Housing Association

sueby78

Hi, Not sure if this is right place to ask the advice so apologies if not....

I currently live on a small Housing Association estate, newly built 2009/2010. I moved into my new 2 bed property end April 2010, having passed credit checks etc and meeting criteria of earning so much per year working full time etc. My rent was £425 & increased to £444 after about 8 months I think it was.

I got the chance of moving to a bigger 3 bed house next door in July 2011 so I did, paying rent of £552.

The housing estate where I live is made up of a couple different tennants I think but all under Ashram housing.

1. Council Tennants
2. Working tennants - rented - I live in this


Yesterday I found out that the other 2 2 bedroom houses in my little row only pay £74 per week - over £100 less than what I was paying in mine as they were on the council scheme...the houses are identical.

I also found out that other 3 beds on the estate exactly the same as the one I am in now only pay approx £85 per week....over £200 less than me!

The houses are all under Ashram Housing, since I have lived there I have been made redundant twice so found things near impossible and finding this info out yesterday has made me really angry as I want to know how can it be justified for me to live on my own in a house and pay £100 - £200 more than the family 2 doors down in an identical house owned by the same housing association???

Please let me know your opinions on this and should I be seeking more advice as I just do not think it is fair or justified.

Thanks in advance

Sue

DannyboyMidlands

Why not vote with your feet and move out?

sueby78

Becasue I love the house, only just moved into the 3 bed next door and spent money which I wouldnt get back. I have only just found out yesterday about the rent differences so rather than up sticks overnight would rather get advise and find out if this is right before I do something as drastic and move.

theartfullodger

sueby78 wrote: »

.............

The housing estate where I live is made up of a couple different tennants I think but all under Ashram housing.

1. Council Tennants
2. Working tennants - rented - I live in this


.......

.........
..

Sue:

Do you mean you know (or have decided..) that all "Council Tenants" (one "n"..) don't work?? Sounds implausible,,,

abankerbutnotafatcat

How does your rent compare to privately rented in the area? The new HA directive (i.e. from the Government) is called Affordable Rents where rents are set as 80% of average local private rents. It's all about providing people with subsidised housing if they require it but getting best value for the tax payer as currently it's a bit 'all or nothing' as there can be a big difference between social housing and private rents - as you've noted.

Your lease should tell you if you have a social housing or an affordable rent.

sueby78

theartfullodger wrote: »

Sue:

Do you mean you know (or have decided..) that all "Council Tenants" (one "n"..) don't work?? Sounds implausible,,,

I never said such a thing, there are two types of housing letting schemes

1- council housing - to which you have to be on the council list
2- you have to work full time and earn a certain amount to rent of the same housing group in identical houses.

I didn't mention who works and who doesn't work, I have not worked for a period living in my house as I was made redundant twice in the last 18 months since moving here.

what I am asking for is advice as to how it can be justified that the house 2 doors down is £100 cheaper than mine working or not working!!

sueby78

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

How does your rent compare to privately rented in the area? The new HA directive (i.e. from the Government) is called Affordable Rents where rents are set as 80% of average local private rents. It's all about providing people with subsidised housing if they require it but getting best value for the tax payer as currently it's a bit 'all or nothing' as there can be a big difference between social housing and private rents - as you've noted.

Your lease should tell you if you have a social housing or an affordable rent.

Thank you I will have a look, but just seems unjustified that I could get on the council housing list which I was on 2 years ago just to pay much cheaper rent as I am now 2 doors down. Bizzarre

Chris1001

I don't want to sound patronising, but if you like your home - and it sounds as if you do - then I think you should forget about who's paying what.

Don't know much about differential rents in housing association properties, but bear in mind if people are on a low income (having lost their job for instance) they are likely to be entitled to housing benefit. A lot of people think this is unfair (taxpayers money/something for nothing etc). Others (including me) think that the important thing is keeping families together and a roof over people's head. Enjoy your house.

theartfullodger

sueby78 wrote: »

............
what I am asking for is advice as to how it can be justified that the house 2 doors down is £100 cheaper than mine working or not working!!

s**t happens, life ain't fair:

Some people get born with loads of money, others into poverty: 'taint fair..

Some people have that gift for making money, some don't: 'taint fair...

Some property is available cheap (eg council, but probably going up..) others more expensive: 'taint fair..

Some people owned houses that went up in value & made shed-loads when they'd done absolutely s**d all to get that money: 'taint fair...

Some houses, apparently "identical" get sold for very different prices: 'taint fair...

Some divorce cases.....

My advice??

SUMO..

Take it you've applied for HB/LHA, CTB, CTC, WTC, JSA, ESA etc etc etc etc??

TeamLowe

rents vary with private landlords as well
i know another house on my estate the exact same as mine (in fact advertised with my house's details!) is asking for 65 quid more a month, so really there being 100 a month difference isn't that suprising, especially considering it's Council housing.
if you had the same landlord and the same house, yes that would be very unfair. but you chose that house and that landlord, so you pay the rate asked by that landlord for that house. what other's pay is not really relevant.

Hugbubble

sueby78 wrote: »

Thank you I will have a look, but just seems unjustified that I could get on the council housing list which I was on 2 years ago just to pay much cheaper rent as I am now 2 doors down. Bizzarre

But if you had have been on the council housing list, you would not have been give a three bedroom house, as a person living on your own (probably not even a 2 bedroom house)