... to not understand the "Right to Buy" thing???

[MillieV]

OK. Up and down the country, and here on MN, there is talk about councils not having enough council stock, that there should be more, and we all blame it on Margaret Thatcher. But why is it that now, politicians want to follow in Thatcher's footsteps yet again?!?

One article here

Do these properties come with covenants, i.e. they can only be sold on by the original buyer to those who are also in council/social housing, and continue to be at a discount? This would be fair. However, I fear the housing stock may just be sold on at market value 5 years down the line...

It's not subsided. It isn't.

could I rent your house for the same price?

I got my house because I worked and claimed no hb. But then I live in an area where there are hardly any waiting lists.

frik I agree my friend pays 425 for her HA, my SIL who lives 2/3 streets away pays 825.
Same house (newish build) 3 bed small semi's.

When I rented 10/11 years ago my rent was 625 for a 3 bed semi, I don't know of any HA/council tenant that pays that much now!

Indeed you could Like I said next door pay 60 quid more not hundreds and even that doesn't mean it is subsidised. Ha houses don't make profit. My house has paid for itself a hundred times over. Landlords rent to make profit.

There isn't much difference between private and council here neither. I pay over 400 quid a month and a house private in the same area is on average around the 500 quid mark.

People are so wide eyed at London and surrounding areas they seem to think it apply all over the UK. It's weird man.

That's not even taking into account the upwards of £1000 most private tenants have to put down before even moving in.

Btw I live in Yorkshire... not London

I spent £1500 to do this house up when I moved in.. that is excluding the rent I had to pay on both properties whilst we did this one up. I had to lay grass in the garden, buy all paint and wallpaper and carpet throughout... how many private renters do that then?

It is a vote winner, pure and simple.

I got my house because I worked and claimed no hb. But then I live in an area where there are hardly any waiting lists.

What is to stop people from giving up work or reducing hours to a minimum shortly after moving in and then claiming HB for the rest of the tenancy? Social housing should be allocated based on need, not employment status.

Indeed you could

really? It's rented on the open market like a private let?

and even that doesn't mean it is subsidised.

if you got a special rate than it is subsidised. if they could have let it to someone else for more than it is subsidised.

I just see this 'market' rents thing. Certainly not the market here.

Or maybe private is subsidised as well.

I needed somewhere to live super... does that not count?

than -> then

Special rate??? who sets this rate then? The government rent houses out to what they cost them.. private landlords set their rates at whatever they like. It is not subsidised!!!

You can't right to buy if it's housing association it changes to right to acquire which is a discount capped to roughly £10'000 , the exception to this if you was a tenant with the council from years ago and ha took it over then you have the right to buy.
I would think there is not that many people left with right to buy and it's more people can have right to acquire which isn't that much of a discount and people are thinking it's the same thing

I pay over 400 quid a month and a house private in the same area is on average around the 500 quid mark.

isn't that a 25% difference?

Considering the amount of panorama type programmes I've seen on crap private landlords leaving their houses in utter disrepair I imagine more private renters live in poor conditions than council tenants ... I've rented for years and done up several of the houses at my own expense purely because the landlord won't put their hands in their pocket to pay for it.

No not a massive difference here either gamerchick the reason we want a council house is for security my youngest is disabled so in the near future I,m going to have to give up my job dh still in full time time employment we need the stability fortunatley in my north west England town social housing seems quite available.

The government rent houses out to what they cost them.

right. so they don't rent it out for what they could get for them. is that correct? that's lost money for the council (tax payer).

It's not just cheap rent its security too. My current ll is selling up and to begin with a was so so upset but he's actually done me and massive favour.
I work and I am I need because I don't earn a huge amount and I've also been served notice so I am at risk of homelessness so the council will help me.

Did I also mention the fact landlords can pretty much kick people out when they want to sell up and have no obligation to rehouse their tenant... pretty sure you've lived in your HA house without that worry??

My upstairs window will not open. This is my only escape route if we ever had a fire. I think I have rang about 30 times regarding this. The windows and doors are completely shite and there is a hole that actually has day light coming in in the boiler room upstairs. There is water getting down the chimney breast too.. But it's ok as I live in a 'subsidised' which it really fucking isn't house so I should be grateful..

the reason we want a council house is for security

security, when done privately, always costs money.

Of course that's not ok LST.
Hope u get It sorted