Britain's Hidden Housing Crisis

Innys

gingin wrote: »

I think Kevin will be okay. He's clever enough to pick up work and humble enough not to be fussy about it.

???

Did you read the last bit about him? It says he's looking for work alright...............as an investment banker. Don't you think that's being just a little bit fussy?

Granted, that's his specialism but:

1) The banking industry is just about recovering from 2008;
2) He ran a trading company that went to the wall; and
3) He can't afford to be choosy.

If he was applying for jobs stacking shelves in Tesco, I'd agree with you but he's not.

dizzy_lizzie

cazzap06 wrote: »

Whatever people want to say about the large family those kids were DISTRESSED & I HATE seeing kids in distress , they don't deserve that life!!!

I agree. Especially when the little boy could be seen crying behind the gate when they were being evicted. They don't understand what's happening. They'd also not been in school it said. So no social life either for them it would seem. He said he was bored. So upsetting to see that.

Really pleased that Kevin has somewhere to stay now though.
x

JQ.

mr_white_cant_dance wrote: »

They sold one car but the money went on christmas presents.

And it would appear the car they did keep was a Lexus 4x4 - worth several thousand pounds, expensive to insure, expensive to run and expensive to maintain.

If they were that desperate for a car a £500 banger would get them from A to B. If my family were at risk of being repossessed I have no doubt we could survive without a car at all.

gingin_2

Innys wrote: »

???

Did you read the last bit about him? It says he's looking for work alright...............as an investment banker. Don't you think that's being just a little bit fussy?

Granted, that's his specialism but:

1) The banking industry is just about recovering from 2008;
2) He ran a trading company that went to the wall; and
3) He can't afford to be choosy.

If he was applying for jobs stacking shelves in Tesco, I'd agree with you but he's not.

No, I missed that part.

There are still plenty of jobs in banking if you are good enough. I don't think Kevin would be a good fit now but I think he will lower his expectations soon enough.

Own_My_Own

Many years ago I was 4th on the council housing list in December and 35th in the January.
I needed to move from my privately rented home as my dd was very ill.
The housing officer told me, that when people know they are going to be evicted, they often pay small amounts, knowing it will keep them in they house until Christmas. They then spend everything they have on one last good Christmas in they home before being evicted in the January.
Their thinking being, that they are going to lose the house anyway, so why pay any more off the mortgage.
I ended up borrowing money and moving myself, as I could see this happening every year.

[Deleted User]

gingin wrote: »

No, I missed that part.

There are still plenty of jobs in banking if you are good enough. I don't think Kevin would be a good fit now but I think he will lower his expectations soon enough.

He could work in the finance department of a housing charity

Honestly , the job satisfaction of having a part to play in helping people who are in the situation he was in AND an ok wage to make sure he has a nice , safe , private roof over his head to come home to

Going through something like that must change you or give you a huge understanding of others in a similar situation .. He could go back to banking etc too , either way , reckon he will be fine

None of the private hostels seem to do it or run one out of the 'kindness of their heart' its good money , just being a different kind of landlord ( or slumlord ) with guaranteed high 'rent' paid directly from the Housing Benefit office , so they can make a killing out of other peoples misfortunes though they need to keep on top of things like paying out for PEST CONTROL as that hostel the kids were staying obviously had a serious , probably untreated , bed bug problem which they could probably just spread to the next 'hotel' they stayed in etc

The hostels or temporary accommodation are usually DIRE so can see why that woman didn't want to stay in one although her problems aren't solved as yet if just staying with a friend now!

Really feel for anyone in that situation for sure! x

lessonlearned

cazzap06 wrote: »

:money:

Whatever people want to say about the large family those kids were DISTRESSED & I HATE seeing kids in distress , they don't deserve that life!!!

We all have struggles from time to time , unexpected things happen & my compassion does kick in , especially when unexpected things happen & its SCARY the thought of losing your home & the banks don't give a flying **** of course!

Financial institutions aren't in the business of making people homeless just for the fun of it.

I have in the past worked for a building society, in the arrears dept.

Now I admit that banks may have to be less lenient than building societies but even so they do not just foreclose because someone is a few months in arrears. It takes a long time to get to that stage - our particular b/socy typically up to 3 years. Most customers are given lots of opportunities to try and sort things out. Our branch manager would even go and see them at home to try and work out some sort of payment plan.

Whilst I did feel very sorry for the cancer lady she really didn't help herself by refusing the property the council allocated her, presumably the council will withdraw support as a result.

As for the family with six children ......well what can you say. But yes I felt very sorry for the children, they were clearly very distressed. However, endless fizzy drinks, ciggies, junk food, take out coffees, Kids had an X box ???? Pay your rent first

The family in the £500K house - they surely could see the writing on the wall and have acted sooner. To sell a car and then blow the lot on Christmas presents beggars belief.

Like most of us on here, I've gone through periods of financial hardships and they have been times when I feared I might lose my home. But - here's the thing I've always made sure I paid the mortgage and council tax first.

I've gone without and sold treasured possessions to keep going. I've done car boots to put food on the table. I'm still not out of the woods yet, still have to be thrifty and frugal.

I think Kevin was the most sensible and level headed - although I doubt that he will be able to continue his career as an investment banker. He will need to rethink that one perhaps.

michelle2008

Kevin's story made me want to volunteer for a homeless charity.

The other stories made me want to manage my money better and hikeup those mortgage overpayments.

gingin_2

cazzap06 wrote: »

He could work in the finance department of a housing charity

Honestly , the job satisfaction of having a part to play in helping people who are in the situation he was in AND an ok wage to make sure he has a nice , safe , private roof over his head to come home to

Going through something like that must change you or give you a huge understanding of others in a similar situation .. He could go back to banking etc too , either way , reckon he will be fine

None of the private hostels seem to do it or run one out of the 'kindness of their heart' its good money , just being a different kind of landlord ( or slumlord ) with guaranteed high 'rent' paid directly from the Housing Benefit office , so they can make a killing out of other peoples misfortunes though they need to keep on top of things like paying out for PEST CONTROL as that hostel the kids were staying obviously had a serious , probably untreated , bed bug problem which they could probably just spread to the next 'hotel' they stayed in etc

The hostels or temporary accommodation are usually DIRE so can see why that woman didn't want to stay in one although her problems aren't solved as yet if just staying with a friend now!

Really feel for anyone in that situation for sure! x

I felt for her, I really hope her family were paying her good rates for the childcare she provided, otherwise shame on them. I can't imagine going through what she has and being as chipper as she seemed.

dizzy_lizzie

cazzap06 wrote: »

He could work in the finance department of a housing charity

That would be an excellent job for him

michelle2008 wrote: »

Kevin's story made me want to volunteer for a homeless charity!!
The other stories made me want to manage my money better and hikeup those mortgage overpayments!!

Me too Michelle.
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