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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I should be able to have a council house?

383 replies

frustratedmumof3 · 22/10/2008 20:18

Ho hum - must stop my addiction to MN as will not have time from next week so my cunning plan is to piss off as many people as possible so I will be frightened to come on here .

So, my local council are building lots of lovely new council or housing association (don't care what they are) homes in my area with brand spanking new kitchens, bathrooms, lovely new carpets etc, etc and I am thinking why should the so-called vulnerable members of society (who are most probably going to wreck the places) be higher on the housing list than us.

We rent privately (since we sold our house 2 years ago as could not afford the mortgage) and I don't see that we will ever be able to afford another house. We pay well over a grand for a 3 bed (3DCs) and have the insecurity of potentially having to move every 6 months at the owners whim which is the worst thing (have already moved 3 times since started renting).

It really makes me mad that quite a few of DCs friends have council houses where they pay only 350 per month and probably earn similar wages to us (the ones that work that is). What makes them deserve one more than us? I know damn well that we will not get one of the new homes as there are about 5000 people in the queue before us and they will probably go to single parents, immigrants and and generally useless members of society who do not work and have no intention of doing so. We pay our taxes and would appreciate any help we were given (as we need it now) but will get sweet FA. Makes me want to scream!! This thread may be unusual as I am not dissing council house tenants as I desperately want to be one (in a new build anyway).

OP posts:
kayzisexpecting · 22/10/2008 20:30

We're moving into our council house on Friday after 2 and a half years on the list. My DH has muscular dystrophy and struggles to get up stairs. For the last 3 years we have lived in first floor flats. My DS is 19 months old and my DH has really struggled to be able to leave the house with DS. Its only been since DS was about a year old he was able to carry him. We now have another baby due in 7 weeks time. Again DH wouldn't be able to take the baby out or both of the DCs without me being here.

His GP and specialist have both said that the stairs have made him worse. We both work depsite the fact DH has been told we'd be better off if he claimed he couldn't work.

I'd much rather be able to afford our own house but we can't.

WorzselMummage · 22/10/2008 20:31

are you talking to me expat ?

me23 · 22/10/2008 20:32

hear hear stewie, I'm in a very similar position! to your family am now with partner who is finishing his degree and I'm being seconded by my employer to study,
also if you can afford to spend £1000 on rent a month you do not need social housing.

AliBean · 22/10/2008 20:33

Just get yourself on the list. Write a "Statement of Need" and submit that and wait your turn. Unfortunately you won't get a choice on what you get so consider whether you would be quite so thrilled with a 50's semi as opposed to a shiny new house?!
My SIL was in a similar position last year and ended up making herself homeless (moved into B&B) to bump herself up the list...moved to a classic 40's semi in a DIVINE village and has since whinged about being out of the city... they also pointed out that they paid their taxes/worked etc but at the bottom line was they were not as needy as others. It's the way it works - you just have to decide how needy you want to be.

expatinscotland · 22/10/2008 20:33

if i were i'd address you, worzel.

so, erm, no, i'm not. i'm addressing the OP.

Overmydeadbody · 22/10/2008 20:33

kayz I'm glad you have finally been offered a place and are moving! That's great news, you must be so relieved.

DS and I move into temporary housing at the weekend, then who knows how long we will wait till we are permenantly re-housed. Fingeres crossed it won;t be too long and DS won't suffer too much with all the instability and moving.

WorzselMummage · 22/10/2008 20:34

Chill out poppet i was only asking

Quattrocento · 22/10/2008 20:34

FM3

Did you want a ruck? Death in a blaze of glory ...

spicemonster · 22/10/2008 20:35

If you'd put your name down years ago, you'd probably get one. But you didn't. Oh dear

lulumama · 22/10/2008 20:35

off you fuck, there;s a dear, don;t let the door bang you on the arse on the way out

if you;d like a reasonable discussion about the state of the economy, lack of affordable housing and social housing, and that sort of thing, then you would not have phrased your OP the way you did

lumping in immigrants and single parents as being useless is plain nasty, ill informed and you sound jealous as hell

because of course, immigrants and single parents never work or contribute to soctiety in any way. surely you know, immigrants are stealing all 'our jobs', so they are hardly being useless if they are working

FAQ · 22/10/2008 20:35

OMDB - god I had no idea! Must have missed quite a lot of your threads - hope they find you somewhere soon.

