Surprised with the quality of some council houses

[LydieL]

Hi all, so I recently moved to a town in the north west, very low income area, the town is as you’d expect a sea of terrace houses that open to the street with concrete yards, some of the nicer parts have gardens but for the most part that’s not the case. There are also some newer estates.

Anyway I work for a charity, we support families where a parent or sibling has passed away. As part of my job I’ve seen a lot of council houses, in this area it’s mostly the terraces which are small or post war builds which are bigger but these tend to be “rougher” areas to live.

Lately I’ve been working with a family, mums been offered a council house and today I went with her to just go over a list of what she needs to do to get out of temporary accommodation asap and into it. I’ll be honest I’m a little stunned at the quality, it’s a 3 bed terrace, small front garden, mid size back garden (more than most around here), large kitchen, bay window. Council have fitted a new kitchen and bathroom and re-plastered the whole house.

It’s also in a “nicer” area. For the amount this place would sell for, you could probably buy 2 cheaper 3 bed terraces and considering the shortage of council housing stock I’m surprised that hasn’t happened! She will be paying about a little Over half what it would go for on the rental market.

Now I know this is the exception rather than the norm but AIBU to be surprised councils are holding onto higher value properties like this rather than selling them and either getting 2 houses (so 2 families can be housed) or putting the profit into the local area?

I am aware this is far from the norm but after talking to colleagues the council seems to have several properties in this little area, this mum has also got very lucky with her housing situation as she’s only been in temporary accommodation for a couple of months.

My parents still live in the council house I grew up in. They have never bought it. It’s a 3 bed end of terrace. Those on their estate that were bought sell for nearly half a million! I think part of it is its 1960s built so bigger rooms and garden than new builds have.

My first house was an ex council house, we had bought it off an older couple who had previously bought it through Right to Buy. The quality of the house was great, large bedrooms and kitchen and a decent sized garden. Sadly it wasn't in the best area and we sold up a few years later due to antisocial behaviour but the house itself was lovely, I was sad to say goodbye to it.

You stated the house had a new kitchen, bathroom and had been re plastered. It makes economic sense for the council to look after and maintain its assets.

Your post is from the point of view of a private home owner stating what you think about social housing tenants.

councils or housing associations don't make decisions on their business based on what you think about whether or not you should work to pay your mortgage.

totally irrelevant

Shameful. The families you support and the charity that employs you deserves much better.

I conceptially understand the point about 2 houses (housing 2 families) being advantageous.

But communities are better and stronger from having a mixture of different people from all walks of life living together. Lumping all those who have fallen on hard times (who are the only ppl who get SH now, v different historically) into the cheapest accommodation creates problem neighbouhoods and poorer outcomes.

Mixed communities benefit all.

My council house was a right shit hole when I moved in. Still is to some extent as I'll need professionals to ensure the walls meet the ceilings and floors for starters.
The walls have been plastered by BodgeIT and Leggit.
Some windows don't open.
The back door doesn't lock.

Get in touch with the council you say!

The company they partner with gives you a 6 month waiting time, then cancels. I'm supposed to fill gaps between floors and ceilings myself, just adding to the years of poly filler chucked at it by previous tenants.

Kitchen looked nice until I put some plates in the top cupboard and it fell off 😂

In my village there are 2 streets of houses built as council houses in 1960's. They're all 3 and 4 bed semis with large gardens. Sadly around 60% of them are now privately owned and not all by the original tenants now - they've changed hands again but are very saleable due to location, large gardens and room size.
On my street there are 20 Housing Association houses - mixture of 2 bed, 3 bed, 4 bed and bungalows. They were built around 10 years ago to a high standard. You would never know they were social housing. A new development of 27 social houses has also been built about 1/2 mile away. They've got solar panels and just look like any other new development.
Why do you think that social housing should be cramped and substandard?

So people who need council homes should live in shitty houses in shitty areas?

The fact you work supporting vulnerable people as well...

