why are some people entitled to a council house but others are not?

pukkamum

Loz01 wrote: »

I don't understand council houses either - but I don't see why people don't just rent privately and claim LHA??

Our next door neighbours have 5 kids and don't work but rent a private rent house, 4 bed, en-suite, conservatory etc, £700 a month and they seem to manage just grand!!

Err because as has been pointed out many times not all council tenants are on benefits.

Loz01

pukkamum wrote: »

Err because as has been pointed out many times not all council tenants are on benefits.

Yes absolutely I'm aware of that. I know lots and lots of people have a council house and also work.

Soleil_lune

Loz01 wrote: »

I don't understand council houses either - but I don't see why people don't just rent privately and claim LHA??

Our next door neighbours have 5 kids and don't work but rent a private rent house, 4 bed, en-suite, conservatory etc, £700 a month and they seem to manage just grand!!

Because people want security of tenure?! Why should social housing - also known as permanent tenancies - be available only to people on benefits? Why should people who work have to rent off greedy parasites - also known as landlords - at extortionate rents? And why should they buy? Why should they not be allowed to have cheaply rented affordable homes? People should not feel bullied into buying a property. Being a 'homeowner' really ain't all that!

pukkamum

Loz01 wrote: »

Yes absolutely I'm aware of that. I know lots and lots of people have a council house and also work.

Then what was your question?
What don't you understand about council houses?

GwylimT

I used to live in a council house, I only stayed there for a year as it was cheaper to rent a private property, which was larger, had a front and back garden and was closer to my sons school. The downside was that most of my neighbours moved every 12 months and the community spirit was virtually non-existent.

I don't get why a poster on here was moaning that some council tenants get new kitchens, so do private tenants, private tenants also have heating as well, why do people think that those who rent council properties shouldn't have access to heating? You do realise that council properties make this country a hell of a lot of money, the council house my grandma lives in was built in the forties, it has been paid for countless times and that single house will have made thousands and thousands of pounds in profits. With right to buy and the money made in rent here is more than enough to build more council properties, but unfortunately this country has been over taken with greed.

GwylimT

Loz01 wrote: »

I don't understand council houses either - but I don't see why people don't just rent privately and claim LHA??

Our next door neighbours have 5 kids and don't work but rent a private rent house, 4 bed, en-suite, conservatory etc, £700 a month and they seem to manage just grand!!

It isn't that simple, a large proportion of landlords will not rent to people who receive HB, some just don't want them, where as others are unable to rent to those receiving HB as their lender wont allow it.

Private rentals aren't as secure, you are more likely to be moving on a fairly regular basis, this means you have to keep coming up with a deposit, for a lot of people that is quite difficult, then you have to factor in moving costs, disruption and in some cases changing your childs school.

Social housing is secure, social housing rents make this country a hell of a lot of money, they're built cheaply, they pay for themselves over and over again, this money is partially kept by councils, the rest is put in the pot to pay for things like the NHS, policing, education etc. If we abolished council housing we would have more expenditure and we would be receiving less money back.

Council housing is also the main housing provision for those with disabilities, when was the last time you saw a rental property available for someone who is physically disabled?

bestpud

If I had my way, social housing would only be for people who pay their way.

The scroungers will find themselves a house on us anyway.

Tax payers could then feel a little happy knowing their taxes may be housing the work shy but they get a bit back in cheaper rent themselves.

FatVonD

Soleil_lune wrote: »

In addition, I have known several people refuse extra hours at work, because they will get their tax credits cut! They prefer to rely on tax credits, rather than grab the opportunity for more hours and more pay. Weird.

My son has just started a weekend job and they have asked him to do an extra day in the week (he's at college) because the bloke doing the same shift Monday to Friday 'wants one day off' (any day.) The cynic in me thinks the bloke reaches the number of hours needed for him to claim working tax credit in 4 days and doesn't want to work the extra day as he'll be no better off :mad:

pukkamum

FatVonD wrote: »

My son has just started a weekend job and they have asked him to do an extra day in the week (he's at college) because the bloke doing the same shift Monday to Friday 'wants one day off' (any day.) The cynic in me thinks the bloke reaches the number of hours needed for him to claim working tax credit in 4 days and doesn't want to work the extra day as he'll be no better off :mad:

You have to take into consideration that it's not just a case of losing a bit of money.
If he loses his wtc he may well lose housing benefit too, which if he is in a high costing private rental, could be the difference between having a home and not.
In that situation what would you do?
Don't blame the people trapped in the system, blame the system that traps them.

Soleil_lune

FatVonD wrote: »

My son has just started a weekend job and they have asked him to do an extra day in the week (he's at college) because the bloke doing the same shift Monday to Friday 'wants one day off' (any day.) The cynic in me thinks the bloke reaches the number of hours needed for him to claim working tax credit in 4 days and doesn't want to work the extra day as he'll be no better off :mad:

I think you're probably right. It's a sad and sorry state of affairs isn't it: the wages in this country are so poor, that people are not better off working full time (unless they are a professional.....)

Working full time for NMW will not give people any more money than they would get on benefits in many cases. But it is sad when people refuse more money/higher pay/better jobs for fear of losing tax credits and the risk of having to pay full rent.