To think that 'economic migrants' should not be entitled to 'social housing'?

[MrsVoltar]

Am I BU? I would like to be told YABU & given reasons why. I don't (think) I have a problem with 'economic migrants', by that I mean people who move to another country for better pay/ more jobs etc, but I didn't expect they would be entitled to social housing. Why are they?

Why, when the govt is making so many cuts this priority housing is being given to 'economic migrants'? I don't mean 'asylum seekers' or people in genuine need who cannot return to their home country. Surely if you move to another country for better pay/job prospects you should be willing to 'pay your way' in the accomodation market too?

I'd be very surprised if reciprocal arrangements were in place in other countries. Could someone from the UK move to Spain, for example, get a job there, have children & be entitled to 'social housing' there? I would like to be told I am wrong (I really dislike having a 'Daily Mail' attitude to this!)

(a bit scared, this is my first AIBU !)

Non UK people can only be given housing if a) they are EU citizens b) they are exercising their treaty rights (ie working) c) they have been working for two years d) they are assessed as in housing need and e) have more points than anyone else on the housing list.

You do not gain or lose points for housing dependent on nationality. Therefore if an EU national has all the above points AND is assessed as in more need than a UK national also on the list only then would they get housing.

Oh, and you also have to demonstrate a local connection to be put on any housing list. So if you have lived in Worcester for 2 years you can't then rock up in London and be put on their housing list.
HTH

So, 0.0012% of the UK's population are immigrants living in social housing.

You wouldn't think that reading the Daily Mail ...

Actually, I should copy that and save that somewhere, so when people start making fuckwittery comments about forriners coming and stealing houses etc., can just go "0.0012% of the UK's population are immigrants living in social housing" like that.

To put that in perspective, at the last census there were more people who listed their religion as "jedi" (around 1.5% of the population) than there are immigrants in social housing.

That means there are 1,250 times more Jedi in the UK than immigrants in social housing.

bit confused by whats beign asked and some responses, tbh. Social housing is not related to benefits. Social housing is also not council housing, although that forms a small part of the resources available. Housing associations provide large amounts of social housing and there are no rules relating the the nationality you can rent to- they are businesses.

But most importrantly social housing is not free- its just subsidised rent, cheaper than market rate. average rent around £70 a week. Its possible/ likely that housing benefit- which is free money- pays for the rent of a social housing tenant. But thats neither here nor there, it doesn't give them the house.

I hope you don't mean my thread Abs because you are right but I don't think its 'fuckwittery' to queation why people are entitled.

Quite a few people on this thread didn't even know that the entitlement existed and were very loud in their denial.

But it would be good if Daily Mail types did read that.

Serenity yes Social Housing is a business but there are (huge) waiting lists and people complaining they never get a chance.

People get bumped up the list depending on what their need is, children, work, current housing, and no, it appears it is not about nationality.

I wondered why it wasn't about nationality (ie why non-UK citizens can & do qualify) and others have responded with answers, some also unaware that this was the case.

And no, its not free.

No no no MrsVoltar. Not your thread. This has been very reasonable and very informative. I mean from time to time (you'll see in future) you get people coming into AIBU (or in real life) and going on about how immigrants are coming here and taking over £10mn houses and isn't it all appalling etc. etc.

There aren't always huge waiting lists. I could get you social housing tomorrow. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the industry.

I knew it did not look right but I still had to check it on the calculator before I pulled you up!

and not oing be a quick thing you need link to area to oftewn get any chance of hosuing

Thats not true. In fact, it would be nicer if people could move around more to areas the have no links in, ease the pressure on social housing in the SE- we could send em up north. It would be perfect. Unfortunatly you can't force people to move to where the housing is available

This isn't my first time on MN, do I look that crazy

No, don't answer

Have been on MN for quite a while, don't usually start controversial threads (wonder why), usually post to others threads & start advice needed type threads.

Just mulling this over this morning.
I am not 'outraged' in any way by what I am posting about, was merely surprised to learn that there is a teeny tiny bit of truth in the Daily Mail type opinions (forriners gettin council houses).

eg I would have (as others have done) disbelieved and argued against the existance of this situation.

Still annoyed at some of the accusations of Daily Mail ignorance as I had posted from a position of knowing someone in that position, so knew it to be true, but, this is AIBU, so ho hum.

Oh Ok Serenity that does make sense. There are huge lists in all areas I know about (not South).

Ah, I thought it was early days for you in MN, just early days in AIBU. I have to say a rather erm, brave choice of first subject.

Well with all the threads about cuts, cuts & more cuts, thought it appropriate.

Plus I'm in a mean mood today [grr]

no offence, but how would you know? How would you know the size of the waiting lists for all social landlords where you live? In the SE there are types of housing which is hard to let and thus readily avilable.

not because of 'economic migrants' obviously, the one I know is very nice

Just as well she doesn't think I'm a crap spouting DM reader (must hide DM next time I see her...joke)

Well, most of my extended family are on a housing list, as are some of my friends & one of my friends used to work for Social Housing company (used to ...cuts), so I do know a little bit.

for you OP
The Daily Fail website is this way>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Don't hurry back.

If forriners are legal residents here, but have critical housing needs, do you reckon they should go homeless or be deported, OP? Is that your solution?

I think I might qualify as an economic migrant from outside the UK, btw, but I don't know much about how people "get council houses" -- presumably only when their only alternative is quite desperate?

sprogger & Delia have you read the thread??

Going to name change to 'readthethreadfirstplease'