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Original poster

OMG!! The Council House Giveaway!!

234 replies

HeeHiles · 12/02/2015 09:42

It's IDS again!!

So, if you live in a council house and come off benefits for a year the Tories will GIVE you your council house. Now even though I could benefit from this I still think it's a crazy idea......we need more CH not give them away!!

All for a few votes?? It's that damn Dame Porter all over again!

Anyone think this is a good idea?

OP posts:
Pipbin · 12/02/2015 12:16

I have two main problems with this. Firstly, the country is in desperate need of social housing. Just look at the length of time people are on waiting lists.

The second problem is going to get me flamed I'm sure. I live in an ex council house on a mainly private estate. The houses nextdoor and opposite are still council. I admit I'll be pretty pissed off if someone gets given a house for not claiming benefits when I have claimed nothing for 20 years and had to buy my house.

brandy321 · 12/02/2015 12:26

This would be a vote winner for me. As a long term HA tenant without a hope of ever being able to save for a deposit I would jump at the chance to buy at a discount. If I was a council tenant I would be entitled to a 50% discount, but I do not have right to buy as I am HA. Like many HA properties my home is in need of a lot of work, but the discount would make it worth it.

I expect many working HA tenants will feel the same.

christinarossetti · 12/02/2015 12:31

Are you a private renter, Theoretician, if you don't mind me asking.

Grumpyoldblonde · 12/02/2015 12:35

*This would be a vote winner for me. As a long term HA tenant without a hope of ever being able to save for a deposit I would jump at the chance to buy at a discount. If I was a council tenant I would be entitled to a 50% discount, but I do not have right to buy as I am HA. Like many HA properties my home is in need of a lot of work, but the discount would make it worth it.

I expect many working HA tenants will feel the same*

Of course, who wouldn't? anyone would be mad to turn down a free house, that is why it is such a cynical idea, buying votes. but further down the line, when there Is no social housing left? Plenty of people in social housing work maybe most, what about them? it would be well worth a while on benefits then come off them to get your free house, madness.

PausingFlatly · 12/02/2015 12:37

Neat juxtaposition of posts by Pipbin and brandy.

This is exactly how it would shake down.

End result: no social housing, massive resentment and antagonism.

HerdofAntilop · 12/02/2015 12:44

Lurking husband I completely agree - my first thought on seeing this is what are they trying to sneak through while I'm distracted? A distraction from the HSBC tax evasion row? Something more sinister? What have I missed?

bettyboop1970 · 12/02/2015 13:04

IDS couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery!
Look at the Universal Credit debacle
Just another sound bite that will quickly become a u turn
As previous posters have suggested it is a good distraction from other more serious issues
This kind of statement plays directly into the hands of the Daily Fail readership

vitamink · 12/02/2015 13:23

What about all the people paying a fortune in private rents, not receiving any benefits? This is such a crazy plan it's untrue and so stupid on so many levels.

vitamink · 12/02/2015 13:25

Why not just give certain lucky people a few hundred thousand pounds for free then as that is what the policy amounts to.

specialsubject · 12/02/2015 13:27

I thought we didn't have enough council houses? How will putting more houses into private hands help?

BTW well done on those who can twist this to make it all the fault of landlords. Nice one.

QuintlessShadows · 12/02/2015 13:30

I wonder if there will be a "support a council tenant for a year" scheme, where people draw up contracts that give them too proceeds of the sale, after 3-5 years, in exchange for a years worth of "living wage".

meglet · 12/02/2015 13:44

sorry, not read whole thread but I'm with birds on this. They'll do something to make property assets count against benefits.

cunts Angry .

richthegreatcornholio · 12/02/2015 13:45

as families are made to feel guilty for having children they can't 'afford'

And so they fucking well should be. Just about to have our first child as we are now in a position to afford it. If we weren't in that position then we'd be waiting to start a family. Why the fuck should I be subsidising others' children because they can't keep their fucking legs closed?!

XeroOwwersContact · 12/02/2015 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QuintlessShadows · 12/02/2015 13:48

Xero - have Faith. If they are GIVEN the house, they will surely sell up when they can, and then buy something cheaper or rent, and you will get new neighbours who will love and cherish the property. Wink

Baddz · 12/02/2015 13:49

Jesus Christ
You couldnt make it up, could you?

XeroOwwersContact · 12/02/2015 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhistlingPot · 12/02/2015 13:51

as families are made to feel guilty for having children they can't 'afford'

And so they fucking well should be. Just about to have our first child as we are now in a position to afford it. If we weren't in that position then we'd be waiting to start a family. Why the fuck should I be subsidising others' children because they can't keep their fucking legs closed?!

Bingo!

Anyone else fancy playing?

SaucyJack · 12/02/2015 13:53

The cunt bit depends on your POV really Meglet.

Obviously IDS is a cunt, and all if his policies are cuntish but giving an individual a one-off lump sum in the form of a house they and their descendent get to live in for free and keep instead of a drip drip drip of barely liveable-on benefits isn't actually that cunty in and of itself. Many SH tenants could greatly benefit from the scheme. We're council and I certainly wouldn't be complaining on a personal level if they brought the policy in and me and DP were forced to benefit from it Wink

The main issue is whether the houses would be replaced (which they wouldn't be IMO) that is the downside.

PausingFlatly · 12/02/2015 13:58

Yes of course you'd benefit by being given an asset worth hundreds of thousands of pounds by the council.Hmm

It's just everyone else who'd be screwed.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 12/02/2015 14:01

Where we live in the Midlands, there has been no RTB for years. Around 15 or 20 years ago all of the Council's social housing stock was transferred/sold to several HAs. None of whom operate a RTB scheme.

I genuinely did not realise that this was not standard across the country!

I would also love to know if someone benefitting from this "brainwave" is then excluded from claiming benefits in the future? If not, many people will just spend a year not paying bills & getting in to severe debt just to secure ownership of their house surely? Just to be clear, I don't think anyone (except perhaps Tory MPs) should be permanently excluded from benefit entitlement, but I don't see how this scheme would have a hope of working.

BunnyFint · 12/02/2015 14:04

Are you going to claim child benefit Rich? Are you both on six figure salaries? You are claiming cb then those of us who aren't are going to be 'fucking subsidising' you and if you aren't earning an income that means your tax will be more than you takeout during those child rearing years.... Then ditto.

I'll play Whistling pot, with that diatribe I'm one number of calling house!

IDS is a fruit loop. That is all.

BunnyFint · 12/02/2015 14:04

Fgs, If you are*

Baddz · 12/02/2015 14:05

I don't think it's a Secret that the Tories want to get rid of social housing is it?
Since last August the max RTB discount is now 75%
And now this....

Grumpyoldblonde · 12/02/2015 14:43

as families are made to feel guilty for having children they can't 'afford'

And so they fucking well should be. Just about to have our first child as we are now in a position to afford it. If we weren't in that position then we'd be waiting to start a family. Why the fuck should I be subsidising others' children because they can't keep their fucking legs closed?!

I could afford my first child, no problem, I sincerely hope you never have to stand in my current shoes.