Will my girlfriend lose her council flat if i marry her? I own two properties.

Annie1960

tunnel wrote: »

I couldn't give a monkeys if the OP has 2 or 20 houses, they're offering to pay full rent and take his partner off benefits

That's rent and benefits that I as a taxpayer will not now be subsidising

But instead you will be subsidising bed and breakfast accommodation (much more expensive) for a vulnerable family who could really use the social housing. So us taxpayers are not saving anything by this.

seven-day-weekend

AFAIK there is nothing to stop you from owning property whilst living in a Council property, providing you pay the rent yourself.

tunnel

AdrianC wrote: »

But for somebody who does not need social housing to deny it to somebody who does is wrong.

The OP asked a simple question and is being vilified for it, something that if i dare say that if most folks on here were put in that position would do exactly as the OP is hoping to do, whether that is right or wrong.

Can anyone REALLY say that in the OP's position that they wouldn't do as he's proposing?

seven-day-weekend

jellie wrote: »

Surely being married to someone who owns two houses suggests the family are able to afford private renting? Thus leaving the social property available to a family who are in a less fortunate position

Why should only someone on Benefits be able to have a secure tenancy?

This isn't about people who are working not being eligible for social housing, but about someone owning two houses being able to live in a council flat.

[COLOR="rgb(65, 105, 225)"]The OP is looking at options because his girlfriend does not want to leave her Council flat.
[/COLOR]


Why not if this means a more vulnerable person/family is able to have a home to live in?

Whilst there is an ethical element here, I do not see why the OP's fiancee should give up her secure tenancy because she is getting married, providing that the full rent is paid.

Also see my comments in blue above.

thequant

Annie1960 wrote: »

Yes, because social housing is really supposed to be for vulnerable people, not people who already own two properties.

Been some years since I last lived in a council property, but from what I can remember there is no restrictions on who can apply and live in a council property. Even if you were a millionaire.


Everyone has the legal right to be placed on the housing waiting list and once you have a property you have the right to live their for life.


However what is different these days with the critical shortage of social housing is that waiting lists prioritised so those who are millionaires or own their own properties would be waiting a very long time before they got something.


In essence there is no restriction to who properties are given to, but there is a restriction on the order they are given out.

pmlindyloo

thequant wrote: »

Been some years since I last lived in a council property, but from what I can remember there is no restrictions on who can apply and live in a council property. Even if you were a millionaire.


Everyone has the legal right to be placed on the housing waiting list and once you have a property you have the right to live their for life.


However what is different these days with the critical shortage of social housing is that waiting lists prioritised so those who are millionaires or own their own properties would be waiting a very long time before they got something.


In essence there is no restriction to who properties are given to, but there is a restriction on the order they are given out.

This used to be the case but now council can operate their own housing allocation policy (within gov. guidelines)

maidstone, for example, operate a 'closed list'.

See here for further details:

http://www.maidstone.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/12204/Allocation-Scheme-Policy-2013.pdf

AdrianC

tunnel wrote: »

Can anyone REALLY say that in the OP's position that they wouldn't do as he's proposing?

Yes, I can.

thequant

pmlindyloo wrote: »

This used to be the case but now council can operate their own housing allocation policy (within gov. guidelines)

maidstone, for example, operate a 'closed list'.

See here for further details:

http://www.maidstone.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/12204/Allocation-Scheme-Policy-2013.pdf

That's new, as I said been some years since I last had council housing.

Morglin

jannatiex4 wrote: »

My girlfriends lives in a council flat and is a assured tenant, run by a housing associations, she is working part-time so claims housing benefits. I have always been working and have a mortgage on two properties. We are planning to get married and I would like to move into my girlfriends council flat. We do not want her to lose her property just because I own two properties outside her city, her child is in a good school and she is close to her family.

The idea is to move into her council flat, rent out my two properties that i own, take her off benefits based on my income and pay the full rent!!

However I’m worried that we will get married and then when we apply to move into the council flat, the housing association will tell my girlfriend to move out and move into one of the flats that I own which is far way from her family and child's school.

I have phoned up the council and housing association for general advise, the council said its not a problem, and on the other hand the housing association said that I should really move out.

Please advise, i really don't want to jeopardise my girlfriends situation, and we are trying to do the right thing.

Thanks

As your GF is already a tenant, with a secure tenancy, as far as I know, there would be nothing, legally to stop you doing this, although (obviously) you would not be able to get any help with the rent, while you own these properties.

Many social landlords now ask, before placing anyone on a register, if you have over x amount in the bank (enough to buy a house) or if you already own a house.

But, what happens after the tenancy is granted, is irrelevant.

Lin

tunnel

AdrianC wrote: »

Yes, I can.

So you'd sell your business/income, take your wife out of social housing and rent/buy privately....really?

I must be going to see this fella when my times up as i sure as hell wouldn't.