Question on Renting in Pension Years

C_Mababejive

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Yes, in some councils anyway.

But the kitchens are mostly cheap and crappy, so need replacing every ten years.

There is possibly a case for buying more expensive, and less often, but as so many tenants trash their homes, (council and private) that may not be wise.

Au contraire...social housing has to meet the Governments Decent homes standard see here...

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/decenthomes/

Although the government are not interested if you are a working individual and all you can afford is some damp and grubby terraced home. You can live like a pig in that if you like and you and your children can suffer from damp etc.

Social housing in Manchester is undergoing major upgrades with good quality kitchens,new bathrooms and the very latest high efficiency heating systems.

If your a dole hopper,you get it all for free.

If you rent social housing but work..well heaven help you becuase the plan is to bring social housing rents broadly into line with "market rates".

ukcarper

CLAPTON wrote: »

if you meet the benfits' criteria, housing benefit is availble in both the private and social housing sector

Isn’t there a limit that you can claim depending on where you are and the size of property

tara747

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

There is possibly a case for buying more expensive, and less often, but as so many tenants trash their homes, (council and private) that may not be wise.

What a terribly poor generalisation.

lostinrates wrote: »

This is probably contraversial in Britain...but...fitted kitchens really are not, IMO, a necessity. I've lived without them. Tables at a good height make worksurfaces, and storage can be dealt with in a plethora of ways other than fitted kitchen.

I agree. And I love those shabby chic kitchens with lots of varying dressers and tables, shelves etc. Much more attractive than a fitted kitchen.

IveSeenTheLight

Blacklight wrote: »

Don't pensioners get some kind of relief from council tax in the same way that those on benefits do?

You would like to think so but it would appear that for occupied property, only students, severly mentally impaired and people under the age of 18 are entitled to exemptions

http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/counciltax/ctx/ctx_exemptions.asp

You may be entitled to exemption if your property is occupied only by:

• students (and any foreign spouse of a student)
• severely mentally impaired people
• people under the age of 18 years.

silvercar

If I was in the private rental sector at the age of 75, I think the idea of having to move home with 2 months notice would frighten me more than having to claim benefit to afford the rent. If you are in private rented and have to claim HB in retirement, then the problems of finding properties that accept HB will seem insurmountable, even renting on a pension letting agencies usually require your income to be 3 times the rent. In your twilight years you may manage well on less, but letting agents may not accept this.

westv

What happens in areas of Europe where there is more emphasise on ranting rather than buying?

C_Mababejive

Maybe the answer...if your a lone pensioner in the UK,is to move to Spain or similar? At least the climate would be better.

ninky_2

out of interest if anyone knows, if you are allocated a large council house or have housing benefit paid for a private rental on the basis of having a large family, what happens when the kids move out? are you made to downsize?

IveSeenTheLight

ninky wrote: »

out of interest if anyone knows, if you are allocated a large council house or have housing benefit paid for a private rental on the basis of having a large family, what happens when the kids move out? are you made to downsize?

I should bloody hope so

silvercar

ninky wrote: »

out of interest if anyone knows, if you are allocated a large council house or have housing benefit paid for a private rental on the basis of having a large family, what happens when the kids move out? are you made to downsize?

your LHA would be reduced when it is reassessed (annually). If the lower LHA doesn't cover your rent you would have to top it up from your earnings or benefits.