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.

My dad owned his own flat. The council bought it via compulsory purchase. Dad was given a derisory amount of money - not enough for him to be able to buy a new home.

We finished up in a council house. My parents paid their own rent and rates/council tax all their days.

Which guys are you talking about?

Exactly 👍

As in, I found out you can get it for “anxiety and depression” which I’ve had for 25 years and has limited my life in lots of ways. I also have 2 physical diagnoses coming up so hoping I will get it. I assumed it was means tested. I have no means other than my property which I still owe 6 figures on.

Great username OP, well fitting 😆

The majority of my neighbours. I know more about their lifestyles than I really want to. It steals my peace.

YES plus new homes from the housing association are not always cheaper my housing association rents out new builds for around a thousand a month the "old houses" are closer to 600 a month the people in the new builds want out not just because they are crap but because they are expensive

This is why I have one too (and a Motability car) except my son wasn't born with additional needs, he became disabled due to a complication from an illness.

I'd much rather have my previous rented property and my son never go through what he went through.

I thought this too

Also I live in a council house and the damp and mould is so bad we’re having to sleep in the living room. The only mould free room. I got a dehumidifier, I cleaned the mould, I painted with mould resistant paint and open the windows every day but after having a housing stock survey from an independent company it doesn’t matter what I do since the roof is failing, the guttering has collapsed in several places, the fascia’s and soffits are literally crumbling too and there are cracks around the window fittings.Its the coldest house up until the height of summer when it’s then so hot it’s unbearable.I am grateful for a home, for some of us though it isn’t a bowl of cherries.

Think some people on here are taking the piss.

I live in Ha and have been here a long time, single parent. Although my adult dds still live here.

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

You do realise that you could get all this information straight off Google?

Are you genuinely for real?

I wish people would educate themselves, I also wish developers would stop labelling them incorrectly.

as part of new developments the developer will normally have to provide a number of affordable homes. These can be (amongst others) social rent, affordable rent, shared ownership and discounted market sales (like first homes). Some will be managed by councils, others by housing associations and for discounted market sales they aren’t managed at all but controlled through agreements. These homes should be tenure neutral so that you can’t tell the difference between them and market homes (although the car parking is generally a give away).

dont assume that these houses aren’t owned with a mortgage by those living in them.

Because if people are at risk of losing their home for doing better in life, then there is no incentive to do better. Housing is a vital need, and no one wants to risk losing it, even if that means they stay on a lower income.

Ive an in-house lawyer relative who gets a mobility car due to her disability. With a corporate lawyer spouse… And a professional colleague who also has a mobility car (BMW).

"Anxiety and depression" eh

Unlikely you get it "just" for that you also need evidence loys and lots of evidence not just your word and your mate bob down the road backing you up honestly take a good long look at the rates pip are taken to tribunal and take all the way up the system only to be granted it last minute it's not easy to get people in genuine need often get rejected and the reason it costs so much? They deny genuine claims and then spend a fortune trying to stop genuine people claiming

It's a farce

Its not subsidised, subsidised implies part of the rent comes for tax. Its lower rent, yes, but no one else is topping up the payments.

I live in a council house, i was on the list for over 5 years, in that tim i had to find the upfront money for 4 private rentals as landlords wanted the house back for personal reasons, sold the house, and one passed away the family wanted to house back. 4 times i had to uproot my kids, myself, move further from schools, from work, from friends, from shops etc. I owned with my husband but the marriage broke down, we had to go private renting whilst on a list. When i got my council house, and the secured life time tenacy, i swore i wouldnt never voluntarily leave it. Now i earn over average income, pay full rent and council tax, still a single parent with no asistance from their dad, i cant afford a new car granted, but im not leaving my council house into the hands of private landlords ever again.

Paying outright for a second hand car might be a cost they can't afford. It's a chunk of money and not everybody has the means to save. Getting a new car with weekly/monthly payments may better suit their budget. Also you're less likely to have the big maintenance costs of an older car.

Why is this allowed? Surely if they’re now earning well they no longer need a council house and should move on, so that a family who really needs it can have it!

My garden is big enough to have goats, instead I've got dogs 😂

And then you get all those nonsense about how hard it is benefits are to get. Yeah, right.

No not at all

how odd!

Social housing is not just for ‘families’ …

Well, God forbid that the lower orders should have a better car than you…