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can you rent a council property if you already own a property?

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  • bobby-boy_2
    bobby-boy_2 Posts: 235 Forumite
    neas wrote: »
    ... and afterall council housing is ment to be temporary
    Says who?
    So what about people who have been council tenants for 20+ years I think you are very much mistaken!
    .
    Debts as of 01/june/08
    [strike]Dad 15,500[/strike] [strike]11,000[/strike] [STRIKE]9000[/STRIKE]
    [strike]Friend[/strike] [STRIKE]5000[/STRIKE]
    [strike]Other 1000[/strike] 0.0
    Egg [strike]7633.14[/strike] [strike]6000@0%[/strike]:T
  • eldowardo
    eldowardo Posts: 71 Forumite
    although you can apply for council housing if you have your own home, the property you rent off the council - as far as I understand - has to be used as your principal home though.

    it does raise a moral argument with the shortage of affordable housing though, and you do have to declare it on your housing application form.
  • trudiha
    trudiha Posts: 398 Forumite
    It only raises an argument when there is a shortage of affordable housing and, as has already been pointed out, that isn't the case everywhere. In areas where there is a shortage a very thorougher job of 'gate keeping' is done.

    In areas where supply outstrips demand, I'd have thought that the LA would have a duty to ensure that as few low cost houses as possible were left empty when rent could be collected on them.
  • bandraoi
    bandraoi Posts: 1,261 Forumite
    LillyJ wrote: »
    I do not know about GETTING a place, but I know you can stay in one. I know some elderly people who inherited a cottage over 12 hours drive away, but they have stayed in their council property.

    I think that is fair enough, as the house isn't worth alot, and it is a very long way a way. They don't try and force people living in southern england to move to the north to get cheaper rent, do they? so why should they force someone to move to a house a long way away?
    They could force them to sell it and pay market rent for the council property though.
  • eldowardo
    eldowardo Posts: 71 Forumite
    trudiha wrote: »
    It only raises an argument when there is a shortage of affordable housing and, as has already been pointed out, that isn't the case everywhere. In areas where there is a shortage a very thorougher job of 'gate keeping' is done.

    In areas where supply outstrips demand, I'd have thought that the LA would have a duty to ensure that as few low cost houses as possible were left empty when rent could be collected on them.

    I wouldnt normally ask further but can u name somewhere where there isnt a shortage of affordable housing?
  • LillyJ
    LillyJ Posts: 1,732 Forumite
    bandraoi wrote: »
    They could force them to sell it and pay market rent for the council property though.

    Well they have been good council tennants for 60 years, and so I am not sure why they should be forced to sell a family cottage worth barely anything. (been in family for 300+years)
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    eldowardo wrote: »
    I wouldnt normally ask further but can u name somewhere where there isnt a shortage of affordable housing?

    I can! I'm not going to because it is where I live, but as long as a person is willing to take anything, they can be in a property within days.
    Gone ... or have I?
  • bandraoi
    bandraoi Posts: 1,261 Forumite
    What do they want the cottage for? There are sentimental reasons granted, but they're not living in it, and it seems have no plans to.

    If they want to leave it to their children, they could sign it over now and let their children decide to take negative impacts on benefits etc.
    They could rent it out, in which case they could use the rent to pay market rate on their current council accommodation.
    Or they could sell it and again pay market rent on accommodation.
    Government subsidy should be a last resort.
  • LillyJ
    LillyJ Posts: 1,732 Forumite
    They are far too old to move (over 80). They go to the house in the summer and have lots of family there.

    Their children most certainly do NOT need benefits so this would not be an issue.

    There is no market for rental - the village has less than 200 people in it, and the nearest town is 30 miles away.

    They are far too old anyway to start renting houses out to people, the don't need the stress.

    Anyway I feel they are more deserving of a council house than all the families in their street of whom none pay ANY rent (HB) and none work (apart from on the side window cleaning).

    EVERYONE is entitled to council housing - the issue is how long you wait. As they have been in this house for 60 years this isn't the problem. There are also many empty houses in the street, and no one wants them as the area is horrible.
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    In my home town in the Midlands there are some places where you can get a three-bedroom house for zero points. So in theory the first person to say they would take one would get it.

    Also you can be granted a Council place if you have medical needs, if you own your house but it doesn't meet your needs. My b-i-l has one. He was granted his bungalow on medical grounds. He then sold his house (and obviously pays full rent and Council tax. on hius Council place).
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
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