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.

Or turn it on its head ' why aren't people who can buy totally outraged and refusing to buy developers rabbit hutches that are extortionately priced'

The basic standard for housing should be good sized properties with garden, decent kitchen and bathroom, that is affordable for someone on NMW.

Okay I appreciate that my tone may have been read wrong.
Perhaps I am jealous, having looked at sold prices in this area we couldn’t have afforded to buy here or a house like this when we moved.

I do fully believe that everyone is entitled to a nice home but that implies there is something wrong with the alternatives, there isn’t, we live in one of those!

I think it’s also a hard pill to swallow when someone who hasn’t been in the UK for years (she is a British citizen but left shortly after graduating, so hasn’t contributed to the economy at all) returns, gets given a beautiful property, hand outs of every flavour etc.

I appreciate how difficult things have been for this family and her children to lose their dad and move to a country they hadn’t step foot in before.
Im also aware that I’m out here working for a seemingly Lowe quality of life than what this mum will receive having contributed nothing and just hoping on a plane when the country she moved to was unable to support her!

Yes

My neighbours live in a house identical to mine (London Victorian mid terrace) and theirs is a council tenancy. Just down the road a very similar footprint non-council house which has been modernised quite fancily and extended into the loft sold last year for £1.6 million.

I would also think the council could sell the neighbouring house and provide housing for two or three families tbh - that would be the most economically sound thing to do?

Before anyone asks, I really like my neighbours and have no problem with them at all! The ones on the other side - that's another story.

What do you want from your thread ?

Where I live the new builds are also having social housing on the estates badly needed imo and they are "fancier" than my ex council house house. Why would anybody begrudge anybody a decent standard of living.

Op totally get what you are saying, it doesn't feel right at all.

It should’ve been really obvious to your partner this will happen and should’ve been considered before he decided on this course of action. Over 55s housing is overwhelmingly social housing and always has been. That’s what it was for, lower income older single tenants

Traditionally council houses were properly built to a higher quality than most private builds. I think it makes sense for councils to build quality houses that will be happy and healthy places to live in and have low energy bills.

She never said the other places weren't nice.

Actually your tone has been read correctly, the issue is your tone stinks. Maybe rethink your career here OP, because you are clearly in the wrong one. With any luck your employer will recognise this thread.

I have a few friends who benefitted from various housing associations in the 90s and they live in some incredible flats in London and good for them. They deserve decent accommodation as much as anyone and I don't begrudge them one bit.

No you’re wrong. Councilmabs hkusin g association properties all have to have an epc of band c at least by 2030. We have just been awarded tens of millions to do this works on our housing stock. Newer properties will need less work or any at all. This is only one part of the works that may need doing on a property.

You're in the wrong job entirely.

But you’ll own your home at the end of it and your sister won’t. You’ll also hopefully benefit from a private pension and no mortgage, your sister will have to pay rent and survive on a state pension.

The part of the estate I lived in is being demolished and rebuilt with family homes. I’m so glad because the flats were freezing, damp and starting to demolish themselves they were in such a poor state. I’m in a modern flat now (council) and it’s lovely. I feel safer, warmer and less miserable, living in a nicer environment, plus I can’t hear every single sound from my other neighbours. This country needs all the good affordable housing it can get built

Please please find a different job. You are absolutely the wrong person for this line of work, and better people could be doing it.
Your judgement towards those you are paid to help move forward, will be doing so much damage behind your fake 'supposed professional smiles.'
You would be happier doing something where you weren't dragging the profession you are in downwards.

My SH accommodation is absolutely shit, having been used for land banking, and I have repaired and held it together myself as best I can on a self repair lease, after years of homelessness, squatting from desperation, and precarious housing.
But despite frequent attempts over the years, not being herded into a poorer area with a smaller footprint so they can make huge profits on their neglect, has allowed me to capitalize on opportunities for my Dc's and in one generation change our families generation after generation of low education, aspiration and failure, even when the school system failed them.
I remain persona non grata, but Dc's have assimilated into a very different world.

Have you read your organisation's social media policy @LydieL?

Thats great news, How lovely that a family who's been through hard times are getting a nice home for their kids to grow up in.

my grandads old flat was council really nice size myh neighbour is still council same layout as mine the older ones are nice sizes why shouldnt they still be used

Am not sure this post has helped…
you have moved from council houses should be of a lower quality to x doesn’t deserve a council house because she hasn’t contributed ‘enough’
you definitely need a career change.

"I work for a charity, but I'm a total bitch and how dare the people I look down in have nice things"
Get another job.

How is your tax money paying for it?

how do you think building social housing is funded?

I have a feeling it might surprise you

You do know lots of social housing tenants work?

I know, I'm just waiting for the word "subsidised" to appear, it's taken longer than I thought tbh.

Social Housing is/was built to a size standard

Also unlike owner occupied houses social landlords are very aware of maintenance costs so in the past built to high standards