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.

What if they don't qualify for a mortgage?

Been in my HA house for 23 years, can't afford a mortgage and it's too late now to start. My adult dds still live at home because they can't afford private rental.

In my opinion the life time tenancies need to end. Also the practice of passing on a tenancy.

No. I asked because I wasn’t sure, I personally didn’t think asking to be educated was a bad thing???
but no need to be rude x

Congratulations though OP, I think this is the first time on Mumsnet I've seen a passionate debate about retrofitting 😆

Passing on a tenancy is only once... and that would be from one spouse to the other, or a single parent to a child that lives with them. My parents are in a council house. If my dad dies, why should my mum be evicted? That makes no sense.

I don't think life time tenancies need to end. I think short term ones in the private sector need to end. People want to feel safe and secure in their housing.

I presumed spouses were joint tenants so no change of tenancy if one does. Why should it pass to the next generation though?

You can only pass on a tenancy to your adult children if they already live with you... I think (off the top of my head) it is they have to have been living with you for 5 years. I am free to be corrected it that is wrong. It probably varies between areas anyway.

Some adult children live with a parent because they are either a carer to their parent, or their parent is a carer to them.

I live in a council house and work full time. I gradually moved to the top of the list, which I’d been on for a number of years.

Thefasttraybake, blossomtoes, you are not paying the open market rent of the property you live in. If you are totally skint, fair enough. If you’re not, give up your property to someone who needs it more or pay full market value rent. Not doing either is immoral.

Who determines market rent? From what I see, private landlords charge what they like. Social housing rents are the more realistic ones and should be the norm.

And how do you offer to pay the "market rent" for your social housing? What facility is there to do this?

No it isn't.

Why not? It’s immoral in my book to take a freebie from public funds (like vastly reduced rent) they you don’t need. Perhaps you just have different ‘morals’ that suit your needs. I think we need to look after those that need it most. Just saying that ‘I’m allowed to stay, no one is making me leave’ doesn’t mean it’s morally right.

The rent is not vastly reduced. The rent is what is should be. Some posters in social housing on here have said their rent is actually more than private in some areas.
I used to rent a 1 bed city centre flat (private) and I was paying £200 less pm than someone in a 1 bed council flat in the same area.

According to Shelter,

What is social housing?
By social housing we mean social rent homes. These homes have rents linked to local incomes and provide a truly affordable, secure housing option for people across the country. We don’t mean affordable rent, shared ownership, or any other so-called ‘affordable’ tenure.
It's genuinely affordable
Social rent homes have rents set by a formula tied to local incomes. Historically, social rents have been around 50% of the market rate. This rent formula is controlled by central government and increases are limited by government policy.
It's secure
Tenancies are generally more secure than those in the private rented sector, meaning a social rent home is a permanent home.
It's stable
It enables people to put down roots and thrive within a community.

england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/campaigns/social_housing/what_is_social_housing#:~:text=Social%20rent%20homes%20have%20rents,50%25%20of%20the%20market%20rate.

Those who private rent, are bills included or not?

But only ‘their budget’ due to the council subsidy…

You could revoke their tenancy due to income and being above a threshold (tbc)? Then they can.m make their own arrangements with their plentiful income…? Obvs would require a lot of planning to devise a scheme… And then give to someone in need..

Well the question raised was ‘should someone who can afford to rent privately or get a mortgage be required to give up their subsidised property to a family in need?’

You see a lot of house share rents where bills are included in the rent.

So there would be no incentive for anyone to earn more.
People who want to buy property tend to make that their aim and will work upwards to be able to do so.

A lot of people just want a safe and secure place to live in, and if they get a social housing property will see no real need to increase their income (under your rules). Why would they if they get evicted?

I guess you would then make it a thing that anyone in social housing is forced onto courses to make them be able to earn more... so you can evict them.

And? Guess what... You also get to spend your money how you like!

There is no subsidy.

I had assumed LHA was linked to rent for social housing but it's not.

LHA is set at the 30th percentile.

So if social housing rent is higher than that of half the properties in the local area, and higher than LHA, how is it subsidised?

They do when they can show off on social media about it, Not much SM mileage in offereing a room to a single mum and kid from the UK though