To feel embarrassed that we are so cushioned from austerity

[pouffepants]

because we live in social housing.

My rent is about £100 a week, for a 3 bed terraced house in a seaside village in the south east. We can easily pay this, and have 'plenty' of money to spare each week.

We can't however get anywhere near buying a house, because it's just too expensive, and we're also self-employed precariously so I doubt anyone would give us a mortgage.
So we should rent privately. Except our rent would then be £100-£150 more for a similar place per week. When I say we have plenty over, I certainly don't mean that sort of money.
So basically we can either stay put, taking up social housing that could be used for someone in need (as I once was), and saving/spending a couple of hundred a month. Or I can go private, where we would have to go to a cheaper area, change schools, cause problems for work, lose security and be utterly skint! (Like the rest of you)

The only conclusion is that my rent should be higher.

Most people in your situation wouldn't even think about it. It just shows that you're a thoughtful person and that these things do occur to you. You're aware that you are luckier than some, which is a good thing. However there's nothing wrong with you living where you do, so please don't beat yourself up about it.

I'm puzzled by your comment "be utterly skint (Like the rest of you)" though. Why would you want to make comparisons, and why do you think everyone else is skint (some of us are but presumably some aren't)?

But then everyone would have different rent and there would be uproar about fairness.

well move then maybe an unsecure private rent where a landlord may or maynot repair things int he house or they may sell it then making you homeless, I really dont understand what you are moaning at because you can afford you r rent you are moaning when you have bog all to moan about,

How on earth are you being gifted £200 a month?

From what I understand about the reforms in the English social housing sector, you may end up getting your wish anyway, I believe that they are looking at setting rents at somewhere around the 80 per cent of the market rate mark?

This is not about boasting I'm lucky, it's about pointing out a change in social policy that I think should be made.

I'm saving £2500 a month, this shouldn't be at the expense of the country.

I don't deserve to be better off because of this.

when I lived in social housing I paid low rent then they put the rents up leaving us a bit skint do you want to be poor and struggle ?

If you are saving that much then put it away for a mortgage then you will free up your house ,

£200 a month, or £2500 a month?

You feel you no longer deserve to live in social housing, but can't afford to live anywhere else.

Use your excess money to expand your business, earn more more money and move into a privately rented house, if it would make you feel better.

You sound like my mother. She used to think people in her public sector office were paid too much because they could afford to buy their lunch from the sandwich van man.

So how much money do you have left over each week? Less than £100, but still plenty? How much is plenty?

Eh? The social housing you live in would be £2900 per month at market rate?

But yet if you paid market rate it would be £800 - £1000 per month going off thei figures in your OP

You have confused me even more

If you are saving £2500 a month then its worth looking at getting a mortgage.

You should have a fair deposit.

I'm leavinmg because I am going to get pissy in a minute!

I'm in a HA and we live comfortably. I wouldn't be living comfortably if we moved. I doubt we'd have enough money for food then tbh. Therefore you sound like your in the same position as me.

I have never felt embarrassed. And you shouldn't either. It's what social housing is for IMO.

Mrsjay, that's the whole point.

I know damn well what people have to put up with in private rented, that's why it's grossly unfair (on them, not me) that I am cushioned from that, and into the bargain get enough spare cash to almost cover another food shop each week. When most people I know struggle to cover the first one.

You have confused me even more

me too

Sorry, £2500 a YEAR savings.

If you are saving that much then you'll have 30k in a year, easily enough for a deposit to buy your own place.

Is this for real?

Give some of your money away to charity seriously I think it would relieve your guilt a little bit,

OP you are not making any sense

Your rent is £100 per month

You say if you went private your rent would (for same sort of thing in same are) would be £200 - £250 a month

So where does saving £2500 come from?

So donate to a food bank. I'm not sure what the purpose of this thread is to be honest.

Only just read your saving £2500 a month! I'm not in the same boat at all.

when i lived in a council house my rent was over 200 a month do you get housing benefit op,

So will you write to your MP if you want a policy change?