Council houses for fixed terms only!

WhiteHorse

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

There is no "automatic right" to an upgrade apart from that available to all within the confines of statutory overcrowding (as defined by section X, 1985 housing act).

Um. Better to take issue with the OP, rather than someone agreeing with them.

patrick0

Miss_Liquorice wrote: »

Speaking as someone who handles out of hours calls for various housing associations, I found that (in my experience) tenants are much more demanding than private tenants. For example, telling someone at 8pm that an engineer will fix their boiler at 10pm gets complaints about how they are paying for a service.

I own a council flat that was bought from a previous leaseholder. I don't know which council you're working for but my council (Lambeth) and their contracted repairs company are awful. They seem to work on an attrition factor - log the call but nothing happens. Complain again - nothing happens. Many do give up if they're repeatedly ignored.

To get anything done you have to be particularly aggressive in pursuing the problem. You get used to ringing repeatedly, complaining to your local councillor and going through the formal complaints process in order to get stuff done. I've had to deal with them to fix things like water leaks from the flat above - took over a month with water coming through and causing considerable damage. There are numerous other similar stories (I'm on the local residents/tenants committee and have heard so many horror stories).

Many of the tenants don't have the stomach for the process so put up with some pretty terrible conditions. Fortunately the Audit Commission recently released a report saying Lambeth's Housing division was one of the worst in the country, so there's pressure on them to improve now - but we haven't seen anything yet.

So I can see why you have to put up with some pretty angry people!

I hope the reforms will be a good thing. There are many people who deserve the flat they have but there are many others who are subletting, working for cash in hand and so on whilst claiming housing benefit and the dole. Empty flats and squatters are rife where I live. If the reforms can help reduce that then they'll be worthwhile.

Wee_Willy_Harris

WhiteHorse wrote: »

I'm sure that I have read that it is so, although I cannot produce the quote. Would you point me at the relevant law?

The 1988 Housing Act.

Wee_Willy_Harris

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Um. Better to take issue with the OP, rather than someone agreeing with them.

Allow me to clarify......

In reply to......

diable wrote: »

There also should be no automatic right to an "upgrade" if you have more children, the same as if you are a homeowner and can't afford to buy something larger.

... You said......

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Agreed. If you can't feed 'em (or house 'em), don't breed 'em.

I was merely pointing out that the right, withdrawal of which you agreed with, doesn't exist. Seems a bit pointless agreeing to do away with something that doesn't exist. But perhaps you know better (i doubt that very much).

Mrs_Optimist

My DH has undertaken work for LA and I can assure you that the stereotypes are in fact reality.

Young girls who confessed their only ambition when they left school was to have a baby and get council accommodation (they succeeded)
Families who could easily afford to rent privately enjoying low council rent whilst having big flash cars in the driveway and Widescreen tv in the lounge
Serial breeders who pop kids out just to up thier income (benefits) and secure larger houses (not as easy these days due to the shortage)
Council tenants who expect brand new kitchens and bathrooms, carpets and decor when they are lucky enough to be given a property to live in
Tenants who call out of hours to complain about burst pipes, leaking baths, blocked drains etc who have made no effort to maintain the rental property at all (I have often said to my husband that they would not be so expectant if they had to pay for these services as those in the private housing sector do, they may think twice before pouring chip fat down the sink or letting their kids run amok in the bath allowing water to flood the floor and cause damage to the ceiling below!)

Incidentally, I am not biased since my parents both live in a council house when their own home was repossessed in the early 90's, but they have always kept the house well matitained and are happy to hand it back when it becomes too big for them (still have a dependant living at home)

WhiteHorse

Mrs_Optimist wrote: »

Young girls who confessed their only ambition when they left school was to have a baby and get council accommodation (they succeeded)

Yes, heard exactly the same myself.

Families who could easily afford to rent privately enjoying low council rent whilst having big flash cars in the driveway and Widescreen tv in the lounge

Always the latest of everything in order to dispose of cash. That way they're 'in poverty'.

