Rents, debts and the cost of living...

IveSeenTheLight

MacMickster wrote: »

If the private sector is not doing its job by providing sufficient housing at the right price, with security of tenure to provide a stable environment, then why on earth shouldn't the state step in to meet that need?

In theory, there's absolutely no reason why they couldn't.

The government however is on record in stating that they require the private market to supply rental properties, presumably because of the costs to generate the required properties, as well as the costs to administer and maintain them.

Gizmo247

I have no issues with migrants as my gf is Polish

That was quick, you were single yesterday. Now you are a part of a couple, could you not pool resources?

Monkeyballs

Morning all,

To clear up a couple of points;

1. When I originally said I was single, I meant not married but we have only been seeing each other for a short while so there is no way I would consider moving in at this point.

2. My take home is actually £1450 so £550 is rent for a room and all bills, then I spend maybe £50 per week on food, travel and the occassional beer after work at most so thats around £700 per month trying to pay my debts as quickly as I can - this incorporates around £300 in PDL charges so please dont judge me on my debts as I am clearing them.

Social housing is no cheaper, infact with bills it may be more than Im paying at the moment - my point is that I dont have the option of a council property and have to pay a private landlord. I dont begrudge these people living in these properties as they need somewhere too I just find it frustrating that my local connection counts for nothing.

This time last year I was taking home about £400 less tham I am now and was in the same position I am now.

My brother earns less than £1000 per month and has a council flat which he moved into about 15 years ago... When he moved in his neighbours (also council tenants) either all worked or were nice old couples but now everyone seems to be either single teen mums or junkies - the Police seem to be around most days.

My brother recently asked re. a potential move and they offered him a 3 bed house which they then said he would not be entitled to (we still have no idea why he was offered it) and a selection of flats in Scarborough?

If I can afford to pay out on a room in a house why should I not have the option to live in social housing? Im looking for value and independance as opposed to using private landlords thats all.

MB

Mr._Pricklepants

Monkeyballs wrote: »

1. When I originally said I was single, I meant not married but we have only been seeing each other for a short while so there is no way I would consider moving in at this point.

Invite her for a romantic candle lit dinner and ask her if you can move your debts on her low interest credit cards.
It worked for a certain forum member.

Monkeyballs

LOL. I like that :-)

She knows my situation and thinks Im an idiot but she has no debts or credit and has no interest in doing so!

She is good for me and would see through any attempts to schmooze her lol!

MB

Percy1983

Just keep your head up and keep going, the main thing is getting the debts cleared to which if there is anything you can do to reduce interest rates that might be worth a try, but I guess your credit file is pretty shot with the PDL's so your power on that front may be deminished.

dori2o

MacMickster wrote: »

If the private sector is not doing its job by providing sufficient housing at the right price, with security of tenure to provide a stable environment, then why on earth shouldn't the state step in to meet that need?

If high rental costs in the private sector are damaging the economy, with the high wages required to pay the rent making British businesses uncompetetive in the global market, then surely the state should act (whether by becoming landlords themselves or regulating rents) for the good of our nation.

I despair of those who seem to assume that anything that the private sector does is automatically better than anything the public sector does, or dogmatically subscribe to a political ideology. Have an open mind and the world may suddenly become a new place to you.

This is the one thing that would put me off renting in the private sector. How can anyone properly plan their lives, financially, work wise, or plan for a family, when for the majority of renters they don't know where they are going to be living in the next 6 months.

Price isn't the thing that puts me off renting, its the fact I really wouldn't be happy not knowing what is around the corner in <6 months time. If a private landlord defaults on the mortgage you have no say, no rights.

In other european countries homeownership isn't a big deal and there are far better rights for tennants with regards to length of tennacy and rents. It's the same in the US, rent controls and security of tenure is paramount to the system.

dori2o

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

In theory, there's absolutely no reason why they couldn't.

The government however is on record in stating that they require the private market to supply rental properties, presumably because of the costs to generate the required properties, as well as the costs to administer and maintain them.

As with the current social housing stock, the rents would more than cover the costs involved.

IveSeenTheLight

dori2o wrote: »

As with the current social housing stock, the rents would more than cover the costs involved.

Why do you think that successive governments have sold off council stock at vastly reduced prices?

Consider that they have not replaced the number of properties sold off.

I think it's naive to think that the costs to build, administer and maintain these properties are less than the social housing monthly rents.

Percy1983

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

Why do you think that successive governments have sold off council stock at vastly reduced prices?

Consider that they have not replaced the number of properties sold off.

I think it's naive to think that the costs to build, administer and maintain these properties are less than the social housing monthly rents.

Surely its just a matter of time, the longer the house is stood, the more rent it gains, it would have to break even at some point surely.

The difference is the profits aren't based on greed but fairness so it takes much longer.