Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

Anyone watching how to get a council house on channel 4?

222 replies

cleoteacher · 06/07/2015 21:35

Is this a repeat or another new series ? I remember this sort of programme being on before.

Can't believe Emma. How entitled is she? People are on the streets and she's refusing a flat because it's too high up and not a great place to live. Surely with four kids anything is better than the streets!

She says she wants to get what she deserves. But it's not explained why she's unemployed. Surely you wouldn't risk yourself and four kids on the streets for a dog either.

OP posts:
mollyonthemove · 13/07/2015 21:55

I always wonder about the dogs!!

mollyonthemove · 13/07/2015 21:58

She is really really annoying me now!

wootle · 13/07/2015 21:59

I'm sure she could work. You could also question whether having another baby whilst already in overcrowded accommodation was the wisest decision

What programmes like this highlight is that people want private standard accommodation, for council property money, and with the security of tenure a council home brings. Thing is,as a pp said, council housing was never great. Only exceptionally would you have got any furniture, any white goods, carpets, curtains etc. All things you get in most private rentals and which people expect. And mostly it was 2 or 3 beds. Hence why the people tonight are struggling to find a 4 bed.

That said if they were renting privately they'd probably have a better chance of something suitable. But that would cost more, and involve losing the council tenancy.

candlesandlight · 13/07/2015 22:02

I am confused why did they need 4 beds , surly 3 is enough as kids could share

madasamarchhare · 13/07/2015 22:03

And that's the problem they want it all given to them. How many 4 bed ground floor properties would you realistically expect a council to have. Make responsible decisions instead of expecting everybody else to pick up the pieces. I don't doubt there are some justifiable cases but when both adults don't work, they have more and more children (often v close together) dogs, are smoking it has to be questioned how much help they should be given and why should they expect so much.

gamerchick · 13/07/2015 22:18

And what's next after the council house thing do you think.

Means tested supermarkets? Wink

Original poster
cleoteacher · 13/07/2015 22:18

Umm that couple with the child who had the operation who got their house in the end annoyed me. They said "it's like winning the lottery, this is our forever home" or along those lines. So no ambition whatsoever to earn and get their own place? Surely their daughter will recover enough not to have these high needs after the op?

This annoys me and must be the reason there is such a shortage of places? They should have it as a temporary measure until they save and earn enough to get their own place. It shouldn't be for life.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 13/07/2015 22:21

Rests in pieces Grin

wootle · 13/07/2015 22:26

It was very sad the old man died whilst having to sleep on the sofa BUT why a 4 bed flat? Surely a 3 bed (or even a 2 bed house) with a separate downstairs room that he could use as a bedroom, and a ground floor bathroom would've been fine? And I'd have thought they would have found one of those properties within a year on the council list (and in about 5 mins if privately renting).

Edenviolet · 13/07/2015 22:29

It is rare for a council house to be in good condition for new tenants.

We got our house in January 2009 and it is now all decorated after all that time. When we viewed it it was disgusting. Filthy dirty, a garden full of glass and dog poo. Walls painted dark orange or black and all peeling, ceilings smoke stained and the third bedroom had been spray painted and chunks pulled out of the walls.
No window ledges or door frames they had been smashed out. The kitchen had a sink held up by a flimsy bit of board and a pole. One cupboard as rest had all fallen down. The back door was an interior door that wouldn't lock properly and was rotting.

The whole place stank and was just absolutely disgusting. We were lucky that the council put in smoke alarms and a new boiler and we had to scrub the whole place and make do and do one room at a time. I don't think people appreciate how poor the quality of social housing can be. I've had many friends move in to similar properties and it is soul destroying but you have to just accept what you are offered as there is such a shortage of council houses

Polarmouse · 14/07/2015 06:50

I live in a council house and my situation was different from the people on this program and I also agree many of them are not helping themselves. But it is not right to say social housing should just be for short term and then you move out once your on your feet. It costs a fortune to make a council house liveable in!

