Panorama; Council Housing.

jackieb

dorset_nurse wrote: »

Jimmy is just pointing out that people that hold onto their houses when their needs change are also contributing to the housing problems.
I believe many people think council housing is a permanent solution instead of trying to help themselves.

I was just pointing out earlier that where is the community spirit to come from if everyone is scared of losing their home? It's not nice to feel that you could be booted out through no fault of your own. Most people would prefer to feel settled where they lived.

Even if people can afford to pay rent, many people just can't afford to pay a mortgage. There are not so many well paid jobs available for this to be possible. You can still work hard and not be able to buy your own place. I lived in council housing and didn't know anyone who didn't work. Now you'll find a lot of their tenants are on benefits and it seems the norm. Children are growing up in this enviroment and see nothing wrong with it. If things go down this road it's no wonder some council estates end up as 'ghettos'.

Jimmy_31

jackieb wrote: »

Well, it it were me, and I was living in a 'ghetto' I would be chomping at the bit to get out of it - I wouldn't care if I had to downsize.

People tend to be in council housing because they can't afford to buy a place of their own. Not wallpapering won't make a difference as to whether they get a mortgage or not.

Private landlords charge far too much rent. They know they can get away this because there is a lack of council housing, and oftentimes the rent will be subsidised by housing benefit anyway.

Well yes i live in a rough area that is surrounded by council estates and i will be moving from here once i see a house with a price tag that is acceptable to me, im able to do this because i have been saving up a house deposit for years.

I know a couple of people who live in private rents and would be over the moon to get a council property with subsidised rent because their deposit would increase at a faster rate, they are managing to save a deposit by only paying for things that are absolutely necessary like food and clothes, they dont have nights out or have any luxuries at all let alone do they start buying wallpaer for a house that is not theirs.

If people in private rents can save up house deposits then i see no reason why somebody in a council property cant do this, just cut back on the decorating and that will speed things up a bit.

I wonder whats going to happen once all the council propertys are taken and the private rents have run out, i probably wont have to wonder for long.

Jimmy_31

jackieb wrote: »

I was just pointing out earlier that where is the community spirit to come from if everyone is scared of losing their home? It's not nice to feel that you could be booted out through no fault of your own. Most people would prefer to feel settled where they lived.

Even if people can afford to pay rent, many people just can't afford to pay a mortgage. There are not so many well paid jobs available for this to be possible. You can still work hard and not be able to buy your own place. I lived in council housing and didn't know anyone who didn't work. Now you'll find a lot of their tenants are on benefits and it seems the norm. Children are growing up in this enviroment and see nothing wrong with it. If things go down this road it's no wonder some council estates end up as 'ghettos'.

I know plenty of people who are worried about losing their homes, i work in the construction industry and there are lots of my workmates finding themselves out of work due to the recession, these people will be booted out of their homes through no fault of their own due to no work being available so they cant pay the mortgage.

Thats a bit more worrying than being downsized from a 3bed council house to a 2bed council house dont you think.

The council estates in my area have been rough for years and years so constantly giving people who dont work or people who are never going to attempt to buy their own home a house isnt really helping my area. what would help would be to give the people who work and want to buy their own homes sometime in the near future priority over the ones who dont work and have never worked or the ones who feel they are entitled to a 3 bed council house with subsidised rent for life. I think my area would improve if all its residents were hard working people who want to own their own homes.

dorset_nurse

jackieb wrote: »

Even if people can afford to pay rent, many people just can't afford to pay a mortgage. There are not so many well paid jobs available for this to be possible...

My mortgage is much cheaper than renting and I'm sure I'm not the only one in that position.

I have to agree that a lot of people are using the system to save them money to spend on other things, when people in similar circumstances are struggling to have spending money after their private rent.

Again- when the councils have run out we will all hear about it. Maybe the NHS will fold at the same time. (Don't get me started!)