To think housing in this country is fundamentally broken?

[BrokenHousingLogic]

Whether you rent privately, rent socially or own, it feels like the system isn’t really working for anyone.

• Rents are high and insecure
• Buying is out of reach for many
• Social housing is under strain
• Landlords and tenants feel pitted against each other
• Local authorities seem overwhelmed

It often feels like people are arguing with each other instead of addressing the fact that the whole structure is failing.

AIBU to think this goes beyond individual choices and points to a system-wide problem?

Do you know how either council or social housing works?

Basically, a private developer builds a house, a council or housing association has commissioned or buys that house and rents it out.... where does the upfront money come from?

In the main from taxation.

Who wants lower taxes? and who wants housing built somewhere miles from where they live?

The Tories had 14 years to fix, yet didn't so presumably you think they had no one with any common sense either....

Stopping Right to buy, creates no new housing and Labour have already said that any council house sold, must be replaced by another.

Stopping immigration.... so no students, no carers, no slaughter house workers or construction ?

Why should the poorest be forced to move to cheaper areas? Can you not see the potential issues with that?

I don't blame you.

Also, not all OAPs are "taking up" family homes. I know of 4 who live in HMOs. Fucking HMOs at their age, with people a third of their age. A shared bathroom and tiny kitchen. They spend all day in the pub because sitting alone in your bedroom is awful for your mental health.

No one should be 'forced' but in life your finances dictate your choices whether that is a car, holiday or indeed a home.

The person I was quoting said that unemployed people should be forced to move to cheaper areas to save money on housing benefit. Nothing to do with cutting back on cars or holiday, or homes they don't even own.

We moved 200 miles away from where we live in order to buy. We need to be able to afford to retire one day, and the insecurity of renting was massively fucking with my mental health.

The flat we rented before then cost us £100k over the ten years we lived there (double the last selling price of the flat near enough) and when we moved out the rent went up by £500pcm for the next tenant. And yet that was still cheap for the area we were in.

It's not sustainable.

Err, why should working people pay to subsidise someone to live in areas they would like to but can’t afford?

We don't drive nor want to own a car (money pit that I can't be arsed with) and when we were looking for a place to buy it quickly became apparent how many new build estates assumed car ownership. Want to go to the shops on public transport instead? Walk into town? Good luck with that.

So all the poor people should be made to live in the cheapest area? How can you not see the potential issues with that?

They can't afford them, that's why they're in HMOs. Or they can but don't have a guarantor (which most landlords want now even for professionals). Or are trying to rent one but bidding wars are pushing the price up too high.

None whatsoever. Do you seriously think it’s right that people can get subsidised housing in a glamorous place to live, when if we shipped them elsewhere the country would save a fourtune? Why? Think of what those savings could be used for! Expanding social housing for one.

Young professionals (pretty much everyone i know) moved to the other ends of the country to find work in their chosen field. Moving someone from a salubrious area to a less salubrious area to save the state £££ I have no issue with. We have far better things to spend the money on.

People can't afford to share. And bit difficult to do that if you have a family, or are divorced and need somewhere your kids can stay with you at weekends.

Moving to a "cheaper area" means the prices in that area start going up - where do the people already there, presumably on lower wages, manage to live? - and also doesn't help you if your job - or even industry as a whole - is not in the same area, or your family aren't, or your kids' schools.

Ah, the Shirley Porter approach to solving housing issues.

If you are unemployed and don't own a home (so easily mobile) isn't it commonsense to prioritise your career and move to a place where you have employment opportunities?

Moving is not cheap, and there is huge competition even for private rentals. Someone on UC because they don't have a job (so will be on £400pm) is not going to have a couple of grand spare for moving and a deposit.

Are we now assuming that all unemployed ppl are nomads

I am referring to the young at the beginning of their career. If someone makes unwise choices in life, career or marriage it is tough but it shouldn't be something the tax payer needs to sort out.

Many on mumsnet need to learn the importance of personal responsibility and take pride in their life and own their decisions.

Yes, and it seems should be prepared to move cross country for a zero hour NMW job .

Ah, that old chestnut. Any misfortune in your life is your fault and you should have prepared and/or took more responsibility.

Maybe aim higher in your career aspirations and don't be defeatist. Take what is available job wise until you find your niche and don't go down the benefit route.

Easier said than done. The country needs people to do the low paid jobs. They are vital.

It always interests me this TAKE a job. I thought you had to be offered one first after a job interview Tell me where is this magical place where you can just take a job

Well in the vast majority of cases your life does depend on your choices. Are you seriously suggesting every time someone makes a bad decision it is always someone elses fault?

And you need to have been given an interview to start with.
There are lots of threads on here about how dire the job market is right now. Why do so many people think it is as easy as popping a CV into a shop/office now? Times have moved on so much.

Yes, take a job (could be low paid) until the right role turns up.