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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:
Edenviolet · 14/07/2015 12:56

I can sort of understand why they saw having a forever homes as like winning the lottery. I am very grateful that we have a secure lifetime tenancy it is a big deal to me and means we have the security we need.

Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 15:22

So if his business was to become successful and he was earning decent money, what would happen ? Would he keep the house?

I get that it's good to have the security of a house but what about people who don't have a council house and don't have long term security? What about people who are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage and might loose their home? Why is ok for these people to have no security?

I still think it's not for the state to provide long term security for these people. It should be a shorter term option until people get on their feet.

OP posts:
AoifeBell · 14/07/2015 16:02

I agree we have to remember that the point of these program's are to get us worked up from one side or the other. They are heavily edited too.

I also agree to a degree that it isn't fair. I have another thread about someone who is sub letting their council house. It's infuriating. It's those people taking the piss that should be giving up their houses so that others can benefit from it

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 16:07

How is the state providing council houses?

So in other words misery loves company? Everybody must suffer all together to make it 'fair'?

I'm still wondering how bills in a council house are cheaper as well?

It's scary how much all the crap in the media has had the desired effect.

Edenviolet · 14/07/2015 16:14

I don't think secure tenancies are offered anymore where we are it was changed that new tenants have five year tenancies

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 16:20

I think they still do them up here but there isn't the horrendous shortage as there is down south. At least the pals who got one a couple of years ago didn't. A working family no less Shock

It looks like something to be envied these days. Something's gone wrong in this country if we've got to tenancy envy.

Edenviolet · 14/07/2015 16:23

I agree and the hatred and jealousy is directed at social housing tenants when really we should be directing it at landlords charging extortionate rent in some areas and lack of new social housing.

Blondeshavemorefun · 14/07/2015 17:10

I agree shouldn't be life tenancy. Situations should be judged each year or else how do the houses ever get freed up for new needing people

And why have 3 young children if you live in a 2 bed flat. As in why have a 3rd? Sad the old man died but agree smoking didn't help and yes they could of had a 3 bed house and put all kids in same room As one day the grandad would have died (and did) :( so that freed up a room

If they had found a 4 bed place would they have kept it once he had died

She want to be a sahm but if dad didn't /couldn't work then she needs to go and get a job

Dad of two boys was trying his best

The girl who was ill and needed an op. Why did they move into mum Place and then fell pregnant possibly moving in shag Wink and then mum chucks them out a month before baby is due - so that they get a house

I know she lost her job and fell behind on rent - but why then have another baby

Original poster
cleoteacher · 14/07/2015 18:18

My post was worded wrongly. Sorry. Should have said cheaper rent but still have bills to pay. Council tax is reduced or paid by the council too though isn't it? After mortgage that's our biggest bill.
I appreciate it's heavily edited and I haven't fallen for the media hype about people in social housing or on benefits. It just annoyed me when that couple said they have house for life now. IMO it shouldn't be that way. I hope all councils turn it into 5 year contracts and review annually.

OP posts:
DownstairsMixUp · 14/07/2015 18:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 14/07/2015 18:36

Lots of people have all their rent covered by HB. I would say it's more common than not although there are some non rent items HB doesn't cover which the landlord might charge (ie water or electricity)

gamerchick · 14/07/2015 18:55

I pay full council tax OP and am in the same band as the private houses in the street. I rent my home from the council just like you rent from any landlord except I have a secure tenancy, my home was a flea infested shell when I moved in and I've spent thousands on maintaining over the years. I spend nearly 500 quid a month renting it.

Council houses are not linked to welfare, no matter how many people wish it.

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 14/07/2015 19:28

I work full time and I live in a housing association home.
To get my home I had to be working full time, I also had a credit check done.

I pay £400 per month rent in a lovely village in cheshire. I have a tenancy for life and the chance to buy. My housing officer actually brought the subject up about a few of us in my street buying our homes. A few have taken up the offer.

