Social housing

[tonywiltshire]

Social housing should be reserved for people on low incomes; it is unfair for people with a high income to occupy social housing when people on a low income are forced to rent privately. I know incomes can reduce as well as increase but would it not be fairer when the joint income reaches, say twice the average income, to be given notice to leave so that a low-income family can occupy social housing. If circumstances reduce income the original family can re-apply for social housing.

I know this will produce some anomalies but would it not be fairer than being given social housing for life regardless of income?

[LoftyLottie]

Mmmm, I see we agree about Mrs Thatcher Shaney.

Yes it a sensitive subject. My friend has had her 28 year old son added as a tenant to her home (he obviously lives with her) Apparently, so I believe this will entitle him to remain in the council house if anything happens to her. If this is correct, then it makes me very angry!!!

[LoftyLottie]

Oh, I see Brendan. You are dead right!!

[emmie]

One difference if you are home owners, its yours to change, with council planning of course, but if you are council tenant you can't get them to do anything, it's why many council properties that could be let, can't be because they are in a poor state of repair. We have sunk a small fortune into this property and isn't not even ours, but on loan, and once we move on, or pass away then the next lot get the benefits. You pay rent in the same way people pay a mortage, but see no reward at the end of the day.
If could afford to buy then i would have a long time ago.

[ladybirder]

<Some of these so called" families "have children just to get council homes and that's a fact !>

I'm sure there are some people like that shaney, but do you then let the children suffer because of their feckless parents? Not easy.

[Brenden]

Yes LL, a tenant can add another name on to the tenancy but only once. I also never agreed with the right to buy. Could never get my head round people on benefits being able to buy their homes under this scheme.

[emmie]

Lofty that isn't necessarily the case, it depends on the council, and suggest more are not allowing the child or children to take over the tenancy when the parent dies. There seems an awful lot of misinformation about social housing, sadly much of it untrue. I would rather my own home, not one rented from a local authority.

[Brenden]

Stop putting unmarried mothers to the top of he housing list, the numbers would soon fall and therefore give families a chance at social housing.

[LoftyLottie]

em. It's yours to change, yes - if you can afford to!!

I have to be honest and say if I knew then what I know know about home ownership I might never had bothered. I was brought up to think that owning your home was the best option. I now don't think it is, especially for those who are not well off.

Believe me when we bought our house we were totally skint. The only furniture we possessed was donated. No carpets, cast off curtains and we both worked full time. The mortgage was my entire month's salary.

And as things stand now our home will have to be sold if residential care is ever required. So what is the real advantage?

[ladybirder]

Didn't realise you could get a mortgage on benefits shaney. Although I expect it's more reliable than a job which you could lose tomorrow.

[LoftyLottie]

Hi again Em. Thanks for your knowledge on that issue. It didn't seem right to me. Perhaps things have changed now. My friend's son's tenancy was granted a few years ago now.

I think that are good and bad things about both council housing and owning! Owning your own home certainly doesn't offer the security it used to though.

[emmie]

Brenden if you are on benefits as far as i am aware you cannot go with right to buy.

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry Brendan, I missed your answer about tenancy. Thank you.

[emmie]

i am sure most won't read this but im posting it anyway, it's about what you can and cannot do in respect of right to buy. As i said would still prefer to buy a home than rent from the local authority, no matter the pitfalls.

http://www.direct.gov...ingSchemes/DG_4001398

[Brenden]

I think they can em but they lose their housing benefit but can probably claim income support - gets better dosn't it

[LoftyLottie]

I read through it Em. Thanks.

[shaneystar2]

"Didn't realise you could get a mortgage on benefits shaney"

Where have I mentioned people on benefits getting a mortgage ?

[LoftyLottie]

I can't get any housing benefit if I can't pay my mortgage regardless of circumstances :o(.

[emmie]

Brenden i just don't see how that would work, because you could lost benefits at any time, surely the point about right to buy, or getting any mortage is if you have earned regular income, as opposed to relying on the state benefits, i would be gobsmacked if our local council lets people on benefits buy their homes. I know any number of people who have, but they were all in full time employment.

[ladybirder]

Sorry shaney, should have said Brenden.

[Brenden]

em go to www.barrowboroughcouncil.com.gov.uk click on Can i buy my home on benefits