It is not like most private rentals where the property is decorated to a liveable standard. When I moved in my to my council property there were no carpets, I had to redecorate throughout and I moved in with nothing. No beds, white goods etc. Many start in that situation and you have to invest money in your home from the start.

Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 09:48

Polar mouse- if that's the case , the council should do them up cheaply or contribute some with the re bag and then do regular checks to ensure they are being kept to a liveable standard. If not that person looses their house or has to pay. Then when that person is on their feet they should move out to privately rent or buy and free up the house for someone else. It should not be a house for life for anyone. It gives no incentive to work if you can if you have a free house for life. This should then ease the problem of shortage of council houses too.

We would all like a free house and of course would keep it and not work if we were given the opportunity.

Obvisously, this wouldn't apply to genuine people who simply cannot work for the long run.

OP posts:
KatharineClifton · 14/07/2015 09:52

'We would all like a free house and of course would keep it and not work if we were given the opportunity.'

Would we? I love having a job and very much enjoy it. My life would feel so much emptier without my work. Please don't speak for everyone as we aren't all the same. Saying that, I would love a council house - never going to happen with the waiting lists!

Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 09:53

Just like it is for people who are privately renting really. That way the house should not get destroyed after each tenant leaves and need £000s spent on it every time.

Surely employing people do this would be much cheaper in the long run than the money it takes to constantly do it up.

OP posts:
Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 10:20

Ok, will rephrase we would all like a free house with no mortgage or rent to pay.

OP posts:
AoifeBell · 14/07/2015 10:22

Cleo. I was working when I got my council house (which was an absolute shit hole. Crack den. Shit on the walls, ceiling etc) and I continued to work up until 2 weeks before my baby was born. I went back to work when she was 8 months old.

Having a council doesn't mean I don't have to work, bills still need paying. for me it's an incentive to work and make money as my rent it a quarter if what it would be if was renting privately which means I can save to buy one day.

The family with the old man pissed me off. They were clearly using the that poor old guy to get a bigger house. 4 bed so all tiger kids could have a room when he passed. She could work I totally agree.

I don't understand why the family with the girl who had an op got a house? Surly she could of slept on the bottom bunk?

KatharineClifton · 14/07/2015 10:22

Aye, well we can't all be David Cameron can we?

AoifeBell · 14/07/2015 10:22

But some people privately renting don't have to pay rent either.

KatharineClifton · 14/07/2015 10:40

Housing Benefit rarely covers all the rent.

It is an inherently unfair system we have now, with people on low wages unable to access the far cheaper rent social housing living living next door to somebody paying a quarter of the rent that they are.

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 12:12

Where are all these free houses I keep hearing about? I pay nearly 500 quid a month for my council house in rent alone. Hmm

Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 12:24

I understand some people have a council house and pay a lower amount of rent and bills. No problem with that if those people are working and/ or like bell are trying to save to buy their own house. Exactly what I see council houses for.

I was talking about the couple on the show who described it as winning the lottery and being their forever home. It came across like they didn't work and had no intention of working now they had their house. I disagree that people should have a house for ever with no intention or ambition to get themselves out if their situation and buy their own home, and so freeing it up for the next person in need.

It should be a temporary help not a life long help.

OP posts:
Ilovecrapcrafts · 14/07/2015 12:37

Generally council houses are vacated due to eviction, it's not often someone moves out voluntarily. So overall, vacant properties will be in a worse state than you'd expect the average council property to be. Mrs smith at no 6 isn't living in dog shit.

The parameters which cover the state of a council house when handed over to a new tenant are housing law. Councils don't choose to not do them up.

mollyonthemove · 14/07/2015 12:38

Actually the husband of that couple did work, I believe he ran his own business?

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 12:43

What do you mean by cheaper rent and bills? What bills are cheaper?

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 12:46

And no that isn't what council housing is for ... Council housing was affordable housing for all.

This program is designed the same way as benefits Britain, It bends the head.. Why are you falling for it?