What would you do in my situation???

Red-Squirrel_2

Nick_C wrote: »

Your story is truly inspirational Ruth. If you had chosen the easy option of a lifetime on benefits as a single mum

You think that's easy? :eek:

Jhoney_2

ruthmt wrote: »

Wow! I see I've opened a whole can of worms here....but I completely understand the outrage.

Firstly, I personally do not agree with the RTB or the discounts that are given for social housing tenants. I do not usually align myself with many Tory policies but I do agree that social housing should be limited to those on the lowest income (which would exclude us).

I think it's morally wrong to sell off social housing but the government are putting these incentives under our noses and, first and foremost, my priority has to be to my family rather than the whole country. I know this is a bitter pill for others to swallow but I cannot turn down an opportunity just to take the moral high ground (though it seems many of you would). I am looking for security for myself and my children.

Our circumstances changed around 14 months ago.

My mum died f cancer in the 1980's leaving my dad as a young single father with three kids. Our house was repossessed and he never recovered. We lived in homeless hostels at various points throughout our childhood and I had moved 16 times by 17 years old.
My husband was raised alone by his mum as his dad spent most of his childhood in prison.
Our families are completely broke and we have never been able to turn to anyone for help...we have spent most of our lives pretty destitute (as I'm sure many of you have also).

I was a teenage parent with nowhere to live and the state were kind enough to help me out and provide me with a council house 16 years ago. I have worked for the last 14 years and the most I ever earned was £14k a year. My husband was earning £15k a year.

We turned things around- we both studied and I qualified as a teacher in 2013. My husband now earns a lot more than me as an engineer but we have about £40k in student debt and have just finished paying off the credit cards and loans that we accrued from not having enough money to live off for several years.

Now we have worked hard and got ourselves into this position we want to make sure that our children will never have to struggle the way we did and that we can help them when the time comes and they want to stand on their own two feet.

I know it is unfair, I totally agree. But the system is what it is and I would be stupid to walk away from an opportunity that could give us our first taste of security.

Thanks for sharing this, but you didn't have to. There is no difference between this and those who will get the help to buy etc that are being provided from tax payers money or the bailout for banks.

Anyone who could save money or get some additional equity in their home would do so too. There is no requirement for council tenants to relinquish their home when things get better (and well done for getting to where you are now) so do not be ashamed. It's your choice and opportunity, go and take it.

As to which option - only you and OH can say what will work best for your family.

ruthmt

Jhoney wrote: »

Thanks for sharing this, but you didn't have to. There is no difference between this and those who will get the help to buy etc that are being provided from tax payers money or the bailout for banks.

Anyone who could save money or get some additional equity in their home would do so too. There is no requirement for council tenants to relinquish their home when things get better (and well done for getting to where you are now) so do not be ashamed. It's your choice and opportunity, go and take it.

As to which option - only you and OH can say what will work best for your family.

Thank you. I know I didn't have to but behind every person is a story and sometimes we have to humanise things. Some of the posts were kind of insinuating that I am robbing the state (which I guess is true!!) but it feels very different when you're living it. Even though we have disposable income, we're still living very frugally to save so we can move on.

ruthmt

Anyway- reading the comments has helped me to solidify my position on things. We will buy privately (with the £33k incentive of course) and leave our council home for the next person who needs it. I was never really comfortable with taking a property off the social market. However, a few people have said that I may not even get the £33k discount which changes everything as it will take us a few more years to save what we need to move

Jhoney_2

ruthmt wrote: »

Thank you. I know I didn't have to but behind every person is a story and sometimes we have to humanise things. Some of the posts were kind of insinuating that I am robbing the state (which I guess is true!!) but it feels very different when you're living it. Even though we have disposable income, we're still living very frugally to save so we can move on.

Yes, there will be a posts implying that, but the point is they need to see that the state is robbing itself. People just need to think a little beyond the outcome and see the cause.

You were not just plucked off a beach and handed these things and taxes were supposed to pay for just such needs. I'm glad to hear that some of that has helped you and your family.

And, thanks to your career choice, you will help other people develope, thrive and hopefully not have to need those services in future!

Good luck:)

AdrianC

Jhoney wrote: »

but the point is they need to see that the state is robbing itself.

Not at all - the state, over the course of more than a third of a century has taken the conscious decision to follow a particular path, and to offer financial subsidies to support that path. That's not "robbing itself". You might not agree with it, but you have to accept that the governments who have done so have had popular mandates for that decision.

Jhoney_2

AdrianC wrote: »

Not at all - the state, over the course of more than a third of a century has taken the conscious decision to follow a particular path, and to offer financial subsidies to support that path. That's not "robbing itself". You might not agree with it, but you have to accept that the governments who have done so have had popular mandates for that decision.

My poor communication.:)

I was referring to OP feeling that posts were 'insinuating that she was robbing the State' - meaning if one sees it as such, then it is the State effectively 'robbing' itself, not her.

Thanks for making me aware of my mistake. FWIW, I do agree with it.

goodwithsaving

I was going to be judgemental but actually, thank you OP for your honest account. It's the system that's wrong, not you. At least you work and have turned your lives around. A real achievement. I would say though that just because some people have a well-off (all relative) family, there isn't necessarily help. Well off families have likely paid a lot into the country in terms of taxes etc. too. and therefore I don't quite side with the viewpoint of around helping those based on family background (which wasn't your point anyway :-) ).
You sound like you've had quite a tough life and I wish you nothing but happiness.

AdrianC

But, anyway, getting back to the point...

Do you WANT to continue to live in your current property for a few more years - five, to get the full discount?
Do you want to be responsible for maintenance and repair of it during that time? Bear in mind you may not have total control over the timing or size of those bills.
Do you want to have a very considerable proportion of your family's assets invested in that particular house in that particular area?

Unless the answer to all of those is "yes", then question very severely whether you want to exercise your RtB. It is a right you can choose to exercise, not something you have to do.

By all means, investigate the availability of the social mobility fund. You are the people that it's aimed at.

Think, also, what might have happened to you a few years ago if there was no social housing available...

ruthmt

Reading the comments has helped me to solidify my position on things. We will buy privately (with the £33k incentive of course) and leave our council home for the next person who needs it. I was never really comfortable with taking a property off the social market. However, a few people have said that I may not even get the £33k discount which changes everything as it will take us a few more years to save what we need to move