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.

And who sets market rent? The rents people pay for SH is what realistic rents should be.. none of the hyper inflated figures private landlords are charging.

i thought they meant the same thing? Housing association was official name and council house was slang term? I don’t know. Sorry I didn’t know

Also…. The rents are not low or subsidised. They are normsl

its the private landlords who inflate THEIR rental prices

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/ps100-000ayear-dobson-defends-his-council-house-6411862.html

Definitely not just people on benefits that live in social housing.

It’s cheaper to lease a car instead of buying one outright. Of course longer term it’s absolutely not, but if you haven’t got money up front to buy something it is. Being able to buy a car outright then keep it until it’s ancient (including paying out for repairs etc) is actually a sign of privilege. It’s why very wealthy people often have quite ancient cars.

Would you like pp to be homeless so someone else doesn't have to be?

What do you think homelessness means?

How do you know pp could afford to rent privately in their area in a property suitable for their family and needs and wouldn't become homeless without a social tenancy as soon as a landlord put their rent up?

What do you suggest, make someone else homeless or push a family into poverty to help the homeless?

Totally agree.

If I had my time again I wouldn’t buy but I’d get on the council list.

I’m working on getting PIP. And hopefully a motability car. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!

And usually a very expensive down payment too. My last car was a people carrier because I needed a big boot to store my electric wheelchair (which I also had to purchase myself). For the car plus the adaptions needed like the hoist to lift the wheelchair etc it was over £4000. Despite living the high life on benefits I had to borrow the money for it from family. I hate this narrative about disabled people driving around in range rovers when so many of us are struggling to get a car that meets our needs and our finances.

I'm in a council house - got it as a 19 year old as higher band as was in care. Have moved twice via mutual exchange.

I dont receive any housing benefits & both myself & DH work.

DH car is on a salary sacrifice scheme through his work.

There are many people with mortgages & in private rented that receive Universal credit, housing benefit etc

You have to have a severe enough disability though, so if you do, by all means crack on🙄.

Council housing isn’t subsidised.

The council in our area don't own any houses these days , they're all owned by housing associations.
There are also many many reasons for getting a HA property, one of my family has a child born with additional needs and was helped by the hospital to get one .

If you didn’t have a council house, them someone who is really desperate could have it. You don’t sound like you need handouts with your vales and your fancy car and your PT. You should be paying market rent like anyone else say a doctor or police officer surely?

They're not. People in council houses can have good jobs.

People are giving all kinds of reasons other than the most obvious...they have newish cars because they can afford them.

I actually do and only found out about PIP and motability, so I will be cracking on!

Or even a job...

'Wanting to learn', you're just trying to whip up hatred against people in affordable housing having nice cars.

You're not the only account to do this, it seems to be constant on mumsnet lately

Not everyone renting from the council is destitute

Council houses weren’t for poor people. They were for average working families and designed to build communities because then, as now, expensive and insecure housing meant transient communities who didn’t care about their environment the way a settled community does.

Council housing isn’t cheap it just isn’t massively inflated the way private rentals and mortgages are now. It is affordable to average working class people. I’m in a council house and can afford my rent outright on my low wage but I’d be needing housing benefit for the same type of house if I privately rented. This would be taking money from those paying tax to give to landlords or banks. All I’d gain is a roof over my head as I have now but right now it’s not costing anyone else anything as I don’t need help.

New cars - most people can get credit, I doubt many brand new ones are paid for outright!

We need far more council housing as ‘affordable’ housing isn’t actually affordable for someone on my wage.

Ahhhh,
Don't act like "you don't know how people own nice cars in council houses"
What you really mean is...
All people in council houses do not work and are on benefits cheating the system.
Stop playing dumb trying to start a war...

I see, it is surprising that you have only just heard of PIP, you must be new to MN, and never watch the news, or read the papers.

Having spare cash to lease a car without worries about other bills is far more of a sign of unearned privilege. The privileged at least had their families work for it. These guys did…nothing. They just receive.

Know what? I was actually going to add "or just a good old fashioned job" - absolutely!

Sorry for clarity - replying to this person, who seems tremendously pleased with their situation -

mind you, my tv is only 55 inches so I must be unworthy, honestly, some people!

“YourElatedLimeShark · Today 20:58

I live in a council house. And I work so hard on my own business. My kids have brand new iPhones. I have a gorgeous 67 plate fancy car and have another vehicle too. We eat amazing food. Eat out often. Have nice clothes. Designer sunglasses. I vape. I don’t drink. I go the gym and have a PT. My kids go to multiple clubs almost every day of the week. I have a 65 inch TV on my wall”

I love that some people are so bigoted. People who live in council houses owning cars...whatever next.

Some history. Council houses were built in great numbers between and after the war to house people previously living in slum (privately rented) accommodation. Huge tracks of inner city slums were clearer and later in the 60s/70s replaced by tower blocks and concrete. The earlier housing was built on the edge of towns and cities, often away from areas of employment!! Either were not great in hindsight.

However, people lived in them and built communities. In the 1980s, to encourage home ownership and the boost to the economy that brings the Tory government introduced right to buy, so that people in council houses could buy below market value. The money raised was supposed to be spent on more council houses. But councils had other more pressing things to spend the money on, so they didn't build. Hence the shortage of council houses today. And the requirement to be in need to get one.

However, I know lots of people who live in what is now called social housing. Some truly are struggling financially. Some are middling and I know of at least 2 millionaires who live in them because they value the security of secured tenancy and also the fact these are their family homes.

With new cars, the mobility scheme provides the opportunity to give up a benefit in return for a new car which is insured and serviced as part of the scheme.

So there you have it mansplained to an inch of its life for those of you who do not wish to mingle with the great unwashed of the working class