Anyone watching the Council House Scam show on BBC1?

[expatinscotland]

I was apoplectic at that damp, cold, wet shithole.

The young couple only took it cos the landlodd would let them have it without a deposit.

Now if councils lodged a deposit with the landlord then it would open up the Market more. It's not realistic to expect people with low paying jobs to save a couple of grand as deposit.

What we need is a massive social housing building programme.

But if we did it as a country we'd fuck all the rich Tory land owning bastards as it would reduce the incomes possible for buy to let and it would gradually return the price of properties to realistic prices.

That's why they will never do it and is why the rich in power deliberately increase the gap between rich and poor.

And that gap has Never been greater than now.

Lambeth used to have a well publicised scheme to encourage private landlords to rent to HB tenants - I think they provided rent guarantees etc. I don't know whether it took off or whether it's still going but it struck me as a bloody good idea.

My old boss's landlord refused to replace the boiler when it broke. She went 2 months with no heating and hot water and had to sue him, whereupon he served her notice.

Some councils do have a bond scheme Laurie, it doesn't stop private landlords taking advantage of the fact that many landlords or letting agents won't rent to people claiming HB.

HB tennents often have the choice between a really shitty property or one that's just a little bit shitty.

After World War II the UK got a load of Marshall Plan dosh to sort the country out. The then government chose to build social housing with the cash, rather than reinvigorating the country's infrastructure and industries.

It was a noble aim; building houses 'fit for heroes to live in'. But as a result British heavy industry struggled, wobbled, and is now all but dead, and we now have loads of people who expect social housing and can't get jobs (no industry, see) so as to be able to afford to pay for their accommodation. And all the social housing got sold off in the end anyway. Compare that to Germany, where the Marshall Plan money got invested in rebuilding industry and infrastructure - it's a very different picture.

Even if the government did have the billions it would need to invest in new social housing I'm not convinced that'd be the best way to spend it.

A very interesting and salient viewpoint, OHuge.

I watched it...as for the 9 people in one house, some of the adults need to move out and get a privately rented place - it's not rocket science and I have no idea why they think they are entitled to a council place.

As for the unemployed couple who have a baby on the way and can't afford there private rented place - don't be irresponsible and get pregnant with no means of support, it gets on my fucking nerves that they both sit on there arses and want the rest of us to sort out a house and money for them.

I'm in privately rented and during the winter we went for 13 weeks with no heating and hot water.

DD (4yo) was hospitalised with flu and even though we had let the letting agent know she was being discharged we had to bring her home to a freezing cold house.

Boiler broke again 5 weeks ago - was only fixed yesterday.

I have bedrooms that you cant close the doors on because they wont open, a shower that doesnt work, no working lights in the dining room and bare wires hanging from spotlights in the bathroom.

We were promised it would all be fixed for us moving in but it never happened - we pay over £1000 pcm for the privelidge of living here.

We have now reported the LL to the council (he has also let himself into the house and verbally abused me) and have been told our contract will not be renewed.

Is it any wonder folk are desperate for council houses when nobody seems to be able to do anythin about ensuring LL's abide by the law.

SoftKittyWarmKitty If you block was knocked down and you had a council tenancy surely you would have been rehoused under a decant scheme?

What happened ?

The whole culture in this country is that of people being " owed" something.

The fact that the Govt. website on benefits is called, "Entiltledto" speaks volumes. It's not an entitlement, it exist because the vast majority of people in this country work bloody hard to pay taxes for the rest of them to live off.

Well that website is to advise people what they are legally entitled to so you can see why its called that. benefits are for some a legal entitlement whether you agree with it on a moral standpoint or not.

Very interesting Whaddayouknow. We definitely seem to be heading towards a something for nothing culture and people's rights not their responsibilities.

quite depressing

Amberleaf, even under the human rights act no one is " entitled" to money to live on from other people . It is a condition of our society that it happens, not a right or an entitlement.

Alemci, I agree. Not once last night did any of those whingers people talk about what they gave back to society or what they could do to improve their own lot in life. No, far easier to bleat about what bastards the Govt/taxpayer/landlord/social services are.
And yes, if you want a decent life 1) Get a job, 2) don't get up the duff whilst you don't have a job. Not rocket science.

Has expatinscotland got a crystal ball? I note her comments about PC Stephen Holt and his properties. Through mutual friends I have known this man for years and yes he has many properties not just the 4 mentioned on Panorama. As for expatinscotlands remark about other unlawfull activity by Holt , well I couldn't possibly comment ;) I hope the Police are shamed into investigating him and any fraudulent/unlawful activities he perpertrates.
Hopefully the Panorama programme cements the fact Holt is not fit to serve as an Police officer/public servant.

Whddayouknow - does that mean because we work we are entitled to complain about the lack of regulation surrounding private lets and our shoddy LL whilst others who are claiming benefits should just put up with it.

Some of the private lets I have viewed are horrendous - I wouldnt let my dog live in them.

I dont think benefits are an entitlement but we are lucky that we live in a society where people who cannot support themselves for whatever reason are provided for. Those people should be allowed a voice too.

It's a hunch, crispin, based on the premise that, even if you rented out a flat as a holiday let for £450/week (wouldn't you have to pay taxes on that, too) and another for just straight rental (the bought one across from the holiday let one), it still wouldn't add up to enough to also buy what looked like a rather large property in Kent and the rather large property in France, plus maintain and service them, when your other work is part-time and freelance.

Unless of course, I might be wrong and he is independently wealthy by marriage, inheritance, etc.

But, as what he was doing was indeed criminal, it would appear he hasn't much of an issue with white-collar crime such as housing fraud.

Ah, a Platoist. Like it.

Just watching this. Am not surprised - though am a little disappointed by the amount of stereotypes trotted out by people.

I got my council house whilst married and working with 2 children. I was given notice to quit by my landlord.

But my landlord was interviewed by the council on the phone, and by email. He had to prove why he didnt want us there anymore, and that we had no rent arrears etc.

When my friend's dad told her to leave because she was pregnant the council interviewed both him and her to see if it were true.

We also had to prove all our incomings and outgoings. it was by no means easy to even get on the housing list.

Sadly those normal cases dont get shown on the televison.

Anyone catch 'The Great Estate' on BBC tonight? Interesting programme about the history of estates, and how, at first, had a vetting process for new tenants. And they had to be at least one working. Then, things changed.

But didn't all those 'in need' manage to get council housing in the end-including the two lads. Oh to be on TV......

expat I missed the Estate programme...did it mention the famous Park Hill in Sheffield?

My old stomping ground,that was!

YES, crazy! That's where it stared. They interviewed first-time tenants, a couple of them and they talked about when they first moved there.

My first experience with a British man was a man, now a famous climber, from there. Oh, his 'o's and 'u's are to die for. He has a gorgeous, Northern voice (but, well, I'm partial to Northern and Scottish voices, I love them, I do!).

I have a good friend, an academic, from Sheffield, though her mother is Candian. And first she worked in Harvard. But then I said, 'Oh, why don't you work farther South, probably more money,' as we were in Scotland. She said, 'Oh, no, they don't like how I say 'o' and 'u' and no one cares here.'