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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Petition about council house

146 replies

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 30/06/2021 19:28

I just got sent a change.org petition to ask a council to let a house to a specific family.

The house had been their grandparents and they have both died and the council is reallocating it. It's not going to the family.

On the one hand I can see that it's heartbreaking to lose family and the family home at the same time. The grandparents had lived their for 58 years and put a lot of love and time into it.

But AIBU to think that it goes against the point of council housing to pass them down through families. The house should go to the next family in need, not the relatives. That's only fair isn't it? Otherwise people would be jumping the queue because of family.

OP posts:

Hont1986 · 30/06/2021 20:27

If that couple has been living there since 1963 I imagine they have had plenty of time to purchase the property, most likely with a big discount. If they chose not to, why disrespect their wishes now?

AngelsWithSilverWings · 30/06/2021 20:43

It's very sad for them but this is how council housing works. It would be different if any of them have actually been living there for years and will suddenly be homeless but I'm not picking that up from the petition. Maybe I've missed something.

My Great Aunt died in 2008 having lived in her council house since the 1950's - we all knew the house would go to another family once she had died. We still have the lovely memories of all the family parties she hosted there.

My Grandad died in December after 35 years in his two bedroom council house. My uncle has been allowed to take over the tenancy as he had lived in the house as my Grandad's carer for 10 years.

My Nan died after 20 years in her house and it went to another family ( even though my rather wealthy uncle tried to take over the tenancy as he had been staying there on and off after separating from his wife

cheeky if you ask me and the council saw straight through it thankfully)

DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 30/06/2021 20:45

It won't be 'just a council house'.

It will be a long awaited home, maybe a safe place for someone leaving a refuge, maybe a home for a young family just starting out, maybe a home for a family who have been crammed into a b&b for months.

They all deserve a nice home to bring up a family in too.

I wouldn't sign that at all, and I really don't think it would be fair if the council allowed it either.

The family will have lots of photos and momentos, like the rest of us do of our loved ones, they don't need to live in the actual house

Comedycook · 30/06/2021 20:46

I lived as a young adult with my only parent...they died and I was forced out of my home thanks to inheritance tax...

I honestly don't know how I feel about this

Taliskerskye · 30/06/2021 21:01

They should have moved in and been carers. If they’re not clever enough to use the system then they definitely shouldn’t get it!

maddiemookins16mum · 30/06/2021 21:09

@DeathByWalkies

I'm currently in a situation where the equally well loved family home is to be sold to pay care home fees.

Perhaps I should start a petition to have the council pay care home fees - as they would if my relative had little by way of savings / assets - so we don't lose the family home.

Can't see that one working either, somehow

Totally agree with this.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/06/2021 21:13

Entitled !!!! Seriously boo fucking hoo, I had to sell my family home when I was made an orphan at 20 to pay the government their inheritance tax (before the tax free level was so high).

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/06/2021 21:21

I saw this on Facebook. I didn't sign.

AfternoonToffee · 30/06/2021 21:21

It is difficult to see a family property go, but they have no right over it, we are currently selling my MIL's house that they lived in for 60 years. It was always going to happen, to be blunt it is part of life.

Apparently 100 family members live in the vicinity, they probably think they have an entitlement to it.

Anyway in terms of council properties - it is the tenancy that you have rights for, not the actual property. A pp mentioned about an ex and his Mum's house - sometimes the tenancy will be succeeded but then there will be an expectation of a move to an alternative property.

namcybotwinbloom · 30/06/2021 21:23

It's sad I agree.

I think they should have bought it and then this wouldn't be an issue but that's a whole other bun fight about whether you should be allowed to buy.

IDontReadEyebrows · 30/06/2021 21:27

I got an email about this too. I didn’t sign the petition as I simply don’t agree with the family’s stance on this. The couple's home was their home but the building itself belongs to the local authority and whoever is allocated as being in greatest need of it should get it. Should never be allowed to pass down a council tenancy.

I do sympathise with their loss though- my own grandparents have been dead about a decade and I miss them and their house- so many memories of it and them but those are in my mind. When they died it was time for another family to start their lives there, it’s a home not a shrine.

Cissyandflora · 30/06/2021 21:32

I’ll sign the petition now.
Council tenants are treated so badly. Just because someone can’t afford to buy a property why shouldn’t they be able to keep a home they’ve lived in for so long.

Northernlurker · 30/06/2021 21:32

How entitled! I certainly wouldn't sign it.

IDontReadEyebrows · 30/06/2021 21:35

Just read there’s about 100 family members living in the immediate area. Yikes. Feel a bit worried about whoever does get allocated the house now. Hope they’re left in peace to enjoy it.

Also I have to say, there’s about 100 family members. They’re so lucky to have such a big family, I understand their grief (up to a point) but they’re focusing so much on what they’ve lost- bricks and mortar- and not what they still have- their massive family, all living close by and years and years of memories of their wonderful relatives.

namcybotwinbloom · 30/06/2021 21:35

@Cissyandflora

I’ll sign the petition now. Council tenants are treated so badly. Just because someone can’t afford to buy a property why shouldn’t they be able to keep a home they’ve lived in for so long.

You can use the discount as equity for a mortgage which is usually lower than the rent.

I had to do this when starting again after being fucked over by my ex.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/06/2021 21:39

@Cissyandflora

I’ll sign the petition now. Council tenants are treated so badly. Just because someone can’t afford to buy a property why shouldn’t they be able to keep a home they’ve lived in for so long.

Because private home owners aren’t necessarily entitled/ able to keep their house- it’s life, tough!

Original poster

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 30/06/2021 21:42

Glad I'm not being horribly mean spirited.

I do think we need more social housing so it's less of a scramble but given there's not enough to go round, what there is needs to be used as fairly as possible.

OP posts:

osbertthesyrianhamster · 30/06/2021 21:43

YANBU

soooooooG · 30/06/2021 21:48

If they likes it that much they should have bought it. Grabby IMO.

x2boys · 30/06/2021 21:53

Yep it doesn't work that way when we signed our tenancy it was made clear to us that there can only be one succession of tenancy ,so as DH and I are joint tenants,if I die before him he inherits the tenancy as a single person and vice versa,you can't pass on a tenancy for ever more
I do know a family that moved into the husband's Grandads council house after he died ,but it was coincidence ,they had been bidding for years and bidded on the Grandads house when he passed away and got it but ,they were not bumped up the list

Toddlerteaplease · 30/06/2021 21:53

No, they shouldn't get it.

WorraLiberty · 30/06/2021 21:54

@Cissyandflora

I’ll sign the petition now. Council tenants are treated so badly. Just because someone can’t afford to buy a property why shouldn’t they be able to keep a home they’ve lived in for so long.

Well because they're dead.

Their adult children and their grandchildren don't live in the house. The house is empty and will be prepared for another family who needs it - not just a family who think they're entitled to move into it for sentimental reasons

Hoppinggreen · 30/06/2021 21:55

@Cissyandflora

I’ll sign the petition now. Council tenants are treated so badly. Just because someone can’t afford to buy a property why shouldn’t they be able to keep a home they’ve lived in for so long.

They don’t live there though

WorraLiberty · 30/06/2021 21:55

One of the comments from the petition...

Callum gibbins·5 hours ago
It’s my family and devastated to loose my great grandparents. we have over 100 family members just living within the same streets as the house. We all grew up in and around this house and it hurts to see it empty. That’s why we need one of our family members to be allowed to take it on so it eases the pain for us. please sign.

flippertygibbit · 30/06/2021 21:57

None of the family actually live there - it's an empty house so no they shouldn't get it, they already have their own homes!

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