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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be disgusted at my friend buying her council house?

349 replies

AbsoluteUnfairBollox · 01/08/2016 18:46

And refuse to offer any congratulations whatsoever

She just announced on Facebook that her house purchase completed today. she's bought it at a massive discount as she's been plastering it online for months (valued at 120k and she's got it for around 50k...didn't even need a deposit I bet the banks were chucking mortgages at them. mean fgs how do some people get so jammy)

Actually I might congratulate her. I feel like saying congrats on taking yet another social house out of the market, one less house for a needy family Angry

Aibu to think it's totally unfair and a piss take on hard working people who can't buy a house ? I have bought my house btw but was bloody hard and my house cost twice what hers dos and isn't even as nice

I've nc for this as I am ashamed of the feelings it's stirred up and how mean spirited it's made me feel towards a friend. Sad

OP posts:
soyvanillalatte · 02/08/2016 13:17

I agree it is better she bought for herself. I also know someone who bought her mother's council house "for her" at a hug reduction so she could have it as a rental property (and eventually sell).

soyvanillalatte · 02/08/2016 13:18

What makes people eligible for a council house?
(goes to look)

HelenaDove · 02/08/2016 13:20

I agree with Dacre.

If tenants buy ..........

a. at least they will have some idea when repairs will be done.
b. they will finally have some say in who comes into their home to do the repairs lessening the chance of cowboy contractors.
c. no more being pissed around over gas safety checks/ being blamed and accused of denying access when the engineer has failed to turn up.

Just a few more perks of RTB from the tenants point of view.

fakenamefornow · 02/08/2016 13:26

The whole housing situation in this country really worries me.

In the past people who could afford to buy a house bought and people who couldn't, could get a council house. Either way provided a secure home to put down roots and raise a family. Also, I don't think there was such a stigma attached to living in council accommodation and council estates were nice places to live, you didn't need very serious problems and be the most disadvantaged to be housed.

When both these groups came to retire, the home owner would have paid off their mortgage and the council tenant would get housing benefit which would just be a money-go-round from one council department to another, either way there would be minimal costs for the householder and minimal costs to the state. When 'generation rent' come to retire I think it's very unlikely they will have enough savings or pension to cover the cost of private rent, and really what incentive is there for them to try to accumulate that money. Is the state going to have to step in and pay HB? This is going to be a massive cost, rent is usually more than the total state pension, so if 50% of pensioners are in private rented accommodation it'll add at least 50% to our current pension bill. Nothing seems to being done about this and I haven't even heard it mentioned by any MP. The only solution I can see is a massive council house building programme.

jellybeans · 02/08/2016 13:28

I think people are angrier and more bitter now about things like this because

House prices are ridiculous amd unaffordable for many now

Private renting is dead money and insecure

Some people find it easier to attack what they see as the undeserving poor getting a hand up

People critical of the schemes haven't answered to my and others posts about the way that some people are forced into rtb. Eg those on 30K or facing insecure tenancies.

Rtb has its definately downsides but there are plus points. Mixed housing was seen as good for estates and for people's futures.

The same people bitter about those bettering themselves financially (to qualify for mortgage is still out of reach for most tenants) and choosing to use the rtb...would they honestly prefer most people in council housing don't work, work minimum hours etc? Not talking about those who cannot work here but people in council houses going to college to get a good job, 2 parents going full time (and hitting 30K) etc. Should we really discourage these self improvements by taking away their secure tenancies? Charging them more?

A lot of rtb people cannot afford to buy on the open market. They can use rtb without any deposit (although will need 1000 approx legal fees). So for many, that have seen an improved or steady income, the options are remain renting and face being kicked out for remaining in work/improving their income etc or buy their home which often is the only way they will ever buy and have some security. Nobody seems to address this question. Should they quit their jobs so that they remain on a very low income and remain eligible for housing?

In my area, FTB have been priced out by BTL. I think that is a cause of much of the housing market woes.

mrsfuzzy · 02/08/2016 13:31

helena i don't get yor post 'if tenants buy' if you buy you have to pay for repairs, gas service etc. they aren't free,

HelenaDove · 02/08/2016 13:32

Maybe some ppl dont want to buy. Maybe some ppl dont want a mortgage.

Its bullying to force ppl into doing what they dont want to do.

HelenaDove · 02/08/2016 13:38

mrs fuzzy Owner occupiers are NOT COMPELLED BY LAW to have gas safety checks. A home owner also doesnt get thrreatened with eviction if someone has lied about them denying access.

I would much rather pay out myself and choose a good contractor which is what i was saying. Rather than have someone dodgy who doesnt know what they are doing (or a workfarer .....check out the news board) who also doesnt know what they are doing ..........fucking about with the electric or water.

