Find me a house to live in...

[Kermit power]

Imagine for a moment that my family and I have been slumming it until now in our 4 bedroom townhouse in Mayfair. We've just found out that thanks to the Daily Mail, our £3k per week housing benefit claim is no longer considered acceptable.

Now, as I'm sure you'll all agree, forcing me to go and sign on in a different benefits office would be a frankly outrageous abuse of my human rights. In fact, now I come to think about it, it's almost as disgraceful as the suggestion that I should actually pay something towards my own rent!!!

So, here's the challenge.

You've got a maximum of £1,750 per month for my rent (and of course it is your money. Like I'd ever pay tax!), and it has to be within 10 miles of Mayfair.

I realise, of course, that I'm going to be forced to make my family live in a slum that will be barely better than a urine-soaked cardboard box under a railway arch, but do your best. Find me the nicest property you can pay for me to live in using housing benefit alone.

Just to get the ball rolling, here's the kitchen in my favourite so far

[ShadownINja]

Don't get me started.

[WorAl]

What are you getting at?

[TotalControl]

God.

This thread could be good.

Where's my cuppa tea?

[Tsippy]

We struggle to afford a place costing £700 per month

[Great Pretender]

[SDxsi]

I'm confused although I do suspect this could well be an epic thread?!

[Pothole]

Kermit power said:

it has to be within 10 miles of Mayfair.

Just to get the ball rolling, here's the kitchen in my favourite so far which is nearer Croydon than Mayfair

ETA 11.5 miles away!

Edited by Pothole on Friday 29th October 01:26

[Pothole]

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

We are delighted to present this 5 bedroom detached house in the very popular Lewisham SE13. Centrally located and split over three floors the property has a driveway for two cars, private rear garden, large separate kitchen with appliances, loft access and wood floors throughout. Neutrally and recently decorated the property comes with a selection of furnishings.

8.4 miles

[Pothole]

just outside at 10.6

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

[Chris_w666]

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

[Pothole]

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

[2 Wycked]

Tsippy said:

We struggle to afford a place costing £700 per month

We struggle to afford a place with no mortgage.

Gated development - 8.3 miles

[Chris_w666]

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

Which if people realised then they would work out just how fking utterly retarded our benefits system is.

[Pothole]

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

Which if people realised then they would work out just how fking utterly retarded our benefits system is.

Sorry? Our benefits system is retarded (by which you must mean slowed down, so I don't really understand) because a Landlord has stipulated a certain minimum income for would-be tenants of his property?

[Chris_w666]

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

Which if people realised then they would work out just how fking utterly retarded our benefits system is.

Sorry? Our benefits system is retarded (by which you must mean slowed down, so I don't really understand) because a Landlord has stipulated a certain minimum income for would-be tenants of his property?

I shall try to explain, that landlord has worked out that to afford the £1750pcm rental his tennants must be earning £45,000 a year. That same £1750 PCM is paid to house people who do not, have not and likely will not work.

What has gone wrong with a system where this can happen, yet someone being paid a contractual bonus is a villan?

[TotalControl]

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

Which if people realised then they would work out just how fking utterly retarded our benefits system is.

Sorry? Our benefits system is retarded (by which you must mean slowed down, so I don't really understand) because a Landlord has stipulated a certain minimum income for would-be tenants of his property?

I shall try to explain, that landlord has worked out that to afford the £1750pcm rental his tennants must be earning £45,000 a year. That same £1750 PCM is paid to house people who do not, have not and likely will not work.

What has gone wrong with a system where this can happen, yet someone being paid a contractual bonus is a villan?

'Da sistam' went downhill along time ago.

Why would the landlords honestly care if they are getting their money though?

[Kermit power]

Pothole said:

Kermit power said:

it has to be within 10 miles of Mayfair.

Just to get the ball rolling, here's the kitchen in my favourite so far which is nearer Croydon than Mayfair

ETA 11.5 miles away!

Hmm.. Right Move returned it as within 10 miles of Mayfair.

[Pothole]

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Pothole said:

Chris_w666 said:

Just add balance this is the best I could find for the budget within 10 miles of my house.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

"REQUIRED EARNINGS - TENANTS: £45,000pa; GUARANTORS: if required £54,000pa
BOND: £1600.00"

Which if people realised then they would work out just how fking utterly retarded our benefits system is.

Sorry? Our benefits system is retarded (by which you must mean slowed down, so I don't really understand) because a Landlord has stipulated a certain minimum income for would-be tenants of his property?

I shall try to explain, that landlord has worked out that to afford the £1750pcm rental his tennants must be earning £45,000 a year. That same £1750 PCM is paid to house people who do not, have not and likely will not work.

What has gone wrong with a system where this can happen, yet someone being paid a contractual bonus is a villan?

How often is it paid? Not very often I'd warrant. Do you have any suggestions for an alternative system? (I agree that the current system is flawed, but I've yet to see anyone come up with an alternative which would not see children in care or on the street)

I don't think someone being paid a contractual bonus is a villain per se, but some of the City bonus schemes are at least as flawed as the current housing benefit system. How is it justifiable to pay anyone a bonus of multiples of base salary for underperforming?

Also; tenants. villain.

[Simpo Two]

Kermit power said:

Imagine for a moment that my family and I have been slumming it until now in our 4 bedroom townhouse in Mayfair. We've just found out that thanks to the Daily Mail, our £3k per week housing benefit claim is no longer considered acceptable.

It's not the Daily Mail, it's 'cold hard reality'. The problem is that the welfare system has allowed people to live in areas which are far too expensive for them. Naturally they hoover up as many freebies as possible and get used to it and come to regard it as normal, a 'hooman right' etc. 13 years of that and not surprisingly the country can't afford to keep paying them to live in such expensive areas, so a correction is required. They had it good for a while, now it's back to normal.

It's no different to the State buying me an Aston Martin, then me whining when they take it away.