Housing

[mintyfresh]

AIBU to wonder why this huge crisis isn't being addressed by any political party before the election?

I was completely fobbed off when I raised housing as my most major issue with the local Tory candidate on my doorstep today. He couldn't have been less interested

The enormous waiting lists for social and council housing, overcrowding, young people/families forced into renting long term because of high house prices, breakdown of community because of multi-occupancy properties. These are all major issues for the UK and I have seen no real policies to address them.

The only interest politicians have is in whether they have made enough money on their second homes!!

LENINGRAD Would force people to be more tolerant No, I don't like the sound of that! Sounds like a police state!.

LENINGRAD As you know I'm a Christian, turn the other cheek and find out what more you have to say, anyway I always find you sometimes agree with someone on one issue, but not others.

I want for courteous neighbours who don't play loud music or party all hours.

And, at times, seems like a lot to ask.

Sorry i havn't read the whole thread

I think housing is a huge issue and i am looking forward to our local Tory leader knocking on our door (should be this week), we are one of many families who are waiting to be housed, i am looking forward to showing him my house and where me and my Autistic daughter sleep (on the sofa). We have been waiting for a house for a year (which is nothing compared to some families), we are in the top band on the council list for a 3 bed house but 3 bed houses rarely come up in our area and when they do we still don't get one (even though we are top of the list).

Our village is full of old people and the school is struggling to get enough children to keep it going (in september only 3 children are starting), there are no houses for families to move into, all the 3 bed houses (there are only around 10) are lived in by elderly couples, there are only a couple 2 bed houses and the rest are huge houses which are owned by well off elderly people or are holiday homes (which are only lived in for a couple weeks a year). There are no plans to build new houses in our village so we (and others) will be forced to move away.

Scares the life out of me; we're in rented, if we manage to buy somewhere we'll be OK but it's looking more and more likely that I won't get abck to work (DS3's SN getting mroe severe, or at least we are realising it IYSWIM) and it all depends on what we can do with dh's salary I think: we could do a 50/50- 'cept there are none where we are. Or places that would rent to someone with no work at all. So quite where I am going to live when I get old I do not know.

The school here (Comnp) is mpopular and I am already having people ask me if I plan to move away and let a local () have a place (the answer in fact is that ds1 will probably go to SNU but ds2 will go there if we're here) and that emans house prices are something like 30% higher than a few miles away; we're OK atm but live year (house lease) to year: finding a school to accept you isn't as easy when you move mid year and all your school age kids have SN!

It needs addressing but ATM costs too much I guess.

'There are no plans to build new houses in our village so we (and others) will be forced to move away.'

Yes, and yet then these same folks bemoan the lack of carers in their area.

No shit! Your kids moved away because they couldn't afford to live there and you can't get anyone to live there because the pay is too low for them to afford it.

Well, they can't have it both ways.

They didn't want new building or 'those kinds' of people housing in the area, but they want someone to wait on them for £6/hour.

What's it gonna be?

Because I'm off to work in Glasgow for twice the price and half the hassle and then, if I live to where I need a carer, I'm off to Switzerland.

'if I live to where I need a carer, I'm off to Switzerland. me too exp unless dh is still about (yunlikely, older than me)

They bus the carers in here: easier than paying them a living wage after all. COurse you get the quality you pay for- so the carers sit the charges in their wheelchairs in the park for hours whilst they smoke and chat to their mates on their mobiles

Just the life I fancy. Not

In cities, they were all immigrants who did the same thing and then jabbered away in another language.

Our downstairs neighbours were two of them.

They were twin brothers from S. Africa living with their parents - a nurse and a factory worker.

Their interest was in sending money back to their family, particularly their mother's sister's children, as the sister had died of AIDS and left two young children.

Everyone they worked with was an immigrant, too.

But hey, house price values stayed high!

I wonder, sometimes, what good is a house you don't live in and can't sell for the greedy price you want?

But then I think, nevermind. I won't be here to pay for your own self-agrandissement and nor will my children, I'll see to that.

DS3 and ds1 are stuck here, being registered disabled: ds1 will work I think but I don't know

I feel pity for him and what he may face just to have a roof, stuck between ds3's will-be-cared-for-somehow level and true independence

Sometimes people simply don't have a choice whether to sell or not.

Dead people (last time sellers) are one. Families will tend to sell Granny's house for what they can get, rather than waiting around to see if it appreciates. Divorcees are another.

When house rices start to go down, these sorts of sellers will find it in their best interests to sell as fast as possible, putting more downward pressure on prices.

That's what I'm hoping anyway...

We're stony skint and in debt.

We went to the US, my native country, for a visit earlier this month.

My mother wanted us to stay.

We can't afford it.

But there's one thing I can give to them. Being Scottish, real Scottish, is a big advantage in many countries in the diaspora, all of which have a much better standard of living than here if you chose wisely and well.

Other than education, it's about all I can give them. I want to make sure it doesn't go to waste.

But what gets me is why house price rises are a good thing for the country?? The media pedal this line so that people believe it at all costs. Even today, Nationwide reported 10% rise this year - why is this a good thing when it leaves so many young people priced out of the market, renting shit properties for high prices and paying someone elses mortgage.

Do they really think it is not all going to end in tears??!!

I feel forced into buying because the government are determined not to deal with the rental sector. Tenants should have the right to stay in properties as they do on the continent and landlords should be forced into keeping rental property in good order.

National newspapers are written by london-based journos who all earn substantially more than average wage, and probably jumped on the great middle-class buy-to-let bandwagon.

They don't see a problem (mostly because they are the problem), so they don't report a problem.

People overstretched themselves because of the insecurity of tenancy laws here.

People over stretched themselves because "property only goes up, you need to get on the boat or miss out forever"

===================off-topic===================
Expat AIBU to ask where in Scotland you are? I'm Scot in England, intrigued by yr diaspora remarks...

I'm in the Western Highlands.

I would not consider England the diaspora because it is still in the UK.

Again, I am not Scottish. My husband and children are, however.

I don't... diaspora says Canada, NZ & Oz to me.

"Again, I am not Scottish"

I know; picked that up from yr previous postings. I just like hearing non-scots views on scottish issues; call it independent confirmation.

Can see why you're having a crap time with housing if you're up the west coast though...