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AIBU?

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Original poster

Well off friend in council house

293 replies

toughtimes2001 · 23/08/2018 19:31

Please tell me if I am being unfair.

My friend and her partner (mid 20's) earn a combined salary of of £65K (no kids) and have a cheap council tenancy home with a massive garden in a lovely part of London (her partner sneakily inherited the tenancy from his deceased father a couple of years back). The have a lovely life with plenty of disposable income as their rent is very cheap and go on lovely holidays and are saving up a massive deposit for their own home which they intend to buy in a couple of years. I should also add, she has very wealthy parents who dish out money to them left right and centre for various things throughout the year.

Meanwhile, I a single mum earn £19K (no family support) privately rent a rubbish 1 bedroom flat (which is more in rent than they pay) in a rubbish part of town with no hope of ever buying a home or taking my DS on a luxury holiday. I have also been told I am not a priority for housing so no hope for me any time soon!

Am I right to think this is just completely unfair?

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 23/08/2018 21:31

Bob Crow the RMT Union leader on £145,000 a year still lives in a council house.

Ovaltine1 · 23/08/2018 21:31

The OP is so jealous and bitter! YABVVVVU. If they are there legally, you can do fuck all to evict them. And if she has rich parents, good for her. That has no bearing on how you live or what your circumstances are. Stop being so jealous.

user1457017537 · 23/08/2018 21:31

Tenancies can normally only be passed on once, ie joint tenancy husband and wife, wife dies then husband inherits tenancy. Even if an adult child was living in the property as a carer they would not inherit the tenancy.

rwalker · 23/08/2018 21:32

You sound bitter . Because you work and contribute £1000's to the state in tax and ni you should be able to take the benefits of thing like this or why should people bother working good on them. They have chosen to work hard ,they have chosen to save why shouldn't they get something back from the system . But just think if you get a ha house/flat when ds 18 would you be falling over yourself to give the keys back and go into private rented and increase your rent .

bimbobaggins · 23/08/2018 21:33

Jealousy and bitterness isn’t a nice trait and will eat you up . Life isn’t fair so concentrate on what you do have rather than what you don’t.

user1457017537 · 23/08/2018 21:33

Unfortunately Bob Crowe died young of a heart attack please let him rest in peace.

HollyGibney · 23/08/2018 21:34

her partner sneakily inherited the tenancy from his deceased father a couple of years back)

Sneakily? How was a perfectly legal inheritance of a secure tenancy sneaky?

Lethaldrizzle · 23/08/2018 21:34

Surely council housing should be for people who need it?

Gacapa · 23/08/2018 21:36

A man in his early 20s loses his father and he is consequently presented to us as being incredibly fortunate.

How fucking distasteful.

UpstartCrow · 23/08/2018 21:42

Surely council housing should be for people who need it?

Council housing used to be for everyone.

Lethaldrizzle · 23/08/2018 21:44

But it shouldn't be for everyone?! Eh?

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 23/08/2018 21:44

Bob Crow the RMT Union leader on £145,000 a year still lives in a council house

Pretty sure he doesn’t actually.

This thread is so horrible all round. These people have suffered a bereavement and are working hard and saving. How dare they. Confused

Clairetree1 · 23/08/2018 21:46

OP, you haven't answered, what qualifications do you have? we might be able to suggest what areas of work or study you could look into to improve your situation.

If you actually do want to help yourself

flopsyrabbit1 · 23/08/2018 21:47

Bob crow died years ago ffs

kierenthecommunity · 23/08/2018 21:50

I don’t have a problem with tenancies being passed on, presumably his parents paid rent on it for some years?

If they’d been home owners who’d passed on their house that would hardly be an issue

ArcheryAnnie · 23/08/2018 21:51

65k income isn’t huge for London

Yes it is.

Lethaldrizzle · 23/08/2018 21:52

What does dealing with a bereavement have to do with it? Everyone's parents die.

sulflower · 23/08/2018 21:54

It looks like everyone thinks its fair that myself and my DS should be cramped in a small flat with a worse quality of life whilst my friend and her partner swan around living the good life (meals out, parties, city breaks, exotic travel) and saving up £80K for a house deposit all whilst paying minimal rent on a lovely home.

You sound extremely jealous and bitter. A young man has lost his father, he did not 'sneakily' get the tenancy. You say they will have enough saved to buy a house in a couple of years and when that happens the house will be reallocated. Good for them working hard to get on the property ladder. Whose problem is it that you are in the situation you are in because it's certainly not your friend and her partner's fault. What a joy to have you as a friend.

Lethaldrizzle · 23/08/2018 21:58

I'm not sure it's fair to inherit council housing. People who really need it, like the op, should get a chance.

sulflower · 23/08/2018 22:01

I'm not sure it's fair to inherit council housing. People who really need it, like the op, should get a chance.

So the chap lives there with his father who dies therefore he should be out on the street? How would you feel if you were put in that situation.

Racoon100 · 23/08/2018 22:02

Why do you say that ArcheryAnnie?

The current average salary for London is £35K, therefore £65k for two people is below average.

Lethaldrizzle · 23/08/2018 22:03

Sulflower I stopped living off my parents when I was 17.

ViserionTheDragon · 23/08/2018 22:05

OP, you've come on here to ask if you're being unreasonable, and I think you can see the resounding YES responses. You still seem to be incredibly bitter. Do they rub it in your face constantly? If they really bother you this much, maybe you need to distance yourself from them a bit.

Sorry to hear that you're situation isn't great, rather than focusing on your friends, have you thought about what you can do to improve your circumstances?

CoolCarrie · 23/08/2018 22:05

Good luck to them, they have been wise and lucky.
Blame the various governments over the years for the lack of decent housing all over the country, not this couple.

marylou1977 · 23/08/2018 22:06

Please don’t eat yourself alive over another’s circumstances. You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Bless them and move on. Do whatever you can to help your circumstances. Maybe more schooling. Increase your circle of friends who can be supportive of you. I’m not minimizing your circumstances, but being bitter is futile, and does nothing to increase your happiness. Best of luck to you.