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.

I get disability benefits and I am absolutely not doing fucking well.

Very possibly motability cars, they're always built to order

I live in sw London. My sister in law works in Tesco. No way could she buy anything round here on her salary. Social housing allows people who were born here and work here to live here.

MN Social housing should only be for the most needy and desperate
Also MN Im not buying a house near that social housing estate Its a right ghetto

I have a council house, I had my own mortgage at one point but due to domestic violence I had to give up everything and relocate. lost the house so my credit rating was shit (couldn't work while in a refuge as the rent is extortionate every week) there for i couldn't private rent as wouldn't pass the credit check. yes I work and yes, i have a 74 plate car, would you rather me and my children live on the streets?

Only one but very small. I’ve heard even in band A the waiting list can be years around here. I gave up a long time ago and privately rent instead.

Only fans ! have you ever thought that maybe the utter scummy council house dwellers may actually work and save their hard earned cash ! Not everyone living in LA or housing association property relies on benefits. I know a nurse that lives in one , 2 managers that have Uni degree's and a member of the lifeboat crew and that is just on one street. All of them have cars that are less than 3 years old and one of them had the audacity to crawl out of the house and go to China last year.

We have this time and time again.

Can you define 'need' please?

Where will the family who are evicted live now that they no longer 'need' their home?

I would prefer to have families paying full rent in social housing. That's what it was meant for. Working families.

No, not necessarily. For example, if households were decanted from where they used to live in order to build the new build, they might be offered a flat in the new build. Also, under occupiers might be offered a smaller new build as an incentive to move and free up a larger property for a household who need more bedrooms.

Ok I’ll bite.

Ex NHS nurse in my 50s.

Two adult children (father fucked off with old flame when Friends Reunited was a thing) so long term sole earner.

Got MS at 45,can’t work, have tried (a lot).

Two failed attempts at claiming PIP. So I live on £1300 per month (universal credit inc LCWRA and housing benefit).

Pay £720 per 4’week period for one bed HA flat in ancient leaky, draughty city townhouse. £85/month water (historic bldg not allowed water meter).

is that “creaming enough benefits” for your satisfaction?

If that was the case, then the council would have kicked her out ages ago. They didn't. If you have a council house, then if you pay the rent and behave yourself, you can be there for life.
Life time tenancy should be the norm,. None of this being at the mercy of someone who could kick you out after a year.

Working people on UC are at the mercy of the DWP stopping their top ups during the months where they have 2 pay days instead of 1. They get £0 UC for those months. Imagine a similar thing with housing. You earn too much one month... get evicted.

I have exactly the same experience as you. I am London based. It's not just the cars. I've seen mega sized TV screens, children playing with latest Apple products and the women typically not working. I've seen it all with my very own eyes.

New cars are not " being handed out"! The mobility payment of pip is £300 a month, you can either be paid that and use it however, or it pays to lease a car. If you want a top of the range car you have to pay a deposit (sometimes thousands) and you don't own the car, it's leased. If you had good credit you could get a car on finance for less than the £300 a month and own it after the loan ends without using motability, but motability is good for those who need adaptations etc

Seconded, OP.

The answers on this thread have taught me a whole load too. Thanks for posting the question

So handed out then.

They're obviously talking about those people so lucky to qualify for high rate mobility (lucky lucky sods)

Well, assuming they’re on benefits, spare cash may come from:

• Universal Credit
• Not having to pay rent or mortgage
• No council tax
• Healthy Start payments for food (around £25 per child per month)
• Regular supermarket vouchers from your council. Tend to be every school holiday and about £90 a time.
• Cost of Living Payments (£300 a go)
• Household Support funding (into the £100s)
• Child benefit (around £200 per month for 2 kids)
• Not having to pay service charges for your block of flats
• Cheap entry to places like London Zoo (£6 per adult instead of £30+) and council gym activities like Soft Play which costs us £13 each time but is only a couple of quid if you’re on benefits.
• Vastly reduced gym membership at council gyms. Around £12 per month at my local one instead of nearly £100 if not on bennies.
• Food bank access. Saves a lot of money!
• PIP if you manage to claim it (£749 pm)
• Free school meals and other help with children attending school.
• 30 free hours at nursery instead of 15, even if you’re not working but in receipt of UC.
• DLA and Carers allowance if you can prove one or more of your kids has ADHD, ASD, etc.
• Reduced utility bills for Thames Water, Broadband, mobile and electricity (just provide proof of UC).
• Winter fuel payments if temp dips below a certain amount for a certain time (don’t need to be old).
• New kitchen and bathroom installed every number of years.
• not having to pay out for roof repairs or any sort of other home maintenance repairs.

I’m sure I’m forgetting some!

But anyway, getting the full raft of benefits often leaves you better off month to month than a non benefit family where one parent works and the other is a SAHP, or even where both parents work but are on low-ish income. I’ve been on both sides of the fence and had more disposable cash on benefits.

As I said, it should be for those that need it. In your case you do. Then again, if you can afford a 74 plate car, likelihood is you can afford to save up 6 months rent to pay upfront and privately rent.

I say that as a single parent with 2 young dc and low income. I chose to sell my car and never had a problem renting privately if I paid 6 months rent upfront even when I was on UC and not working.

Housing Association rents are set at 80% of average private rents in the area. The advantage being the rents go up and down by inflation not on a LL whim.
So over time tenants can improve their lot - single parents find a partner ( dual income), earn more, get inheritance, kids move out etc.
The nicer housing does seem to end up with those in work already though I notice. The flats or older places go to those in more urgent need.

This has to be satire. How do you know how big people's TVs are?
And what does a woman that is not working look like?

I can tell you from personal experience that it’s possible to do extremely well.

once your children are on DLA high rates (and you have 2/3/4 of them) - things such as autism / adhd.

one in ten children in the UK now receive DLA.

£735 per month each child
extra £450 for each disabled child on top of your normal UC payments

NO benefits cap for disability so literally amounts are endless.

its not uncommon to be receiving if you / partner have PIP (or both of you) and disabled children plus rent amounts over £5000-£6000 a month.

Leaflets are handed out. Cars are not. 😂

Same here- hence why I can say it confidently.

its not just the ‘benefit’ amount it’s all the other extras too.

its really not difficult with even just one parent on PIP and one child on high rates DLA to get getting £5000 per month.

‘People who were born here’- but in London almost 50% of council properties are occupied by someone who wasn’t born in this country?

Loving the image of a house owning a car!