What is a Housing Association?

evilmonkeychops

Jowo wrote: »

When I grew up in council housing as a child, it was mainly composed of working families headed by 2 parents though perhaps I'm being a bit rose tinted about it, perhaps as a kid the worst of the social problems were hidden from me.

Such is the change in society to family structure, the economy and lack of jobs for the unskilled working class because manufacturing has been decimated, the supply of social housing decimated by right to buy and so on that in some areas its virtually only available on an 'emergency' basis for the needy which will include newly released prisoners, addicts, vulnerable teenagers leaving care and so forth.

As an adult, my last social housing tenancy (was council housing, now is a HA), my immediate neighbours were composed of an alcoholic ex-prostitute, a mentally ill woman, a partially blind alcoholic and a drug user, none of whom worked. The mentally ill woman ruined my peace by smashing up her flat with a broom, the ex prostitute was lonely and sought me out for company, the alcoholic regaled me with sob stories and even feigned the DTs to make me call an ambulance for him, the drug user blasted his stereo out and was abusive to me.

I couldnt have put it better myself. I too was brought up in council housing and had a similar experience. In the last five years i have lived in HA properties in two different parts of the country. Both areas had private and social housing-and i have to say that the HA tenants spoiled the area.
If i were you, i would think very carefully-but good luck with whatever you decide.

Mankysteve

bouche wrote: »

They ARE ALL SKINT -It's not the same

Not Riverside that my mum works for they made a huge profit last financial year and got there wrist lapsed for all of suddenly there now money to re-roof some of the flats.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Mankysteve wrote: »

Not Riverside that my mum works for they made a huge profit last financial year and got there wrist lapsed for all of suddenly there now money to re-roof some of the flats.

Most, if not all, HA's are run on a non-profit basis. I think the other poster is confusing that with her definition of skint.

Wee_Willy_Harris

bouche wrote: »

Says something too though about socially housed tennants and that they are more likely not to care about their properties, gardens, neighbours nor the environment. So I can, in a way understand the lenders criteria on this one.

Of course, it may also just be a reflection of the prejudices demonstrated in this thread. Banks and BS just deal in numbers.

BitterAndTwisted

Exercising the Right To Buy these days garners a maximum discount of about £40k so not a huge amount when you are taking on repairing and maintenance responsibilities etcetera. I suppose once the LA/HA tenants are in possession of the property they can do what they like with it within reason, just like any other owner/occupier although I suspect that buying an ex-LA property and then becoming landlords almost immediately suggests that the flat wasn't their only and/or main residence in the first place which I believe is a condition of exercising the RTB. One could guess that the Tories didn't bring in the RTB legislation in order to enable ordinary, working folk to acquire residential property portfolios but who knows?

robin_banks

Mankysteve wrote: »

Not Riverside that my mum works for they made a huge profit last financial year and got there wrist lapsed for all of suddenly there now money to re-roof some of the flats.

Yuo mean they had a surplus. Not being pedantic, they are very different things.

Wee_Willy_Harris

bouche wrote: »

Just another interesting point - they excersised their right to buy,, I assume getting a discount (certainly shows on the Land Reg as Cheap) - and imnediately proceeded to rent it out. What do think about that (seperate issue i know, but...)

On a moral basis, clearly this is not the intended outcome for social housing. On a legal basis, if the conditions of sale allow, then why not? I will say, quite openly, that I don't agree with it. I also think they would have struggled to get a mortgage which would support their intended actions.

It's worth noting as well that the large discounts of old have gone. The discounts available now to LA/HA tenants who excersise their right to buy are very modest in comparison.

Wee_Willy_Harris

bouche wrote: »

Some have had very good experiences of living in social housing blocks. My family lived here since 76 and Mum bought in 88 (right to buy). Mostly it's been great but it just takes one ferril family to move in and lower the tone of the whole place.

I't more or less resolved now with the help of police and the HA, ie thier landlords but it's taken best part of 3 years and a lot of time, resources and, I guess, money.

Well, that's the downside of secure tenancies, the difficulty of eviction when things go wrong. But your mum clearly benefit from the advantages also.

Of course, the advantage with large LLs such as HA's and local authorities is that they DO have proceedures and resources to deal with these issues, if supported by the community. Trust me, it's far more difficult to shift an errant owner occ, or even a private tenant with an absent LL who doesn't care.

robin_banks

Mankysteve wrote: »

Not Riverside that my mum works for they made a huge profit last financial year and got there wrist lapsed for all of suddenly there now money to re-roof some of the flats.

I've just read their 2009 Annual report, £10 million surplus


Why would they get thier wrists slapped ?.

Wee_Willy_Harris

bouche wrote: »

Well, the HA were certainly very surprised they'd rented it out as it was still in their name. I don't suppose they're too fussed however I do wonder if they actually got a buy to let mortgage or permission from the mortgage lender to let it out. They certainly didn't get permission from the HA / Freeholder as they clearly, as mentioned, didn't know!

I hope I haven't put their foot in it:eek:

There may well be a restriction in the conditions of sale which forbid renting. Maybe we just haven't seen the full outcome yet!