As things currently stand I will also be officialy homeless sometime early next year. Thankfully I'm in the position to be able to save for a deposit and rent (presuming I can find a landlord to take me knowing I'll be claiming HB.......) but my biggest fear is that I won't find somewhere and therefore will be officialy homeless with the DS's and end up being housed back on the estate where we had so many troubles before moving here.

expatinscotland · 22/10/2008 20:36

Erm, whatever, Wurzels.

As you were, ladies.

Am hoping you get something SOON, OMDB .

Any joy with selling the business?

expatinscotland · 22/10/2008 20:37

Us, too, FAQ, in October of next year.

We're hoping to switch to caravan life.

kayzisexpecting · 22/10/2008 20:37

OMDB, we are very relieved. No more bloody stairs(well to the bedrooms but not to get in) Its getting a struggle for me at the minute until this baby comes.

I hope you get a permenant house soon. The wait can be awful.

nooOOOoonki · 22/10/2008 20:38

come and spend a week working with me at the Homeless office I work at,

filled with women fleeing violence and suffering then come back here and think about what you have written

(oh no on second thoughts you can just fuck off now)

forevercleaningwithmybesoms · 22/10/2008 20:39

Have you noticed how the OP did the one post then has sat back to watch the fallout?

ignore ignore ignore

FAQ · 22/10/2008 20:41

I have no idea when it will be "official" - whichever comes first - the house selling, or it getting repossessed !

The only caravan place "local" to here isn't on any bus routes, and is right the other side of town so unfortunately not an option for me as I don't drive (we really need a "frown" emoticon).

Just praying that someone will take me renting privately. I don't know what I'll do if I end up back on that estate

expatinscotland · 22/10/2008 20:41

my SIL was homeless after fleeing domestic violence.

she's been offered and taken a flat in a building that was condemned two years ago and in line to be knocked down. but hasn't been and there are several more in the queue in front of it, but nowhere to put everyone.

i wouldn't want to set foot in the place, it's that dire.

can't get a taxi or food delivery there for all the crime.

Cheesesarnie · 22/10/2008 20:42

what a stupid horrible thing to say!
i dont live in a council house but we're gold on list because of no heating and mould plus asthmatic dc.'so-called vulnerable members of society '

and agree if you can afford £1000 a month on rent why do you need a council house.(btw whoopy do for you working and paying taxes-so do we.)

get over your self.if plan is to offend-well done!

Overmydeadbody · 22/10/2008 20:42

good luck with the moves next year expat and FAQ.

Expat still in negotiations with a couple of potential buyers for the business, so fingers crossed! All I want is for them to make an offer that covers the business debts so I can wipe the slate clean and I'll be happy!

I have organised for the internet to be cut off on saturday, and then who knows when it will be back on permenantly, until then I may just disappear from MN.

ScottishMummy · 22/10/2008 20:43

FMO3-what response did you expect?Ta for enlightening us about parasitic underclass scroungers?

do you think your story so unique and deserving (whilst everyone else is undeserving)

trot along now,chopski McChop go boil yer heid

FAQ · 22/10/2008 20:44

thanks OMDB - hope things go ok for you too

KatieDD · 22/10/2008 20:44

Hmm I once lived in a council flat, quite a nice one until the lad next door started dealing drugs and one night DD and I had to stay indoors whilst armed police arrested him, helicopters and all sorts.
TBH they can keep their new builds, a grand a month is worth paying not to have to live there trust me.

KatieDD · 22/10/2008 20:44

Hmm I once lived in a council flat, quite a nice one until the lad next door started dealing drugs and one night DD and I had to stay indoors whilst armed police arrested him, helicopters and all sorts.
TBH they can keep their new builds, a grand a month is worth paying not to have to live there trust me.

Janos · 22/10/2008 20:45

OMDB good luck to you, been in that position myself - it's very hard. Hope you get somewhere soon.

OP...nah can't be bothered. Life is too short.