Council houses owning brand new cars?

[TheCluelessMum]

I’m writing this post with the hopes of being educated, not slandered

however I completely appreciate I may be just completely shot down for asking this.

i live on a new build estate, 12 houses at the start of the estate are council houses. I don’t know this because I’m a snob, I know this because it’s clearly marked on plans when you buy those houses.

i see so much stuff online about how the UK benefits system is failing people, the higher rise of food banks. It’s absolutely abhorrent people are in this situation.

however, when entering my estate today I noticed that each and every single council house had a car newer that a 20 plate. Mercedes, Audi’s, BMW’s even range rovers.. there was not a single house out of the 12 which had an older than 20 plate car.

I am now confused as to why this is the case? Everyone I know (including those receiving benefits) continually speaks about how hard the cost of living is.

so could someone please answer how/why those in what we would presume lower income families, are able to afford such lavish cars.

This is simply preposterous. Social housing is not emergency housing. People actually build lives in their communities. They have to furnish and carpet the homes themselves. They don't have the money to just up sticks and invest in a new place one they reach some arbitrary threshold.

My sister in law was a single parent living in a council house. She wouldn't have bothered getting a job if it meant her having to give up the house. She and her three kids would hardly find somewhere to rent in London on a Tesco salary.

I have to agree, Portakalkedi

Of course I realise they're lifetime tenancies; I'm just not sure how this can be justified beyond "people like having them", which doesn't seem much of an argument when there are so many who really can't afford to buy and are desperate for a home

Can see the ignorant posts are out about them being subsidised again. Still it's an improvement from free you saw on here a few years back.

Progress of a sort

How are they subsidised? My rent is three times what my mortgage was.

WorthyOtter · Yesterday 21:29

"Anyone can get a council house. I had one a few years ago in a new build, we had money just weren't interested in buying a house (I have now). We were surprised when we got it because we didn't have kids at the time and didn't seem a priority but it was a bit out the way and there wasn't much interest in it. If I was renting, I'd rather go council in all honesty it's alot more reliable, your house won't be sold and they're pretty good at repairs"

The council in my area re Council houses stipulates the following :

Households who have a gross household income including benefits of more than £38,000 (per annum) will not eligible to join the register. Households who have assets, equity, savings or capital of over £60,000 and are assessed as able to compete in the private market will also not be eligible.

Unless you are a single person with no children or a high earner, most people in the UK receive some form of State Benefit.
Most who work can afford a lease car. Some are company cars.

The real scandal of council housing, is those who are able to jump to the top of the queue due to contacts.

Do you pay the open market rent?

Many people who are housed by the local authority at a very vulnerable point in their life go on to improve their financial circumstances once they have the security of a stable home. Not necessarily enough to afford a mortgage, but enough to get a few nice things. Which is excellent and yet another reason we should all be campaigning for a lot more social housing rather than sticky beaking into the lives of existing tenants, speculating about their finances and mithering about whether they should be occupying their homes or not.

Lived in council estates my entire life. My dad worked 60+ hour weeks!!

We bought our current home and the two houses either side of us are council. Both families work and have lived there 20+ years.

My in laws have also lived in their council house for 20 years. Both working. If you can get one it’s clearly a much better option than private renting, where you’re essentially buying someone else’s second home for them. Council homes are rented but you have real security.

When you apply for PIP, you list all the conditions you have. You may not even be claiming for that particular condition, but it will be listed in the stats anyway.

It wasn't me who said they're subsided, @SquashedSquid - maybe you linked the wrong poster? - but FWIW the "reason why" has already been answered a number of times

As for PP's question as to why those now in good financial positions can't save a deposit for their own place and make the home available to someone who can't, I'd say that comes from the same mindset as those who moaned like hell about right to buy while on the waiting list, only to grab the opportunity with both hands when they had the house

aren't you then taking a home away from a less well off family that needs it more? Per your self-description, sounds like you could afford paying normal rent, or having a mortgage?

"reliable" 😂. Almost all modern cars are 'reliable'. doesn't need to be a new luxury car.. We have a 11 yo Honda CRV, drives like a dream, but 8 years ago for 8k...

But you don't really. You can get 2nd hand cars on finance too with no upfront. really common. Also, why get something so unnecessarily 'fancy' if you are (or were) not well off enough to buy or rent a private property like normal people do? And deny some needy family of a home?

This is the point. Using council resources, denying them to people who really need help, to pay for a luxury car. I can't understand why some can't see how selfish and immoral that is. Shame on them.

reverse snobbery?

affording a nicer car is justification for depriving a needy family of a home? Just think that over again...

FFS.. some very bitter posters begrudging Council house tenants now!!
My DS1 has been a tenant since the age of 16( yes really!) He’s now 31, and earning well( not a fortune) and still lives there
He pays full rent, which is not as cheap as some posters believe.
i have CP and SMI and own outright since my divorce.
People Who live in glass houses and all that eh

Interestingly though, folk are quick enough to see this "selfishness" in private landlords, insisting that they're hogging homes which more needy families could otherwise buy

Strange that this isn't then applied to their own situation, but there you go

I've only ever been able to buy 08 plates outright and they're unreliable. Last one got scrapped. So if somebody decided to get something more modern (11 years isn't that old for a second-hand car btw, you're not slumming it) then I completely get it.

is the point not that people in council houses shouldn't have cars. But why do they need to waste the income they have saved by having their houses subsidised need a new Range Rover?

the latter(ish) yes, lose their subsidy to some more needy family. Maybe have a normal car rather than paying £600 a month (?) for a BMW?

i didn't know either 'til now. If you think two words/phrases are synonymous, why would you google them?

But if that family work hard and can afford a nice car why should they give that up?

In what ways do you significantly disadvantage yourself to help families who need a home? Or is this altruism only expected from social housing tenants?