Page 29 | To think you should downsize your council house if it’s just you?

OuchOuchOuchh · 2023-01-12T09:58:53+00:00

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.

Puffin87 · 12/01/2023 18:31

uhtredsonofuhtred1 · 12/01/2023 10:09

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

Do you realise this is like saying 'I work really hard to have a good salary. Why should I pay so much tax because other people get paid less. That's the governments problem.'

It's either ok to be selfish or it isn't.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/01/2023 18:31

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:30

I'd rather he moves house than a child be housed unsuitably. Because that's all that's being suggested. Moving house.
In his case it would be moving from one shit flat in a shit tower block to a different shit flat in a different shit tower block, so I imagine he wouldn't care too much tbh. It's a bit less emotive than nana and her nice bungalow isn't it?

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He shouldn't have to move though. It's not down to him. Moving has a cost. He might have paid money into the flat to keep it nice and then get offered a shit hole property. And there is zero need for the patronising shit about my nan duck. Hardly anyone agrees with you about that 👍😉

winterpastasalad · 12/01/2023 18:32

Asylum seekers aren't given priority. They go on the homeless list like everyone else. There's quite a number of Syrian ones in dc's school and none of them have been awarded a house yet, they are still in temporary accommodation after 5 years.

kafkascastle · 12/01/2023 18:32

SpinningFloppa · 12/01/2023 10:18

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.

I also live in the capital. My next door neighbour had to wait for over 5 years to downsize to a one bedroom flat. There really isn't a lot of them in the social housing stock as most were built to house families. Lots on the open market but would have been unaffordable for her.

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:33

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:30

I'd rather he moves house than a child be housed unsuitably. Because that's all that's being suggested. Moving house.
In his case it would be moving from one shit flat in a shit tower block to a different shit flat in a different shit tower block, so I imagine he wouldn't care too much tbh. It's a bit less emotive than nana and her nice bungalow isn't it?

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Christ, can see why he hasn’t asked to move in with you.

winterpastasalad · 12/01/2023 18:34

And furthermore they are being encouraged to move out of the town into less demand areas, so it's not as if they are being given the best 4 bedroom houses to house their 10 children

WimbyAce · 12/01/2023 18:34

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:31

No, you are a tenant like any other. The tenancy you agree to sets the term of the duration of the right to occupy the property. Not whether or not you get a better job. Why do so many people want to treat council tenants different to any other kind of tenant?

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What so you get it for life? It is different though isn't it as council house rent isn't nearly the same as normal rental. Surely it should be a temporary arrangement until you get back on your feet, not cheap accommodation for life?**

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:35

Puffin87 · 12/01/2023 18:31

Do you realise this is like saying 'I work really hard to have a good salary. Why should I pay so much tax because other people get paid less. That's the governments problem.'

It's either ok to be selfish or it isn't.

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It’s absolutely nothing like that. People are entitled to enjoy the property they signed an agreement to live in for as long as that agreement lasts. It’s in no way selfish. People on this thread are utterly bonkers

Goldd · 12/01/2023 18:35

EpicChaos · 12/01/2023 18:25

@Goldd

Does it occur to you, at all, that maybe their past employment didn't pay them enough to save up to buy said house? Especially since we are more than likely talking about working class people here and especially working class women it seems, on this thread so far.
Have you bothered to factor in that a WC woman who is now of pensionable age was not encouraged to work in salaried professions, not encouraged like now certainly to attend uni and so only has a pittance of state pension to keep themselves going, or do you think they're all living the life of Riley on a champagne income?

" but people who have lived a life working hard and struggling, living in shitty gross privately rented houseshares when they’re young (or into their thirties), spending huge % of their income on privately rented houses, "

Shame you don't seem to think that same attitude applies to people who have maybe worked for 50+ years, possibly employed doing hard manual labour for a living and retired to spend their last few years in peace.

" As for people pouring money into decorating/renovating their council houses - jut bonkers. Save that money and put it on a downpayment to buy a flat. "

Are you aware that tenants are required to keep their homes decorated and in good order? Where do you think a pensioner will get the money from?

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Every single one of my posts has said “this only applies to people who can well afford to buy/privately rent” so you are simply misreading my posts.

WimbyAce · 12/01/2023 18:37

I guess the alternative is if they want to stay in the house then increase the rent in line with normal rental.

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:37

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:33

Christ, can see why he hasn’t asked to move in with you.

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Lol. He doesn't need to move in with me. He has a flat, appropriately sized for his circumstances.
We've had comment after comment of people spouting that they or their nan couldn't possibly move to a flat or a tower block but I'm not allowed to acknowledge that he has little emotional attachment to his?
Christ some people forget that there's a world outside of the one in which their nan has a lovely bungalow round the corner from everyone. That's not what life is like for most people.

