New House Misery

pulliptears

ILW wrote: »

I believe that a large part of the problem is that now you generally have to have "issues" to be offered social housing. You do actually get moved up the list if you have a drink or drug problem. Whereas if you are working you go down the list. This has tended to mean that the problem families are the only ones that now get the HA places and the estates just slowly turn into ghettos.

Completely untrue. While this may have been the case years ago, it certainly isn't now and posts like this perpetuate the myth.

Housing "lists" have been defunct for some time, its now called "Choice Based Letting". A property becomes available and people apply for it. The criteria for the winning applicant is no more than whoever applies first. No priority for drug users, no priority for alcoholics, no priority for anyone at all.

First come, first served.

The property is just as likely to go to a hard working couple as it is to the drug users. But of course, people don't research this, they just assume what they read in the papers is true.

MrsE wrote: »

There is no question of them being eligible for a council home so they have had to rush forward their plans & buy sooner with less of a deposit than they planned.

Yes, there is. Again, Choice Based Letting means if your Daughter were to actually make some enquiries she could apply for a property as easily as the next person. However, I would ask if she has enough money to buy privately why she considers taking up valuable social housing anyway?

amcluesent

>First come, first served.<

Rubbish. Otherwise a lorra, lorra 15/16yo girls are getting themselves preggers for nothing! They know that one in the oven = council house and the CB = their 1st Sky package.

pulliptears

amcluesent wrote: »

>First come, first served.<

Rubbish. Otherwise a lorra, lorra 15/16yo girls are getting themselves preggers for nothing! They know that one in the oven = council house.

Rubbish.

The system changed in March of last year. All local authorities and social landlords have to use this system.

Perhaps you should google before you jump to conclusions.

SingleSue

Not down here.....

Being pregnant and single gives no more points than being a married family who are homeless due to a landlord (for example), not paying his mortgage...in fact, the married family would have more urgency and be in a higher band.

pulliptears

SingleSue wrote: »

Not down here.....

Being pregnant and single gives no more points than being a married family who are homeless due to a landlord (for example), not paying his mortgage...in fact, the married family would have more urgency and be in a higher band.

Not anywhere Sue. Some people like to perpetuate the myth as I said because it is so much juicier than the truth. Welcome to The Daily Mail generation, half truths and whispers.

amcluesent

Hmm, reckon I'll add myself to the list then! Maybe get placed near the OP. My sound-system goes up to 11!

Incyder

Well it isnt true in my area. The local housing assc is www.westlea.co.uk
They asses the needs of applicants for housing and then award you a status depending on how desparate they consider you to be. You are then given a status. When houses come up you can bid to get it, the platinum banders will be given priority.

heres a bit from the site

What happens when I send in my application form?
Your application will be assessed on your current circumstances and placed in a band. The bands are: Platinum, Gold Plus, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
You will receive a letter confirming your band and giving you a reference number. When you receive this you will be able to bid for homes.

MrsE_2

pulliptears wrote: »

Yes, there is. Again, Choice Based Letting means if your Daughter were to actually make some enquiries she could apply for a property as easily as the next person. However, I would ask if she has enough money to buy privately why she considers taking up valuable social housing anyway?

She can only do it by getting in a special first time buyer scheme, where you pay OTT for an executive (small) flat, stretching themselves to the max, taking the minimum maternity period (can't afford the extended half pay) & hoping she & I can avail of flexible working to help minimise high nursery costs.

Friends of hers in similar situations have had to move into hostels & wait a year after their baby is born for council housing.

darkpool

I agree with the OP, I wouldn't want to buy a house and stay next to scummy council house people. We have a holiday house and the neighbour let their house to DSS people. They were just animals.

Before all you bleeding heart liberals get offended I know there are decent people in council houses, however the fact remains that whenever I watch a real life police TV show its mostly council estates where all the trouble is. To say otherwise just shows your grasp of reality is poor.

In all honesty the ancient Romans had the right idea. Just build a giant amphitheatre and watch the criminals fight each other to death. In all honesty how good would it be watching a group of burglars fighting a group of !!!!!philes? One word for it - Awesome.

SuzieSue

Really, there is no point trying to fight over which are worse - HA or owner occupiers - obviously, there are bad neighbours in both camps.

What needs to happen is that anti-social neighbours are dealt with by the authorities, but that just doesn't happen.

This problem is blighting so many people's lives now that something really needs to be done about it.

I'm really lucky that I haven't had any problems with my neighbours, but I am worried each time a house goes up for sale near me.