Upgrading to a bigger council house

outofmoney

Has he explained how he reckons he will get a bigger house? The only way he would be entitled at the moment is if one of them was disabled to the point they need either their own room or a carer overnight and it doesn't sound like that is the case.

outofmoney

tommygirl3 wrote: »

Thank you all who provided helpful and meaningful opinions/options.

To clarify, bro in law is in full time employment and his gf works part time in a bookies when she's not pregnant. They were given the 3 bed house in the first instance, when they were expecting the first baby. Not sure how they got that and not a 2 bed.

I'm particularly interested in boo2410 & paddygirl's comments and ultimately what is done to ppl who lied on their application to get council houses? As I believe once BIL has signed a life tenancy agreement (his words) and they cannot be moved out.

My OH and I are hardworking office workers trying to save up and pay off debt so we can start a family on a good financial footing. Which is why it's a bitter pill to swallow when BIL plays the system and seemingly wins at every turn. They are quite confident in getting a bigger house and have been bragging about it to family members.

Just realised you said they got it whilst she was expecting. Normally you can't apply until the baby as born and even then they would have been offered a one bed to start. How did they get a two bedroom place?

tommygirl3

Opinion wrote: »

Sounds like a lovely bloke. Parents must be so proud.

FIL is livid as he thought he brought up my OH and BIL to have morals. But BIL and his gf emotionally blackmails by withholding access to their kids from OH's family, when it was hinted at how degenerate they have become - referring to not moving out of council housing when they can easily afford to buy/rent privately.

lighting_up_the_chalice

outofmoney wrote: »

Has he explained how he reckons he will get a bigger house? The only way he would be entitled at the moment is if one of them was disabled to the point they need either their own room or a carer overnight and it doesn't sound like that is the case.

Or the fourth child is a boy.

tommygirl3

outofmoney wrote: »

Just realised you said they got it whilst she was expecting. Normally you can't apply until the baby as born and even then they would have been offered a one bed to start. How did they get a two bedroom place?

They applied before their first baby was born and got the 3 bed house when their daughter arrived into the world.

They were not offered anything apart from a 3 bed house with garden. Must have been a lucky stroke! Or some seriously fiddly. We'd never know.

EldredH

Are they really thinking they are going to get a 4 bed???????????? I only have 2 children as I can not afford to move to a bigger house. If I had another child the age gap would be to much to make either of my children share with a baby, so we are not gonna have anymore unless we win the lottery. I also live in Herts and if there rent is only £380 they must be rolling in it as my mortgage is 3x alone. As a council tennant aswell they dont pay water rates. The system seems so unfair, as I have a friend whose husband was made redundant they lost there home and the council have said they can only help if they are seperated and she will be on the list for at least 5 years. She has 3 kids and would be happy of a 2 bed but has been told no as that is overcrowding and a 3 bed property to rent is £1200. I think your friend should keep her mouth shut and be extreamly grateful for what she has got. Some people are greedy, if they feel there home is not big enough for the family they have then they should not have had another child

lighting_up_the_chalice

EldredH wrote: »

As a council tennant aswell they dont pay water rates.

Council tenants pay water rates the same as everyone else.

EldredH wrote: »

The system seems so unfair, as I have a friend whose husband was made redundant they lost there home and the council have said they can only help if they are seperated and she will be on the list for at least 5 years.

Then they have received very poor advice. Perhaps they should give Shelter a call.

outofmoney

bloss0m wrote: »

Get some bunk beds and think yourself lucky you get 60k a year I get no where near that amount with 2 kids and 2 adults

You say you paying off a debt why the have a bigger family people should be expected to live within their means. I love another kid but cant afford to have one and would mean selling up and getting a bigger house which we cant afford

Might be worth reading the thread!

poppysarah

tommygirl3 wrote: »

I'm particularly interested in boo2410 & paddygirl's comments and ultimately what is done to ppl who lied on their application to get council houses? As I believe once BIL has signed a life tenancy agreement (his words) and they cannot be moved out.

If they were reported as having lied on their application then it's breach the tenancy and they could probably be evicted.

I think there's almost enough information in this thread to do it - certainly I'd assume housing staff could track them down fairly quickly.

It is frustrating to people who want council housing to know people have got theirs by lieing. It doesn't solve the overall problem of there not being enough.

There are two main reasons want council housing:
cheap rents
secure tenancy.

There are some people who see it as a path to the good life with forcing the council to upgrade their housing every time they pop out a few more kids.

At the same time someone I know got given a 3 bed CH after years of waiting. Just as her oldest lad was getting to the age where he was leaving home.
Should she have knocked back the bigger house?

mondello

They would not be entitled to a bigger house due to having another baby. This baby would be expected to share with a sibling until sexual overcrowding becomes apparant. There are massive shortages in social housing so I think they should just deal with the situtation and stop being so greedy. His 'lfe tenancy' is most likely to be a secure tenancy where eviction would only be possible if there was a breach of tenancy agreement. Also mutual exchange to a bigger house should not be an option as they are not overcrowded.

I work in social housing and I think it's disgusting the way that people abuse the system and those that really do need it suffer so much. Housing associations need to do more checking to make sure that people are in serious need. This family is earning enough to save for a deposit and buy their own place. Some people are a disgrace.