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).

Indeed ,people feeling that others have more than them
The fact is there is not enough social housing for all those who want/need it but the answer is not to turf people out of their homes .

There's a very common misconception that social housing tenants arent charged rent at all, or that any rent that is charged is paid by housing benefit.

The truth is they are charged rent, and in some cases service charge, (both of which is subject to annual increases), they pay council tax and all the other bills too. Many council/ex LA properties are problematic with issues like damp and insulation which means bills are higher for customers due to needing heating on/windows open.

Totally unfair. Social housing is subsidised by the tax payer and in VERY short supply. It should, absolutely, be available to those that need it, for as long as they need it. If circumstances change, kids leave home, then should be moved to smaller property. If get a good job and can afford to go private then should be moved out, allowing someone else in need to have the house!!!

How it subsidised by the taxpayer?

@andyethereweare

Well when you put it like that, I am sure some wouldn’t mind a few people being turfed out onto the streets lol 😂.

It is a common misconception that council houses are 'free' and somehow linked to benefits. People that continue to believe it are just a bit thick. It's like a being mansplained periods tbh.

Nobody can ever explain this ,you will just get a bit of waffly nonsense about not being market rent therefore a a subsidy and that's not true in all areas .

A roof over your head is a privilege?

talk about telling on yourself.

fortunately the convention of human rights disagrees with you

My council house neighbour pays over £1700 per month for her property. Hers is the nicest house in the street because this lady's family really take pride in their surroundings. The garden is a joy to see. Okay, this family with two adult daughters are in employment, and pay their way. But they've improved the street no end. I'm grateful they're my neighbours instead of a constant stream of tenants who dump rubbish out the front, leave the garden to grow as a jungle and have little ambition.

I've had the second type of neighbour a few doors up. The council flats are full of drug addicts and alcoholics.

Allowing people to keep their council homes means they do not turn into ghettos, and I think that's important too. In due course council get their properties back for other families. There's a lack of properties to downsize into without going down the private rental route, which is uncertain and for older folk, a worry.

Think there's a lot of the green eyed monster on this thread.

It is a total myth to bash people over the head with.
It is illegal for local authorities to subsidise council housing. Given council houses do not have carpets, lino, and tenants are often responsible for more repairs than a privately rented house, the differences in rent in many areas is not much, if it exists at all. But what people appreciate is not having to move every six months.
Private rents can be very disruptive for people having to move frequently. It can cause issues with children's friendships and afterschool activities, support for parents and elderly people, and travel to work and school.

@SomePosters

This posters “ideas” are highly unethical under a clever disguise whereby she just wants to see council housing “shared out”. Under these bright ideas of hers it’s a little less shared out and more like turfed out.

It would be horrendous if parents had to chuck out their children at 18 to keep a roof over their own heads. Even Priti Patel has not suggested such an inhumane policy.

Happy birthday son now you are 18. And here is your bag of clothes, off you go now.

Of course it’s a privilege are you not aware of the amount of homeless people living on the streets? That could be any one of us at any time. People need to show gratitude to what we’re fortunate to have. The country might be a complete joke but we have homes and food, a lot of people haven’t so I’m thankful for what I have, rather than seeing it as a human right I take control of my own life and what happens in it. Some of you are taking it very seriously as if I’m about to make it a legal process and evict you all from your nice homes with £1000 carpets.if you’re really against ensuring children have safe adequate homes to grow up in then perhaps start your own thread where you can talk about keeping your house forever and it’s the families own fault for being homeless and needing your house. Also start the debate of whether families shouldn’t be housed at all if they chose to have children they can’t house, for example being homeless then having 4 children when they live in a 1 bedroom flat but expect to be handed a 4 bedroom house, is that more or less fair than an adult living in a 4 bedroom house alone?

Also please don’t put words in my mouth I have said several times I wouldn’t want people turfed out, they’d move from one property to another, not sat at a bus stop for a year waiting for a new property. You’re clearly very bitter about a fair and equal opportunity considering you have been homeless with children yourself and were very lucky to get the help you needed, if someone hadn’t given up their home/moved/passed away you wouldn’t have your council property.