There’s an extreme shortage of council homes. Op is just suggesting that the council could get double for their money in cheaper areas.

Social housing tenants have jobs and pay rent. We have no chance of buying, Minimum wage is shit. Are we not allowed nice things?

My partner is selling his house to downsize into a over 55 apartment block. We've just found out one side is for HA rentals. The socialist in me thinks everyone should have decent housing, but there's niggling thoughts that the lack of rewards to working, in lower paid jobs, are really starting to show. Then the socialist in me, sees that as a wage issue, but it's also been inpacted by austerity and the lack of help for single person households and the self employed. It doesn't help that I'm in an area were PIP basically pays for the claimants addiction. While my youngest, disabled DD, works bloody hard for the money they are on. As said, they'll be in the same over 55 housing and the same care home.

I think you're in the wrong job and I've no doubt that the people you deal with can see your disgust at them getting decent housing a mile off...

I think as the COL crisis worsens the gap between low paid workers with a mortgage and those in a CH will widen massively.
I am responsible for the entire upkeep of my property, literally from floor to ceiling, my sister called the council out to a blocked toilet because she 'couldn't be bothered to deal with it '.
Because of her living situation and benefits she claims she is also entitled to things like free school meals (extended to college, I didn't even know that was a thing!).
Basically, even though my household has two full time workers my sister has more disposable income than us because of the 'extras' she qualifies for that we have to pay for.
Unfortunately this will eventually mean my owned property will be less well maintained even though we have worked full time all of our adult lives and in theory should be better off than my sister.

You'll find that the vast majority of council housing in this country is in dire need of updating. To be jealous of someone already down on their luck is absolutely despicable.

In fact you’ll be paying higher care home fees to subsidise the shortfall that the authorities will pay for your sister !

Because unlike private landlords, they have legislation, regulation and policy to adder to.

They are leading the way in showing up scrupulous landlords how it's done.
Why are LAH being held accountable for mould and damp but not private landlords.

They are better as most are not for profit organisations - private landlords don't operate that way.

Eeew, the council wastes a bay window on poor people, OP, how disgraceful. There could be a respectable middle class family enjoying those period features, not a family whose only alternative was a fucking hostel or B&B.
Sometimes I get imposter syndrome at work, and wonder if I'm any good at what I do. And then I see someone like you who is so deeply unsuited to the job they do and I think nah, I'm all good.

Older council houses usually have large gardens as they were designed so you could grow veg and feed your family. Plus fresh air and daylight are good for people- 19th century industrial slums were hotbeds of disease partly because of lacking this.

Social housing is a relic from a kinder and more optimistic time - when society gave a shit.

it’s bloody tough to swallow in the massively forced consumerist and capitalist society of 21 c Britain that some who can’t afford a certain quality of housing in the open market get it provided via social housing.

Voters have since Thatcher voted in “screw you, money is everything” governments. No wonder social housing seems like an old outlier of better times.

No, everyone having a decent quality home that is fit for their needs should be the norm.

I'm cheered to hear of someone getting a decent home. I really hope it gives her the security she must be desperate for after living in temporary accomodation.

Surely it makes sense for the council to retain good quality housing, rather than getting shot in favour of two properties less well built and more expensive to maintain.

There is a council estate in my area where houses are really solid, plus there is green space and trees which were designed in originally. Some of the trees are nearly 70 years old and absolutely beautiful. If only that sort of quality social housing was still built.

Where I live the council houses are large and detached with massive gardens. Very well built. Shame they sold them all off. An older council house is so much better than houses built today.

They don’t get double for their money. Firstly, they need to consider the laws their properties comply with, and let’s assume random shit holes the public sell for cheap don’t meet them. So they need major investment before being let.

secondly, a newly built property hits the balance sheet- at value- for 100 years. Some crap Victorian 2 up 2 down won’t add value, it’ll just add a huge maintenance and cyclical renewal bill.

it’s just basic investment costing.

It's NOT irrelevant because my tax money is paying for it.