I knew one family who had seven cars and vans (the value of which I put at around £100,000), and another that kept horses!

Serial breeders who pop kids out just to up thier income (benefits) and secure larger houses

Yep.

Council tenants who expect brand new kitchens and bathrooms, carpets and decor when they are lucky enough to be given a property to live in

I went to several tenants & residents meetings and they were an eye opener.

The tenants were shouting abuse and demanding brand new bathrooms and kitchens. One said that it was outrageous because he 'hadn't had a new bathroom or kitchen' in 3 years' (easier than cleaning it, eh? Take the Rolls back James, the ashtrays are full). Another wanted every tree in the street cutting down because she didn't like the leaves blowing about (it was a rural area, too). She also wanted all the grass verges removing because her kids (five since you ask), got grass cuttings on their shoes!

Mrs_Optimist

It is enraging isn't it!

I never used to take much notice of the stereotype but the stories my DH came home with made my hair stand on end!

On the other side of the coin, DH said that a lot of the older people who had lived in their homes for years, watched their families grow up and leave home etc did not want to move from 3 bed houses to 1 bed flats because they felt it was their home and they had an entitlement to live there. I can see both sides, but when there are families who are homeless (as my parents were when the house was repo'd when we were young) and desperate for a house to live in, it does seem there is no right or wrong answer.

I do think that if young people see having a baby as a career option and a good way of being able to leave home and secure a house, it is no wonder they don't bother going to School to learn. The two girls my DH were talking to were both best friends and quite open about their plans, which they had succeeded in. They are only just 17 now, its such a shame that they see that as their only option in life. Incidentally both sets of those girls' parents were council tenants. I don't know if there is a link there as it may be cconicidental, but you do have to wonder.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Mrs_Optimist wrote: »

My DH has undertaken work for LA and I can assure you that the stereotypes are in fact reality.

Young girls who confessed their only ambition when they left school was to have a baby and get council accommodation (they succeeded)
Families who could easily afford to rent privately enjoying low council rent whilst having big flash cars in the driveway and Widescreen tv in the lounge
Serial breeders who pop kids out just to up thier income (benefits) and secure larger houses (not as easy these days due to the shortage)
Council tenants who expect brand new kitchens and bathrooms, carpets and decor when they are lucky enough to be given a property to live in
Tenants who call out of hours to complain about burst pipes, leaking baths, blocked drains etc who have made no effort to maintain the rental property at all (I have often said to my husband that they would not be so expectant if they had to pay for these services as those in the private housing sector do, they may think twice before pouring chip fat down the sink or letting their kids run amok in the bath allowing water to flood the floor and cause damage to the ceiling below!)

Incidentally, I am not biased since my parents both live in a council house when their own home was repossessed in the early 90's, but they have always kept the house well matitained and are happy to hand it back when it becomes too big for them (still have a dependant living at home)

Your examples of some tenants AND your parents just shows that there is no typical tenant, in much the same way that ther is no typical owner or typical private tenant.

wherediditallgothen

Mrs_Optimist wrote: »

It is enraging isn't it!

Incidentally both sets of those girls' parents were council tenants. I don't know if there is a link there as it may be cconicidental, but you do have to wonder.

Sounds like where I lived for a while. I think it is probably more than coincidence to be honest, as the apple doesn't always fall too far from the tree. It depends from area to area, as some areas aren't exactly conducive to 'progress', but for someone to suggest that all council tenants are like these examples would be wrong.

ninky_2

Mrs_Optimist wrote: »

On the other side of the coin, DH said that a lot of the older people who had lived in their homes for years, watched their families grow up and leave home etc did not want to move from 3 bed houses to 1 bed flats because they felt it was their home and they had an entitlement to live there. .

i'm afraid this sort of sentiment is just not able to be indulged with the waiting lists as they are. basically they are expecting the next generation to live in overcrowded accommodation so they don't have to adapt. if they get ill they may well have to go into a home. this is the same for owner occupiers (whose equity even has to go towards paying for care).