to ask a question about council houses?

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I'm not wanting to get into the rights and wrongs of benefits etc but I just have a honest question about council houses.

If someone is granted a council house, is it like renting a private house, but the landlord is the council that they pay rent to, which may be covered by housing benefit?
If they then get into a position, for example finding work, where they are no longer entitled to HB, do they cover the rent themselves or do they lose the house?

I have no reason for asking this other than curiosity. I've claimed HB in the past but I was in a private rental then.

Council house shortage isn't the same all over the UK. My area you can get one if you work and are overcrowded where you live. There isn't that desperation as there is say in London.

My sil lives in London in one of those houses in blocks.. single.. 3 bed house which she doesn't have to give up because she's an oap.

She sleeps in the living room.. but nobody bleeps on about the older generation giving up their pads.. just those who pay their rent.

I really dont know why everyone thinks the rents are really cheap. I live in HA and I pay £450 for a crap house in a crap estate where nobody wants to live. If I was to rent privately in a nice area I would pay £500 a month.

Hardly cheap rent compared private rentals.

Bumpy I did my time in rental, and claiming HB, I am much happier to have a mortgage. It's good to know that in 20 years time I won't be paying rent, and all being well, the mortgage repayments won't go up by a huge amount.

Council house rents are not really cheap.

Private rents are too expensive.

Bumpy I am not naive. Just when there is a shortage of council properties and people are waiting to be house who actually really need the help I do find it unfair that people are holding onto their council properties. Benefits are means tested and so are lots of things in life. I don't see what is wrong with suggesting that council houses should be means checked to ensure people free up spaces once they are no longer in need. I don't think council homes should be homes for life UNLESS a lot more are built and become available so there isn't a shortage, which is not going to happen overnight.

Here in London HA and councils are building flats which are for 'Affordable Rent' which is about £250 - £300 per week for a 2 bed. Not cheap here!!

Vodka I think it really depends on the area you live. If it is an expensive area in the South East or in London the difference is vast.

This is true MrsDeVere, my house is ex council. I had no idea until I bought it as it was one of one 5 on a naice estate that built just before the war.

I think as private tenancies have become more difficult over the years with more and more rules, inspections and such, the council houses have started to look more attractive.

I think they are not exactly subsidised, but more non-profit. Originally they would have charged enough to pay for their upkeep. Not sure precisely how it's worked out now.

Imagine if we built a lot of them and priced them just below the private landlord prices. they could be a source of income to the taxpayer and people who can't afford to buy a house could still have a home that's theirs to keep. As long as they looked after it and paid the rent there'd be no need for them to move.

Is this about Big Bob Crow? He was in my local pub once.

Vodka, 2 bed council flats here in London are £450 per month if rented from the council and £1400 per month for the same flat privately. That's wuite a difference.

Chloe it's people like you who make me want to use my right to buy.. rather than give a 4 bed back to the council when I'm done with it.

Council houses were and are not anything to do with benefits.

It's private rents that have gone wrong.. go and spit over them.

That's London though.

The difference between private and council rents every where else is not that vast.

Chloe but what you suggest simply leaves MORE people with no security...creating an ever shifting circle of people on low incomes with NO security!

How is that fair? People want to know they can stay in one home...they don't always want to buy...or can't afford it anyway...all they want is the knowledge that they're not at the mercy of a landlord.

Also agencies charge horrendous money to simply register! Whoever said that 450 is a lot...sorry but it is not a lot...not when you weigh in the security which your home has offered you.

When I see how much private rent is in London it makes my jaw drop.

I have a question too, is the rent on a council house in London the same as say in Bournemouth ? Are the rents the same all over the country and how much a month indies it cost?

I think local councils set their own rents.

I might be wrong though.

I think Usual is right and they kind of reflect the local market but remain cheaper. And in my area, the average rent on a 3 bed semi is £650...council houses are around 450. That's a big difference.

I can't find a lot in central London for much under £800 a month (for a 1 bed) or £1000 a month (for a 2 bed). It's totally insane but I think it's therefore understandable to be jealous of someone on a good wage and with a good lifestyle who has a £450 a month 2 bed. Not okay to blame them and think they shouldn't be there. But to be envious of their luck and/or foresight is, I think, natural.

I'm also jealous of people who are old enough to have bought in London 20+ years ago.

I wish I didn't see London as the be all and end all but I'd give anything to be there and to be bringing my kids up there. And I don't think it will ever happen.

Gamer, yes I can perfectly understand that people would be tempted to hold on the house if they can but I think its selfish. Surely you can see that it is. I don't understand why someone thinking that the neediest are the most deserving of a council house when there are limited numbers, which is my opinion, is getting scorned for it! Yes private lettings are priced crazily and that is a big problem. I have just recently moved out of London and I know how ridiculous it is. I am angry about that! I just think the whole system needs to be fairer and I don't see how it is fair when someone gets a council house cheap rent for life who actually earns a lot more than people who are struggling in private.

I lived in private rent for 12 years whilst on the list for council/ha property. Our rent used to be £650 and we were given a month to leave after years. I only got offered a 2 bed ha property when my marriage ended and I became a single mum. I now pay £420 and can stay here as long as I like and decorate how I like. I think I've done my time renting (was buying 15yrs ago but ex pulled the ug on that at the last minute!)
I earn £30k and an in an area that has a mixture of earners, non earners, part buy/part rent and new.
Am I one of those that should give my place up then?

Chloe what is selfish is people like you who do not even attempt to consider how it might feel to have no guarantee of your home being your home next month.

What's unfair is that Landlords are raking cash in from people who would otherwise have been in council accommodation if they'd not all been sold off...private landlords need to be made more responsible and letting agents need to be stopped from living off other people's poverty.

Moving people constantly from pillar to post destroys communities...try to look a little further out of your box.

cls77 no...you are exactly who should have a council property.

I think people are getting the wrong end of the stick with my comments. I don't mean people on low incomes should have to leave their council house. I mean people who are on above average, fairly well off incomes should have to leave. I am not blaming the individuals I am blaming the system. I think they need to provide more council houses or share out the existing ones more fairly, so they are not clogged by people who are not really "in need" as such. Don't see what is bad about that, honestly