Council house debate

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FATBALLZ wrote: »

We've had the same lecture from my partners over-priveliged and financially incompetent parents. They too had a council house which they bought in the 90s for circa £20k. They don't seem to understand that when the going rate for a house is 8 times what they paid that it costs more if you don't already own - my 20% deposit would have bought their house outright with a 5-figure sum to spare.

The problem with that generation is the vast majority are either too mathematically inept, or greedy, to grasp the problems facing non-homeowners.

Ignore them.

Yes I think its a case of some of them thinking,
"Well I did it and I was on a lower wage than you, so you must not be financially savy and are wasting your money on rent and other needless things"
This totally disregards inflation and that the salary for same job that they used to do, even if it pays more now would be nowhere enough to get a mortgage for a smaller property than theirs unless they put a 50% deposit or be prepared to be laughed out the bank.

regprentice

a few random thoughts...

Housing associations have now replaced 'true' council housing as far as i can see. My BIL bought an affordable starter flat in Oxford with 25% assistance funding - the cost £200K. Im a Chartered Accountant and I struggle with the idea of funding a £200K mortgage , how does a scaffolder afford it?.

New council properties were built around the corner from me on the site of some old flats. Downstairs toilets, ramps instead of steps, would have been ideal for disabled/elderly who must be waiting desperately for these types of property. Instead the previous tenants of the flats were given first choice of these properties to remain in their community. All but one of these houses has a newish car (up to 5 yr old) One even had a Porsche Carrerra parked on the drive for more than a year.

As argued above, council properties should be assessed on need and reviewed frequently. In the past I have worked for two different company directors who were particularly well off yet lived in council houses, both had flash cars. One had inherited the property on the passing of his mother, as he had the right to claim the tenancy on her property. He kept getting letters asking him to consider downsizing to another property as he is single and is in a 3 bed prop.

I live in a ex-council house. My wife and I paid £80K 8 years ago for a 3 bed property 15 miles outside Edinburgh and we commute. At the time we earned less than £30K between us and £80K was a stretch. Today the property is worth £120K ish. I can see from the land registry that many of my neighbours have bought their homes for between £14K and £35K during this time.

I work 10-13 hour days in order to feed clothe and house my family. Today i have had to tell my wife that work commitments mean that I wont see my son awake again until Saturday. While I now earn more, my wife's wages will now pretty much just cover our childcare costs when she returns to work (6 month old). I've spent 5 years pursuing my professional qualification on top of having a first class degree. After all this hard work and effort I am truly no better off than someone who has not worked a day in their life and lives a few doors away.

eamon

I've gone many months without responding to this type of thread but I can't resist and there is a protest song on the radio.

Most of the criticism of current social housing tenants is not justified. There isn't sufficient social housing, demand far exceeds supply. For this blame Maggie Thatcher & right to buy. Approx 2 millions homes were removed from the social housing pool and have not been replaced. Many of these were the best houses in the best streets, neighbourhoods etc.

Where would you have social housing tenants living? Why should they have to sacrifice security of tenure? What is market rate rent? Why should the private rental sector get rich on the backs of taxation funded LHA? Indeed why should the private rental sector get rich on the backs of housing people at all? Why should your income level determine that you need to leave social housing?

There are many problems with social housing but its not all the fault of current and past tenants. Blame past and present housing policy and social housing management.

jackieb

Back in the 60's there wasn't the council housing either. My parents lived with my grandparents after they were married. My brother was born 15 months after that, and when he was 5 months old they got a prefab. My aunt and uncle (and I know of others) lived in one room, with a shared bathroom after they were married. Even years ago a council house wasn't guaranteed.

silverchair

I think its getting like that again. I know a few friends who have lived with their parents until early-mid thirties until they had enough of a deposit to buy their own place. If you're renting privately by yourself, it can be extremely expensive/ unaffordable. If moving back home was an option with my OH we would have done it, but space was too tight. We did it for a couple of months (single bedroom) but it just didnt work.

fabbman

jackieb wrote: »

Back in the 60's there wasn't the council housing either. My parents lived with my grandparents after they were married. My brother was born 15 months after that, and when he was 5 months old they got a prefab. My aunt and uncle (and I know of others) lived in one room, with a shared bathroom after they were married. Even years ago a council house wasn't guaranteed.

I don't know where you live but I can assure you every person I know who grew up in the 60s got given a council house when they started their family!

fabbman

How do you even attempt to save for a house deposit when every penny is allocated to just everyday living?

Maybe we could have a rotation system which means after 5 years those from the private sector could live in the homes of current tenants & have 5 years of council renting.

jackieb

fabbman wrote: »

I don't know where you live but I can assure you every person I know who grew up in the 60s got given a council house when they started their family!

Well that wasn't the case here. I live in north-east Scotland. My parents friends rented a one-bedroomed fisherman's cottage - they had 2 children before they got a council house.

Fly_Baby

Matt1977 wrote: »

Alas, I would take issue with this. I thing council housing should be available to all who wish to apply for it. Lifelong tenancies should remain for the best tenants who pay on time.

Or else:

Seeing as private renting market is not designed for life-long tenancy by law and privately owned houses can be lost due to inability to pay for them through job loss etc, then I don't see why having life-long council housing is fair. Benefit claimants are reassessed regularly and the same should apply to the council tenants.

I know of a few examples when familied have combined income of 60K plus and still continue to live for cheap in their (not bad at all) council houses. This is nice to them but it is grossly unfair on all the rest taxpayers.

Yes, it is emotionally hard to have to leave your home and move but when a private tenant is forced to move for whatever reason nobody, and the Council the least, gives a damn about how hard it is on them - even though those tenants would have put more of their earned money into those rent payments.

If council tenants wish to stay in their council properties even if their income makes it affordable for them to rent privately or buy in the open market - they are welcome to stay if they are willing to pay the Council the full market rate. That would generate far more income to the councils than annual council tax increases - and by all means would find favour with people who work hard for a roof over their heads.

mrs-h_3

The problem where i lived in the 90's was it was nearly all the girls i knew from school all got pregnant so they could get a council house and that really did stick in my throat. It was the ONLY reason they had children, yet they all got council houses and probably now have 3-4 kids each i would bet. Its policies like that which cause the stigma, but it was an easy option for these girls and got them a decent house and benefits for nothing, so the vicious circle begins!