Should Council Houses Be For Life?
Discussion
While visiting a property today the next door neighbour comes out to have a chat, and to ask what I'd been up to since we'd last spoken - around 18 months ago when he'd tried to sell me his mother's house (she had recently passed away).
Through the course of a 5 minute chat he told me that he'd sold her house, but that he wanted to remain in his home which he'd lived in for 30+ years as it was costing him nothing. Leaning on his Mobility car, he pointed to his new double glazing, the new roof on his house, and was quite happy to tell me that it had cost him nothing, the local council had paid for everything while he had a not-unsubstantial amount of money sitting in the bank (presumably not in his name...).
Politely, I ended our conversation and drove away wondering whether council houses should only be seen as a stop-gap, and not be seen as somewhere you can stay at ridiculously cheap rent for a lifetime.
Now more than ever I accept that people need a safety net during difficult times, and that it's only right that the local government provide accommodation for those who face homelessness, but why should it be allowed that some people take full advantage of the situation and in fact never even attempt to stand on their own two feet?
Should moving into a council house be subject to a maximum tenancy? If the tenant is unable to find regular employment, should they then automatically be entered into community work to pay off their rent?
I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...
Through the course of a 5 minute chat he told me that he'd sold her house, but that he wanted to remain in his home which he'd lived in for 30+ years as it was costing him nothing. Leaning on his Mobility car, he pointed to his new double glazing, the new roof on his house, and was quite happy to tell me that it had cost him nothing, the local council had paid for everything while he had a not-unsubstantial amount of money sitting in the bank (presumably not in his name...).
Politely, I ended our conversation and drove away wondering whether council houses should only be seen as a stop-gap, and not be seen as somewhere you can stay at ridiculously cheap rent for a lifetime.
Now more than ever I accept that people need a safety net during difficult times, and that it's only right that the local government provide accommodation for those who face homelessness, but why should it be allowed that some people take full advantage of the situation and in fact never even attempt to stand on their own two feet?
Should moving into a council house be subject to a maximum tenancy? If the tenant is unable to find regular employment, should they then automatically be entered into community work to pay off their rent?
I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...
Council houses are systematically taken advantage of, I've heard of one person, Who 3 years after selling a previously council owned property has now been moved into another one, If i knew the person by name I would shop them
But then again shouldnt it be the councils job to police things like this?
But then again shouldnt it be the councils job to police things like this?
My ex now lives in social housing ,as she has a child under 16.(not mine!) I work bloody hard and cannot afford a place anything like as new or modern as she has(Brand new ,in fact) ,and she has not worked since we split up (5 years ago) ,as there is no incentive for her to do so .
Wrong,wrong,wrong.
Wrong,wrong,wrong.
speedfreaky said:
My ex now lives in social housing ,as she has a child under 16.(not mine!) I work bloody hard and cannot afford a place anything like as new or modern as she has(Brand new ,in fact) ,and she has not worked since we split up (5 years ago) ,as there is no incentive for her to do so .
Wrong,wrong,wrong.
Whose the fool?Wrong,wrong,wrong.
You and me, that's who.
I think there should be a down grade system in place ,you start off in a 2/3 bedroom place when you have kids but when they have left or left full time education the tenant is then moved into a one bedroom place
Second idea of mine give priority to tenants that can pay their rent rather than have the let the state pay it brigade given as much chance if not more to be put at the top of the list,they should be the ones put in the bedsits.
Second idea of mine give priority to tenants that can pay their rent rather than have the let the state pay it brigade given as much chance if not more to be put at the top of the list,they should be the ones put in the bedsits.
Andy M said:
I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...
It's called being a benefits cheat.Why should he be smug in his free house, carefully hidden swollen bank account, no council tax to pay and on-call free maintenance crews. When people who work hard to afford their own homes pay their council taxes which go to pay for his easy life get screwed.
They do have a phone number you can call to let them know about people like him.
FourWheelDrift said:
Andy M said:
I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...
It's called being a benefits cheat.Why should he be smug in his free house, carefully hidden swollen bank account, no council tax to pay and on-call free maintenance crews. When people who work hard to afford their own homes pay their council taxes which go to pay for his easy life get screwed.
They do have a phone number you can call to let them know about people like him.
Anonymous grassline the cheating c t.
People like him are SMUG SCUM.
G'kar said:
Now, why on earth would a property developer/investor be not all that keen on the state providing subsidised housing? 
You should grass the freeloading little s
t though.
Believe me, it's quite the opposite - landlords such as myself can make a small fortune from housing council tenants. Last month I let a property in Stockport at the normal private market rate of £550pcm, only to later find that the local council would have paid £850. Upon checking into it this is by no means irregular.You should grass the freeloading little s
t though.Soovy said:
speedfreaky said:
My ex now lives in social housing ,as she has a child under 16.(not mine!) I work bloody hard and cannot afford a place anything like as new or modern as she has(Brand new ,in fact) ,and she has not worked since we split up (5 years ago) ,as there is no incentive for her to do so .
Wrong,wrong,wrong.
Whose the fool?Wrong,wrong,wrong.
You and me, that's who.
FourWheelDrift said:
Freephone: 0800 975 6050
Lines are open: Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm
Do it.Lines are open: Monday to Friday - 9am to 5pm
A few years ago someone screwed me over a car crash. Cost me 30k and I nealry ended up in jail.
I waited three years until I found out that he and his son were involved in a VAT fraud at the family firm. I grassed them to the VAT man, and they got two years jail each.
Oh how I enjoyed those Christmases, knowing they were eating turkey porridge.
It was only yesterday I pointed out an observation to my other half while out walking the dog.
We have a block of council flats over the back. I walked round it and worked it out to be 18 flats. I managed to count 15 Sky dishes, and noted an 08 plate A class, 3 newish Astras and newish Previa amongst other half respectable cars.
Now, if you can't afford your own house and have to rely on a council flat at a cheap rate, you ruddy well cannot afford luxuries like Sky and half decent cars.
Just my 2p.
We have a block of council flats over the back. I walked round it and worked it out to be 18 flats. I managed to count 15 Sky dishes, and noted an 08 plate A class, 3 newish Astras and newish Previa amongst other half respectable cars.
Now, if you can't afford your own house and have to rely on a council flat at a cheap rate, you ruddy well cannot afford luxuries like Sky and half decent cars.
Just my 2p.
bazking69 said:
.....if you can't afford your own house and have to rely on a council flat at a cheap rate, you ruddy well cannot afford luxuries like Sky and half decent cars
No you can't, but you don't need to. The gubbermemt provdes them using OUR taxes. I know of at least three people running new Merc C Classes free of charge because they are "disabled". One of them works as a cleaner.Google for "bread and circuses"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses
C ntery of the highest order.
Edited by Soovy on Tuesday 3rd February 17:36
FourWheelDrift said:
Andy M said:
I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...
It's called being a benefits cheat.Why should he be smug in his free house, carefully hidden swollen bank account, no council tax to pay and on-call free maintenance crews. When people who work hard to afford their own homes pay their council taxes which go to pay for his easy life get screwed.
They do have a phone number you can call to let them know about people like him.
On the facts presented, he's not actually cheating anyone; just playing the game on the rules as they exist.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff