To think people dont understand the magnitude of the social housing crisis?

[Arrowfanatic]

I work in social housing. We have endless requests for moves from customers who expand their family whilst in a property which is unsuitable to move them to a bigger property. We advise that family size housing (3 bed+) has a waiting list of around 10+ years and then these customers get mad.

We're accused of allowing them to stay in overcrowded properties, or affecting their mental & physical health and inevitably an overcrowded property becomes prone to damp & mould as it's too full.

These customers also want these houses in the exact location they desire, thereby limiting even more their chances of a move.

We get so demoralised when every day it's the same thing, but social housing is at a massive shortfall for the needs of the country & family size housing is in an even greater shortfall.

My company has an extensive plan to build more properties but it's a 5 year plan!

It's like they think we're lying to them, or the old classic of "you housing immigrants straight away" note, we dont, they have to apply like everyone else. We dont want our customers in unsuitable accommodation, and we really work hard on making the housing stock we do have work.

If you're in this position what could we tell our customers to make them understand the position we are in, and the one they have put themselves in and why we cant help as quickly as they would like.

I feel like I say "we have a shortage of family size housing" 100 times a day & get yelled at 100 times a day for our association not caring.

Ddraigy is spot on

@ddraigygoch

Another way of playing the system is for a couple with children to pretend to split up, in order to claim more benefits. The resident parent is then entitled to housing for the children (as well as a lot of benefits). This creates 2 households requiring housing, instead of 1 and is more prevalent than some people would like to admit.

@AdaKirkby I can completely believe that. I just don't know anyone personally who does it and I know that this topic can get heated so wanted to stick to what I know is happening As fact.

But it just goes to show that there are loopholes that are being exploited and it's not nearly as hard as people like to believe.

Also I believe that council housing is sub let allowing the owner the advantage of profiting from it.

@woodhill

Yes, I worked with someone who did this. He arrived here as a refugee years ago, got a council flat in London. Moved up north, sublet his council flat in London. The rent he got from the council house in London covered both the rent he had to pay to the council in London and the rent he paid on his privately rented flat in the north.

No wonder there’s a shortage when people get up to this sort of stuff.

Ada whats he being a refugee got to do with your anecdote? Another foreigner bashing post?!

@wegetbuggerall

Nope. It’s interesting that you don’t disagree with what he is doing though.

You must have the patience of a saint working in that area, people shouldn’t have more kids than they can adequately provide for and if they chose to then they cannot demand the government provides a six bedroom house for pennies! As a homeowner I have to consider how many children I could have based on my house, they should do the same.

Wel l.it's hardly pennies @Wineislifex and as I have had said several times now in many parts of the country social rent and private rent is comparable but that comment will be ignored just like all my other comments about it as it doesn't fit the mumsnet narrative about subsidies etc🙄

Who said i don't? His immigration status is irrelevant to the story.

No it isn’t. His status is why he was granted a council house.

It’s the first (and only) thing you noticed. Demonstrating that you care more about virtue signalling than someone behaving corruptly.

@x2boys is not most social rent covered by housing benefits? I would think the cost of privately renting or buying a six bedroom house regardless of location would be considerably more than if it was social housing. Does social housing have a upper limit cap? Eg - most you can pay is £1000 pcm etc

You do realise that lots of people in social.housing work and pay their own rent don't you Wine ? Yes some people will be getting housing benefits as do lots of people in private rented and I doubt there are many six bedroom houses available council or private

@Wineislifex
Why do you think SH rent is paid by benefits? If you RTFT you’ll see the SH tenants who work and pay full rent. Is it an English thing this complete ignorance regards SH? This thread has revealed a lot of ignorant, stupid snobs.

ddraigygoch My Husband developed Fibromyalgia after a accident and major operation ( brought on by trauma) It is not a made up illness, it effects my Husbands life in many ways every single day. He does not claim benefits, he spent many years running his own business, some years he paid 2 lots of N.I due to sub contracting and for many years paid the higher rate of tax and even though he could claim he wont. You dont what is in front of you, lets hope you or your dont develop Fibromyalgia,

@JKScot4 because in a lot cases it is? I have RTFT and I don’t think saying that people shouldn’t have more kids can they can comfortably house makes me an ‘English ignorant stupid snob’, I think it’s a sensible idea that many people should take note of, regardless of who pays the rent

Did I say it was a made up illness @lowlandLucky? Can you quote it?

As housing minister Gavin Barwell ignored warnings re Grenfell. He is now on Clarion Groups board as non executive director.

OP Ive nothing against you personally. It sounds like your job can be incredibly stressful. Its the attitudes within the sector. My DH was told by our HO to remove his mobility scooter or it would be destroyed. I do have screen shots and proof of all this. Grenfell was cited as the reason. It was sorted eventually but the way they went about things initially was nothing short of discriminatory. When the same HAs are using Grenfell as an excuse yet sending in contractors who dont know what they are doing or leaving a main door unfixed for two and a half years despite many reports that people were coming into the building and starting fires, (these arsonists were eventually successful in achieving this) you can see why tenants are fed up with the hypocrisy and the tokenism.

You are being ignorant, I’ve only ever seen these bizarre opinions on SH on MN by English posters, this separation and disdain for SH. The small town I live in in Scotland has a mix of SH(excellent condition) new builds, traditional owned homes all mixed in, no ring fenced council estate. There are people in all types of homes receiving benefits not just SH, you are very narrow minded & a snob.

@lowlandLucky, Jesus Christ, did you actually read the comment? Nobody, not one, has said that it is a made up illness. What was said, if you could read through your completely incorrect indignation, was that scumbags USE illnesses like this to be signed off work/claim benefits etc because it is invisible and hard to disprove.

The original comment literally had NOTHING to do with your situation.
And if anything, you should be SUPPORTIVE of that person's comment because it's scummy people like they are talking about that use invisible illnesses as a way of scamming the system that take money and resources away from people like your husband who need it.

@jkscot how do you know I’m English? Who’s being ignorant now 🤣 I live in an area not dissimilar to what you describe, I have friends that live in SH who work, but that still does not change my opinion that you shouldn’t have more kids than you can comfortably house!

People in social housing should, quite frankly, be grateful for any property at all. Not demanding new ones because they have had more kids without sorting the housing out first (like people who aren’t in social housing have to do).

I do think in some cases you could reap,what you sow and perhaps these made up illnesses if this is the case may become a reality. The person may eventually develop ill health

I don't agree with having multiple dc you cannot house or afford especially if you are not in work or doing minimal hours.

It must be hard to live with yourself if you constantly lie and deceive people. Where is your pride. How do you sleep at night

I'm sorry your dh is so ill

My comment was regarding your assumption of SH tenants being on benefits. The amount of kids? is it only middle class home owning mummies on MN who have contraception failures or twins instead of single births?
Anyone of us could find ourselves in need so never assume anyone chose to have 4 kids in a 2 bed.
English posters on MN are the ones who frequently express their ignorance and disgust at SH and benefits, thankfully there doesn’t seem to be as much disdain North of the border.

23% of SH tenants are pensioners

Some dont have children. By circumstance or choice. The latter in my case.

There are many different people living in social housing.