Every person in my street works apart from the ones who are retired. To say we get a free house is really insulting. We don't take anything from the state.

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 14/07/2015 19:29

I pay full council tax too. I get no help.

hedgehogsdontbite · 14/07/2015 19:35

I just watched this on catch up. It's really upset me. I think it's shameful that in one of the richest countries in the world people have no choice but to sleep on the floor of the public toilets. That someone who approaches the authorities in desperate need of somewhere safe to sleep is sent packing with nothing but a list of most likely useless phone numbers. Is this really the best that Britain can do?

Sad
WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 15/07/2015 23:52

Four hundred a month with a lifetime tenancy and the option to buy (at well below market value?) ....how can you say you take nothing from the state? Its not a free house, but its a heavily reduced house with incredible advantages that the majority of people don't enjoy.

Watching the second ep of this now. The racist woman complaining about overcrowding in her two bed flat....you've got three nonworking adults and have chosen to have three children in quick succession, yet its everyone else's fault you're overcrowded? not to mention hogging the tenancy on another empty council flat that someone else desperately needs......

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 16/07/2015 08:35

The houses in my street were donated to my housing association by a local large firm.

They didn't buy them and they certainly have nothing to do with the state.

merseyparadise · 16/07/2015 08:40

propaganda propaganda propaganda!!!

Original poster
cleoteacher · 16/07/2015 14:02

Ok not a free house and rent and council tax is paid often but at a much lower rate than it would be of it was a private rental or if it was a mortgage. So yes, you are taking from the welfare budget. Although, I agree with previous posters lots of people don't even pay that.

As I ve said I have nothing against people getting a council house/flat when they need it. I certainly wouldn't want them to be homeless. I really felt for the older man who was sleeping on the street in last weeks episode. But they should not be forever, it should be until people get back on their feet. This would then go a long way to solving the problem of such shortages of council houses.

As I said before, what happens when people who work do get a promotion or their own business starts doing well? If they are then in a position to pay rent at the market value or like a previous poster said, buy their own house, they should move out.

I thought like the whole welfare system, it is designed for the short term in need not the long term.

OP posts:
Original poster
cleoteacher · 16/07/2015 14:09

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter- but surely you have taken from the housing association, which is taking from the state? Or is this wrong? I thought the HA was another branch of the welfare system, is this incorrect? Happy to be nicely corrected on this.

You have taken a house from the HA whichever way you look at it. It's not your house and it's not a private landlords house, so you have taken it. Ok, it's not completely free but as a previous poster said your rent sounds like it's significantly less than if you were privately renting or were paying a mortgage on it. So you have a house where you are paying less rent than the market value.

OP posts:
Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 16/07/2015 15:01

My housing association is a charity.
The houses they have we're gifted to them by factories in my area. The clauses were that they were only to go to people from my village.

They were to house the workers from the factory's. They never paid a penny for the houses.

I don't know how it works for other HAs.

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 16/07/2015 15:03

I haven't taken anything.
I applied for the house and they offered it to me. I didn't snatch it Grin

I had to be working and they did a credit check on me.

Icantbelieveitsnotbutter · 16/07/2015 15:15

I pay the same council tax as any other house like mine. I pay £125 which is the same as an owned house.

Council tenants do not get cheaper bills or council tax.

SparkleyDragon · 16/07/2015 19:39

I think EVERYONE knows that it's the rent thats a lot cheaper, after watching the 2nd episode, it made it look like about half the private market rate?

Yes your other bills need paying, but if you're saving 400 to 500 a month on rent that's got to help

So did the (racist) woman get her house? I felt it said a lot that they seemed worried they wouldn't get moved before the dad (sadly) died

gamerchick · 16/07/2015 19:58

OP are you struggling to understand or has the propaganda done a right number on you?

Council houses are not connected to benefits.

I didn't take mine either... It was like yanno offered to me Hmm I pay rent to my landlord like any other tenant and pay my bills with no discounts like worthy people with mortgages and private rents.