Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think it is ridiculous that a woman with 11 kids is getting a £400,000 house for nowt

999 replies

angelos02 · 19/02/2013 09:59

Especially when most working people couldn't never afford to live somewhere costing that much?
Link: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2280385/Home-fit-dole-queen-Mother-11-gets-BRAND-NEW-400-000-house-built-council-shes-struggling-current-homes.html

OP posts:
SuckingDiesel · 19/02/2013 11:55

Sorry for nonsensical typing.

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 19/02/2013 11:56

Hoho, same happened to us, it was an absolute fucking nightmare.

tabulahrasa · 19/02/2013 11:56

They don't get some sort of bespoke kitchen, it's a case of - which of these three finishes do you prefer? Do you want a cupboard over here or would you prefer to leave it empty for an appliance... That's about it and it's what all councils and HAs do if they know who the tenant will be.

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 19/02/2013 11:58

Hoho, sorry meant to say, we made them pay it back at £20 a week, it took forever.

SoWhatIfImWorkingClass · 19/02/2013 11:58

God these stories are so boring. The fact is her children are here now, living and breathing and need somewhere to live. I'm not going to get all pouty about it and say things like, "My taxes pay for that. Boo hoo hoo."

Catchingmockingbirds · 19/02/2013 11:59

Of course it is irresponsible of her to have had so many children despite not being able to provide for them. I'm only now in a position where I can afford another child, 6 years after having dc1. I could have kept on having children though just like this woman, and rely on the benefit system but I didn't want to.

Anyone here could have went down her path and done the same, have child after child with no means to provide for them aside from relying on the government. Then after 5 years of being very inadequately housed in overcrowded and unsafe accommodation, hope the council will invest in building more social housing so you can move into more suitable housing. Then once your youngest child reaches the age of 5 (I actually think this age has drastically been reduced but am not sure of the amended age limit), be moved from income support onto job seekers allowance where you may be told to go on volunteer work placements and will be encouraged to get a job despite having little or no qualifications or work experience due to spending the majority of your life having and raising a large number of children. Then have the threat of bedroom tax as the children get older, and other benefit caps, as you skrimp and save to get by on benefits and find it extremely difficult to escape the situation as you've not much to offer an employer.

It doesn't sound like a situation I'd like to live in, even if I was offered a big affordable house to rent, and it's no wonder that extreme stories like this are in the minority.

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:00

have a HA house, but i "pay out of my own pocket". Some of us in Social Housing do work, you know.

this,

Original poster
angelos02 · 19/02/2013 12:00

So the message being sent out is, work hard, struggle to cobble together enough money for a mortgage for a 2/3 bed. Or, don't work, knock out a load of kids and you'll be handed much better than this, for doing nothing.

OP posts:
Flatbread · 19/02/2013 12:00

Well lougle, why?

I don't provide luxury worktops or cupboards to my tenants either, but it would never cross my mind to ask them which ones they want...?

And I am pretty sure most other private landlords don't either.

It is strange that a tenant who works, pays market rates, has to go through hoops of credit reference checks etc. to secure a rental in the private market has less rights and choices than a person who rents from the council.

In my opinion, a council tenant who rents should be no better off than someone who rents in the private market.

And yes, private rental regulation needs to be improved to protect tenants, rather than reducing council tenancy security. But no one will argue that private tenants should be offered a choice of fittings when a place is built or refurbished. So why offer it to council tenants?

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:02

Luxury worktops PAH yes cos HA and social housing has fantastic worktops and cupboard in their houses yep all marble and granite going on there Grin

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 19/02/2013 12:02

I dont think you have to want those children not to have what they need at all, they need a large house so they should have one absolutely.

I also think its fine to say that it is irresponsible of anyone to have so many children if they are not paying for them, and many people have to stop at one or two because they simply cannot afford anymore so if they want to be somewhat pissed of by that thats fine. Its certainly not benefit bashing at all and its not black and white, of its fine, its not fine.

