To think councils should move people to smaller properties when kids move out?

[Faithin]

There's a huge lack of 3 bedroom social housing where I live (and everywhere I think?)
a lot of the people living in the 3 bed places are usually just 1 or 2 adults as the kids have grown up and moved out. Meanwhile there's lots of young families overcrowded in 1 and 2 bed flats with no garden etc
aibu to think those that actually need the space should be in the houses and those who don't should be made to downsize?
as the waiting list is so long, what tends to happen is peoples children are in their teens by the time they are moved into a 3 bed property, the grow up and leave within a couple of years and the parents stay, so the vast majority are under-occupied.

It may seem odd but it is their home and while family may not be there all the time son's or daughters may return to stay or even visit.

Logically that makes sense. But you're forgetting that these are people's homes. Homes that whilst they don't belong to them they (likely) pay rent, are settled, have had their children grown up there etc etc. I don't think you'd agree to being turned out because someone else wants the house.

there is a MASSIVE lack of smaller properties. Best thing to do is vote for parties who support a massive programme of building social housing

Many would like to downsize but unfortunately one bedroom council flats are almost non existent.
They simply aren't any for people to move into.

Yes and it's what is done in Jersey

If my DC ever move out the 1/2 bed flat options are grim in blocks and just generally unpleasant. Our HA likes a mix as too many families in one spot can cause big ASB problems.

There are loads where I am, and they have most families with 2 or 3 small children in them

BigFatLiar- no, it’s not their home , they’re tenants in council/housing association accommodation

Yes. My grandfather lived in a central London three bedroom, two reception room, large front and back garden house on his own for decades. I loved him dearly but it ought not to have been permitted wherein there is a housing shortage. The “it’s their home” line is weak, what about people who rent privately and have to move on. Or people who have to sell their homes because they can no longer afford them.

Not this again. Comes up every week on MN.

How are they supposed to move to smaller properties when there are no smaller properties for them to move onto?

The problem is for a lot of people it is home rather than a house. It is also their community and support system. Leaving neighbours and family nearby is not easy. Also a lot of properties may not be suitable. Like putting older people in high rise flat where lifts may not work at times etc.

They may not own the house but it is definitely their home.

Many councils already offer incentives to downsize. As an example my local council offers a higher priority status on the waiting list to people wishing to downsize, will offer free rent for a set number of weeks, decorating vouchers, assistance with moving costs, etc. However there are far fewer 1-2 bed properties available than there are people wanting to downsize and there isn't a massive shortage of family homes here, there's a 3 bed council house on our street has been empty for about three months now and this is a nice area with good schools nearby.

in many areas, there are though. Because all they ever build is flats and not houses l, there are significantly more 1 and 2 bed social housing flats than there are 3 bed houses where I love

@Faithin I have read a lot of articles about families cramped in 1 bedroom properties but it's usually the 1 bed is a council owned temporary accommodation or a private rental which even if they are getting help with the rent (UC etc) private rentals are not secure (for life) tenancies.
They are very rarely actual 'council' flats.

It's still their home. It may not belong to them, but it's their home. Rental tenants (in private or social rent) have homes

I still have kids at home, but at some point I won't.

Meantime I've spent thousands doing up my garden and home.

The rent I pay on my council house would be around the same I would pay for a 1 bed housing association property here (the only 1 beds, and they are all flats) so that would be pointless.

As well expecting me to pay the same/slightly more for less, who is going to pay my moving costs, and decorating costs, and costs and installation for new flooring, and for getting my cooker wired in etc?

It wouldn't be worth it for me to move.

No I don't think people should be turfed out of their homes away from their community, friends and networks.

I think it's fair, people don't seem to mind when they move to a bigger house

they are hardly going to be moved across the country, they'd be moved within the same borough because it would be with the same council.

My mum is one of these people. 3 bed house just her and her partner. I often say to her she should apply to move to a smaller place as it would help her financially. She works full time but low paid job and pays full rent/council tax etc.
Her reluctance to downsize is mainly losing her garden. Her passion is gardening, and it's hugely beneficial for her mental health.
I can see both sides of the argument.

It's crazy I wanted to swap from a two to a three with my single neighbour. The council refused because he would need a one bed and so I had to stay overcrowded with a disabled child whilst the neighbour had two spare bedrooms 🤷‍♀️

There's a huge lack of 3 bedroom social housing where I live (and everywhere I think?)

And there's an even greater lack of smaller properties so where do you suggest they get moved to? Some people might be happy to move to say, a 2 bed house but they can't when they barely exist.

I live in a huge block of 1 and 2 bed social housing flats, literally everyone has children here. Same with most of the other blocks I know of in the same town, full of families with kids.

It doesn't mean they will be close. Sometimes people get located quite far away. And why should they give up their homes anyway?