To think: if you can fly first class, you shouldn't have a council house?

[Mexxo]

Facebook friends of mine (friends of RL friends really) making lots of comments this week about their impending holiday to Mauritius on which they'll be flying first class and staying in a 5 star hotel.

This couple have lived in a council house for many years (no kids yet), though this year so far she has got a new (not brand new, a year or two old but still v nice) BMW and he has a new Ducati.

One of their friends has commented on FB "Wow, did you win the lottery?!" and the wife replied "no we just saved a long time for our dream holiday".

First class flights to Mauritius are £4k each. A week in a 5 star hotel must be at least £2k and probably more. That's £10k for a week's holiday. AIBU to think that if people can squirrel away that much money for a holiday, they shouldn't be living in a bloody council house subsidised by taxes from the rest of us?

Unfortunately Gothic, there will always be those who know how to play the system to the detriment of those in genuine need. But I am truly shocked and horrified that they will leave my friend homeless at Christmas because they refuse to rent her a 2 bed house because they insist she needs a three bedroom, even tho there is a dining room that could easily be converted into a bedroom. We have written to our MP, and sent countless other letters to housing authorities and council. It is a very sad situation.

YANBU and I'm amazed that people think this is ok! if they have saved that amount of money they are not in need and therefore shouldn't be in council housing. On the facts that you have, there are other people who need that house more than they do and they shouldn't have it.

How did they get a council house without having having any children?

Either excess housing stock - which does happen in some places or there was a baby on the way and a miscarriage.

soapnuts

People may well be in more need of your home than you. Are you going to move?

I'm worried they might try to brin a cheap Mauritius goat back in first class.

Erm actually I agree with OP. Sorry. Actually no I am not sorry! Council houses should be subsidised places for people on low incomes to live. When people have enough money to pay full Market rent or buy a house they should move into the private sector so people on lower incomes can move in. They do not belong to the people renting and the landlord (ie the council) has every right to choose who lives there! Massive sense of entitlement in some of these responses...

I hope some mums on here don't use the kind of language I have read on here at home! Classy real classy!
Blowing all that money for one week when you live in a council house sounds crazy to me.

YANBU. And to everyone who says "myob" or similar - just remember that next time there's a woman fleeing domestic violence or suffering a horrible change of circumstance - that you said it was OK for people who are not in "need" to have this precious resource.

It's such a red herring to bang on about "boo hoo all the council houses were sold" - who do you think they were sold to eh? And, had they not been sold, do you think they'd now be empty or would the same tenants be sat in them?

Oh and as for "how did they get this council house" - I've seen over and over again on mn advice on how to get your parents' house transferred in to your name. And so we entrench entitlement and sloth.

Why are they in a council house if they have no children? How did they get it? Friends i know would love a house (if it is a house not a flat op). Some are squashed in two bedroom flats with 3 children and husband - apparently they are adequately housed.

I don't fucking understand this place. I got a fucking battering when I mention my gran was still in her council house. The comments were horrible. But no an elderly lady living on her own, in the house she had from when her babies and husband were around should be kicked out but a couple who seem to be able to afford private renting are getting defended cause they deserve a holiday. I don't get it.

Surely the point of social housing is that it is provided to people who couldn't otherwise afford open market prices or get sufficient security together? Clearly these people can, since there is a shortage of affordable/social housing it seems to me that people who can afford it shouldn't qualify, or should be waaaay down the priority list.

So on that I basis I think YANBU.

So what we are saying is that if you find yourself in a situation where you are renting a council house and then your circumstances change and you can afford to save up for a holiday, you have to move out of your house? That you are paying for? Because apparently the world is full of people who are just dying to live in a council house? Even though a good few of those people look down on people living in council houses?

Good grief, how dare a person in council housing be able to afford a holiday?
You'd think they'd know their place by now.

So you would be fine with living in temp housing with your kids knowing this?

We lived in temp accommodation for 5 years, 18 months in b&b because we went through 2 job losses and lost our house.
We were told that it would be approximately 10 years before there would be a permanent council property available.

What's your point?

That was too ohno not lst by the way :)

Sky, lst? Well of course if you can afford sky,you need to give up your council house ASAP, take your goat and 92 inch plasma and give it to someone "in need"

Ridiculous. God forbid anyone in council housing should have anything. I mean, how date you try and do better and have a decent life.

Quick, tell the op where you went in holiday, she'll calculate the cost and tell you if you should give up the home that you rent

Conway

And that's where we're going at Christmas

Sorry Conwy

And how exactly can you afford 2 holidays a year? Eh? Eh?

My mum paid for the 1st one. And the seconds a freebie as we aren't going until boxing day and DP needs to work two days later, so we're just going to meet my mum and dad there.

Yanbu. Council houses are subsidised at least where I live. Max rent for a 3 bed semi here is 90pw. You won't get anything private for less than £120 pw. It sticks in my craw that people are struggling in private rental to even put food on the table, there's a waiting list a mile long for social housing yet folk like this are in a house and have enough available cash to save for expensive houses and holidays. Yes they may have been entitled to it at some point in the past, they clearly can afford something else now and therefore should make way for someone who needs it more. Since they obv aren't going to do that on their own back, I think it's time for social housing to be allocated in the same way as benefit, based on income, if you don't need it, you are no longer entitled to it!

See, it just goes to show that assuming someone can't afford a holiday cos they live in a council house is all bollocks.

Not that I actually care, people can live where they want and go on as many holidays as they want. Without being judged.

But that's never gonna happen is it?

Rogers - go away.

My rent is about £330 a week. My friend lives up the road in a private rental and pays about £60 more a month. It really isn't that much more.

You will need a lot more than changed circumstances to get me out of my home.

A month sorry.

Maybe they did win the lottery and just don't want anyone to know