AIBU to think social housing homes should be temporary?

[Shannoncakequeen]

I know a lot of people won’t be happy about this view so I’m prepared to get flamed for it.

I don’t agree with people living in their social housing homes when they’re no longer ‘entitled’ to them.

By entitled I mean their children have left home so they have extra bedrooms they don’t need but continue to outlive their life there, and so preventing another family from enjoying a suitable home.

It’s not a bash about social housing per se as I know it is there for a very good reason. I was raised in council properties myself so I understand the importance of them being available to those in poverty. I feel many people abuse the system that keeps it fair for those who need it.

As an example, I have a neighbour who lives alone in a 3 bedroom house, large garden, garage and driveway. Ideal property for most of the population. Her children left home over 10 years ago and she is in her early 50s. She told me she had decorated the spare bedrooms for her grandchildren to sleep over in the future (they are currently babies). Whilst I’m flabbergasted she would want to stay put rather than downsize to something small and suitable for one adult, I am human and understand the memories/emotional connection/a house is a home etc, but it isn’t her property and is rented from our local council and therefore I’m shocked the council haven’t got stricter policies on this type of thing. I understand they can’t legally turf out people from their homes, but there should be an incentive to rehome these people so families aren’t stuck in one bedroom tower block flats whilst single adults live in luxury.

Maybe I am bitter because I have to rent and pay extortionate money for the privilege as I cannot get a deposit to buy so I will never be able to raise my child in a home like she has. The house would be £400k+ if it was owned privately, yet she gets it for free and for life just because she joined the list many years ago when it was easy to get social housing. I know many other people in similar places to her and they all believe they morally own the property and have no concern for the housing crisis.

Does anyone else agree that there needs to be stricter rules to make it fair for everyone to have affordable housing whilst in need only (up until children leave home) and not for life? If you are in this position what makes you stay and not give up the property to a family in need? If you plan to stay in your property when your children leave home what offer would make you rethink staying? I’m aware there are new rules for new tenants but this is aimed at long term tenants.

Again I understand this will trigger some people, but morally I can’t come to grips with the entitlement of some people (excluding those who still need the property for health reasons).

@andyethereweare my landlord is selling and I can't afford anything else as prices have rocketed, I also have an autistic dd who doesn't have her own bedroom because it's a tiny box room so she has to share with me. The local HA don't want to know.

@andyethereweare

Indeed. Her adult kids lived there whilst saving themselves for house deposits. I don’t see that as a bad thing.

I was homeless prior to my CH but did private rent prior to it. I’ve also owned a home of my own many moons ago. My story to this point has had many twists and turns.

I'm really sorry to hear that @lollipoprainbow - perhaps speak to your local housing team at the local authority and explain the situation relating to your son, make sure you have all evidence of his conditions and proof of your tenancy being ended.

I understand that. But why would elderly people want to give up a house and move to a tower block? Unless it is very well maintained elderly people end up stuck in their flat while the broken lift gets repaired again.

I’ve said YABU but only because at the moment there are not the places to move people too.

im in a HA house and it’s only got two beds, enough for me and DH plus DS who is autistic.

three years ago DH won £20k and I spent half of that getting builders in to level my garden and landscape it all. Builder was shocked I was spending this money on a place I don’t own.

but garden is north facing and was a swamp nine months of the year.

Everything in my area was out of our price budget and £20k would not even have been a deposit.

DS might always have to call this house his home. He is 19 now with lots of challenges still.

we get all the enjoyment out of the garden which we can now use all year round.

When or if we move on I will gift it with my blessing to the next tenant .

Everyone wins including the future tenant who will have a year round usable garden.

Good point.
In my area carpets and moving costs are used as an incentive to downsize.

I also have an autistic child who doesn't have his own bedroom i live in a housing association house it's not an automatic right in social housing either @

I just hate what sort of a shit hole society we have turned into. Absolutely hateful.

Another divide and conquer, race to the bottom thread.
I thought I’d had enough in the past weeks with the threads against the strikes.

quite simply op, I was in private rent for 10 years, as a single parent with a disabled child, constantly getting section 21’s and rent increases, constantly paying fees and moving cost and trying to arrange child care and schools around my job.