You have assumed that tenants only care about the fact that its free. How on earth did you get that from what i posted.

TortoiseVTurtle · 02/08/2016 13:39

Its people in private rented who get the worst deal in this country.

MaliceInWonderland78 · 02/08/2016 13:45

I'm in favour of the RTB; however, I do not believe that tenants should be given discounts to do it. Buy the house at market value.

I'd also reform social housing so that market rents were charged. If there isn't enough social housing for all those that want it, then the best way to share it fairly is to either charge a market rent (so that it's no longer as attractive to some) and/or change the terms of the tenancies so that the tenancy can not last longer than 5 years (enough time to get back on your feet) with no return for 5 years after that.

TortoiseVTurtle · 02/08/2016 13:47

It is Helena, for sure. I work in housing. Are you the poster who often floods threads with old news articles from tabloids about repairs in council houses?

HelenaDove · 02/08/2016 13:48

Malice the HA rents are going up.

Am i not saying it right. Are my posts actually showing up as English.

TortoiseVTurtle · 02/08/2016 13:49

I mean seriously? You really think that private tenants don't have those issues (and worse), with no secure tenancy either and less redress.

TortoiseVTurtle · 02/08/2016 13:50

I am just waiting for the 'social housing isn't subsidised' comments next, or have I missed them?

PersianCatLady · 02/08/2016 13:51

PersoanCat shockwow does that really happen??!?
I had heard of the scam mentioned but thought that it was too ridiculous to be true but then I met a lady who got her brother to lend her the cash to buy her council house and then she planned to sell it after the five years and split the profit with her brother.

In the meantime (about a year after she bought in) she moved in with her BF and started letting the property out at market rent. I am almost certain that this is against the T & Cs of RTB but that is what she did.

When I expressed my shock at what she had done she said loads of people do it.

HelenaDove · 02/08/2016 13:52

The thread ive linked in is less than two months old. The link ive put in about the 20% HA rent rise for the nurses and teachers in London is ONE WEEK OLD.

There are many fb groups that have been set up by social housing tenants going through similar and worse.

Sorry if that interferes with the agenda and rhetoric. I think what private renters have to put up with is shit. But some social housing tenants are going through hell too.

Shinyshoes2 · 02/08/2016 13:52

We are currently going through the process for the right to buy our 3 bedroom council house
It's the only way we are going to own our own home
I don't want to be 80 years old and still trying to find rent
We will get 110k discount which will be put deposit as such and the mortgage will be ( hopefully ) around 140k , hopefully cheaper
We both work , my husband more so than me , why shouldn't I do what's right for me and my family

EssentialHummus · 02/08/2016 13:54

I had heard of the scam mentioned but thought that it was too ridiculous to be true but then I met a lady who got her brother to lend her the cash to buy her council house and then she planned to sell it after the five years and split the profit with her brother.

I know that it is illegal, but there are plenty of companies that will do the same - I live in an ex-council flat (bought from the RTBer, before anyone starts on me), and I get leaflets like this through the door weekly.

TortoiseVTurtle · 02/08/2016 13:54

It happens a lot. The biggest problem that I come across is fighting local residents to get new housing built though, they often employ a QC and form a local group to fight local plans (that's my field).
A sweeping generalisation but they are often well off older people who have benefited from the previous housing boom but now don't want their view spoilt or horse riding paths (that was a genuine objection).

fakenamefornow · 02/08/2016 13:56

Completely agree with Tortoise I did read the op in the link you posted HelenaDove but if this was a private tenant who wanted to complain to the LL , LL could just kick them out at the end of the six months. There are plenty of crappy private LL, it's just you have no management to complain to.

Another thing I've noticed over the last 20 years, our relationship with our homes has changed, I don't think they were seen as an investment in the past, not so much anyway. Even in HelenaDove link the op calls her house 'the property ' even our language around houses has changed.

Original poster
AbsoluteUnfairBollox · 02/08/2016 14:00

FakeName I have thought this too! There is going to be a time bomb of elderly people in private rented accommodation ...what will happen to them??

Like you say no political party (that I'm aware of anyway) is addressing that? Or has even acknowledged it. Very worrying.

OP posts:
MaliceInWonderland78 · 02/08/2016 14:01

Helena They may well be, but are they going up to market rates? Obviously those in need would still qualify for help with rent.

mrsfuzzy · 02/08/2016 14:02

helena just reread your post i commented on, mis read it totally Blush pass the Wine !

mrsfuzzy · 02/08/2016 14:03

helena re read post i commented on - mis read it Blush pass the Wine!

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