We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Council housing - Priority for people with children?
Options

ChrisA95
Posts: 40 Forumite
Hello, apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.
Basically my question is:
Should couples, or single parents, with children (be it 1, 2 or 6) be given equal priority, or any priority, to council housing to those who are in vulnerable situations through no fault of their own.?
I am asking this because I generally want people's opinions towards this.
Recently a woman in my area with 4 kids has had yet another one and was told that the temporary accommodation that she was in was "unsuitable" to bring a baby back to. She has been unsuccessful in bidding for a large council flat on the ground floor ("needed due to young age of children") and her response to being told that places she bids on are being given to people with a higher priority is "They tell me there are people who are a higher priority than me although I find it difficult to imagine what those higher priorities could be".
To be honest, I am speechless by the sheer selfishness of people like this woman who have created their own problems. Their are people who are in a vulnerable situation through no fault of their own, and yet they have to wait longer because what few places that there are available, are being taken by people like this woman. People with disabilities and medical conditions who need to be urgently moved, people who need to be moved to escape abuse (ex-partners, gangs, etc), young adults coming out of the care of the local authority, etc.
I apologise for the long post, but I would like opinions on situations like this.
Basically my question is:
Should couples, or single parents, with children (be it 1, 2 or 6) be given equal priority, or any priority, to council housing to those who are in vulnerable situations through no fault of their own.?
I am asking this because I generally want people's opinions towards this.
Recently a woman in my area with 4 kids has had yet another one and was told that the temporary accommodation that she was in was "unsuitable" to bring a baby back to. She has been unsuccessful in bidding for a large council flat on the ground floor ("needed due to young age of children") and her response to being told that places she bids on are being given to people with a higher priority is "They tell me there are people who are a higher priority than me although I find it difficult to imagine what those higher priorities could be".
To be honest, I am speechless by the sheer selfishness of people like this woman who have created their own problems. Their are people who are in a vulnerable situation through no fault of their own, and yet they have to wait longer because what few places that there are available, are being taken by people like this woman. People with disabilities and medical conditions who need to be urgently moved, people who need to be moved to escape abuse (ex-partners, gangs, etc), young adults coming out of the care of the local authority, etc.
I apologise for the long post, but I would like opinions on situations like this.
0
Comments
-
Hello, apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.
I think you probably want the Discussion Form here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=57
This one is more for people seeking advice about specific problems rather than debating housing policy in general.0 -
Their are people who are in a vulnerable situation through no fault of their own,0
-
Would you rather the children went into care? If the existing housing arrangement is bad enough to warrant them being a high priority that is the alternative. That would involve splitting up the family, and very high cost to the authority.
Whilst you or I may not agree with her lifestyle choices, who are we to decide who is more worthy? How far do you take the question of fault, if someone got involved with a gang and then became a target are they more worthy? How about someone that became disabled as a result of their own drink driving? These things are never as clear cut as they may seem.0 -
Alice_Walker wrote: »Would you rather the children went into care?
.
Yes "pour encourager les autres"Alice_Walker wrote: »
Whilst you or I may not agree with her lifestyle choices, who are we to decide ? .
The people who are paying for her haphazard lifestyle, that's who.0 -
Broken Britain..............This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0
-
Would families and single people/childless couples be bidding on the same sort of properties? I would have thought that those without children would be bidding on studio flats and 1 bedroom properties whilst families would be bidding on larger properties.
As for children going into care there just aren't enough good foster parents to place children with. You shouldnt underestimate the bond between parent and child no matter how crap the parent is, it can do more harm that good to separate children from parents.0 -
Rather than see it as one single mother being housed as priority over a disabled person or a victim of crime, it should be seen as four children given priority over one adult.
Many people would feel that the welfare of children is of a higher priority than that of adults, even where the adult is vulnerable.
A (many would say regrettable) side effect of the duty of care to children shown by a civilized society, is that their parents may also benefit.
It is understandable that people competing for shared resources feel it is unfair that they lose out to people they feel have created their own difficulties.
However, unless we are prepared to neglect the well-being of children, there doesn't seem to be a viable alternative.
Put your hands up.0 -
At least you know where our taxes are going tho.... to a good home of a loving mother with several kids. Happy times.This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0
-
I understand that it is the children which give this woman the priorty in terms of housing, but the thing is, where does the line get drawn? As I stated, despite already having 4 kids, she has just had another which is the reason why her current accommodation has become unacceptable. Surely councils need to get tough on this behaviour by either threatening to not provide aother council house in the event she has another child, in which she will have to start looking for private accomodation or by taking the children (who she can't provide for) into care (As a last resort, of course). Don't get me wrong, I believe people should claim benefits or ask for housing from their local authority if they are in need, especially if they haven't got friends and family to help them.0
-
It is about people who live within their means (e.g. Only have kids if they can afford to raise them) vs those who just do what they want.
Personally, I think council house priority should be for working families on a low income.
There is a HUGE waiting list to adopt babies, so perhaps people need to take more responsibility for the amount of children they have if they cannot support them.
Would people be so quick to get pregnant if there were consequences?
Who knows...Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.5K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards