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?

The house next door to us is social housing (big Victorian house divided into flats). The ground floor flat is lovely - 2 bedrooms, high ceilings, big garden. An elderly couple lived there and when they died a single mum and baby moved in. She insisted the housing association refitted the kitchen, then she moved in and never did the garden. She had wall-height brambles and brambles all over her back windows. She eventually stopped living there during the week and sub let it to a succession of people who were abusive, drinkers and stole from neighbouring gardens. She was a nightmare. But hey - so much more deserving of it all than the sweet elderly couple who 'under occupied' it before.

Hunty, I realised that about subletting, but was thinking of the housing problem in general rather than focussing just on council tenants. However, it might perhaps be possible if someone insists on staying in 'their home' even if its too large for the council to allow them to find some co-tenants (people entitled to council accommodation, who would pay the rent to the council). Something like that anyway - late night rambling.

no thats fine but all im pointing out is that some people do rent privatly and can hardly pay to feed themselves.but we cope.

it was in reply to this 'we could afford to pay private rent but we wouldn't be able to afford to eat as well.'

just saying we do.thats life.

I am very off topic here - not talking about elderly people - but trying to defend a position that I'm amazed needs defending.

Two years ago if we had to rent privately we would have had a grand total of £30 a week to feed and clothe a family of four. In a council house, at average rent, that figure would have been £200 pounds a week.

And yet you lot think it is acceptable for people with a much higher income, who could afford to rent AND feed and clothe their family, to keep their council house while other families effectively live in poverty.

I think I'll give up now. Just hope you don't ever have to walk a mile in the shoes of a low income family in private rented accommodation.

SaraSidle

would you be ok if it was your elderly mother struggling .or just the nasty council house old people

cheesesarnie not really if your living on £60 a week on a family of five I say you were not coping my sons dinner money alone is £10 and his fuel is £50 a week so I am not sure how we would live on £60 a week it basically means I would not evan have enough for a weekly bus pass how would I get to the shops, what would we eat.

O feel bad you live on so little but it seems you want my family to live in poverty also espiaclly when my oh dose a service to the community as a nurse

No, I think that someone who is in a position to own a property to let, should let it at an affordable price. If they can't afford to do that, then they should not consider themselves landlords and sell the property.

Oh Christ, I think I've slipped into a parallel universe tonight.

"lesley33 their are loads of 1/2 bed ground floor flats many millions of families stuffed in to 1 bed flats."

There might be where you live, but not in the town my parents live. Its basically full of 1960's/70's 3 bedroom family houses. The only flats are a very small number of 4/5 storey blocks of flats with stairs and small houses for elderly disabled people on 1 floor, most of which have been bought. I know in London there are lots and lots of flats though.

gaelicsheep oh right so you think nurses are on a higher income

Thats a bloody joke if ever I heard one we get less than a family of four who are on welfare but some how we are on a higher income

*"Have you any idea how many children are living in poverty in this country?"

Have you any idea how absurd it is to blame council housing tenants -any council housing tenants- for this?*

How absurd to think that anyone is blaming council tenants for children living in poverty.

I believe that relates to families having to pay such high rents in the private sector that they have no disposable income left for anything apart from food and travel costs, if that. The only blame to be placed is on the government for allowing housing costs to rocket so disproportionately to average wages. That is why so many families are desperate for council housing

Well I certainly agree with you there, but it doesn't change the fact that it should be the most needy who get the council houses. It can't be right that it's the luck of draw that determines whether you can afford to feed your family or not.

I think I'm in a parallel universe most nights tethers

not at all,i dont want your family to live in poverty lol,why would i want that?and what on earth has your husbands job got to do with where you live?(i mean service to community not wage),does being a nurse tick a box on a form?and yes nurses are fantastic and underpaid etc
im just saying people do it.not being entitled to a council house doesnt mean you are better off than those that are.

Why take it personally? If you earn more than £18k then you are on a higher income that I was when I would have been in that position.

Usualsusoect... My mum died. Thanks

Nobody is saying an older person needs to 'suffer'

"Also elderly council tenants will be getting their full rent paid for them from housing benefit, I should imagine."

What makes you think that? My parents are elderly and pay their rent from their pension and savings. Although they have always had low paid jobs, they are from the generation that saved. Although obviously if they live long enough, they may need housing benefit at some point.

gaelic ,do you think that all council house tenants are rolling in it?

don't you think they have bills to pay just like the private renters ?

Yes, but potentially £500 less of them.

If a families income is that low they would get housing benefit anyway.

"would have been", gaelic?

Do you mind if I ask what happened to prevent you from being in that position?

Gaelic so how do you think social housing is allocated then if not to the most needy?

gaelicsheep, maybe it's your fault for not earning enough. Jeez if you wanted all that heating and eating stuff and having a roof above your head stuff, maybe you should have thought about that before taking that low paid job/marrying that low earner/having children who you couldn't pimp out to advertising agencies.

That makes as much sense as laying the fault at the feet of council tenants.

AmberLeaf my oh works and we have to pay full rent , full council tax thanks

And because have a drafty old council home thats has no double glazing our heating bills are sky high I am dreading this winter