Should we bother putting our names on the council list?

jillie1974

best place is on line. or have a look while you're out an about.
our first flat was a housing assoc one and it was great!

jillie1974

just found this... hope it helps you

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/SocialHousingAndCareHomes/HousingAssociations/index.htm

elisebutt65

What have you got to lose - I put our names down in 2000 and had a house by 2001. sometimes just depends on what's out there and who's on the list. I was married back then with 2 kids and we got a lovely 3 bed mid-terrace house. mind you - the real reason was that they were desperate to get shot of the house as the last few neighbours had to be re-housed due to the nutcase living next door. Got him evicted due to his antisocial behaviour (threatening to kill us in our sleep etc.)after 6 months and now we have nice neighbours as well

Lavendyr

mariagti wrote: »

Im 24 and my OH is 23, we're both working but with low incomes and cant get a mortage because of our incomes. We dont want to rent as we see it as money going down the drain or paying someone esles mortage off!

Rubbish. A) You are paying for a service. You cannot afford to buy, so you don't have a lot of choice.

Personally, as someone who rents privately for the same reasons you do (cannot afford to buy) I think you should just rent a place privately and be done with it. From what you've said, you clearly can afford to rent privately, you just don't want to because you perceive it as a waste of money. But if you take up a council house - if you could even get one in the first place - you are potentially taking away that place from someone who really needs it because they can't even afford to rent privately, let alone get a mortgage - not to mention that tax-payers like me will be subsidising your living.

Uncle_Rico

Errr, am i missing something here?

You said you thought renting was money down the drain, but you're thinking about applying to go on the council housing list?

Don't you pay rent in council houses?

chelseablue

Uncle_Rico wrote: »

Errr, am i missing something here?

You said you thought renting was money down the drain, but you're thinking about applying to go on the council housing list?

Don't you pay rent in council houses?

Council rent is usually a lot cheaper than private rent.

Or maybe in the future they want to use Right to Buy (but thats a whole different thread! )

beingjdc

It really depends where you are in the country. If you really are in an area where buying is still as cheap as renting, that suggests it's one of the poorest areas of the North, or South Wales. In that case, it might be one where the council have surplus stock (so much that in some areas they're bulldozing it to keep the prices of other homes up).

misscomickat

It depends where you live. You might be waiting years and years, or you might only be offered a tower block flat in a rubbish area.

I lived in a council flat when I was a teenager, and frankly, I would rather pay the extra to be in private accommodation. I had so many problems living there. Not saying all council places would be like that, but quite a lot are.

jembie

mariagti wrote: »

Yeah to tell the truth i'd rather go with a housing association than council list as they seem to have flat/houses in much better areas!;) Not sure where i go to get information about the housing assocations though?

Where I live, all the housing associations are linked in with the council list under the name of HOMEFINDER so you can no longer just apply to selected HA's. When you do they just give you the standard homefinder form.

siren13577

mariagti wrote: »

Im 24 and my OH is 23, we're both working but with low incomes and cant get a mortage because of our incomes. We dont want to rent as we see it as money going down the drain or paying someone esles mortage off! The pasrt buy part rent schemes are more expensive than a mortage.

SO......do we bother putting our names on the council housing list?......I havent done it yet as i dont see any hope in people like us being offered a place because your only at the top of the list if your homeless, pregnant, mentally ill, disabled, or aslyum seeker. Has anyone on here been offered a place who hasnt been any of the above?

My parents have been on at me since i was 18 to do it. But i didnt!

A lot of housing associations now offer shared equity(I think this is the right word) homes, you can buy a share in the house, starting I think at 25% and going up to 75%. That way you're not just renting, have a look here:
http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/policy/issues/166
to get more information. You should be able to easily find a housing association in your area by using google. The houses are fitted to a high standard also, in line with decent home standards, get involved early on and I should imagine you can choose the fixtures and fittings. I hope this helps and you have a lovely Christmas.