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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to report her

128 replies

Northerngrump · 07/07/2016 21:39

My bil has got a new girlfriend. She's come up from London and moved in with bil into a house my mil owns, for minimal rent. Ive found out she has a council house in London that she's not intending on giving up so she's sub-letting it. This really pisses me off, as the shortage in council houses is well known, but also as they always plead poverty, but neither of them have full time jobs. I work my arse off and we just get by each month, and it bugs me that people use the system (and take advantage of my mil). It would be a shitty thing to report her - I think sub-letting is a serious offence - but some days I'm so tempted!!!

OP posts:
BengalCatMum · 08/07/2016 00:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 08/07/2016 00:47

Bengal you probably need to read the OP again.

Both are working part time. There is no evidence that the woman is letting the property for any more than the council are charging.

She could of course be renting to a mate who knows the score with the new relationship, in which case no need for 'hench men' etc.

At what point has anyone mentioned "receiving job seekers & god knows what other benefits."?? Confused

WorraLiberty · 08/07/2016 00:49

Or are you the sort of person who assumes anyone living in a council property is living off 'the welfare state'?

I'm really confused now.

TheHobbitMum · 08/07/2016 01:24

I'd absolutely report her! Wouldn't think twice either, there are so many deeply desperate families who need a home and shes making a profit out of a reduced rent Council house! I see the kind of emergency accommodation people are forced to live in while waiting for a house and it's just grim. You can't have everything and shes chosen to live with her BF

ErNope · 08/07/2016 01:51

report if you wish OP. I may or may not report depending on background (how long this has been going on, how long BIL and her have been together etc etc etc) however I wouldn't not report based on the fact she may be homeless if the relationship goes tits up. if she was worried about that wtf did she move in with him for??? makes no sense.

JerryFerry · 08/07/2016 02:10

I reported someone who, while working in housing for her local council, sublet her council property at market rate while she lived nearby in a house she and her husband co-owned. He too was subletting his council flat. Did they care? No, they did not. She denied it and nothing came of it.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 08/07/2016 02:30

I'm with Worra, she might just be being sensible and keeping her place as a fall back while she makes sure this relationship is going to work out.

GarlicStake · 08/07/2016 02:30

Hang on a minute! I'm allowed to be absent for up to two months. Any longer and I have to get permission, but I'm still the tenant until I've been away for six months.

The rent has to be paid for all that time so I probably would consider an informal deal with a friend.

Obvs, there are a million possible ins & outs of OP's story. The woman might be getting housing benefit for her old place, she & BIL might be trying things out, her 'tenant' might actually be a friend or family member in need, her landlord might even know.

Spermysextowel · 08/07/2016 02:59

I'd report it. She can discuss with the London LA how appropriate it is to sub-let their property.

areyoubeingserviced · 08/07/2016 03:40

Make sure of your facts before reporting.

Rishaar · 08/07/2016 05:04

As some other posters have said, it's unfortunately not as easy as "report her > she gets evicted instantaneously > deserving family have a property". Most often people deny subletting their property, and it's hard to prove in any event. Then you've got the issue of the person actually subletting the property, what happens to them? Often the LA/Council end up having a homelessness duty to the occupier, thus another person in emergency housing or street homeless.

Obviously she is taking the piss, but I can see that there is some sense to her doing it.... I kept my flat (privately rented and paid for by my wages, not HB) for almost six months after meeting DH, just in case. It's a big commitment moving in with someone without burning your bridges along the way.

I'm not saying don't report her, but be prepared that if you do it might cause a whole hell of a lot of family problems with very little payoff in the long run. Only you can know if it's worth it.

MsJamieFraser · 08/07/2016 06:23

Id have no question of doing this, and would report her immedietly, there is people out there homeless and is besits and hotels etc... Who desperately need a home and any home will do, she can't have her cake and eat it and more so making money from it!

ProfessorPreciseaBug · 08/07/2016 06:54

If she is renting it out, it is being used by someone. As such it is providing a home and not contributing to the housing shortage as it would if she left it empty...

However, she is probably making a profit on the rent she charges against the rent she pays.. Publicly subsidised rent is meant for people who can't afford a home.. though it does seem to go to people who play the system.

I would report her... but don't be surprised if the council do nothing..

Evergreen17 · 08/07/2016 06:59

Report her. You dont want this on your shoulders, knowing that some families are waiting for a flat that are in real need.

Kind of thing my sil would do if my brother didnt stop her

Some people

londonrach · 08/07/2016 07:00

Report her. There was a tv programme in this recently. The need for houses is huge.

crazybat · 08/07/2016 07:08

Stay out of it OP. One of the neighbours will surely do it soon.

Not worth the agro.

Liz09 · 08/07/2016 07:15

Report her.

I reported the parent of someone I knew for living in a 3 bedroom council house alone. Both of her children are grown (one has children of her own now) and have moved out, and the mother, who has a good nursing job, continue to live in this big house. So I reported her. No idea if anything came of it, but I was at least content knowing I didn't turn a blind eye to someone rorting the system.

Just5minswithDacre · 08/07/2016 07:21

I reported the parent of someone I knew for living in a 3 bedroom council house alone. Both of her children are grown (one has children of her own now) and have moved out, and the mother, who has a good nursing job, continue to live in this big house. So I reported her. No idea if anything came of it, but I was at least content knowing I didn't turn a blind eye to someone rorting the system.

You reported someone for living in their home?!? Confused

WTF?

Just5minswithDacre · 08/07/2016 07:22

Liz you're an idiot. I bet whoever you reported the non-crime to pissed themselves laughing at your expense.

TheRealAdaLovelace · 08/07/2016 07:23

no do not report her, the person living in it probably really needs it, and her relationship might fail and she would need it back.
Besides be honest, do you really care about the situation that much, or do you just dislike her?

TheRealAdaLovelace · 08/07/2016 07:25

Liz I am not sure if you know, but council houses are let on secure tenancies, you were essentially reporting someone for living in their own home.....
Some people's attitudes to social housing are just....un - fucking - believable.

insancerre · 08/07/2016 07:28

Liz09

Holy fuck!
There's nothing that needs reporting in that example

Just5minswithDacre · 08/07/2016 07:29

No wonder we have older women locally scared to death of losing their homes of 40+ years and difficult to reassure. It's probably Liz pressing her witch mask up to their kitchen windows that's frightening them.

Liz09 · 08/07/2016 07:48

Council house... as in, paid for by the taxpayer. She was provided with the housing based on her having two dependent children at the time. But she now flounces about with fillers in her face, a brand new car and still living in a big house.

Considering I know people with children who cannot get into council housing, you bet your ass I'm going to report someone for rorting the system.

Liz09 · 08/07/2016 07:49

Also, I live in Aus. I assumed council housing meant the same thing in the UK as it does here.

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