I know but I can keep trying

@happyinherts

You are right. There would be no pride in the houses, they would rapidly deteriorate and anti social behaviour would increase. Home owners on estates don’t want that either, they also like the continuity of knowing who their neighbours are etc.

An elderly lady lived in my house before us and by all accounts she was a much loved member of the community. I don’t think anybody would have wanted to have turfed her out. Yes she clearly had the house for a long time but ultimately it did go back to the council and then onto a family (us).

@Shannoncakequeen

ooo I think your true colours are coming out now.

Are you trying to imply that council tenants need to be more grateful? Why have you mentioned the price of carpets? When I moved in I had to take out a loan to carpet my house due to all the nails etc that were poking out.

You are coming across as really judgemental now. A lot of women end up homeless with kids in tow due to fleeing severe domestic violence. If anyone is coming across as bitter now I can assure you it’s most certainly yourself.

You seem to be very invested in this subject.

All it boils down to OP is you're bitter that you're stuck paying a Private landlord. If you were offered a council house you would grab it with both hands and never let it go no matter your intentions.

I'm sorry for you. The private market is the bit that needs seeing to. I'm sure that's coming.

Absolutely @Dalaidramailama

In due course these houses transfer onto new families, like yours, who appreciate them and treat them as a long term home to raise their family. We need to encourage long term social housing rentals for the sake of our communities. I've seen four North London housing estates demolished under the guise of regeneration. Where these families have gone, I don't know - but having to rebuild family life, schooling, jobs, etc isn't fair - that's another story though.

@gamerchick

I agree. There is seething resentment there directed in the wrong place. I really, really feel for people in the private rent trap but the blame does not lie with people who have been fortunate enough to obtain a lifetime tenancy on a council property. Usually by being in dire straits and waiting for very long periods of time.

We all want the same thing here don’t we? Secure housing. That makes us all entirely normal.

Not bitter at all just very saddened that people think it’s ok for an adult to live in a big house alone because they have spent money on it or don’t want to risk bad neighbours. Why do they get to be picky when they were in need and housed for their children’s safety, not for an idyllic lifestyle. Of course I’m invested, I started the thread, if you don’t have anything nice to say you don’t need to be on this thread to belittle me for having different opinions. I’m not arguing over what is right or wrong, I started this thread about my neighbour and lots of added things have gone into it which are completely irrelevant to the points I made and have trailed it off to a pissing contest. I don’t want a council property, we are saving to buy, it’s raising a deposit that is holding us back currently but I certainly wouldn’t take a council property from someone who needs it as I can afford to rent so I don’t deem myself as entitled to ask for one.

If, as you wrote, My area does have a lot of stock, there is still a block of flats empty after 6 months despite advertising for the bidding process for families, then why don't you bid for one of those? I'm sure the HA/LA would give you one of those seeing as they have been empty for 6 months. Why should you expect others to do something you're not willing to do yourself. I mean once you are in then you can look for a swap.

X posted with your update...so you are complaining about something that you don't want or need, it's just an excuse to bitch about your neighbours and others. Righto, thanks for clearing that up.

Oh don't play the Martyr 🙄

Because I don’t want one? They are on the bidding page but the council are very slow at moving people into any of their properties. For all I know they could have issues and need further work. The point to that comment is that councils aren’t filling any empty properties quick enough when there are homeless families stuck in hostels waiting year after year. No one should be in a hostel with children when there are empty properties or single adults in properties they don’t need. I’m allowed to think something is unfair without it directly affecting me thank you.

@Shannoncakequeen

Slightly amused at your description of “idyllic” lifestyle. My son walked to the shops today and I eagerly awaited his return due to the high police presence currently in the area where they’re doing a lot of stop and search. A 14 year old was slashed last week and knife crime is quite high here. No one is belittling you but it’s quite obvious your true colours are coming out.

You’re not saddened. You’re bitter. Why else would you start a thread accusing people in council housing of being entitled and taking from others? It is not your neighbours fault you have to save for a house deposit. You’re very privileged to be in a position to do so.

@Shannoncakequeen

Of course it’s a privilege are you not aware of the amount of homeless people living on the streets? That could be any one of us at any time

not us with a life time tenancy, which is why the majority won’t just give them up, and why many people don’t buy their council house either. Secure housing is unfortunately like gold dust