Debate House Prices


In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non MoneySaving matters are no longer permitted. This includes wider debates about general house prices, the economy and politics. As a result, we have taken the decision to keep this board permanently closed, but it remains viewable for users who may find some useful information in it. Thank you for your understanding.
We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Should there be a "moral" element the the allocation of social housing?

2456789

Comments

  • lemonjelly
    lemonjelly Posts: 8,014 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    ILW wrote: »
    I what way, if allocation is based purely on "need"?

    The applicant has to show that they would face considerable difficulty in accessing alternative housing, and/or that their current housing situation is not viable in the long term.

    However those criteria will to a great extent be dependent of local issues, such as local need, populace, available stock etc.
    It's getting harder & harder to keep the government in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    What if all properties were to carry a desireability index, based on condition, size of rooms, crime rate etc and by demonstrating social responsibility, one could be allocated or allowed to move to better properties. eg parents who have kids with ASBOs would be moved out of decent estates.

    It could solve a lot of problems if a "reward" system was in operation.
  • Graham_Devon
    Graham_Devon Posts: 58,560 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Personally, I feel whatever plans were implemented, there would be an absolute wrath of problems associated to it.

    I personally feel the fairest way is ongoing (yearly, or something similar) income checks, to make sure people are still "entitled" to the home. If they can afford either private rent, or to buy their own place, indeed, have already bought second properties, they should be given 6 months to vacate.
  • chewmylegoff
    chewmylegoff Posts: 11,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 16 May 2011 am31 10:39AM
    Personally, I feel whatever plans were implemented, there would be an absolute wrath of problems associated to it.

    I personally feel the fairest way is ongoing (yearly, or something similar) income checks, to make sure people are still "entitled" to the home. If they can afford either private rent, or to buy their own place, indeed, have already bought second properties, they should be given 6 months to vacate.

    i actually quite like the thing that westminster council are pushing for, where you pay a set percentage of your take home salary. it would provide an incentive for people whose salaries increase to move on. for salaried employees it could just be done through tax code / PAYE system. you don't lose your security of tenure - but you have to pay for it.

    it would be more difficult for the self employed as the same system would just incentivise them to conceal income, so some more thought required there.

    it would get bob crow out though, which should cheer you up.
  • Kennyboy66
    Kennyboy66 Posts: 939 Forumite
    Personally, I feel whatever plans were implemented, there would be an absolute wrath of problems associated to it.

    I personally feel the fairest way is ongoing (yearly, or something similar) income checks, to make sure people are still "entitled" to the home. If they can afford either private rent, or to buy their own place, indeed, have already bought second properties, they should be given 6 months to vacate.

    One (amongst many) of the features of problem estates is that they have a more transient population.

    Why would we want to make decent estates more transient ?

    I really doubt there are many tenants with a second property that they own - it sounds like pure fiction.

    If they have enough to buy, why wouldn't they take advantage of the existing right to buy legislation ?

    The only thing that would make sense would make council rents more closely aligned with market rents, as ii should make the market more efficient - and this has been what has happening for 30 years, although I accept in certain areas there is a difference (mainly London).

    The most attractive thing about social housing is security of tenure. You know you won't be thrown out at a couple of months notice with all the problems that entails.
    US housing: it's not a bubble - Moneyweek Dec 12, 2005
  • chewmylegoff
    chewmylegoff Posts: 11,466 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    ILW wrote: »
    What if all properties were to carry a desireability index, based on condition, size of rooms, crime rate etc and by demonstrating social responsibility, one could be allocated or allowed to move to better properties. eg parents who have kids with ASBOs would be moved out of decent estates.

    It could solve a lot of problems if a "reward" system was in operation.

    good job creation opportunity as well; how many desirability index assessment officers on £40k would this require to administer?
  • Graham_Devon
    Graham_Devon Posts: 58,560 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Kennyboy66 wrote: »
    One (amongst many) of the features of problem estates is that they have a more transient population.

    Why would we want to make decent estates more transient ?

    I really doubt there are many tenants with a second property that they own - it sounds like pure fiction.

    If they have enough to buy, why wouldn't they take advantage of the existing right to buy legislation ?

    The only thing that would make sense would make council rents more closely aligned with market rents, as ii should make the market more efficient - and this has been what has happening for 30 years, although I accept in certain areas there is a difference (mainly London).

    As I said, a wrath of problems associated to any idea.

    I didn't even think of the social impact of the situtation, but I guess it would impact.

    Only problem being, where do you draw a line? Is it better to have people sat in homes they actually wouldn't be entitled to for social issues....meanwhile, other parents and children languish in B&B's with no where to go.

    I know my personal preference is to evict those that no longer need the homes and get those without, in. But I draw my line at a completely different level to where others may draw theres.
  • Kennyboy66
    Kennyboy66 Posts: 939 Forumite
    ILW wrote: »
    What if all properties were to carry a desireability index, based on condition, size of rooms, crime rate etc and by demonstrating social responsibility, one could be allocated or allowed to move to better properties. eg parents who have kids with ASBOs would be moved out of decent estates.

    It could solve a lot of problems if a "reward" system was in operation.


    Sounds a bit mad to me. Are we not bureaucratic enough ?

    A kid with an ASBO having to move house and possibly school doesn't sound like a recipe for rehabilitation to me.
    US housing: it's not a bubble - Moneyweek Dec 12, 2005
  • JonnyBravo
    JonnyBravo Posts: 4,103 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    edited 16 May 2011 am31 10:48AM
    Personally, I feel whatever plans were implemented, there would be an absolute wrath of problems associated to it.

    A what?
    As I said, a wrath of problems associated to any idea.


    So good you said it twice
    A wrath?
    :rotfl:

    Or perhaps a raft? Or a whole host? Or just "lots"?

    :cool:
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    Kennyboy66 wrote: »
    Sounds a bit mad to me. Are we not bureaucratic enough ?

    A kid with an ASBO having to move house and possibly school doesn't sound like a recipe for rehabilitation to me.


    But it may focus the parents minds on getting the child to behave better in the first place. Any parent that allows a 12 year old to be out with a gang of kids at midnight should be seriously worried abot losing their home. Social responsibility sometimes has to be encouraged.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.