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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:
FarmerRefuted · 30/08/2022 22:01

tabulahrasa · 30/08/2022 21:51

“If my landlord (the local council) can come out to fix my boiler the same day I report it because its an classed as urgent repair, why can't a private landlord commit to the same?”

I mean, that one is a bit unrealistic given that a private landlord has to get someone to come out - that’s not really under their control tbh.

But why can't they commit to having it repaired as quickly as possible by a qualified engineer rather then four weeks down the line as a bodge job by their mate Dodgy Dave whose only knowledge of boilers is that he once did a three week apprenticeship in the British Gas call centre?

richcouncilhousetenantfreehouse · 30/08/2022 22:02

Why don't you sell your three bed with a mortgage and go into private rent whilst waiting for your council house then? Give that a try and see how you like your house being inspected every 3 months, not allowed to decorate, kitchen falling apart and a toilet that you have to use a bucket to flush. And you can be put out at any time

I was so incredibly grateful to get a council house. It was security for me and my kids.

UpsideDownDownsideUp · 30/08/2022 22:02

Im on the fence.
A good friend of mine waited years for a 3 bed house a lot of years ago. And got one when her 3 dcs were young.
Theyve all moved out, married kids etc etc

Her and her husband have now a 3 bed council house £90 pw. . Own their own business with 15 employees and 2 shops.. Brag about what they've spent. Fitted kitchen bathroom, en suite. They have done the house stunning. 2 foreign holidays a year blah blah

Its their home they've worked hard for it. They deserve to enjoy it.
But on the other hand for example . We had a huge change in circumstances meaning we needed bigger house. The LA told us 10 years as no 3 bed properties.
Thankfully Grandparents lend us a deposit to go privately. But it financially breaks us. Cheapest around here 1050pcm. Which is nearly half our income. So that part of me thinks yes they should be re assessed as theres hundreds needing 3 beds. Some in worse situations than us. But then again its their home.

But i guess that's life.

x2boys · 30/08/2022 22:03

tabulahrasa · 30/08/2022 21:58

I missed your post, sorry.

It’s not tiny, it’s just lower and it’s lower because they don’t hike up the prices to make loads of profit, it’s set at what it costs the council to run housing and maintain housing etc. It’s basically fair rent, not subsidised.

In places where private rent is at ridiculous amounts it seems tiny, but that’s because of the amount others are charging.

Show quote history

It's not always lower, I live in the Northwest its a cheap for rent area anyway what I pay for social housing is comparable to private rent but i get a secure tenancy ,I also have to provide all flooring ,white goods furniture ,decorated the house etc which is fine but in private rent a lot of that would come with house ,I'm not complaining my children have a secure home but it's not always cheaper .

Sameshirt · 30/08/2022 22:04

Not everywhere has a council house shortage.
If only poor people could have council houses, why was the right to buy so popular?
Nobody would have been able to buy!

UpsideDownDownsideUp · 30/08/2022 22:05

And now were private we cant go on waiting list. But we're lucky its a nice place house.ok area. And were allowed to do as we please with it. Decorate or whatever. LL gave written permission to say as long as its done to a good standard then we can do as we want.
He then got 2 major jobs done. Kitchen being one. Which he let us choose which we wanted. Weve painted top to bottom. Put carpets down in bedrooms etc. Hes even gaveus the money back

x2boys · 30/08/2022 22:07

Mumofsend · 30/08/2022 21:20

I live in a 3 bed council house and am going to florida in a few weeks. What my neighbours think they know and what they actually know are vastly different things.

Instead of directing this at those securely housed in council housing by making them lose it, the real goal should be to ensure every person has access to secure and affordable housing.

Enjoy your holiday and I agree what.people think they know is often very different from reality my neighbours see us driving around in a new cat non of them know its a mobility car.

tabulahrasa · 30/08/2022 22:14

“But why can't they commit to having it repaired as quickly as possible by a qualified engineer“

That’s fair enough, but I only mention it because I needed to get someone to repair a boiler for someone with no heating or hot water after Christmas last year, couldn’t get British Gas to budge on a 10 day wait.

“It's not always lower, I live in the Northwest its a cheap for rent area anyway what I pay for social housing is comparable to private rent but i get a secure tenancy”

it’s a bit lower where I am, but not a huge amount... and that’s only because private rents have risen, a few years ago they were about the same amount.

DubLynn · 30/08/2022 22:31

Thanks @tabulahrasa That actually makes me think about about the situation differently.

Mumofsend · 30/08/2022 22:32

x2boys · 30/08/2022 22:07

Enjoy your holiday and I agree what.people think they know is often very different from reality my neighbours see us driving around in a new cat non of them know its a mobility car.

Show quote history

Thank you! My car whilst not motability is only affordable due to my children's DLA.

Our trip to Florida is being gifted to us by grandparents as my grandad has dementia and wanted to spend 2 weeks treating his great grandchildren. I've paid about £600 for the whole thing.

