Non biased advice needed

ALI1973

I don't know about storage heaters, but my Mom moved to a one bed bungalow three years ago and has never looked back. She has saved so much going from 3 bed terrace. Her bills are a lot less, less cleaning, easier on her legs and the people are more sociable .

As regard to the taking in a lodger, is this permitted? I know that subletting isn't always allowed.

Tiddlywinks

poptart wrote: »

On a similar note does anyone else find it ridiculous in this day & age that a single person who has always worked cannot afford to rent, let alone buy, a property without worrying about their basic costs of living?

OK, I wasn't going to post on this thread but this line just got my goat.

Do you know how many working couples with children are struggling with huge mortgages and are barely getting by? Or how many in social housing are squeezed into smaller properties because larger ones are occupied by single people now their families have moved on?

They would dearly love the luxury of a three bedroom townhouse with a secure tenancy.

Just start realising what a privileged position your mum is in rather than seeing her as hard done by - they are thousands worse off than her!

poptart_2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

OK, I wasn't going to post on this thread but this line just got my goat.

Do you know how many working couples with children are struggling with huge mortgages and are barely getting by? Or how many in social housing are squeezed into smaller properties because larger ones are occupied by single people now their families have moved on?

They would dearly love the luxury of a three bedroom townhouse with a secure tenancy.

Just start realising what a privileged position your mum is in rather than seeing her as hard done by - they are thousands worse off than her!

Do you know how much myself or my mum would love to even afford a mortgage - let alone a huge one? Neither her or myself can even afford to run a car. We haven't ever had a holiday as a family.

She knows she is in a better position than some housing association tenants - but do not even dare to suggest she is in a better position than people who can afford a mortgage.

If a couple decide to over mortgage themselves that is their own choice, they didn't have to take out a mortgage they couldn't afford.

My mother has worked hard her whole life. Her first flat was a studio in a basement when I was a newborn, in todays standards it should have been condemned. She then got lucky and moved to a small house in a village and has managed to exchange with friends several times over the years.

People are being squeezed into smaller council flats because tennants bought their council properties and then put them into the private market. If this didn't happen then there wouldn't be this issue now, my mum was offered the opportunity to buy a previous council house for £20,000 but as she felt this was morally wrong she chose not to.

My last point is that, any new tennants are no longer offered guaranteed tenancy, it is short term that is usually reviewed every few years, a person with a guaranteed tenancy is NOT allowed to exchange with someone who has a short term tenancy, so even if she did want to swap with one of the overcrowded flats she couldn't.

Tiddlywinks

poptart wrote: »

Do you know how much myself or my mum would love to even afford a mortgage - let alone a huge one? Neither her or myself can even afford to run a car. We haven't ever had a holiday as a family.

She knows she is in a better position than some housing association tenants - but do not even dare to suggest she is in a better position than people who can afford a mortgage.

If a couple decide to over mortgage themselves that is their own choice, they didn't have to take out a mortgage they couldn't afford.

My mother has worked hard her whole life. Her first flat was a studio in a basement when I was a newborn, in todays standards it should have been condemned. She then got lucky and moved to a small house in a village and has managed to exchange with friends several times over the years.

People are being squeezed into smaller council flats because tennants bought their council properties and then put them into the private market. If this didn't happen then there wouldn't be this issue now, my mum was offered the opportunity to buy a previous council house for £20,000 but as she felt this was morally wrong she chose not to.

My last point is that, any new tennants are no longer offered guaranteed tenancy, it is short term that is usually reviewed every few years, a person with a guaranteed tenancy is NOT allowed to exchange with someone who has a short term tenancy, so even if she did want to swap with one of the overcrowded flats she couldn't.

You have absolutely no idea of how hard life can be without the chance of social housing.

Overmortgaging themselves is their own fault? Seriously? Living in the south, house and rent prices are hideously high and social housing is extremely hard to get... your comments just go to show how cosseted people in social housing are compared to those who have to pay market rates... be they for a mortgage or private rent.

poptart_2

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

You have absolutely no idea of how hard life can be without the chance of social housing.

Overmortgaging themselves is their own fault? Seriously? Living in the south, house and rent prices are hideously high and social housing is extremely hard to get... your comments just go to show how cosseted people in social housing are compared to those who have to pay market rates... be they for a mortgage or private rent.

I am trying to work out what your answer is to my original question. If it is of any help with any advice you give, we both live in the south ourselves, in one of the most expensive cities.

Perhaps I should have lied and said that my mother owns a house with gas central heating but cannot afford the mortgage repayments and is considering selling up & buying a smaller house with night storage heating. Would this have been a more acceptable situation for you?

poptart_2

ALI1973 wrote: »

I don't know about storage heaters, but my Mom moved to a one bed bungalow three years ago and has never looked back. She has saved so much going from 3 bed terrace. Her bills are a lot less, less cleaning, easier on her legs and the people are more sociable .

As regard to the taking in a lodger, is this permitted? I know that subletting isn't always allowed.

Excellant, she is looking forward to more money and less cleaning! I think the neighbours are really nice in this new place as well

I'm not sure it is permitted at all - might have to take a look into it

Savvy_Sue

ALI1973 wrote: »

As regard to the taking in a lodger, is this permitted? I know that subletting isn't always allowed.

I think in very general terms, subletting of part or the whole of the property is rarely allowed, and never without permission, you'd have to check with the Housing Officer, but with a secure tenancy you can generally have who you like living with you (within reason).

So, any lodger couldn't be given any security, but an informal arrangement could be OK.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

poptart, have a look at this thread re E7.

[Deleted User]

Hi, I haven't read through all the thread.
I have storage heating and what I do sometimes if I wake up in the middle of the night and I don't need a full charge on my storage heater I turn it off at the wall. Therefore effectively turning it off.
My electric for a 2bed flat so far since sept 2013 to today is £118.
My flats ground floor and can get cold. Its all electric.
I also use an electric blanket instead of heating my bedroom.
NO storage heaters arnt as controllable but ive been here 6years and the bills here when my son lived here as well we only £500 a year. That's for everything.