AIBU to think not enough people are aware of the proposed changes to social housing?

[StripeySherbert]

The housing and planning bill is going to the 3rd stage in the House of Lords but I don't see much about it, it is going to affect so many people!

Pay to stay will be introduced, households with a 40k income for London or 30k elsewhere will pay local market rate rent, this extra rent goes to the government, not the councils. People who start paying private rented levels of rent will maybe expect more for their money? There will be no extra money in the pot, it's going to Central Government.

The new national living wage being introduced, the sums show that most households with 2 working full time will hit the 30k.

New tenancies will have a fixed term of 2 to 5 years. Meaning social housing will only be for those who have no other way to find housing themselves, whilst they get on their feet, most would think this should be the case, I use to think that should be the case myself, but that's not how communities form, being friendly with the neighbours, instead this could promote "sink estates?"

Councils will be forced to sell high value council properties that become empty or face a levy charge if they don't. Again, this money does not go to the council, it goes to Central Government.

This is only it in part, yet it seems to be flying under the radar!

Some of the changes wouldn't be so bad if the money went back into the local area/ local housing.

This will screw us.
We live in a very expensive area to privately rent and we don't have the means of a deposit to buy.

Our house is falling apart it's not worth the market rent of over 1k a month.
I don't know what we'll do tbh, I'm terrified of the shitstorm that is private rent, it's so unstable and with a disabled child in the house, stability is crucial.

I live in HA property, moved here long ago after domestic violence. By local standards my rent is low- current market rent is more than I earn as area has exploded price wise and I'm low paid. Was going to get a lodger in my front room (have a decent size dining room I can use instead) as Ex has left and I'm sole earner while DS is in college. My tax credits will soon end.
DD has just moved in for a bit so they can try to save a deposit to buy so I've deferred the lodger plan but it feels like every time we make a step forward, someone has other ideas.
What happens if they introduce this scheme, jack up my rent and then the household income drops?

Some HA properties will be affected by pay to stay, not just council properties, it all depends on your HA. Mine has confirmed that it will be seeking information about a tenant's income and intends to implement the policy. We are just over the threshold for London, £40k really isn't a high income for two full time earners especially with 4 dc between us.

Our plan is to buy our property once RTB is available for HA tenants. It's not really what we believe in but we just can't afford market rents, it will be cheaper for us long term to buy the flat than keep paying market level rent, which is three times our current HA rent.

Pay to stay seems like a fair idea.

Does it seem fair sweet, really? Do you honestly did you look at the calculations up thread from
wreck Tangled? Now imagine she had three dc? Her monthly outgoings for essentials would be a minus calculation.

I wonder if the market rent factors in the point that social housing homes are shells that you have to decorate and furnish and also have much crapper kitchens etc . I've rented much better market rent homes but just couldn't afford to stay. I will reduce my work hrs if this passes through. It may even work out better for my work life balance

The problem is that they try to apply a blanket solution to all tenants. We were lucky enough to get a council house a few years ago, and I am very grateful for it. However, the area that we were put in means we are already paying Band F council tax on a 3 bed semi. The same houses a few miles further away are bands B to D. Combined with a rent increase we will be struggling and have no hope of saving to buy.
For those saying that it will push people to buy their council house, in many areas you are not able to buy at the moment. The council told us you have to be in the property 5 years to apply to buy, but that they are not selling any for the time being.

We aren't allowed to buy ours as we are in a protected area not sure I would want to buy such a poorly made, damp house though.

Also, as has been mentioned, it will cost councils money as if they want market rent they will need to provide flooring / carpets etc the same as any other rental. It cost us a fortune, even pulling favours in and doing as much as possible ourselves, to just put adequate flooring throughout the house. It took months to pay off, on our income. We have been quietly building up our income but there is always something knocking us back down.
Mortgages are out of reach for some. Life is not as straight forward as some people think.

Seems like another poverty trap situation where your better off not working. Makes the "aspiration" thing a bit of a joke.

Also there isn't a quick easy way to reduce all private rent. Mortagage payments, agent fees, safety checks, insurance, tax etc and upkeep to a decent standard doesn't mean every property is raking it in for the landlord.

As soon as right to buy comes available for HA houses I think they'll all go, it's the only way some people will survive, it's the only option we'll have which will then lead to more houses being take out the social housing pool.

I couldn't afford to buy mine 10 years ago when jointly, we were in as good a financial position as we were ever going to be.
House is now probably worth at least double based on similar current properties nearby on Rightmove while my lone income is about a quarter of my ex's.
And I totally agree with Titsalina that selling off HA properties will exacerbate the problem. Right to buy seemed so wonderful but long term it's been disastrous for many.

This is wonderful news and why most of us voted in the Tories. About time.

I'm just looking forward to working less

Actually Deo I think you will find most people did not vote Tory.

Me too maybe I'll take up smoking and buy a giant tv.

Don't forget your goat Wreck you might need some company whilst watching Jeremy Kyle.

Ooh, you'd love me, Deo, with my 3 bedroom HA house I got straight after I applied, with only 1 child.

It's either less work or a shift a month with the £84 an hr nursing agency I've just joined... Government won't win

Oh yes I love a bit of JK.

Oh creme do you fancy a house swap?

I think it's one of the few welfare-related things this Government is doing that is sensible.

Yes, there's a shortage of affordable housing, but these properties should go to those who need them most. I have plenty of friends who moved into HA properties as single parents on no income apart from benefits. Most are now in couples in which both partners work and have school aged children. They are paying around half a private rent for a similarly sized property in the area. Meanwhile there aren't enough HA homes for those who are really struggling.

Let's do it this summer, Wreck. Housing Association Holiday Home Swap. We might even get a show on C5 out of it. JK is on far too early for me, sorry.

Gobbolino6 ok but who do you class as struggling/deserving what would be your criteria ??

NC as I work in the industry.

Councils/ Ha won't be obliged to do the properties up to market rent standard in terms of white goods, decoration and so on.

There are the funds and ability to build far more social housing. The problem is land and planning. HAs struggle to outbid the listed developers or those planning to build luxury housing for the land and then when they do win some local authorities make planning a nightmare. It's SO easily remidied incentives and new laws. The Tories just don't want to do it.

HAs initally panicked about Right to buy, because although is a big cash injection in terms of sales, all the above makes it hard for them to replace property anywhere near as quickly as they'd be selling them. However it seems likely now there will be ways HAs can choose not to participate. Don't forget this is the government that gave us universal credit- still not rolled out!

Before this It was assumed large numbers pay to stay tenants would buy under RTb , (although most HA are expected not to implement it now they have the choice) but thought unlikely that substantial numbers of social housing tenants would be able to afford it in terms of qualifying for mortgages.

Tbh, those of you saying you will buy your London council houses clearly aren't doing too badly. The discount isn't that big!

It's the same group of people being left up shit creek without a paddle again, the people working hard and earning but not earning enough to be wealthy.

We get no benefits of any kind (apart from DLA for DS) yet don't earn enough to not have to worry about shit like this.