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.

ODFOD
A young woman trying to make a living by investing money in property and providing a home to a vulnerable person. A vulnerable person on benefits that many private landlords wouldn’t accept and who was waiting for council accommodation.
The tenant was months in arrears despite receiving housing benefit and was so out of it on drugs, there were squirrels in the property.
The poor young woman ended up having a miscarriage and spending time in hospital due to the stress of it all. She will never rent out property again after that experience. So now there’s one less property available to rent.
But you carry on and make nasty comments.
There are good landlords and bad landlords just as there are good and bad tenants. And the profit margin on rentals can be remarkably low or indeed, may end up costing you thousands.
I was incredibly lucky for the few years that I rented out a property with great tenants but the way the laws are now and after hearing about the case above, I’ll never rent a property out again.

I'm so glad you've written this. The sheer depths of spitefulness and the reveling in your poor friend's horrible misfortune is chilling.

I sincerely hope she is in a better place now.

Yes until or IF Govt ever start building council housing, we will rely on private LLs.
The laws on tenancies and the stupid EPC changes "apparently" coming in over the next few years are bonkers & time/cost taken to evict a bad tenant is mad, the court system for this is broken.
The LL register isn't for tenant protection, its about making sure LLs are paying tax but the register will be paid for by the LL - more cost, less reason to be a LL.

The new renters rights bill, says a tenant can demand a new kitchen or bathroom after 10 or 15years, even if in excellent condition.

BTW HB can be paid direct to the LL, no need for these tenants to be in arrears, anyone taking on a tenant like this should have arranged this to be done prior to the tenancy put in place.

@Arraminta I 'm not against LLs - i'm against the narrative that makes out they are all somehow hard done by, poverty stricken folk, doing their best for the vulnerable.

I'm not against LLs - i'm against the narrative that makes out they are all somehow hard done by, poverty stricken folk, doing their best for the vulnerable

Fair enough, I accept that. And I'm against the narrative that LL are all callous, money grabbing shits.

No, not all, we agree on that... but it comes back to the simple fact that one day most LLs will evict a tenant from their home, through no fault of their own, yes of course the LL has every right to do so, its their property after all but its the tenants home - i'm talking about long term rentals, not people renting for contract work etc.

I maintain that we need a much larger social housing model to avoid this happening so often.

Its heart breaking reading the pleas for a rental in my area as yet another family is evicted as a LL and this is where we agree, Govt policies have been driving this, not LLs.

I’ve been disabled all my life. Spina Bifida. Affects everything from continence to mobility - lost a leg to it when I was fifteen and it has gradually put me mostly in a wheelchair. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and the cherry on the cake, a cancer diagnosis last year.

I’ve also worked most of my life as a disability adviser and I can tell you from first hand experience that being disabled doesn’t make you immune from being ableist yourself. You got the figures wrong and demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of what disability benefits are designed to do. That you don’t claim them is up to you, but that doesn’t give you the right to sit in judgement on those who do and post incorrect information about a scheme which has helped thousands of severely disabled people to be better integrated into society, and in many cases to work.

Disability definitely isn’t ‘fun’ but you seem to think that it should be made harder than it needs to be. Why is that ?

I have always advocated for a more European style of rental, where renting is considered the norm' and owning houses more rare. Guaranteed long term rentals for tenants, but tenants held to a higher level of behaviour and accountability too.

Yep but i believe the role of the individual private LL in the European model is limited, it was in Sweden.

It takes far too long to evict bad tenants, with little chance of ever making up for lost rental and damage, i don't agree with Labours proposed reforms.

I leased brand new cars for a few years. Felt I ought to be more frugal in the car front and bought a 7 year old car. Makes me think car leasing was better value.

Goodness I’m sorry you were so offended by my comment I was in no way passing judgement on anyone, and didn’t quote any statistics all I said was that I’m disabled and I don’t claim benefits. It’s wonderful that the system is there for those who need it and the reason I don’t claim is because personal.
im very sorry you were so upset by my comment it was in no way meant to upset you or anyone. I dont think calling people names is helpful though- I wasn’t trying to upset anyone

I also never said I thought being disabled should be make harder, I’m not sure how you took that from what I said. You seem very cross and I’m sorry if I caused that. I shall as you say consider if my comments appear ableist in future. I’ve only recently become disabled and it’s something I’m finding my way through