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:39

WimbyAce · 12/01/2023 18:34

What so you get it for life? It is different though isn't it as council house rent isn't nearly the same as normal rental. Surely it should be a temporary arrangement until you get back on your feet, not cheap accommodation for life?**

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You get it for as long as the tenancy says you can have it. Council housing isn’t ‘cheap’ - Private rental prices are inflated. That’s not the Council’s fault nor the tenant’s.
Private tenants could be living in identical flats owned by two separate landlords next door to each other, one paying 700 a month, one paying 1000 a month. Do you think the one paying 700 a month should have their rent put up? If not then what’s the difference with a council tenant?

LakieLady · 12/01/2023 18:40

But we can't pretend that paying a mortgage is the same as paying council rent. It's just not.

One of the biggest differences is that one day, the mortgage will be paid off. The council tenant will be paying rent till the end of their days, and will only get help with the rent if they are on a low income.

And the mortgage payer will have an asset that they can leave to their children or, if they downsize, equity that they can use to help their children buy their first home.

MissWings · 12/01/2023 18:40

@WimbyAce

Council rents are normal rents though. It was only greedy landlord who inflated them.

00kitty · 12/01/2023 18:41

You are totally right

most councils offer quite hefty financial incentives to downsize, she would be looking at about 4K payout from our local council and they would put her in band A housing need to secure her a 1 bed council property too so she wouldn’t be expected to go into private rented

MissWings · 12/01/2023 18:41

@LakieLady

True in regards to an asset. You don’t pay council rent forever though. You can get housing benefit that covers the rent once you hit retirement age.

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:42

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:37

Lol. He doesn't need to move in with me. He has a flat, appropriately sized for his circumstances.
We've had comment after comment of people spouting that they or their nan couldn't possibly move to a flat or a tower block but I'm not allowed to acknowledge that he has little emotional attachment to his?
Christ some people forget that there's a world outside of the one in which their nan has a lovely bungalow round the corner from everyone. That's not what life is like for most people.

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Yes, you’ve told us, a ‘shit flat’.
You don’t seem to realise that not everyone has so little attachment to where they live. There is nothing stopping any tenant doing whatever they want with their tenancy. Your FIL could give it up tomorrow. Most people with lifetime tenancies do not want to. You seem to have a major objection to that.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/01/2023 18:42

WimbyAce · 12/01/2023 18:37

I guess the alternative is if they want to stay in the house then increase the rent in line with normal rental.

Oh dear. You're really not getting anything from this thread are you. It is the normal rent. it isn't cheap it isn't subsided it is just what it costs to keep the property going. In fact it makes a profit. It's the private sector that needs the overhaul regarding rent figures.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/01/2023 18:43

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:37

Lol. He doesn't need to move in with me. He has a flat, appropriately sized for his circumstances.
We've had comment after comment of people spouting that they or their nan couldn't possibly move to a flat or a tower block but I'm not allowed to acknowledge that he has little emotional attachment to his?
Christ some people forget that there's a world outside of the one in which their nan has a lovely bungalow round the corner from everyone. That's not what life is like for most people.

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Yes but that is my nans life. So stop being so bitter.

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:44

WimbyAce · 12/01/2023 18:37

I guess the alternative is if they want to stay in the house then increase the rent in line with normal rental.

Rents are increased in line with inflation, etc. a woman in a council flat of 80 isn’t still paying 2 and 6 a week

Kabalagala · 12/01/2023 18:45

LakieLady · 12/01/2023 18:40

But we can't pretend that paying a mortgage is the same as paying council rent. It's just not.

One of the biggest differences is that one day, the mortgage will be paid off. The council tenant will be paying rent till the end of their days, and will only get help with the rent if they are on a low income.

And the mortgage payer will have an asset that they can leave to their children or, if they downsize, equity that they can use to help their children buy their first home.

My neighbour (council) would have to pay my mortgage (at last year's rates) for 60 years to pay it off.
So yes, it is very different.
Not saying I'm against affordable rents, I'm very pro affordable rent, but it absolutely shouldn't be expected to have comparable benefits.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/01/2023 18:45

MissWings · 12/01/2023 18:41

@LakieLady

True in regards to an asset. You don’t pay council rent forever though. You can get housing benefit that covers the rent once you hit retirement age.

My nan pays her rent in full. You don't get that automatically.

Eyerollcentral · 12/01/2023 18:46

MissWings · 12/01/2023 18:41

@LakieLady

True in regards to an asset. You don’t pay council rent forever though. You can get housing benefit that covers the rent once you hit retirement age.

Contributes to it certainly. They don’t just say you’re a pensioner now there’s your rent paid. You have to be on a pretty low income to qualify

Welshmonster · 12/01/2023 18:46

If she is refusing to move then surely Council can refuse to spend money on adaptations needed

MissWings · 12/01/2023 18:47

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

True, I know if you have savings etc you’re not entitled to HB. If you have no assets and no savings you are entitled to HB to cover rent at retirement age. That’s quite a large percentage of council tenants that will be entitled to that.