PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Social Housing - as expensive as private rent

I have been looking on my local Social Housing website and the rents look as expensive as private rent would be.

Not sure if I am looking correctly but looks like a 2 bedroom flat (Nottingham) is around £100.00 a month

Private looks around the same price

Is this right?


About how long on average would it take to get a social house, I am single with health problems

Comments

  • hm71_2
    hm71_2 Posts: 1,980 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    just looked on latest listings on our housing list 3 bed house £175 per week. My private rent is only £15 more.
    Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the world together."

    FEB challenge £128/£270 balance £142
    £2 saving club £140
  • paddedjohn
    paddedjohn Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    advance wrote: »
    I have been looking on my local Social Housing website and the rents look as expensive as private rent would be.

    Not sure if I am looking correctly but looks like a 2 bedroom flat (Nottingham) is around £100.00 a month

    Private looks around the same price

    Is this right?


    About how long on average would it take to get a social house, I am single with health problems

    Pretty sure you mean weekly, how long it would take to get social housing would all depend on the availability in your area and since you are single and only eligible for a 1 bed property you will probably have a long wait.
    Be Alert..........Britain needs lerts.
  • moneyistooshorttomention
    moneyistooshorttomention Posts: 17,940 Forumite
    edited 18 July 2013 at 6:43AM
    Wasn't some Government policy put in place years ago to gradually bring social housing rent up to at (or at least not far off) private rent levels?

    I seem to recall that was the case and was one of the reasons I had to buy my own place (ie because I couldn't afford to pay anything like private rent levels - which, in my area, are about £550 per month for a grotty standard 1 bedroom flat).

    If I were to rent an OAP 1 bedroom bungalow in the public sector hereabouts it would be around £80 per week and I would have to be out in one of our surrounding villages to get that level of rent (and that equates to a 1 bedroom flat private rent level in one of the smaller/cheaper towns nearby). So pretty much the same level...
  • Dan-Dan
    Dan-Dan Posts: 5,279 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    the good old benefit trap!
    Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,323 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I know without a shadow of a doubt that social housing in my area is just over half the cost of equivalent private rental costs. But private rentals are in high demand here as we are just outside Greater London (3 bed house property).
  • TDMum
    TDMum Posts: 394 Forumite
    I think it depends on the area. Here social housing is much cheaper. My friend has a house the same size as mine (3 beds and dining room) and pays under £400 a month. I pay £750 privately at the moment.:eek:
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    When my son was 4, so 15 years ago I had a look at council flats, as I was adopting him I could get a council flat before he came to live with me. I then found out a two bed council flat was more expensive per month than a 3 bed semi in a better area of town with a front and back garden and a driveway.

    So I went for the private option as it made financial sense and meant if I wanted to move into another rental property in the future it would be easier as I wouldn't have to wait on a list.
  • Shelldean
    Shelldean Posts: 2,420 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I know without a shadow of a doubt that social housing in my area is just over half the cost of equivalent private rental costs. But private rentals are in high demand here as we are just outside Greater London (3 bed house property).

    Snap if not a bigger divide. 3 bed houses round here go for appox 1500, that's almost 3 x my rent. tho flats are appox £1000 and I did find one house for £1250 which is really cheap in fact cheaper than some flats ( makes me wonder whats wrong)

    One 3 bed house is offered for £3500 :eek: tho it's in a private gated road.

    My rent for my social housing is nowhere near that level.

    we're in Greater London in London borough of Sutton.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.8K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.1K Life & Family
  • 257.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.