Discussion
With the shortage of housing and the economic downturn, can someone explain how and why right to buy is still a thing?
Why do council tenants deserve the right to buy their rented properties at a discounted rate?
Why am I discriminated against getting a council property?
Why do benefits claimants get discounts and priority on council services over working people?
Why do council tenants deserve the right to buy their rented properties at a discounted rate?
Why am I discriminated against getting a council property?
Why do benefits claimants get discounts and priority on council services over working people?
tixoc said:
With the shortage of housing and the economic downturn, can someone explain how and why right to buy is still a thing?
Why do council tenants deserve the right to buy their rented properties at a discounted rate?
Why am I discriminated against getting a council property?
Why do benefits claimants get discounts and priority on council services over working people?
1. It's a cretinous policy.Why do council tenants deserve the right to buy their rented properties at a discounted rate?
Why am I discriminated against getting a council property?
Why do benefits claimants get discounts and priority on council services over working people?
2. You're not discriminated against. You probably don't meet the priority criteria for social housing.
3. if they're claiming benefits it's unlikely they would be able to afford a house. They would need to have some kind of deposit and possibly a mortgage. if they're on benefits how would they save up the lump sum deposit and how would they meet the lending criteria.
Very few get sold nowadays. People who were going to buy one would have already bought one by now. You can't get social housing property now, unless you're re practically homeless, so the chance of being eligible for a mortgage is very slim.
Another example of poor governance, where policy is made purely on what they think will gain votes rather what actually needs to be done.
Another example of poor governance, where policy is made purely on what they think will gain votes rather what actually needs to be done.
Edited by xstian on Sunday 22 October 19:31
Maggie introduced the right to buy in order to get more votes. Letting Council tenants buy their home might have some egalitarian value, but forcing local authorities to sell their housing stock at way under market value is wrong, as they then have to try and replace it at full price. They don't do this in general, which is why the privately rented sector had mushroomed over the past few decades.
tixoc said:
The worst part is, those scummy people who managed to buy their s
thole council flats for peanuts 20 years ago get to sell them to Joe public for market rate. Those same flats are now on average around half a mil.
Worse than that, councils are having to pay private landlords to rents the same houses back.
thole council flats for peanuts 20 years ago get to sell them to Joe public for market rate. Those same flats are now on average around half a mil. Not particularly uncommon for landlords to approach people who are longterm tenants and offer to “lend” them the money to buy the property on the discounted rate and then let them live in it until they die, rent free, or peppercorn rent, with the contract that they take ownership when they die.
I’ve certainly known this in the NE. I did this for both my exMIL and exGMIL.
As to the system itself - No one in the system is discriminated against at all. It’s a priority based system.
I’ve certainly known this in the NE. I did this for both my exMIL and exGMIL.
As to the system itself - No one in the system is discriminated against at all. It’s a priority based system.
x5tuu said:
Not particularly uncommon for landlords to approach people who are longterm tenants and offer to “lend” them the money to buy the property on the discounted rate and then let them live in it until they die, rent free, or peppercorn rent, with the contract that they take ownership when they die.
I’ve certainly known this in the NE. I did this for both my exMIL and exGMIL.
I’ve certainly known this in the NE. I did this for both my exMIL and exGMIL.

Usually a close relative of the tenant, knowing that their relative is going to die soon, "helps" them buy the property so they can inherit it once the relative dies and benefit from the massive discount. It makes no difference to the tenant because previously their rent wa spaid by Housing Benefit anyway (although they are now responsible for their own R&M) . Councils and ALMOs are aware of this and one of the things they have tried to do is to put a 5-year buyback clause in RTB sales i.e. if the Buyer dies within 5 years the LA/ALM) has the right to buy back the property at the original sale price.
My dad moved into a council property in 1986 along with his second wife and her children.
He is still in it by himself. He could have bought it many times over.
However, due to his strict principles he wouldn’t. He has never agreed with the whole idea and believes they should be kept by local authorities for those who need them. Can’t say many folk would be that strict.
He has paid the highest rent due too because of his earning/pension.
Wasn’t a fan of Mrs T. Lol
He is still in it by himself. He could have bought it many times over.
However, due to his strict principles he wouldn’t. He has never agreed with the whole idea and believes they should be kept by local authorities for those who need them. Can’t say many folk would be that strict.
He has paid the highest rent due too because of his earning/pension.
Wasn’t a fan of Mrs T. Lol
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