I was on the ‘list’, I came to the top of the list and signed a legally biding contract for a for life tenancy, for a house with a jungle for a garden, no fence, 3 kitchen cupboards with a sick and a bathroom like you see on train spotting, which in 8 years I have transformed into my lovely home. Therefore if I don’t breach my tenancy I will be going nowhere. Ever.

it’s a 3 bed semi that cost £364pm right now, compared to £425 I paid for the very 1st house I rented 18 years ago, which was very similar in build, though obviously didn’t need any work or decoration.

i wish you and anyone else who wants or needs council housing could have it, I’m vocal with my Mp and sign petitions to say as much. I also wish people in 3rd world countries had the nhs, but just as I won’t refuse life saving surgery to help a stranger, nor will I give up my for life tenancy or my home.

@Gsds I totally don't blame you for not wanting to give up your home. I wouldn't either if I was lucky enough to get on the bloody register! I emailed all the required documents months ago and when I chased it up got a very sniffy email from someone in housing who seemed amazed at the audacity of me chasing up my application and telling me even if they deem me worthy enough to be allowed on the register that I would be waiting 5-7 years anyway !!

@lollipoprainbow

Just 5-7?

I waited 9 years for mine.

@Dalaidramailama I've no doubt it will be longer much much longer.

The issue is there are not enough council homes because they were all sold off. In be the 60s/70s a council house was for life and not just for poor people.
The answer is to provide more social housing making someone leave their home before they feel ready to do so is not the answer.

@lollipoprainbow i would suggest getting your mp involved if you can’t even get on the register.
it really is an awful place to be, I wish you luck.
I waited 10 years for my tenancy.

I'm inclined to agree with you. MIL. Lives alone in a 3 bed house. She was offered a new 1 bed flat 2 minutes away from her current home but refused it.
I understand why she doesn't want to move. She's lived in that house for 40 years and she has great neighbours but at the same time it's a family home and she doesn't need the space.
I'm not sure what the solution is.

I do agree. Owen Jones always brags about he grew up on a council estate, pretending he’s working class when he fails to mention his parents were both UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS and so had a joint income of over six fugues. His parents used up a council house they absolutely did not need. Back of the queue single mother and homeless man, Owens middle class parents need their council home. It’s so gross.

I've got a three bed council house. When my children move our I'd be willing to move however the rent on many smaller properties is either more expensive or the same as my property. I have no incentive to have less space and pay more. The whole system needs looking at. People moving from desirable properties should be offered equally desirable smaller homes to give an incentive to move. For instance, my choice would be for a two bed bungalow with a garden as a retirement property. That way I still have space for family to stay when needed, for instance if they have housing issues in the future, and keep my dog. I'd consider that a fair exchange. The working poor deserve decent housing too, not just those who can afford to buy. I have every sympathy for those in private rentals who don't want to be.

@gabsdot45

She is getting old. Why would she want a flat? A bungalow maybe. So I don’t blame her.

I appreciate you have worked hard on your hone but why would you not want another family to benefit from having the space for their family? If your children moved out and if the council offered you a one bed place suitable for your needs.

I appreciate you have worked hard on your hone but why would you not want another family to benefit from having the space for their family? If your children moved out and if the council offered you a one bed place suitable for your needs.

Why expect other people to be saints, and give up their homes that they have invested in not just in money, but emotionally, in memories, in participating with communities and neighbours, to take up smaller places where they might not be able to have the grandkids over or help out family members with somewhere to stay in times of trouble?

Instead of expecting those who have built themselves up a bit from difficult times to give up a place they love, how about agitating for more social housing and positive change for everyone?

Mega long thread and still people are banging on about mythical one bed places to move people into. 🙄

@Sunshineandrainbow because my local authority have now removed for life tendencies, so I would get the new tenancy if I moved, which has less rights and the only 1 bedroom properties within a 7/8 mile radius are flats with no outside space, my quality of life would be reduced as I couldn’t walk to work and I’d lose my close friends/family/Community.

aside from the practical reasons, why should I leave my home? I signed a contract to stay I could stay here for life.

I feel when I die this house will go to a family who is in need, at the top of the list as I was, rather than passed through my family if I bought it, but honestly these type of threads and successive Tory governments make me rethink my decision, if I bought my home my mortgage would be comparable to rent and end in 20 years not like my rent in 40/50

That idea sounds lovely but around here there are no smaller properties for people to move into .

Very similar to what I said earlier in the thread. Im most definitely not going to give up a four bed with a huge garden that costs £650 a month for a tiny 2 bed flat with no garden for £800-900 a month.

@bloodyplanes

And the risk of awful neighbours. I mean what planet are people from? No one in their right mind would do that. No one.