To think you should downsize your council house if it’s just you?

[OuchOuchOuchh]

Oh my goodness I have created war at work and everyone is gunning for me.

My auntie has a huge 4 bedroom council house she has lived there since the 90s with her one son. That has now moved out.

All i said was I think it’s unfair that she’s living in such a big family home perfect for a family to bring their kids up in. Large garden backs on to the woods plenty of visits from deers and fox’s it’s beautiful! Anyway all I said is that if you haven’t purchased the property in a certain amount of time you should have to downsize if it’s just you living there.

Theres families overcrowded and can’t get anywhere then you have my auntie paying £100 a week in rent for a massive house for just herself.

please tell me if I am being an asshole! I appreciate it’s her family home but it just doesn’t seem fair to me.

I agree with you.

Insane to have people rattling around by themselves in large houses while families sleep in their cars.

is it your aunts fault theres people sleeping in cars or is it the fact the government who sell them and dont build more?

I agree with your logic.

But emotionally, and perhaps morally, I find it quite a difficult argument.

Are you sure she's only paying £100 per week? How did she get allocated such a large social housing as a single parent of one?

Agreed I have an aunt in a similar situation.

I see your point,but I think there shoukd be certain factors to considered. If for example someone is elderly and has lived in the property all there life it might be a wrench to leave. In these circumstances if feelpeopke should be allowed to stay.

Ideally yes. The problem is that there aren't plenty of 1 and 2 bed council properties just round the corner for her to move to without uprooting herself from her life/friends/neighbourhood.

Yep £100 a week she pays! That’s what they offered her back in the 90’s but mum said it was so easy to get somewhere back then. That would never happen now!

I agree with you.

It isn’t her family home. It’s the government’s family home that she’s borrowed for a pittance. If she still can’t afford market rent (after all this time!) then she should be housed in a one bed so that homeless children squashed with their parents into a single bedroom at a ‘temporary’ hostel for 1+ yr can have a home.

Council houses should be there to help the temporarily homeless get back on their feet, not to provide cheap rent for life to the lucky chosen few while others sleep on the street.

Of course yanbu, but so many will have the belief that if you live in a council house it's yours forever and its not fair to expect rent to be paid for a 4 bed house if 'you only use 1 bedroom'!

I live in a lovely 3 bed council house. At the moment I've got 4 children at home and need it.

I've often wondered what I'll do when they've all left home. I've spent a fortune already on home improvements and will no doubt spend £1000's more over the next 10-15 years. So why should I then downsize to something that would most likely be shit inside, a flat where who knows what the neighbours would be like, away from my neighbours who are a source of support. Now if there was a nicely maintained smaller property in a good area, then I'd definitely consider it. As much as it might seem a waste of space, it's my home and as long as I pay the rent then why shouldn't I live here? I am not responsible for the families that need a bigger home, it's the governments fault for not replacing the housing stock or for not coming down tougher on rogue private landlords who don't keep their properties of a good standard at a decent price

I agree with you.

As it's social housing, I think it's reasonable to be moved somewhere else if you're a single person in a huge home. Conditional on being able to be housed in the same neighbourhood so there is minimal social disruption to their lives.

In the same way you argue you aren't responsible for a family who needs a bigger home, don't some people also argue they aren't responsible for providing you a council home because you aren't their problem?

I think yanbu on the face of it.however it seems unfair to turf someone out of their home where they have lived all their lives.kept up the rent and not been anti social. There will always be a housing crisis whatever we do.land here is at a premium I don't think there are any easy solutions to this problem. Maybe reserve judgement at work though

Because the way I see it is, it’s not your home unless you’re planning on buying it eventually. You’ve had your turn to bring your family up in a lovely home. Let someone else have the chance instead of living in a big home all on your own. You are only renting after all!

You are absolutely right. It's social housing and should be used in the best way possible. It's not feasible to keep on building houses so old ladies can live in large family homes meanwhile so many are overcrowded or homeless. We have increasing strain on our housing stock with increasingly families splitting and requiring 2 properties instead of one. It's not sustainable.

I agree, I know 2 people living in 3 bed council houses, one is a man in his 30s who lives alone… (so not just old people) both won’t downsize and you will get people saying “there are no smaller properties”) simply not true, they both live in London and there are far more one bed flats in my area than family homes.

It's never your property if you don't own it, however it is the home of the person who lives there. Unfortunately renting does come with the risk you may be moved on from what is your home by the landlord whose property it is.

The whole system needs changing - letting people buy their council houses was always going to absolutely decimate housing stock, and then the Gov had no real plans to replace those sold.

Likewise, there also needs to be a 'time out' on living in a larger property as a smaller family or on your own - there should be a grace period, but after this you're moved.
If the above is explained clearly to people when they take on the house, it's not something they can then argue later.

It’s not that easy though op, my friends son lived with his mother in their 3 bed council house, she died and he is still there, the council know, he’s been to them and they are not moving him, it’s been about 3 years now, we are all quite surprised by it, he even requested a 1 bed place and so far nothing.

i disagree with life time tenancies and believe it should be means tested and reviewed every five years.

He could do a mutual exchange there are people crying out for bigger homes.

I was discussing this with DH yesterday. My friends DM has a large 4 bed council property. Huge living room and separate dining room. Massive garden and garage. Down a quiet cul de sac In a very sought after area. It would be perfect for a family.
The council have offered to pay all moving costs if she moves to a brand new one bed bungalow (more suited to her needs) as she has mobility issues and rarely goes upstairs at all anymore. She won’t entertain the idea, not one bit.

It’s difficult because this is the house she lived in with her husband (passed away 5 years ago) she raised her 3 children there, she worked hard and paid her rent every month. She’s decorated many times over the years and has made the garden beautiful with lots of hard work (gardener keeps on top of it now)

So is it fair to kick her out of her home?
but is it fair that she’s occupying a huge home that she only really uses 2 rooms of (kitchen & living room) it’s tricky and I wouldn’t want to have to make that decision!

It seems so unfair on those families waiting for a family sized home.

However, I look at it a different way, if a family has been in a home for 30 years they have paid rent for 30 years and have no security/ financial reward to show for this.

They may have invested both emotionally, physically and financially over the years...let's not forget families morph..one minute you have a houseful ..then they have gone
..circumstances change and adult kids return...grandchildren arrive....

In the private sector no-one would question a single person or couple in a large house....

Making a person leave the home they have settled in just because they have a spare room could have a huge effect on mental health...and that is a cost to for society.

Personally i think we should be building more family sized social housing and letting those few people who have paid many years stay where they are if they choose.

Of course, I thought this happened already!

Yes they should but there’s not enough council housing to move to so instead of blaming the tenants, blame the government/authorities for selling them all off and not replacing them.