Panorama; Council Housing.

antrobus

LittleJo wrote: »

Hi,
I wonder what would have happened if we had not sold off all our social housing?
Wonder what appened to all the cash?
Lovely woman Margaret Thatcher.
Jo

The problem isn't so much that we "sold off all our social housing" - for one thing, a council house that is sold doesn't disappear off the face of the planet - the problem is that we haven't been building enough social housing. Or to be exact between the years 1997 and 2010 the Labour government managed to build a grand total of 6,330 council houses in thirteen years, compared to the 392,000 that were build during the ten years that Thatcher was in office.

Had the likes of Blair and Brown built council houses at the same rate as Thatcher managed then we'd have an extra 500,000 houses available to rent and there would be no problem. But, as is so often is the case, Labour prefer to blame Thatcher in preference to actually doing anything.

LisaB1970

pagden2006 wrote: »

Hi LIsaB1970 - what did you do at uni, and what job do you have now? I was thinking of going to college but feel useless and stupid and don't think I would be any good at anything. I didn't do well at school - even though I tried really hard. I have a really bad memory and find it hard to retain information and concentrate! I would love a better job and more money to get me and the boys out of our situation but feel that I'm just useless.

I didnt do too well at school either, but you CAN do anything you want to do if you set yourself goals and keep going!

I'll PM you

michelle1506

I lived in a housing association flat for about 5 years, while I was at uni. After that I got a high paying job which involved shift work so I was able to buy my own place. I gave the flat up and it went back to the housing association for someone else to use. It did help that I was able to buy a keyworker place though :j

LisaB1970 wrote: »

I've just left Social Housing. I'd lived there for over 8 years.
I was a single parent at the time with 3 children goign through a messy divorce. I had a job but it wasn't great and the money was really quite bad.

So....i took myself off to college, to get enough quals to go to university. I spent 4 years at uni and now have a great job.

I also met a lovely man and am now happily married.

My parents have helped us with the deposit to buy a house of our own (despite some folk thinking we shouldnt be buying a house if we don't have the deposit ourselves :undecided) which now frees up another council house for someone in greater need than us.

There is NO excuse to be in any of those situations. Anyone can change their life if they put their mind to it......

iwb100

antrobus wrote: »

The problem isn't so much that we "sold off all our social housing" - for one thing, a council house that is sold doesn't disappear off the face of the planet - the problem is that we haven't been building enough social housing. Or to be exact between the years 1997 and 2010 the Labour government managed to build a grand total of 6,330 council houses in thirteen years, compared to the 392,000 that were build during the ten years that Thatcher was in office.

Had the likes of Blair and Brown built council houses at the same rate as Thatcher managed then we'd have an extra 500,000 houses available to rent and there would be no problem. But, as is so often is the case, Labour prefer to blame Thatcher in preference to actually doing anything.

It was the Tory policy that took hundreds of thousands of houses out of the "social housing scheme" in the first place. It is correct that the Tories and Labour both began to neglect the building of social housing. Your figures are actually incorrect but the general point is true that the trend since 1980 is that social housing building has decreased year on year.

zara*elise

I might watch this.

I fear if I do watch I'll end up throwing my remote at the tv.

BitterAndTwisted

antrobus wrote: »

The problem isn't so much that we "sold off all our social housing" - for one thing, a council house that is sold doesn't disappear off the face of the planet - the problem is that we haven't been building enough social housing. Or to be exact between the years 1997 and 2010 the Labour government managed to build a grand total of 6,330 council houses in thirteen years, compared to the 392,000 that were build during the ten years that Thatcher was in office.

Had the likes of Blair and Brown built council houses at the same rate as Thatcher managed then we'd have an extra 500,000 houses available to rent and there would be no problem. But, as is so often is the case, Labour prefer to blame Thatcher in preference to actually doing anything.

What you have failed to acknowledge is that the Conservative government's legislation at the time precluded Local Authorities using the funds from LA housing sales towards building more properties. It was their intended policy to reduce the amount of housing stock in public ownership and they succeeded, as we can all see.

michelle1506

You've missed it, it was on last night. Personally, the people who were wanting accommodation didn't annoy me so much, it was more the greedy people who were exploiting the shortage for their own greed that angered me!

zara*elise wrote: »

I might watch this.

I fear if I do watch I'll end up throwing my remote at the tv.

zara*elise

michelle1506 wrote: »

You've missed it, it was on last night. Personally, the people who were wanting accommodation didn't annoy me so much, it was more the greedy people who were exploiting the shortage for their own greed that angered me!

Thanks, meant I'd watch it on iPlayer.

I think there are a few things that would annoy me about it all. The flatscreen TVs seem to be a hot topic on this thread!

Ali_UK

Welshwoofs wrote: »

I think we all know those 2 lads weren't working and the fact that the elder one has 'I R Teh Pwnz!.. I r PwN jOo!' under his Employment status in Facebook I think we can take an educated guess....especially as being young, able-bodied, male AND in employment would result in no chance of a council place and the BBC states they've since been offered one.

What on earth does that mean?! I can't understand young people anymore

Those three 'kids' certainly looked old enough to be out working, even if it's only a job at Greggs at least it's not sitting doing sweet FA! I dare say they wouldn't have got out of bed for the kind of wages I earned when I left school but there's no way my parents would have let me skive. If anyone finds the pride that these people don't appear to have can you please post it to Jeremy Kyle so he can dish it out on his show?

I'm lucky enough to be in social housing because of my partner's job we get a really good deal on our little flat, but there are even people in the same circumstances who see fit to rent their places out making 200% profit. I'd love to dob them in but would be afraid they'd find out it was me....

ILW

michelle1506 wrote: »

You've missed it, it was on last night. Personally, the people who were wanting accommodation didn't annoy me so much, it was more the greedy people who were exploiting the shortage for their own greed that angered me!

What annoys me is that the people in control allow it to happen.