to view a council property with a friend of mine who has been homeless for 3 years (in temp accommodation) after finally getting to the top of the bidding queue! She was called to see a 4 bedroom house and it was absolutely rank, the smell made me want to heave. Plaster was hanging off the wall and the whole place was damp as the previous tenant either, did not or could not, heat and ventilate it properly Apparently the house was in a much worse than the state we saw it in today but the council had done some remedial work on it to make it safe so it was a bit better. The garden was also just a sea of brambles.

We were told that an elderly person had been living there and had just been moved into a nursing home. T

I was shocked that the council could rent out a property in this state. I would have expected that they would have made sure the property was up to a decent, clean standard before renting it out as any other landlord would have to do (all my friend will get is a paint allowance if she is eligible) but I am even more shocked that this elderly tenant was allowed to let the property get into this condition. Why do councils not carry out inspections to ensure their properties don't get into this state? Obviously the house was too much for the previous tenant to cope with and surely they would have been better off with a smaller property that they could keep clean?

We were told that many of the properties coming available after elderly tenants have either died, or gone into alternative accommodation, are left in a similar state. How many families with young children are left crammed into tiny flats while elderly people are living in houses much too large for their needs, letting them decay around them? I find it unbelievable that this has been happening.

I feel gutted for my friend as she has been desperate to get a stable home for her DCs and will now be going into a total shithole without even carpets on the floor, just cement. It's a bloody disgrace! AIBU?

[gaelicsheep]

AmberLeaf - then they would join the club of many other very hard working people in this country who do not have the luxury of paying rents at a quarter of market value.

[usualsuspect]

Nothing on Mn makes me laugh as much as council house envy

[TheFrogs]

yanbu to be shocked at the state of the house but you'll find a LOT of houses are let like that, it is pretty standard...they aren't all the shiny, cosy palaces some people would have you believe...and they certainly dont come with carpets!

My house was occupied by several young tenants before me and it was in a disgusting state...apparently the elderly gentleman who lived here before them kept it immaculate. I have to feel for someone who for genuine reasons cant manage to look after the house because they'll get very little help from the council. It's possible whoever lived there reported problems with damp/plaster and the work was never done. It sometimes takes years for repairs to be carried out, that's if you're lucky and they dont "disappear" "off the system". We have random housing inspections and they are a joke, the council conveniently ignore anything that is their responsibility. As for gardens, I dont know about other areas but our council doesn't maintain the gardens of empty houses. My neighbour cut her lawn before she moved out, by the time the next tenants moved in it was a complete mess.

I can see your point, but there could be many reasons why the house is in that state.

[jasper]

tethersend

[ninah]

when you think about it retirement isn't economically rational at all
kill em all off at 70

[AmberLeaf]

Recently some HA houses were built near me. Loads of locals applied and not one local person got a house because they didn't meet the criteria

Thats because housing allocations just dont work like that!

[gaelicsheep]

usualsuspect - if council houses are so unenviable why don't people get the hell out of them as soon as they can? Because the rents are so low that's why and they can afford a disproportionately high standard of living. Everyone who needs a council house should have one, but that is not what is happening is it?

[gaelicsheep]

They didn't meet the criteria despite being unable to afford to rent privately.

[slavetofilofax]

It wouldn't be about turfing elderly people out of their homes if people had to downsize when their children move out.

People who can be described as elderly are rarely the same age as people whos last child had just moved out of home.

If this is implemented by people who are getting their first council contracts now, then they would know that one day they will have to move out, so won't have the emotional upheaval of having to leave a home they were led to believe they could have as long as they were alive.

Moving house if you know it's going to happen isn't that big a deal, private owners into their seventies manage to do it without their lives being destroyed, so why should council tennants expect to have the same house for their entire lives regardless of whether it suits their needs?

[usualsuspect]

All those people in their big houses thinking its all the council house tenants fault

[AmberLeaf]

Usualsuspect

I know council house envy is just so....

I really dont get it.

[GypsyMoth]

My neighbour had a 3 bed.. She is on her own but has 3 dogs. She needs the property for her dogs, and says she will stay in a 3 bed family home with her digs til she dies. It's run to rack and ruin, HA can't do anything I'm told, even tho her garden is the dogs toilet snd they bark til all hours.

I complain, complain , complain

Suddenly HA have found me a larger property to move to. Funny that!

[usualsuspect]

Well thats because a certain someone thought it would be a good idea to sell them all gaelicsheep

[AmberLeaf]

The people who became tenants of the lovely new houses had probably been on the list for years Gaelic, you dont just watch them being built and then rock up and ask for one, it doesnt work like that.

[GypsyMoth]

Why won't they move her? Because the delicate little flower is on DLA ... For her drug use. Bless. She is stick thin, late 40's. everyone tiptoes round her cos she must have had a 'hard life'

[GypsyMoth]

So, I'm off to a brand new build. 4 bed. After a year I have the chance if secured tenancy, then to buy.

[usualsuspect]

I bet shes got a bloody old mattress in her garden as well ,and 3 foot high grass

[gaelicsheep]

Think what you like, but for the past three arctic winters I've been unable to afford to keep my family warm.

People on these thread want to have their cake and eat it. How would you feel if you could not afford to house your family, like thousands of families in this country? Would you or would you not then feel that perhaps council houses should go to the most needy?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

What has the price of energy got to do with council houses?

[gaelicsheep]

My God usualsuspect why on earth do you assume I'm a Thatcherite!

[gaelicsheep]

The point is I am not a wealthy person sat in a big house divorced from reality. In terms of affording to house my family, there but for the grace of God go I.

[usualsuspect]

because you sound like one maybe

[AmberLeaf]

Her goat should be keeping the 3ft high grass down shouldnt it?

[Sevenfold]

oh ffs, you will be old one day and I hope the young of today treat you better,

[gaelicsheep]

I sound like a Thatcherite because I am objecting to an I'm alright jack attitude and instead feel that society should help the most needy. Yeah right, that sounds like Thatcher