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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

417 replies

Faithin · 27/09/2022 16:20

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.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/09/2022 06:54

ArgieBargie · 27/09/2022 21:10

That’s obscene.

Show quote history

It's also incorrect.

Seymour5 · 28/09/2022 07:09

So many here seem to think all council housing is desirable. It's not.There is big demand for social housing here, yet there are estates where only really desperate people will move. There are housing officers whose job is to manage anti social behaviour. Anyone seen an equivalent in the private sector?

And BTW its not subsidised, just run on a different basis to private rentals. Councils have something called Housing Revenue Accounts, perhaps a read of one might prove useful.

notdaddycool · 28/09/2022 07:11

I 100% are in principle, but it then gets labelled the bedroom tax and the government are demonised.

Beezknees · 28/09/2022 07:34

I agree OP, I have one DC and we live in a 2 bedroom council flat. I was very lucky to get this flat as a young single mum and the rent is very low. Once my DC has moved out permanently I'd be happy to move to a one bedroom place, as an adult it's my responsibility to work and stand on my own 2 feet, the council property was to help me raise my DC in suitable accommodation. I don't agree that I am entitled to this flat as my home for life, it should go to another single mum to help them out like it did for me.

x2boys · 28/09/2022 07:42

Beezknees · 28/09/2022 07:34

I agree OP, I have one DC and we live in a 2 bedroom council flat. I was very lucky to get this flat as a young single mum and the rent is very low. Once my DC has moved out permanently I'd be happy to move to a one bedroom place, as an adult it's my responsibility to work and stand on my own 2 feet, the council property was to help me raise my DC in suitable accommodation. I don't agree that I am entitled to this flat as my home for life, it should go to another single mum to help them out like it did for me.

So only single mums should get social housing 🤔

DuckBilledFattypus · 28/09/2022 07:45

Beezknees · 28/09/2022 07:34

I agree OP, I have one DC and we live in a 2 bedroom council flat. I was very lucky to get this flat as a young single mum and the rent is very low. Once my DC has moved out permanently I'd be happy to move to a one bedroom place, as an adult it's my responsibility to work and stand on my own 2 feet, the council property was to help me raise my DC in suitable accommodation. I don't agree that I am entitled to this flat as my home for life, it should go to another single mum to help them out like it did for me.

Why should it go to another single mum?

Dogscanteatonions · 28/09/2022 07:52

Don't forget that renting from council you generally have to put your own carpets curtains, curtain poles, oven hob, do your own decorating etc so it is different from renting privately. People spend hundreds if not thousands over the years on maintaining their council home

scrufffy · 28/09/2022 07:58

Beezknees · 28/09/2022 07:34

I agree OP, I have one DC and we live in a 2 bedroom council flat. I was very lucky to get this flat as a young single mum and the rent is very low. Once my DC has moved out permanently I'd be happy to move to a one bedroom place, as an adult it's my responsibility to work and stand on my own 2 feet, the council property was to help me raise my DC in suitable accommodation. I don't agree that I am entitled to this flat as my home for life, it should go to another single mum to help them out like it did for me.

Why should only single mums get housed?

Also, no harm to you, but your DS isn't an adult yet. What you think you'll be happy to do might change once he is.

scrufffy · 28/09/2022 07:59

Seymour5 · 28/09/2022 07:09

So many here seem to think all council housing is desirable. It's not.There is big demand for social housing here, yet there are estates where only really desperate people will move. There are housing officers whose job is to manage anti social behaviour. Anyone seen an equivalent in the private sector?

And BTW its not subsidised, just run on a different basis to private rentals. Councils have something called Housing Revenue Accounts, perhaps a read of one might prove useful.

This is so true. Where I was was not in the least desirable and still isn't.

JustLyra · 28/09/2022 08:28

Kendodd · 27/09/2022 18:30

Personally I think the best thing the government could do is a massive council house building programme, so that people have secure home. I think it would be the biggest way to reduce poverty as well.

This.

where I live there’s been a lot of building by two HA’s over the last 5-8 years and the knock on effect had been positive for pretty much everyone.

A lot of private rental properties were freed up when people were allocated a new one. That meant folks looking for a new private rental had more choice. This in turn forced the LL’s who were charging ridiculous prices to drop them down to stay competitive and in combo with a LL registration scheme (sadly a pilot thats now been scrapped due to funding cuts) actually saw quite a number of the shittiest landlords bail out and sell up.

One of the HA’s here has a swap move Team as well. If they class a swap as beneficial to all they properly get involved in helping people move. They have a lorry for removals and a few guys who’ll actually lift and move stuff. They also let people downsize swap, but don’t necessarily insist on an elderly couple going down to a one bed. I know of one recently who downsized from a 5 bed to a 3 bed - the other HA wouldn’t have allowed that so they’d have stayed put as there are no 1 or 2 beds in the bit of town they’re from. That HA have the higher number of downsizers locally going by a recent community meeting and I think that’s a huge part as to why.

gamerchick · 28/09/2022 08:38

Beezknees · 28/09/2022 07:34

I agree OP, I have one DC and we live in a 2 bedroom council flat. I was very lucky to get this flat as a young single mum and the rent is very low. Once my DC has moved out permanently I'd be happy to move to a one bedroom place, as an adult it's my responsibility to work and stand on my own 2 feet, the council property was to help me raise my DC in suitable accommodation. I don't agree that I am entitled to this flat as my home for life, it should go to another single mum to help them out like it did for me.

