The death of 'social' housing

Flyboy152

Running_Horse wrote: »

I know several, but won't be naming them. It would be interesting to know what percentage of social housing is allocated to the unemployed nowadays. Certainly more than in previous generations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/8572859/Ed-Miliband-Labour-must-be-party-of-grafters.html

The news story above appeared a couple of hours after my post. It would be great if this country really did reward those who make an effort, rather than rewarding socially destructive behaviour and those who manipulate the system.

But I'll believe it when I see it.

There are five million on the waiting list now. Would bulding one million new homes (highly unlikely) reduce the waiting list by that amount? Or would it create unrealistic expectations and a rush of new applicants? There must be a better way of providing decent housing, rather than waiting for the state to do it.

Err........kind of the point, I thought.

eamon

Leaving aside the politics behind RTB. Lots of social housing in particular council housing has become the domain of the more vulnerable, more nasty and more undesirable elements of our society. The nasty &undesirable probably account for the most damage. Our voids team routinely have repeat repairs to the same properties within a few months of each other. Think new kitchens, bathrooms all thrashed. Some tenants have little or no concept of their responsiblities. I think that the figure from Nottingham is a gross understatment. By the way this is not new stuff. An acquaintance from the mid 1980's worked as a housing officer. In one property on his patch the tenant had removed all the doors, door casings and all the upstairs floorboards and burnt them in the fireplace. Its a catch22 though. How do you recharge tenants that have abandoned the property and even if you know where they have gone to they are on benefits?

Private landlords beware. Under ConDem plans all this is coming your way.

geoffky

ever wondered why a council charges for repairs when people move out...

jim22

eeeeeee wrote: »

my apprentice has been waiting 11 years up here in the north west; hes not on a lot of money hes" 34 years old ... a flat came up near too here 2 weeks ago ... it went too a single man who has been in our country 3 weeks ... hows that fair >?

Very simple-its not fair at all!

Running_Horse

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Err........kind of the point, I thought.

You don't think we should prioritise people who help themselves, and help society? Most post war social housing was homes fit for heroes; so those returning from saving this country from fascism wouldn't have to live in slums. It wasn't meant for people who refuse to contribute to society.

5,000,000 on the waiting list, and a unit cost of maybe £100,000 per house. Where exactly are we going to get £500,000,000,000 when we can't afford care for the elderly, or planes for an aircraft carrier?

Flyboy152

jim22 wrote: »

Very simple-its not fair at all!

Also.....not true.

Flyboy152

Running_Horse wrote: »

You don't think we should prioritise people who help themselves, and help society? Most post war social housing was homes fit for heroes; so those returning from saving this country from fascism wouldn't have to live in slums. It wasn't meant for people who refuse to contribute to society.

No it wasn't. It was to replace the housing stock destroyed in the Blitz. It was there for people who were made homeless by Nazi bombing. There were no priorities for ex-servicemen, or do you believe that the people left at home were less deserving. The social housing stock was and is, there for those who cannot afford to buy their own home, or cannot afford the rents charged by private landlords. There is and should never be a priority towards those who are working and those who are not. Should we not allow the unemployed to have a home?

5,000,000 on the waiting list, and a unit cost of maybe £100,000 per house. Where exactly are we going to get £500,000,000,000 when we can't afford care for the elderly, or planes for an aircraft carrier?

Your maths and concepts of social housing needs, requires further study.