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.

Also-the big issue here isn't necessarily affordability but changes in finances when you have them set up a certain way. If my mortgage doubled what would I do? Be rather fucked too. I could probably struggle by but I have long term, non essential commitments I entered into when I had no idea my mortgage would double. Social housing tenants are no different.
Some of course, genuinely cant afford anymore, the way some people just can't afford their
Mortgage to double. It's not about being poor as much as a not being able to meet huge unplanned upheaval

We are on 34k between us. We can afford our essentials and not much else...but we don't NEED half price rent.

What is your rent Gobbolino6 ?

£875

That's a 3-bed terrace in the dodgier (not really dodgy) end of a very affluent West Midlands town.

"We are on 34k between us. We can afford our essentials and not much else...but we don't NEED half price rent."

Rather depends on where you live.

If you were faced with having to find an extra £10,000 a year in rent on a take home salary of £26k, you might very well feel that you need half-price rent.

Well the demonization of tenants has worked rather well. Leaving aside not being able to afford a mortgage which has been covered quite well on this thread......what about ppl who simply dont want a mortgage.....why the fuck should ppl be forced to buy a house. You are telling ppl what to do with their own money. It wouldnt happen with any other item.

Why shouldnt ppl who rent have a secure tenancy.

Its the only thing that sets HAs apart from private landlords. Apart from that the service is the same. My opposite neighbour and the tenants underneath her have been affected by 2 floods in 3 months due to the HA trying to do work on the cheap.

Sub contractors attitudes to tenants have also worsened in recent years. Not turning up SEVEN times in a row for gas safety checks.

FOUR MONTHS to fit a boiler and six radiators. etc.

And if you are an owner occupier and you think it wont affect you ...well it could if you live near an HA property and the HA have been lax about gas safety or are doing it on the cheap ( and the reason they can get away with it is BECAUSE the demonization of tenants has worked so well that nobody cares.) You only have to look at what happened in North Yorkshire last week to see how far reaching an explosion can be.

DH is approaching his 66th birthday .....he has arthritis ischemic heart disease and emphysema (COPD) over 28% of social housing tenants are over 65.
We have a one bedroom flat. His emphysema will eventually lead to respitory failure.

Do people really think i should be kicked out after i am widowed. My name is on the 1994 tenancy too.

This is why i refuse to watch the patronizing back slapping hypocrisy that is the Pride of Britain awards......yes its fine for disabled ppl and carers to be patronized for the sake of a night of glamour and glitz for the "great and the good" but the next morning its back to business as usual and "Fuck you You cost the country too much money and you are taking up housing when you shouldnt be"

Until we need you for tv fodder again...

Indeed, but surely London is the worst area for high rents, and the threshold there is to be an extra £10k income per year.

I have a friend who this applies to. She was moved by the council as there house was deemed unacceptable for adaptation (she has a physically disabled son). Her carer's allowance takes them over the £30.k income limit. She is going to have to use her son's DLA to cover the increase in rent, foregoing activities for him which it pays for, it. Eg. Wheelchair football and private hydrotherapy sessions. It's the only 'spare' money they have.

No, the example I gave is the actual figures for my local area (Sussex).

I'm in Sussex, our little city has just been voted one of the most expensive places to live in. We don't get the extra 10k London allowance.

Fair enough. I don't see, though, how having social housing as something that exists, but not giving it to the poorest, makes sense.

A friend of mine is in a 2-bed HA property in the same town as me. She has one DS in Y2. She earns £20k, her partner earns £35k, with no childcare costs. Her rent is £350pcm.
It makes no sense for her to be there.

I am a bit confused by some of the rents people are quoting here. Social rent levels are governed by law, based on a rental formula. I've never seen rents of anywhere near £800 a month. The standard is £400-600 (dependant on size) if you don't mind me asking why are you paying so much? Are you sure your on a social rented tenure?

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

could you answer please

I saw this a bit back as a snippet and thought it was a good idea in theory, but as per usual now its come out it appears they've not thought the finer details through which will bodge the scheme and make the whole lot look an incompetent mess. Private renting needs sorting with some controls first, the cutoff is too blanket and too low at 30k and the extra revenue should be put back specifically into the local councils 'housing' pot for more affordable housing .

I don't think social housing is currently fair. If you were on the list now, struggling and in genuine need, how can it be okay for those who've got back on their feet and earning enough to pay market rent to get to keep theirs? For too long, where I live, people get used to paying the low rent then begrudge paying the 'normal' rates even when they can then actually afford it because they have become accustomed to that level of disposable income. Whereas those in shitty private rent had to cut their cloth accordingly.

Yes if your 66 husband ceases to be around I don't see why a spouse should be able to continue to be in a house needed by others in more need (and I write as someone whose parent died from empheseyma and lung cancer - although in her case it was her fault as she was a smoker which can make some of these issues even more complex).

I suppose as a society we need to decide where money should be spent and if tax payers paying mortgages who risk their mortgages doubling or even more should have to bear the risks of that whilst subsidising people who don't need a subsidy in low cost social housing.

"Fair enough. I don't see, though, how having social housing as something that exists, but not giving it to the poorest, makes sense."

No, but plunging existing tenants into abject poverty for the sake of it doesn't make a lot of sense either.

Someone paying market rent round here for a 3-bed on a salary of £31k would be left will £153 a week- with all bills, food and council tax to pay out of that.

Obviously life has been very unfair for a very fucking long time on the private tenants that have had no choice, but shouldn't we be trying to help them rather than making life equally miserable for council tenants?

I did answer. I think the Government levels are reasonable.
And no, I'm not a social tenant.

Houses the ones round here that are £800 a month are through HA but classes as affordable housing.

I'm in Sussex too tits are you in a place with a lovely cathedral? I'm sure I've asked you before, I don't think I'm far from you.

Gobbo that's a joint income of £55k though not £30k! I would feel rich if we had that money and I would be saving to buy my own house.

Jack, I agree on that.

Ah Yes wreck, they are not social
Housing (well they are low
Cost housing, but not general needs social housing as most of us mean when we talk about council houses) I have a feeling many of
The more Expensive rents referred to in this thread aren't social housing but some form
Of sub market affordable rents. They are not affected by stay to pay.

I am Wreck, lovely cathedral indeed, I have to pay a premium on my council tax because I can just see the top of the spire on a very clear day of o crane my neck out the bathroom window.

In my area, housing is cheap, its about £450 pm, that includes water charges and repairs.

This area I am in is HA, however other local areas are council and they are the same. Ours wont be going up by much. I do think its reasonable price for a home.

My friend was in the town centre a couple of years ago and she had to pay additional premium for that plus additional refuse collection?! It's lovely though. Have you seen the part rent part buy that's on offer? I LOVE it but we don't earn enough. I like to think one day we could though.