You can work and love in a council house you know. In fact the coincil prefers that.

Pottedpalm · 28/09/2022 08:47

Elsiebear90 · 27/09/2022 16:50

I think it’s fair given the lack of social and affordable housing. I know that there is this expectation that with council houses they’re your’s for life if you want them to be and people spend a lot of money decorating them, but I think this needs to change given the issues we have with overcrowding and lack of affordable housing.

They also need to stop right to buy, because that’s the main cause of the lack of social housing.

I grew up in a council house, my parents used right to buy, but I can see it’s not right that their neighbours live in three bed council houses as single elderly people while families are cramped in one bed flats. It’s also not right that my parents bought a council house for a huge discount when they could have easily afforded to buy a property on their own. My cousins have recently given their pensioner parents 40k to buy their council home that’s worth more than three times that because “it’s a good investment” and will be left to them as inheritance. Surely people can’t agree with this while we have a shortage of social and affordable housing?

Let’s hope they get their inheritance; it may well go in care fees.

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 28/09/2022 08:47

Openrelationship · 27/09/2022 17:57

It’s not true to say there aren’t smaller properties for them to move into. The majority of people seeking a 3 bed are families who have lived in 2 bedroom council houses for years, and their children have now reached an age where they qualify for 3 beds (usually when oldest is around age 10) but they are waiting for years. I don’t understand why the HA’s (as they’re not usually council owned anymore) don’t just force a swap from the underoccupied with the overoccupied.
The bedroom tax was a farce as it didn’t apply to pensioners.
Social housing needs a huge overhaul.

'Force' a swap? Have a word with yourself!! 😆

SkySmiler · 28/09/2022 08:48

pompei8309 · 27/09/2022 16:29

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

Of course it's still their home 🙄

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 28/09/2022 08:50

If you have a 'mortgage' then it's not YOUR home either until that final payment is made!Wink

ImAvingOops · 28/09/2022 10:18

The councils could build mobile homes to address the housing shortages - the ones that were built after ww2 lasted for decades and these days it's possible to build strong, energy efficient, really nice homes that don't cost the earth to buy. I would happily live in one

x2boys · 28/09/2022 10:25

ImAvingOops · 28/09/2022 10:18

The councils could build mobile homes to address the housing shortages - the ones that were built after ww2 lasted for decades and these days it's possible to build strong, energy efficient, really nice homes that don't cost the earth to buy. I would happily live in one

Do you mean prefab,or mobile homes?

ImAvingOops · 28/09/2022 10:26

prefab I think. Fixed, not moveable.

x2boys · 28/09/2022 10:28

Yea that would make sense my fil lived in one he only died a few weeks ago .

Van34 · 28/09/2022 10:31

Why are they not also means tested. There are an awful lot of HA tenants that can now afford to rent privately and so they should. Council housing should not be for life, it should get you through a rough patch and back on your feet.

greenteafiend · 28/09/2022 10:36

If there are smaller properties within a reasonable distances, then yes, they should.

I get that people have sons and daughters coming to stay, but there is a housing crisis. Invest in sofa beds and similar solutions.

JustLyra · 28/09/2022 10:39

Van34 · 28/09/2022 10:31

Why are they not also means tested. There are an awful lot of HA tenants that can now afford to rent privately and so they should. Council housing should not be for life, it should get you through a rough patch and back on your feet.

Yes. Let’s kick everyone out and spend more money on private LL’s….

or we could be sensible and build more, keep prices down and more people would have a chance of eventually being able to save and then find somewhere to buy.

Fuwari · 28/09/2022 10:40

There are an awful lot of HA tenants that can now afford to rent privately and so they should

Have you any idea how hard it is to get a private rental in many parts of the country? I read a local article recently saying there’s 20+ applications for each home with people having to “sell” themselves on why they should get the property. My DSis private rents a 1 bed. She was technically “homeless” for nearly a year trying to find a property. (She stayed with an ex but neither of them were thrilled about it). She could have stayed with me but I live 100s of miles away. Anyway, even if I did agree, which I don’t, where are all these private rentals meant to come from?

As has been said many times on threads like this. If the price you paid for “bettering” yourself was to lose your home then people wouldn’t do it. The number one reason to work is for a roof over your head. If you getting a better job/pay means you’d lose that then you just wouldn’t.

greenteafiend · 28/09/2022 10:42

This thread seems to have a lot of compassion for some quite minor inconveniences for empty nesters ("Imagine having to move to somewhere without a garden!") and very little compassion for families with kids stuck in cramped little flats.

The guiding principle of UK policies, as always, is that the boomers need to get what they want, every time. And everyone else gets the privilege of paying for it.

Priorities, people.

And as for "well, we should go on a building spree and build a mllion new council houses"--yes, I agree, but even if we started tomorrow it would take years. There are families who need bigger properties right now.

dottiedodah · 28/09/2022 10:48

I thought David Cameron came up with this sort of idea? Realstically if everyone moved out of their "too large " ch tomorrow, there would still be a shortage! Leave people where they are. I wonder how many people would be happy to move out of their fh?

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