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

Soleil_lune

Just wanted to add that I worked with a woman until she left my workplace last year. She worked about 10 hours a week as a cleaner while her 2 kids were at school.

Her and her husband were in a rented housing association property on one of those 5 year tenancies. About 2 or 3 years in I think. You are assessed at the end of the 5 years to see if you still qualify for the property. Well, he was working at this certain place (don't want to say where, as it's too much information,) and just a year after starting, he was offered a job as one of the managers, and his wage would go up from about £12/13K to over £20K. He refused the job, because he was so afraid that they would lose their housing association tenancy! I think if the joint income has gone over £25K when the tenancy is reviewed; they don't renew the tenancy, as the properties are for people on low incomes and in housing need.

So, if we are to boot people out when they get a decent job with a decent wage, then people are plain and simple not going to bother trying to do well. I found this situation sad, but I kind of understood why he did it. He didn't want to lose the cheap secure rented home his family had.

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.

nottslass_2

Absolutely anyone can apply and go on the list for a council house,irrespective of income.

I don't know if its still the case,but you used to get awarded more points if you worked in the local area.

Chucking people out when they earn over a certain amount would surely create ghetto's where only the unemployed lived and the houses would in turn be poorly maintained - having a wider range of tenents surely makes sence, creates better more substanable communites for those who work and live in them.

When are people earning a higher disposable income they are more likely to spend money improving their homes and hence the whole community benefits.

krlyr

Have a watch of How To Get A Council House on 4OD, we watched a few episodes while it was airing and it was quite an interesting insight on both sides of things
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-get-a-council-house/4od

It was quite frustrating to see some people turn down offered houses for silly reasons - I think one woman refused a really nice looking modern flat because it didn't have allocated parking...but she didn't even own a car! And heartwarming to see some people accept houses or flats in the grottiest of states, getting told there's no grants to help with the renovations (because in some it was certainly more work than a lick of paint), but still being so grateful to be offered it.

pukkamum

krlyr wrote: »

Have a watch of How To Get A Council House on 4OD, we watched a few episodes while it was airing and it was quite an interesting insight on both sides of things
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-get-a-council-house/4od

It was quite frustrating to see some people turn down offered houses for silly reasons - I think one woman refused a really nice looking modern flat because it didn't have allocated parking...but she didn't even own a car! And heartwarming to see some people accept houses or flats in the grottiest of states, getting told there's no grants to help with the renovations (because in some it was certainly more work than a lick of paint), but still being so grateful to be offered it.

I watched this programme and the cynic in me did wonder if the parking space issue was either because she intended to sub-let or buy it using the discount to then sell and a parking space would make it so much more valuable.

eamon

Thats what I thought as well!

wellynever

fawd1 wrote: »

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.

How about they buy their state owned house with a 70% discount, I'm sure i've typed this before

pipkin71

Tropez wrote: »

The council can't force you to go and live with someone even if you are in a relationship with them. By using the word "partner" I assume that they're not married and so their separate living statuses are of no concern.

Absolutely.

I would not want to be forced to live with my partner. Surely, people who wanted to would come to that decision themselves, without being forced into it.

pipkin71

mummyroysof3 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.

I think the reduction in housing benefit will take care of that issue for many and councils do try downsizing people when they are living in houses larger than they need.

Ideally, it wouldn't be too difficult to reduce bedrooms as needs decrease but it's not always that simple.

pukkamum

pipkin71 wrote: »

I think the reduction in housing benefit will take care of that issue for many and councils do try downsizing people when they are living in houses larger than they need.

Ideally, it wouldn't be too difficult to reduce bedrooms as needs decrease but it's not always that simple.

With regards to this I have considered putting forward an idea to our housing office that we do an open day at the local housing office.
Basically for people who want to increase/decrease house size to be able to come together and see if swaps can't be done.
There is a housing swap site for us but not everyone has or uses a pc, especially older tenants.

Loz01

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!!