Council tenants to get £1,000 a year DIY budget

chewmylegoff

PasturesNew wrote: »

Outrageous. Doing some "back of fag packet" sums, if you assume that half the cost of a proper job is the materials and half is the little man, this would mean a simple council road of 40 houses could employ a full-time "little man who does" on £20k/year with £20k of materials.

Is there currently a maintenance person per 40-50 or so houses? No.

whilst i've no doubt that there are extra layers of spending within the councils, if you pay someone a salary of £20kpa the incremental costs of employing them are much higher than that. the "little man" who would still get a pension, despite his diminutive stature, and other benefits, and eer's NI would have to be paid, and there are obviously additional employment costs, such as having an HR function etc.

you would also need to buy him a van and pay for the costs of running it.

also, the average expenditure per property is currently £1,000 - that is not the cost of all of the "odd jobs" maintenance work, but the average cost of all maintenance work, major and minor. for instance, if the council has to replace all of the windows on a large block of flats that is going to cost an effing bomb.

so, in summary, i don't think you would expect to see one maintenance man per 40-50 houses on current expenditure levels. in any case, that would imply that each house needed at least a week a year of minor maintenance work, which seems rather OTT to me.

drc

Nice for some, wish I could get a free kitchen courtesy of the taxpayer :mad:.

chewmylegoff

drc wrote: »

Nice for some, wish I could get a free kitchen courtesy of the taxpayer :mad:.

you wouldn't be able to on this scheme, but you might be able to get your tap fixed.

if you want a new kitchen paid for by the taxpayer, you need to become an MP.

purch

There are those who have tried hard in life and who are not stupid or lazy but also find themselves in social housing on benefits

...and there are also many who have tried hard in life and who are not stupid or lazy but also live in social housing.

purch

ice for some, wish I could get a free kitchen courtesy of the taxpayer

It wouldn't be funded by the Taxpayer.

The misinformed bigotry and hatred shown towards those who choose to live in social housing, by many on this forum is laughable.

SingleSue

And I assume this is only for council tenants? How many are council tenants now, it's only housing associations around here.

Purch - I meant to put that as well but my brain was not quite working properly but the sentiment is the same, just because someone lives in social housing does not mean they are lazy or stupid...as my ex husband used to say "!!!!!! happens"

chewmylegoff

SingleSue wrote: »

And I assume this is only for council tenants? How many are council tenants now, it's only housing associations around here.

Purch - I meant to put that as well but my brain was not quite working properly but the sentiment is the same, just because someone lives in social housing does not mean they are lazy or stupid...as my ex husband used to say "!!!!!! happens"

no, housing associations are included. the scheme is going to be piloted by two housing associations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12993310

SingleSue

Ah thanks for that....teaches me to read the first post with link properly eh?

Not my housing associated involved in the pilot but I doubt they spend a grand a year on repairs on my house...replacing locks is already down to us to pay out of our own pocket as is having a decent kitchen, hence our £50 kitchen we purchased to actually give us some cupboards when we moved in.

chewmylegoff

SingleSue wrote: »

Ah thanks for that....teaches me to read the first post with link properly eh?

Not my housing associated involved in the pilot but I doubt they spend a grand a year on repairs on my house...replacing locks is already down to us to pay out of our own pocket as is having a decent kitchen, hence our £50 kitchen we purchased to actually give us some cupboards when we moved in.

Actually no, because Graham didn't bother to provide a link, or to quote any source, so this information was not within the thread before. I hope Graham is hanging his head in shame.

The_White_Horse

if these scum bags want to redecorate, i suggest they get a job and buy what they need. alternatively, they can save there generous benefits instead of drinking and smoking.

this country makes me want to vomit.

the working people live in tatty dumps as they pay more and more tax to pay for the benefit brigade to live like kings.

they should have the choice of "live where we put you" or "fu*k off". the council should maintain it to the lowest level possible that is fit for human habitation ie no damp or mould etc. but that is it. you want luxury, paint, carpet, PAY FOR IT you money grabbing scum filth.