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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want 'rich' people to understand that council houses are the only option for some people!!!

46 replies

M0naLisa · 13/02/2013 11:34

We are listed on a council list where we have to bed for a house weekly. If we are shortlisted on the bidded property then the council contact us and offer us a viewing, if we like that property we will sign contracts, hand the notice in on our current council property and then move to the new property when it is ready. (as i imagine most council moves are)

We have lived in the town we live in for 7 years now. We hate it. DH loved it to begin with and i hated it, now DH hates it and im not too bad but id love to move nearer to my immediate family. (where we live now i have maternal family here, Aunties, Grandad, Cousins) only see them maybe once a month - there too busy to come see me. I never see my cousins unless its a family get together.

I posted on Facebook (i know i know) that i will be bidding on some more houses tomorrow. One of auntie who lives in this town commented saying she was shocked that we are wanting to move away as the boys are settled in school and we have made friends. I said yeah but the boys will settle into a new school they are only young and its not like they are doing their GCSEs.

One of my cousins who lives 112 miles from this town sent me a message stating that 'i shouldnt rely on the council as its not an option for her and i should save up for a bond on a rental home'

Thats all well and good but to us council IS an option to us, we cant afford to save up £1000 for a bond and first months rent for a rental property.

Why cant people get it into their heads that some are worse off than them, when we say we cant afford to save up for a rental it genuinely means we cannot save up for a rental!!!

AIBU to think people need to realise that council IS an option others, just because it isnt for them?

Sorry its long

OP posts:
EnjoyResponsibly · 13/02/2013 13:10

Well it's not "people" is it? It's a person. Someone that lives 112 miles away and wouldn't even have known about your move if you'd kept away from FB.

Tell her to keep her beak out.

Keep your business to yourself.

Bogeyface · 13/02/2013 13:17

I love these "Well I managed to save £5 million in 3 weeks, so surely a poor person can do that too?!" posts.

Bejeena, have you looked up what the definition of "poor" is lately? I suggest you do that before you post anymore ridiculous suggestions.

starsandunicorns · 13/02/2013 13:17

Monalisa ignore the couisn. Have you looked at mutal swaps websites. Hope you get somewhere soon Smile

Bogeyface · 13/02/2013 13:17

I agree that you shouldnt put stuff like that on FB. Why is it anyone elses business that you are bidding on a new house?

CloudsAndTrees · 13/02/2013 13:20

AIBU to want 'rich' people to understand that council houses are the only option for some people!!!

Hmm Yes, YABU.

AIBU to want 'council' people to understand that not everyone who lives in private accommodation is rich?

AIBU to want 'council' people to understand that they are very lucky to have the option of council housing, because there are many many people in similar or only marginally better circumstances they have no hope of ever getting social housing?

Hmm
AKissIsNotAContract · 13/02/2013 13:21

I read the article on Jade Jagger and I don't see what she's doing wrong. She married a man who lives in a council property, he's lived there for 13 years and she now lives with him there. Just because her dad is minted doesn't mean that she is.

VinegarTits · 13/02/2013 13:32

dont post stuff like that on fb. the end.

Preggersandhappy · 13/02/2013 13:36

I do struggle to understand if i'm honest, I don't class myslf as rich but i am sure you would.

I went to school, worked hard, went to univesity (paid my own way, still paying loan off 10 years later) worked hard again got a degree and a job, have worked hard and have been promoted so earn a good salery. Have saved up, put off having children for quite a while so that we can support ourselves.

The part i don't understand is have i been lucky? or have i worked hard and always tried to never rely on anyone else, my biggest leg up has been when my Granddad gave up driving when i was 20 and gave me his car (a 14 yr old peugot) I loved it and it gave me independance that i would not have otherwise been able to afford!

I think it was possibly a silly thing to do to post on facebook, i think it was inapproriate of a family member to be that upfront about it - but as you advertised it i think you have to deal with it!

If my family grows to the point i need a larger house i have to save up, sell mine and move. If i decide i don't like the area i have to sell my house find another i can afford and move. No-one is going to help me here!

There is an element of it is unfair from both ends, i don't mean to be rude but wonder how you would feel paying a lot of tax for it going to people who have made choices that have made their own life harder, when actually you still have to think before you spend any money.

Tryharder · 13/02/2013 13:43

YABU to want to move to Wakefield Wink

AmberLeaf · 13/02/2013 13:44

The part i don't understand is have i been lucky? or have i worked hard and always tried to never rely on anyone else

You have worked hard and been lucky.

Lots of people work hard, but for many varied reasons don't manage to reach your enviable position.

usualsuspect · 13/02/2013 13:46

Ignore her, or laugh.

Council house envy is hilarious.

SoWhatIfImWorkingClass · 13/02/2013 13:52

Even 'poor' people could save £10 a week somehow if they looked and tried hard enough

Ha!

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/02/2013 13:57

I would love a council house. I've had 3 private rentals in 4 years and the lack of security is a nightmare. I privately rent an ex council house on a lovely quiet estate and would give my right arm to know that I could stay here long term. Its not 'envy' in a nasty way iyswim, I wish there was more social housing. Its not even the money, I would happily pay the council what I pay landlord. We've registered for council housing and in the unlikely event we manage to get a house I won't give a stuff what anyone thinks.

Social housing is a good thing.

Domjolly · 13/02/2013 13:58

Bob crow has a council falt he is on aout 300k a year

Mick jaggers daugter lives in a council flat

Not every one who lives in a council homr is poor many simply got one back in the day now have money and are still hanging on

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/02/2013 14:00

And to posters who think its easy to save, you never know what's around the corner. I bought a house at the age of 22, had a good job and savings. Then xh left me with a pile of debt which took me 10 years to recover from. Savings gone, house gone. I"m not poor but I've struggled and during that time couldn't have saved £10 a week.

coraltoes · 13/02/2013 14:15

Preggersandhsppy
Can you not see that not everyone is academic, some will have jobs that earn little, work long hours but still be on the breadline, push the,selves but not earn what you earn? Working hard / striving doesn't always have a financial pay off. Many others have responsibilities we cannot fathom, caring for a relative, disabilities, illness that can make regular work almost impossible. They didn't work less at their lives than you or I. They got dealt a very different hand.

Social housing is a wonderful thing as a short term help for those whose hardship is temporary, and as permanent security for those who will always struggle to earn and survive without it. Poverty is a miserable existence, and can be scary if your home isn't secure, especially if you have a family. I could never judge someone who relies on social housing.

I do believe the councils should be helping those whose needs are short term only, back into private/ subsidised rentals to free up properties for anyone in greater need.

JakeBullet · 13/02/2013 14:23

Perhaps 12 years ago I could have written your post preggers but 12 years later I am in social housing......it could happen to you too. All it takes is a redundancy, a marriage breakdown, , disabilities or a combination to see everything you worked for fall away.
...I am now on full housing benefit too....a far cry from my mortgage which was less than my current rent.

fromparistoberlin · 13/02/2013 14:23

dont post on facebook? simple

Original poster
M0naLisa · 13/02/2013 15:23

I know i shouldnt have posted it on facebook but i did.

OP posts:
Original poster
M0naLisa · 13/02/2013 15:23

and also at the moment we couldnt save £10 per week

OP posts:
TroublesomeEx · 13/02/2013 15:31

Folkgirl did you have to say that after I called myself a twat? haha a poorly timed xpost if ever there was one Grin

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