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

pukkamum

claire16c wrote: »

I can't speak for that poster, but why would anyone choose to live in a council house unless they had to? Surely you'd aspire to be in a situation where you didn't need to use it?

Yet again the assumption that there is something wrong with living in a council house, with a secure tenancy etc, these aspirations are why so many are in debt up to their eyeballs, just to keep up with the Jones's

kafkathecat

alinwales wrote: »

I'm interested in the statistics of who was:
brought up in a council home and then went on to get a council home of their own,
brought up in a council home and then went on to get a private home of their own (owned or rented make a difference?),
brought up in a family home and then went to social housing.

I have to ignore the rest of your post as you do not have a clue.

I grew up in a council house. My mother was single parent of four children (I know there are people here who think I shouldn't exist) We all went on to get jobs and buy houses. Two of my siblings are very well off. But this happened before mass unemployment, low wages and soaring house prices took a real hold of the country and I was lucky enough to live in the south east. I have known many people who grew up in council housing and went on to have successful careers. I also know people from wealthy families who ended up in council housing although some eventually bought it. You never know what life will throw at you.

alinwales

so the solution is for everyone to have a council house. That's the only way I see it as you never know what life will bring and you might need one.

pukkamum

alinwales wrote: »

so the solution is for everyone to have a council house. That's the only way I see it as you never know what life will bring and you might need one.

No it's about not being seen as a lesser member of society because you choose to live in a council house, there will always be people who don't need or want to live in a council house.
It's about not being judged on where you live or having assumptions made about why you live in one.
I would rather my children lived in a council house with all the security it brings rather than living in a house they can't really afford for the sake of appearances.

aliasojo

claire16c wrote: »

I can't speak for that poster, but why would anyone choose to live in a council house unless they had to? Surely you'd aspire to be in a situation where you didn't need to use it?

I'd choose to have a council house any day of the week over a private rental, purely for the greater security it affords you.

People are struggling to raise the kind of deposts needed to buy so it's private rental time or council house time. Council house wins hands down imo. But there again I don't view council housing as some sort of stigma.

kafkathecat

alinwales wrote: »

so the solution is for everyone to have a council house. That's the only way I see it as you never know what life will bring and you might need one.

I wouldn't have a problem with that but wouldn't force it on anyone else. I think people should have the chance to grow up and live in stable communities and secure housing is essential for that.

FatVonD

sacha28 wrote: »

my closest friend had her house repossessed 6 years ago after being left with her 8 year old dd by her ex. He disappeared off the face of the planet, unfortunately resurfaced a couple of years ago tho, and left her in a state. On eviction day she took her dd and 1 suitcase of their clothes (she didn't drive a car and it was a long bus ride) to the council office and begged for help (this is what she was told to do by a council worker). Both her and her dd were immediately put into double room at a B&B with just a double bed. They shared that double bed for nearly a year until being placed in the 2 bed house she's in now. She now has another dd who has just turned 2. Her other daughter is now 15 but they are unable to find a 3 bed house for them so she is looking into private. Her 2 year old is still in a cot in her and her OH's bedroom but there is just too much of a shortage of 3 bed housing.

Sorry but perhaps she should have thought of that before she had another baby in a 2 bed house, the same as home owners would have to.

FatVonD

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I live in social housing. It's been built to allow for people with mobility problems/disabilities. The full rent is fairly low and this means that, as soon as I can get a job (assuming anybody will employ somebody who is disabled - it's not going too well at the moment), I will be able to support myself with no recourse to anyone else.

Didn't you post recently that you regularly walk home from gigs alone wheeling your bass amp on a trolley?

ciderwithrosie_2

:eek: at the attitude of some people who are no better than me or anyone else who lives in 'social housing', but clearly think they are. Maybe council houses for everyone would make some get off their high horses. Maybe I should doff my cap and curtsy to all home owners as I'm such a lowly peasant to be reviled?

My parents had a council house when my brothers and I were born, we lived in Oxfordshire, I guess even in those days, houses in a commuter belt village on the Thames would be dearer than some other locations. When we were older and moved to North Wales and my mum was back to work, they were able to afford their own house. My parents retired at upper management level and all three of us, their children, have been educated to degree level.

Everyone's circumstances, priorites and goals are different, I've explained before how we ended up in a council house so I'm not going to go through it again suffice to say that not everyone is able to get a mortgage or even rent privately.

I suppose that now my children are adults (although still living at home) and both OH and I work full-time, we could probably afford to pay a market rent for our home, but then I would expect the same standards and service I'd get in a private let if I was paying an extra £200 - 300 a month and I'm pretty sure my HA aren't going to provide that.

claire16c

nottslass wrote: »

'Erm because believe it or not your neighbors are honest hard working people, who take pride in their homes and environment,their children are lovely polite members of socially,the homes are solidly built,near good schools,local facilities..................................

Not in all council estates there isn't.

You've clearly never been to the area my husband grew up in.

Or to the place a friend lives in which is verging on derelict with only a few families living there as its going to be knocked down eventually and therefore terrible conditions. She is desperate to move.

pukkamum wrote: »

Yet again the assumption that there is something wrong with living in a council house, with a secure tenancy etc, these aspirations are why so many are in debt up to their eyeballs, just to keep up with the Jones's

No it's simply about not wanting to be in a position where that was my only option or choice.

If you can afford your own house, then why choose to live in a house that someone else chooses for you?

Surely you'd want to be in a position where you pick your house and not someone in an office?

aliasojo wrote: »

I'd choose to have a council house any day of the week over a private rental, purely for the greater security it affords you.

People are struggling to raise the kind of deposts needed to buy so it's private rental time or council house time. Council house wins hands down imo. But there again I don't view council housing as some sort of stigma.

For me id rather not be worrying how I was going to pay my rent when I retire.

And for most people council housing simply isn't an option. I'd probably get told I had to wait 10 years or something.