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:04

and why dont you offer your tenants a choice out of interest you could say I am thinking of this or this which one do you prefer

Flatbread · 19/02/2013 12:05

To make it clear, I might be choosing between three cheapo worktops, but would not ask a tenant which one they would prefer.

I am fairly sure that majority of private landlords are like me, and our tenants are not given the choice when we refurbish.

So why should a council tenant get a choice?

It is a bit of a non-issue, but it does bug me Grin

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 19/02/2013 12:07

I dont think people are saying that angelos, but you also need to bare in mind how many people are squashed into inadequate housing, lots of people are in far too small housing just having normal size families.

littlemisssarcastic · 19/02/2013 12:07

angelos Do you really envy this woman her lifestyle?
Haven't you heard about the benefit cuts which are going to be implemented shortly?
FWIW I feel dreadfully sorry for this family. When the benefit cuts begin to affect her, her life will be nothing more than existing and her children will have to bear the brunt of their mothers choices even though the children didn't make the choices the mother did.
If i was in this woman's position, i would be terribly worried about how I was going to manage in the next few years. Sad

gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2013 12:07

they aren't council tenants ...again

secretofcrickleyhall · 19/02/2013 12:08

In fairness, and despite my earlier rant, I do think we need a lot more social housing and I don't see the issue in people wanting a home they pay to live in to look a certain way (obviously assuming they aren't trashing it or similar.) I get a lot of pleasure (saddo!) in choosing wallpaper, carpets and flooring i like - why should people be denied this because they rent?

squeakytoy · 19/02/2013 12:11

social housing is the current terminology for council housing, it all boils down to the same thing..

mrsjay · 19/02/2013 12:11

I dont understand if a private landlord is putting a new kitchen in the house people are renting why wouldn't they give them a choice or 1 or 2 work tops or cupboards they live and pay rent afterall, it is all to do with giving people choice just because they dont pay a mortgage doesn't mean they dont have personal taste on things,

gordy yes we understand they are not council they are HA it really is the same sort of thing it is all social housing

gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2013 12:12

they are housing association tenants

lougle · 19/02/2013 12:12

Flatbread because Council/HA tenancies are not like private rental. They are secure tenancies which means that they have the right to treat the house as their home for as long as they live there.

I have a Council tenancy. I have lived here almost one year. Once my tenancy becomes secure next month, I have the right to live here until I die. I have the right to improve the property. That means that (as long as I inform and have permission from the council, which cannot reasonably be refused) I can:

Extend the property
Add a conservatory
Have a loft conversion
Change the internal layout of the house
Change the kitchen, bathroom, etc.
Add or remove features

The only proviso is that the council can ask us to revert it to its original state prior to ending the tenancy. Having said that, they would only do that if someone trashed the house.

Not only that, but if I choose to do those things, then for each improvement, the council will pay me up to £3000 per improvement.

Original poster
angelos02 · 19/02/2013 12:13

I don't envy her. But sitting at work, snowed under with stuff to do, while struggling to buy a house within my & DH's means, I find it a bonkers system.

OP posts:
RandallPinkFloyd · 19/02/2013 12:13

I have no comment on the story other than to re-iterate what most other people have said about not punishing children for their mother's problems and that I find it impossible to feel either envy or anger towards her. It strikes me as a pretty miserable existence, I doubt a new house is going to change that for her.

And can I just add that as a lone parent (not through choice) I can assure you that I earn far far less than £40k a year, despite the fact that I do actually work as well. I'm sorry you are feeling so down about your situation but please don't peddle this kind of crap to make yourself feel better. It does more damage than you know.

(I went back to work when my DS was 9 mo, wonder if that deserves an exclamation mark Hmm )

mablemurple · 19/02/2013 12:13

I stand corrected about the HB, thanks.

gordyslovesheep · 19/02/2013 12:14

so rent - you have the same choices as her - if your income is low you can claim housing benefit

Swipe left for the next trending thread