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

ostrichnomore_2

What I have a problem with is people getting a council house they need but being able to stay in it in future years when they are better off financially or it's too big as the children all left home.

It's not that easy. I had a 3 bed council flat and several years later only needed and wanted a 1 bed flat. I approached the council to see if there was any scheme to help me downsize and free up family size accomodation, only for the woman to have a right go at me for 'wanting to queue jump' to a one bed and that I'd have to join the waiting list like everyone else. The waiting list for a one bed? 11 years. So sod em. Just felt sorry for the crowded families who would have loved my place!

pukkamum

ostrichnomore wrote: »

What I have a problem with is people getting a council house they need but being able to stay in it in future years when they are better off financially or it's too big as the children all left home.

It's not that easy. I had a 3 bed council flat and several years later only needed and wanted a 1 bed flat. I approached the council to see if there was any scheme to help me downsize and free up family size accomodation, only for the woman to have a right go at me for 'wanting to queue jump' to a one bed and that I'd have to join the waiting list like everyone else. The waiting list for a one bed? 11 years. So sod em. Just felt sorry for the crowded families who would have loved my place!

Same round here my neighbour lost his wife and doesn't want to live in a 3 bed that could house a family, he has had no luck at all getting a one bed.

peachyprice

ostrichnomore wrote: »

What I have a problem with is people getting a council house they need but being able to stay in it in future years when they are better off financially or it's too big as the children all left home.

It's not that easy. I had a 3 bed council flat and several years later only needed and wanted a 1 bed flat. I approached the council to see if there was any scheme to help me downsize and free up family size accomodation, only for the woman to have a right go at me for 'wanting to queue jump' to a one bed and that I'd have to join the waiting list like everyone else. The waiting list for a one bed? 11 years. So sod em. Just felt sorry for the crowded families who would have loved my place!

At least you offered though. My inlaws will be taken out of their flat in their coffins if they have their way, even though it's on the 3rd floor with no lift, MIL has arthritis and FIL has a bad back and bad knees, but they'd rather struggle with the stairs.

ciderwithrosie_2

When the OH's grandad was alive he lived alone in a 3 bed council house and could name about 8 or 9 others in the street that were in the same situation. His aunty also lived alone in a 3 bed and hadn't been upstairs in years.

There was no scheme in place here then to reclaim properties but now I believe there is, but it's very difficult as although the elderly person may see the sense in moving to a nice warden controlled flat or bungalow, easier to move around in, keep tidy etc, they may not want to leave the area and neighbours they've known for years. They could end up isolated and vunerable.

paulineb_2

My gran moved into a one bedroom flat after my grandpa died and her son died, her son moved back in with her after my grandpa died. She waited quite some time. She gave up a 2 bedroom house to move into a 1 bedroom flat.

When I say quite some time, around 12 years. As I said before, in my area, and thats not just my town, the council area covers about 7 towns, theres 85 1 bed flats, 80 of which last year were already earmarked, that leaves 5

No way could I downsize even if I wanted to and the housing scheme I live in, having been filled up a few years back, is now emptying again.

Im not keeping anyone from living here, there are lots of empty flats.
And Im paying the housing benefit surcharge (bedroom tax)

Also, when some people have a home, they dont want to downsize. My mum has lived in her house for 38 years, its where she brought us up and she is an owner occupier now, but as I said before many people in the area have 2 bedrooms and their families have moved on and they are still renting

If there arent the smaller properties to move into what are people supposed to do? Pitch a tent? Move into private rented accommodation?

The problem is, when the right to buy scheme was implemented, there were not enough new builds, hardly any in my area anyway. Id say in the last 35 years in my town theres probably been 200 or so new builds and most of that has been housing association and not council houses

The reason people wait is that for the areas some people want, there simply are not enough properties, no more and no less.

sedment

ostrichnomore wrote: »

What I have a problem with is people getting a council house they need but being able to stay in it in future years when they are better off financially or it's too big as the children all left home.

It's not that easy. I had a 3 bed council flat and several years later only needed and wanted a 1 bed flat. I approached the council to see if there was any scheme to help me downsize and free up family size accomodation, only for the woman to have a right go at me for 'wanting to queue jump' to a one bed and that I'd have to join the waiting list like everyone else. The waiting list for a one bed? 11 years. So sod em. Just felt sorry for the crowded families who would have loved my place!

Quite see your point, do you have a swapping system with your local council where you can leave your details and see about swapping yourself?? A lot of people in my area are in larger properties which they got when they had young children, and now since they have left, some cant manage/afford to move, some are carers for grandchildren and some in sure will be leaving that houses in a box!! If there were maybe more incentives to interest people to move, help with actual moving and setting up new bills/direct debits and help with costs of moving and decorating, might help people in a more vulnerable position to feel more confident about a change of house, rather than muddying the waters with bedroom taxes etc.

paulineb_2

I dont think bedroom tax is muddying the waters tbh, its reality for many people

The problem is as people have said, in a lot of areas there simply arent the smaller properties to move to

In my area most of the 1 apt housing is housing specific to the elderly, for example sheltered housing and I wouldnt qualify for it anyway

I think its always going to be easier for people to move from a 4apt to a 3 or a 3 to a 2 or vice versa than to downsize to a 1apt

My council did say they would help people downsize, help with removal and painting costs but for someone like me, there simply arent the 1 bedroom flats available to move into, not just me, there will be thousands of people in my area who have spare rooms with no 1 apt properties to go to

And thats fine, because I do pay the surcharge, just that when some people comment about, oh you should downsize, what they dont realise is, that there arent always the properties to move to

And Im not talking about people on here, Im talking about real life and on other forums, oh just move to a smaller house

If the council had made me an offer of a 1 bedroom flat almost 20 years ago, Id have taken it, but obviously there were hardly any available and thats exactly the same as it is today, nothings changed.

fawd1

Imp wrote: »

So what you are saying is that people should be housed when they are in need, but when they pull themselves up and are no longer needy, they should be evicted from their home and community?

Yep. They don't need to move from their community though. They just need to move from their state owned house into one which they're now capable of affording, in order to give others a chance.

voucher

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/finding_a_place_to_live/council_housing/who_is_eligible_to_apply

Bangton

Isn't it a lot to do with the fact that people who were allocated them years ago (before things became so difficult regarding housing) are now entitled to stay and can't be evicted.

I don't really get how it works as I have never lived in or applied for a council property but I can well understand why people are forced to live and stay in council homes. Buying and indeed renting has become absolute extortion.

Some people's circumstances may well look ideal from the outside but you have really have no idea what battles they face.

Myself and OH earn what should be considered a great combined income but the reality is to get a mortgage and afford to keep up with any work that needs doing on the house we have to live in a 2 up, 2 down in an ok area so I can well understand why someone earning less would have to stay in a council house