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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People in Council houses should be reassessed…

352 replies

AlwaysAnnoyed · 30/08/2022 20:44

I want to tread carefully. But then again I’m pissed off.

I live in a 3 bed house with a mortgage. On our estate there is a selection of Council houses. I have no issue with people having Council homes, people fall on hard times and DESERVE support.

however what really grinds my gears, is on our estate we have one Council house which have 2 brand new Audi’s. Top of the range. Just got back off holiday to Florida. Weekends away. they pay £350 a month to the council for this 4 bed property. (They are very loud about telling everyone this)

it really really winds me up. We have a COST of living crisis, people are going to be struggling to pay bills but yet there are people who are in these Council houses on holidays and brand new cars.

it doesn’t seem fair. Surely Council houses need to be regularly means tested… How can this happen? Able to afford 2 brand new cars but cannot afford to pay their own rent/mortgage!

or am I just being a moany witch!

OP posts:
x2boys · 31/08/2022 16:56

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 16:50

Mistygreenandblue

Where's the money supposed to come from to subsidise housing for people who can afford to pay market rent?

Nobody is being subsidised 🙄

richcouncilhousetenantfreehouse · 31/08/2022 16:58

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 16:50

Mistygreenandblue

Where's the money supposed to come from to subsidise housing for people who can afford to pay market rent?

Council housing is not subsidised.

x2boys · 31/08/2022 16:58

My housing association has promised to pay everyone's gas and electricity bills this year to help them through the cost of living crisis
Nah not really but maybe I should start a thread saying that and wait for everyone, s head to expload 🤔

DancingBudgie · 31/08/2022 17:05

x2boys · 31/08/2022 16:58

My housing association has promised to pay everyone's gas and electricity bills this year to help them through the cost of living crisis
Nah not really but maybe I should start a thread saying that and wait for everyone, s head to expload 🤔

😂😂
They would be going off like bonfire night fireworks.

gamerchick · 31/08/2022 17:10

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 16:50

Mistygreenandblue

Where's the money supposed to come from to subsidise housing for people who can afford to pay market rent?

Ah well you're lucky. Because it's not FuckinG SUBSIDISED

I Swear I wonder about people me like

gamerchick · 31/08/2022 17:14

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 16:50

Mistygreenandblue

Where's the money supposed to come from to subsidise housing for people who can afford to pay market rent?

Well you're lucky, because it's NOT Fucking SUBSIDISED.

I Swear people boggle my head.

gamerchick · 31/08/2022 17:17

Never mind SH how about a Mumsnet that works!

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:20

Social rent is not market rent.

It is being provided at less than market rent, therefore, it is subsidised.

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:21

It is subsidised because it is a public asset, that the government could be deriving market rent from, and it is instead providing at a discount.

MessyBunPersonified · 31/08/2022 17:22

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:20

Social rent is not market rent.

It is being provided at less than market rent, therefore, it is subsidised.

Its not subsidised.

Market rent is inflated.

x2boys · 31/08/2022 17:23

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:20

Social rent is not market rent.

It is being provided at less than market rent, therefore, it is subsidised.

NOT ALWAYS it isn't
But even if it is no one is SUBSIDISING not even TAXPAYERS.

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:26

A council housing tenant is getting a house for less than the market rent. It might not suit you to hear it, but money is not finite, and as a nation, we cannot afford to give everyone a discounted house.

Newrumpus · 31/08/2022 17:28

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 16:50

Mistygreenandblue

Where's the money supposed to come from to subsidise housing for people who can afford to pay market rent?

What makes you think that would be necessary?

Newrumpus · 31/08/2022 17:29

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:20

Social rent is not market rent.

It is being provided at less than market rent, therefore, it is subsidised.

No! “Market” rent is inflated and subsidised.

Newrumpus · 31/08/2022 17:31

money is not finite

the concept of money is not finite, that is true. However, the budget allocated to housing is finite.

x2boys · 31/08/2022 17:32

InChocolateWeTrust · 31/08/2022 17:26

A council housing tenant is getting a house for less than the market rent. It might not suit you to hear it, but money is not finite, and as a nation, we cannot afford to give everyone a discounted house.

I live in what was a council house now housing association as the council sold all the stock to the largest housing provider, so i know that I'm paying a rent comparable to private rent in my area ,I'm not sure why people can't understand we don't all live in London or the South East.

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/08/2022 17:47

Ivory towers can fall down.

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/08/2022 17:56

I would like to thank all the tax payers for subsidising my HA house.

Oh wait I am a tax payer and pay full rent Smile

spuddy56 · 31/08/2022 17:57

I don't understand the posters saying anyone can apply for social housing. Our council site says you can only get it if you can't afford private rent. Why shouldn't people who become able to afford private rent be reasseed if new applicants also can't have a secure home?

BordoisAgain · 31/08/2022 18:11

You're right. We should be subsidising the mortgages of landlords instead.

FarmerRefuted · 31/08/2022 18:26

spuddy56 · 31/08/2022 17:57

I don't understand the posters saying anyone can apply for social housing. Our council site says you can only get it if you can't afford private rent. Why shouldn't people who become able to afford private rent be reasseed if new applicants also can't have a secure home?

Because if you tell everyone "hey if your household earns more than £xxx a year we'll kick you the fuck out" then people have no incentive to take up training, get promoted, take extra hours, and so on.

funinthesun19 · 31/08/2022 18:27

Yes, people in council houses should be driving around a little old banger. Or even better, be getting the bus.
I once saw an article where a woman had decorated her council house beautifully and it looked lovely. The amount of people frothing at it was ridiculous, like someone in a council house couldn’t possibly have a lovely home. Calling for her to give up her home if she’s got the money to make a council house so nice. 🙄

x2boys · 31/08/2022 18:37

spuddy56 · 31/08/2022 17:57

I don't understand the posters saying anyone can apply for social housing. Our council site says you can only get it if you can't afford private rent. Why shouldn't people who become able to afford private rent be reasseed if new applicants also can't have a secure home?

By law anyone can.have ca council/ housing association House so long as they don't own a property but in some councils the waiting list is huge so unless people are desperate they are never going to get housed and some won't anyway ,but that doesn't mean it's the same everywhere ,and also it doesn't mean that social housing rent is vastly lower everywhere either .

Witchcraftandhokum · 31/08/2022 18:51

I understand why you're upset. Many years ago my parter was made redundant as the firm closed and we ended up in a bit of debt and eventually evicted as we couldn't afford our private rent. We were last on the list for a council house as we didn't have kids. We ended up sofa surfing and had to get rid of all of our belongings as we couldn't afford to pay storage for them. They were people in council houses near to us where both of the adults had jobs. It was so frustrating.

gamerchick · 31/08/2022 19:41

Yeah 2 employed people with a secure tenancy. That's proper shit that. How dare they.

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