tax dodging + council flat??

pinkshoes

misscomickat wrote: »

There are an awful lot of people in council accommodation who are better off than those struggling in private accommodations. Especially older families. It doesn't mean they should be evicted, but it does mean a shortage of affordable rented housing.

No, they certainly should be evicted, that's unfair. I guess it just comes down to personal moral judgement.

If I was living in a council house and knew that other people would greatly benefit from having that house, and were in far more need of a council house than I was, and that I could easily afford to rent privately or buy, then I would give it up. Not everyone thinks that way though.

zara33 wrote: »

Firstly the one bed council flat, why should this chap not be entitled to this flat he has much right as the next person to have a council flat, as you say it's a one bed not a two/three bed flat so i can't see how this is unfair to others.

Would you prefer a drug dealer in the flat, whose a waste of space and doesn't pay child support

He's entitled to live in it, but given that he can easily afford to rent privately, maybe that flat should go to someone who is currently renting privately and struggling. A 1 bed privately rented flat round here is very expensive for someone working full time on the minimum wage. Of course I would prefer a drug dealer in it, but I would prefer it to go to someone on minimum wage who is currently stuck in private rented accomodation and struggling with their bills and council tax.

BernadetteN

pinkshoes wrote: »

No, they certainly should be evicted, that's unfair. I guess it just comes down to personal moral judgement.

If I was living in a council house and knew that other people would greatly benefit from having that house, and were in far more need of a council house than I was, and that I could easily afford to rent privately or buy, then I would give it up. Not everyone thinks that way though.

Of course it seems unjust that single people living in huge houses are contributing towards a housing shortage, but it does not matter if they are council or private tenants or own their own property, you cannot evict them or ask them to sell up. My 3 nearest neighbours (all retired) all live in properties I'd consider far too big for them (large 4 bedroomed with one person in them) and I'd personally not choose to live in such big properties in their circumstances, not only because I'd feel they are too big for me, but because of the extra financial burden of council tax and heating bills. However, I'd never expect of suggest to my neighbours that they should sell up and allow their homes to be used by young families who are stuck in smaller sized homes. It's my neighbours' choices, it's their lives and their homes full of their memories. It's not entirely their fault that there is a housing shortage and not their fault at all that they happened to buy their properties at a time when properties cost less in relation to income and it's not my generation's fault that my generation find it hard and sometimes impossible to afford to buy houses bigger than a shoebox. That doesn't mean my generation should have the right to re-house those people who are sitting in properties perhaps larger than expected for their needs.

Catblue

It is not just a matter of whether he can afford to rent privately.

Council housing has security of tenure, so long as you keep up your rent payments on it.

Private renting can be very insecure. Landlords can usually give you two months' notice at any point to request that you move on, and some landlords can be reluctant to perform basic repairs to the property. These can both be very disruptive to people's lives.

If this man wishes to ensure that he (and presumably he has the children to stay sometimes) isn't having to move every 6 months or whatever, then surely it is up to him?

misscomickat

So if an elderly person lived in a council house, and their children had left home and their husband died. They had spent a lot of money over the years doing up the garden, decorating etc. Should they be evicted by the council?

There are benefits to living in council accommodation that go beyond cheaper rent prices. More secure tenancies, easier to get repairs done, no deposits etc. It's not surprising that people don't want to give that up.

In an ideal world there would be enough social housing for everyone who needed it, rather than the situation we have at the moment where millions of people are treated badly by private landlords.

Tran

larmy16 wrote: »

Many years ago I lived next door to someone who was keeping tabs on my entire estate!

I was on benefits at that time and managed to get a car from a friend which I paid for in three installments. My neighbour said "How can you afford a new car if you are on benefits!" The cost of the car? £150!!!!!

It was horrible to feel you were being watched by someone who had nothing to do with your life. I was so glad when she moved out.

Gosh! sounds like my neighbour!!!!! Actually I am the main target of her enquiries. Sits in her chair near the window all day watching TV. It's really sad but whenever I leave the house she is seen writing a note of my comings and goings.Shame she can't even do it behind net curtains. Being a single mum with 3 kids in an area where everyone works/has worked and is now retired is no fun. I've been reported anonymously several times now with a list of comings and goings to my house been reported. The neighbour has also asked questions about me to other neighbours about how i afford to "live". I only have suspicions that it was her who reported me but nonetheless.... You would have thought that taking 3 kids out at 8.30am EVERY school morning in uniform and then going out again at 3pm and returning with 3 kids in school uniform wouldn't be very suspicious....

seven-day-weekend

pinkshoes wrote: »

He was bragging at work, no alcohol involved.

Sorry for caring. I guess it just upsets me to think that someone can have so little respect and care so little for their children, and see their parental responsibility as such a joke.

And if people don't agree that council houses should be given to those that genuinely need them rather than those would could more than easily rent privately, then fair enough. I would rather that tax subsidises someone's rent that genuinely needs that council house.

Thank you very much for all the insults and wrong presumptions you made. I have absolutely nothing against people living in council houses who genuinely can't afford to rent privately, and would like to see more council houses given to those who so desparately need one.

Why should he give up his secure tenancy for one where he can be chucked out every six months, even if he is single and earning? Only a fool would do so. I certainly wouldn't. Would you?

floss2

BTW, £350 is roughly equivalent to 15% of £2,333 - an approximate annual salary of £41,000......... methinks he is paying a more-than-adequate figure for maintenance, taking into account his alleged extra income.

liney

floss2 wrote: »

BTW, £350 is roughly equivalent to 15% of £2,333 - an approximate annual salary of £41,000......... methinks he is paying a more-than-adequate figure for maintenance, taking into account his alleged extra income.

Which goes back to my point. Hes entitled to a new car if he wants one, and the OP doesn t know as much about his income as they think they do.:D

astonsmummy

pinkshoes wrote: »

I know a guy who lives in a 1 bed council flat, and drives a rather expensive new-ish car, always buying expensive bottles of wine, eating out, spends £200 on a night out, and pays £350/month in child support to his 2 children (from 2 different partners). He's only a technician, so I presume he earns around £15k PA...

Something just doesn't add up. I'm sure there's a queue for council flats, so not sure how a single bloke who seems to have so much money got one! And he was talking about getting a new car, paying in cash, which costs £16k!!

This morning I heard him talking about how he makes £1000 a month buying and selling stuff on ebay, and he has 7 bank accounts! At least that would explain all the free cash and extravagant life style.

Is that legal? I have no idea about child support costs either, but I do know he pays around £350 a month for the 2 kids, so I suppose that would be right for just a technician salary??

I read all these stories about people who desparately want a council flat, and yet here's some guy living in one, with all this cash to splash... hardly seems fair. His family all live in council flats, so does that mean he has a better chance of getting one?

OMG, how nosey are you?
Maybe he got the flat after he spilit from his first partner, if he shares access then he may of been eligable for a flat, but only one bed, really is it any of your business?

liney

pinkshoes wrote: »

He was bragging at work, no alcohol involved.

So perhaps he was exaggerating then.

It seems this person was in need of accommadation when his wife threw him out of the marital home. I do not understand why you begrudge a single man a 1 bed flat, yet would be happy for 1 pensioner to contunie rattling around in a 4 bed house.

While you are trying to tell us this is a moral call, you appear to have something against your workmate.