Council House

[allthegoodnameshadgone]

Do people think I'm unreasonable for the following? Just read another thread and now I'm wondering about peoples views.

I live in a HA house and have for a few years. I get the right to buy soon and I will.

I don't claim any benefits and was a single parent when I moved in.

I work full time. I have a nice car through my work.

Rent where I live is the same for private or HA.

I've spend a lot of money doing this house up with no help from HA.

Do people think I should hand my keys back and if so why?

I dont agree with right to buy but there is little to no security long term in private rental so anyone who has a social/council house should stay in it as long as is possible.

However because RTB exists then why wouldnt you do it? Go for it.

I wouldn't blame you for buying if you get the chance.

Just to ask op have you got any pictures of what the property looked like before you renovated?

My friend bought her house through the right to buy scheme and because she had photographs of what the property looked like before she renovated (and it was like yours by the sounds of things) they valued it based on that rather than what it currently looks like.

OP, goodness if you can buy it, do it! You have nothing to feel guilty for at all. You were given the property in good faith when your circumstances were different. You should be applauded for managing to turn things around and if that means you can find a permanent home then that's amazing as far as I am concerned. Good luck!

I disagree with RTB if the housing stock isn't replaced. But since you're not in a position to decide housing stock policy, then this isn't your issue to worry about. If you're lucky enough to get RTB then do it. Feel free to despair at the social housing system as well while you do it.

clearly stated that private rent is the same as her housing association rent so why do people keep saying if she can afford to rent private she should

It's not just the rent though is it?

A private LL will look for the most favourable tenant, probably those with the biggest income. A housing association or council will house the most vulnerable or needy in an empty property.

I don't believe social housing should be for life - only for when needed, maybe in 5 year blocks.

BUT like pp's have pointed out, the op is not to blame for the system and I'd not be voluntarily moving into private rented in her shoes.

I don't think anyone judges you for buying it, all of us would in your shoes 100%

However I fundamentally disagree with RTB. As PP's have said it's contributing to the shortage of social housing and it's extremely unfair that not everyone gets the same opportunity. It should be scrapped everywhere, not just Scotland.

Personally I think HA rents should be a scale on what you earn - everyone deserves to have a secure tenancy imo. There isn't this option in private sector at the moment and it's horrendous that you may have to move every 6 months and never to have a home that feels like home.

I'm not sure how I feel about right to buy - I see both sides.

"I disagree with RTB if the housing stock isn't replaced. But since you're not in a position to decide housing stock policy, then this isn't your issue to worry about. If you're lucky enough to get RTB then do it. Feel free to despair at the social housing system as well while you do it."

Completely agree with you there, EasterRobin.

My mum never bought her council house, neither did her parents as they didn’t feel they earned enough for the mortgages and repairs, were risk adverse, etc.

This means they paid rent for >50 years(grandparents) and >40 years and counting (Mum) which will be more than someone with a mortgaged property. And still paying rent from pensions when home oweners are sitting on equity with fewer housing costs. Also nothing gets passed down in inheritance, so the cycle of poverty can continue.

It’s a real shame that RTB didn’t come with a clause that all sold housing stock must be replaced. This would have been the best solution.

Unless I come into some serious money I will be buying this. And staying here for the foreseeable.

What's upsetting is that if I did move, the HA would rip up all the flooring I have put in and rip up the false grass, railway sleepers etc. They wouldn't leave it for the next person.

So for the poster who commented about expecting them to decorate for me, no I absolutely didn't but by the same token I am surprised they would actively rip out/up something for the next person.

Let's be clear, if his absolutely happens as my father works on a contract doing just this for HA properties.

I don't disagree with the right to buy either, if you have been paid the rent yourself then why not take advantage?

The days of council houses being for those in need are long gone. Need nowadays seems to translate to want x life but don't want to pay for it.

I live in social housing and I completely disagree with right to buy.

Because all the asscessible bungalows in my town have been purchased, bar 3 which are being lived in, I cannot transfer to a house where I can move around safely.

I'm now in a wheelchair and it doesn't fit through the doors in my house, so I live in my bedroom at 37 years old. I can't go outside because I can't get down the stairs or up the front path which has steps.

If rtb didn't exist, I'd have more of a chance at being housed in one of the other 97 accessible bungalows.

What I don't understand is you expecting the HA to carpet it and do cosmetic work to it before you moved in. Of course you need to decorate and carpet it. The HA need to make sure it meets an acceptable standard, not spend money doing it up for you. Bizarre thought!

Nobody actually said that

Those saying council housing should be temporary just don’t have a clue. Maybe they should think about being a single mother or having a health problem and renting. Landlords do not find single mothers attractive tenants- which is why they end up in council housing. If you get a LA or HA house, often you have to take whatever comes up, wherever it comes up, and this means changing schools etc for kids, all very stressful. Plus the extra stuff you have to pay for - flooring, fencing, gardening, decoration, curtains etc.

So, if the single mum had to move out after x amount of years she would most probably be in the same situation: landlords not wanting to rent to her. Most often market rents are unaffordable anyway. If said single mum found somewhere, the risk of getting a section 21 is still there, what happens then? If no- landlord would rent to her (again) she’s end up in council or HA property, have to try and afford carpets, curtain rails, everything again.

I’m in a council house. I’ve been here 2 years and still haven’t finished decorating/sorting out curtains/garden etc. It’s expensive to do and takes time. I didn’t have a bed for months and months. And the process of being made homeless, the stress of no one wanting to give you a tenancy is horrific- why would anyone want to go through it again?

If I were you I’d buy your house if you want. The govt need to allow councils to use the funds to build or buy more. I worry if I don’t buy mine (I doubt I’ll ever be able to) when the kids leave home they’ll make me move to a 1 bed flat, and then if anything goes on for any of the kids (as often happens in their 20’s) they won’t be able to come back home to sort themselves out.

What's upsetting is that if I did move, the HA would rip up all the flooring I have put in and rip up the false grass, railway sleepers etc. They wouldn't leave it for the next person.

And certainly here they also charge you for removing things. For example when we lived in a council flat we had put in a fairly expensive shower. When we left the council ripped it out and charged us for doing so and for the cost of replacing wall tiles that we had changed

Madness isn't it. The whole thing. I get they say they can't maintain things they haven't put in themselves but when they are not replacing things why not just get the new tenants to sign to say they accept that and that if they do replace it will be standard.

If I was moving I'd leave things like the blinds, etc as usually they won't fit the next house but they would rip all this out just putting the moving in cost up for the next person. Who may or may not be in need of it. At least give people the chance to decide. Appreciate people have different taste but given the choice between flooring you don't like but can't afford to replace or nothing I know what I would have chosen.

Often what they rip out is far better than what they replace it with. You could put in a £20,000 kitchen and they would rip it out and replace with their own

Yes everything youve put in willl be removed because even if the new tenant signs saying they will full responsibility for carpets, decor, showers, railway sleepers etc quite often they don't and it causes no end of bother which can be more expensive than just clearing the place.

I recently had a tenant who'd been in a flat for several years and signed for flooring etc when he moved in, so it became his. He claimed when he was moving out it wasn't his and not his responsibility. He hadn't looked after it, it was a mess ( I know this isn't the case with you) and he now has a bill for removal. This is the tip of the iceberg.

HA are not rolling in massive amounts of money and unfortunately some unpopular policies exist due to financial reasons which may not make immediate sense.

Who's putting a £20000 kitchen into a rented property? Don't be daft.

@Feelslikecrystal, why not if you have a lifetime tenancy and don't expect to move.

In all my years in housing, I've only encountered a few tenants replacing kitchens or bathrooms and never a £20000 kitchen. Most folk who could afford that would most likely be in a position to buy a property.

I'm in Scotland and I don't know if this applies elsewhere but where an improvement has been made, i.e. kitchen, bathroom, Windows etc., you could claim compensation for the work carried out as long as you had the landlord's permission and you've kept the receipts.

Absolutely not. I regret ever moving out of my council house. Private renting is shit!

It's your home. You obviously qualified to live there at some point in your life. Just because circumstances may have changed does not mean you should have to move.

Should say this only applies when you are ending the tenancy and compensation paid once you've left.

Buy it.I also don't agree with the right to buy as it takes another affordable rented property off the market But this is not your doing so as it stands this is your right,take it.

I have just bought my house with my husband. I sometimes felt guilty but then I remembered a conversation with the Lady who allocated me the house 15 years. She said hopefully one day, I would find a new partner, have more kids and buy the house, this is the point of right to buy.