ThinWomansBrain · 30/08/2022 22:44

I'd probably be more wound up about it if I was homeless or in emergency accommodation for years - but essentially I agree that as social housing is in such short supply, it should be made available to those in greatest need.

there is a huge problem in my area with the council/housing association getting stuff refurbished and retenanted, which seems incredibly wasteful.

Freedom2023 · 30/08/2022 23:01

AlwaysAnnoyed · 30/08/2022 21:16

I have a colleague who applied to be on the housing register many years ago. Her financial situation improved, her and her partner started to save for a house. They had enough deposit for a £250k. (So guessing around £25k)

they were then offered a Council house. To which they took. They said they will live in the Council house, paying £400 a month. Then in 10 years they will buy it. They won’t have to have a deposit because their rent for the last 10 years counts to their deposit.

they have 25k sat in their bank.

but yes I am SOOO bitter that their are poor families stuck waiting for a house not being able to afford a tin of beans.

you all live in a dream world if you genuinely don’t think people PLAY the system

Now you're just talking absolute shit!
If you are eligible to buy your council/HA property then your previous rent is NOT and has NEVER been able to be used as a deposit.

Original poster
AlwaysAnnoyed · 30/08/2022 23:08

@Freedom2023 it is

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 30/08/2022 23:10

people fall on hard times and DESERVE support.

That was not the original purpose of council housing. They provided homes for local workers, and social stability.

The solution is simple; create more social housing.

qtpa2t · 30/08/2022 23:20

this is kinda wild. There are people genuinely struggling. If you can afford anything but food and electricity then you should pay full rent. I'm not paying tax to support someone's Mallorca dreams. There are single mothers out there barely managing to feed their children because of crazy rent prices.

FarmerRefuted · 30/08/2022 23:22

Previous rent is not a deposit!

You might qualify for a discount (there is a calculator on gov.uk website that estimates this) and some lenders might accept it in lieu of a deposit but not all will and, of the ones who do, there are usually conditions to this.

There are also conditions attached to Right to Buy, for example you cannot sell your house within five years and if you sell it within ten years then you need to pay back your discount (if you got one). You also have to offer to sell it back to the council/housing association first and if you live in a specific area (e.g., rurally or an AONB) then your previous landlord can say that you must sell it to someone with established links to the area.

Freedom2023 · 30/08/2022 23:24

AlwaysAnnoyed · 30/08/2022 23:08

@Freedom2023 it is

I work in this area, it 100% isn't.

FarmerRefuted · 30/08/2022 23:26

qtpa2t · 30/08/2022 23:20

this is kinda wild. There are people genuinely struggling. If you can afford anything but food and electricity then you should pay full rent. I'm not paying tax to support someone's Mallorca dreams. There are single mothers out there barely managing to feed their children because of crazy rent prices.

Many council tenants are in work and paying full rent.

EddyF · 31/08/2022 00:07

The OP sounds so uneducated. “I fink this and that should happen”. Go and cry a river; nobody cares.

I think since the Daily Mail take so many posts from here, this site has attracted their readership to come here. This place is unrecognisable. People just writing anything as fact rather than hearsay. I miss the old MN.

MacarenaMacarena · 31/08/2022 00:10

TippledPink · 30/08/2022 20:52

Council housing isn't means tested though, we can all apply for it.

But to be fair to the OP, these tenants don't sound desperate for social housing... The application process is brutal. People who can easily afford market rent are not the target market for council houses.
The suggestion for periodic reassessment for eligibility fir council housing is a valid one - over the years I have had many friends and acquaintances get brilliant promotions, children left large family home or they got significant inheritances which should really, in a fairer world, have meant the housing was passed on to a needier family.

Judijudi · 31/08/2022 00:26

Ffs! You are such a snob!
Anyone can apply for a council house it’s nothing to do with whether you can afford to buy or not.

Willyoujustbequiet · 31/08/2022 00:30

I'm embarrassed for you posting that

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 31/08/2022 00:31

Green doesn't suit you @AlwaysAnnoyed SO jealous and bitter you are. NOT a good look!

FarmerRefuted · 31/08/2022 00:40

over the years I have had many friends and acquaintances get brilliant promotions, children left large family home or they got significant inheritances which should really, in a fairer world, have meant the housing was passed on to a needier family.

But if they knew they'd lose their home if they accepted that brilliant promotion, why would they take it? Where is the incentive to move forwards in life if it means you'd be shunted off into the far shittier and unreliable private sector, if you'd lose the home where you've put down roots, in the area where your children go to school, that's not too far away from where you work, that you're familiar with, that your support network is in? It hinders aspiration and you then get people stagnating, unable to progress because progression equals less stability.

Threatening people with eviction if they try and climb the ladder is a surefire way to keep them down.

Righteouswarrior · 31/08/2022 02:13

I bought my house a few years ago off a housing association and I can tell you that previous rent payments do NOT get counted towards payment of the house when you buy. Yes I got a small discount, but that discount would have been the same amount whether I had been paying rent for my house for 1 year or 15 years.