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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council house or housing benefit

67 replies

ambereeree · 08/08/2020 15:56

Am I right in thinking that council houses don't exist (where the council own the house and you just pay bills and council tax)?
You now have to claim housing benefit if you can't afford to pay private rent?

OP posts:
Hippofrog · 08/08/2020 15:57

Council houses always charge rent?

MumsyMumIAmNot · 08/08/2020 15:58

They have always charged rent. They are not free.

ZaZathecat · 08/08/2020 16:01

They've always charged rent, it's just more affordable rent, and they can't refuse people on housing benefit. A lot of social housing is now run privately by housing associations, which is a real retrograde step.

lyralalala · 08/08/2020 16:02

Council houses have never been bills only. They've always had a rent. Either paid by the tenant or by housing benefit.

Ishihtzuknot · 08/08/2020 16:04

They do own the house but you pay rent as well as bills and council tax
If you’re entitled to housing benefit you’ll get that whether private renting or council renting, but you’re still responsible for paying the rent yourself

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 08/08/2020 16:05

We live in social housing, have never claimed any benefits.

thisisbobbins · 08/08/2020 16:05

This is why there are so many misconceptions about benefits and social housing. People are so ignorant.

Ponoka7 · 08/08/2020 16:07

Why did you think that people didn't have to pay rent?

The idea of a Council House, or now a Housing association house, is to provide affordable homes at a good standard. The bit that's easier used to be that they didn't credit check and want rent up front/deposit. But now that's changed. In most areas priority is now given to working applicants.

Original poster
ambereeree · 08/08/2020 16:09

OK. I have a tennant who wants me to evict them and also write a letter for them to give to the council. They want me to say they can't pay rent and haven't been paying rent which is not true. I'm quite obviously refusing to write the letter.
I don't know why they are doing this and think they may have been given bad advice from someone.
I'm assuming they plan to take the letter to the council to get a house cheaper but pretty sure this is not the way to do it.

OP posts:
VettiyaIruken · 08/08/2020 16:09

Most council stock is now in the hands of housing associations but yes there are still a lot owned by the council.

Do you think they are free? You have to pay rent same as any other. They're your landlord.
If you are in a council (or HA) house and are on a low income then you can get HB, exactly the same as if you're in private rent.
If you earn over the threshold then you pay your rent, just like private tenants.

What made you think council houses were free?

blacktop · 08/08/2020 16:10

Yes council houses exist, rent has always been payable. Where on earth are you getting the idea that local councils didn't charge rent?

Some people pay rent by claiming housing benefit, but plenty just use their wages Confused

VettiyaIruken · 08/08/2020 16:10

X post. That would be a huge mistake. They'd be considered intentionally homeless and the council would have no obligation to house them.
Whoever has told them to ask you to say they have rent arrears is stupid!

x2boys · 08/08/2020 16:11

Of course you pay rent and I'm sure you could find out using Google 🙄also in lots of parts of the country there is no discernible difference between private rent and social.

blacktop · 08/08/2020 16:12

They want me to say they can't pay rent and haven't been paying rent which is not true. I'm quite obviously refusing to write the letter.

I don't know why they are doing this and think they may have been given bad advice from someone.

They are doing it so they can get bumped up the list as higher priority because you are evicting them so they will be homeless.

Butterer · 08/08/2020 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Butterer · 08/08/2020 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lyralalala · 08/08/2020 16:15

@ambereeree

OK. I have a tennant who wants me to evict them and also write a letter for them to give to the council. They want me to say they can't pay rent and haven't been paying rent which is not true. I'm quite obviously refusing to write the letter. I don't know why they are doing this and think they may have been given bad advice from someone. I'm assuming they plan to take the letter to the council to get a house cheaper but pretty sure this is not the way to do it.
Ok. So they are looking to get social housing (if they pay their own rent then it's highly likely to be cheaper, but they will still have to pay rent) and being homeless a way of getting higher on the list.

I would prepare yourself for them to stop paying rent. The will be advised not to leave until the court make them, which will mean you going through the court process and it can be lengthy and expensive.

1984isnow · 08/08/2020 16:16

. I have a tennant who wants me to evict them and also write a letter for them to give to the council.

The council will tell the tenant that they should not leave until this has been to court. Even if they 'cant afford the rent', they don't need to leave off the back of a letter or even a proper eviction notice.

Don't open that can of worms.

HelenHuntsLeggings · 08/08/2020 16:19

Council & Housing Association properties exist and are not free, they still have rent payable on them, albeit much cheaper than private rent. Your tenant is a bit deluded about the process.

Original poster
ambereeree · 08/08/2020 16:20

@lyralalala thanks thats what I'm expecting to now happen as I'm not writing a letter.
It's actually silly because their rent is very competitive for the area as I haven't increased it in line with others.
I'm assuming social housing can't be more than 20% cheaper than private.
This is why i think they have been given bad advice from someone.

OP posts:
Butterer · 08/08/2020 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lyralalala · 08/08/2020 16:23

[quote ambereeree]@lyralalala thanks thats what I'm expecting to now happen as I'm not writing a letter.
It's actually silly because their rent is very competitive for the area as I haven't increased it in line with others.
I'm assuming social housing can't be more than 20% cheaper than private.
This is why i think they have been given bad advice from someone.[/quote]
It depends on the area. Do they have children? If they do the council might rehouse them as it's cheaper that putting children in foster care, but they might spend a lot of time in b&b's and hostels

In your shoes I'd find out your council's actual policy and speak to your tenants. Also if you can find out social rents locally.

My last tenant's boyfriend tried to persuade her to do similar until it was pointed that her rent with me was the same as social rent (I was part of a scheme for that), but she'd get a bedroom less in social housing

Eatyourbanana · 08/08/2020 16:24

@ambereeree council rent is considerably cheaper. For example in my area (south east) a 2 bed house would cost about £1400 to rent pm, but a council house is more like £409 per month.

Thegenderbreadperson · 08/08/2020 16:24

You can’t start eviction proceedings at the moment due to Covid (I think) - they have to have three months notice of your intention to apply to evict them.

x2boys · 08/08/2020 16:24

Depends where you live @HelenHuntsLeggings there's very little difference in private rent and social rent where I live maybe £10/week.

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