council houses

[bednobs]

hi, heard on the news today that d cameron et al are thinking of making it so a council house is not for life - people would be given a fixed term then reviewed, so for instance if they started working and could afford their own house they would be moved on, or if it was no longer suitable for their needs.
Now this seems like a really good idea to me - my MIL lives in a 3 bedroomed house because she used to live there with her children, they all grew up and moved out years ago, so why shouldn't a family who needs a 3 bedroomed place move in and she move into a 1 bedroomed place? it makes perfect sense to me, but loads of people ont he radio programme i was listening to seemed to think it was awful - why?

[237SJ]

I suppose it must be pretty unsettling to face the prospect of being turfed out of hour house every now and again. Your arguement makes sense though

[B00]

Because they're the ones in the 3 bedroomed houses and want ot keep them?

[Charlie911]

Sounds good to me bednobs. My (once) neighbour also livd in a 4 bedroom house by herself because her kids had grown up and left. It's not right they should have the house to themselves. After all the house isn't a right...is it?

[steg]

some people get very attached to their homes, it is part of their history

[annie0000]

I think it depends on how they do it really bednobs, if they are basically giving people more choice and more flexibility - i.e. making it easier for people to move to different sizes of houses and or into new areas, then I think it is a good thing. I think the fear is that people are used to having a secure long term tenancy and would feel nervous that they might lose their home. In private rent, it is obviously common to have a shorter term lease which is either renewed or not. With affordable housing, I guess they feel they may lose their home and not be able to afford another although we don't necessarily know yet whether that might be the case.

[annie0000]

You do actually pay more rent for a larger house, so maybe these people aren't doing themselves any favours and I know that 1 or 2 bedroom council places can be in really short supply, so maybe they don't stay in the bigger houses by choice.

[sara3]

I know that if I were homeless with my kids, I'd be pretty peed off with all the people who need one bedroom properties, but have 3 or 4 bedrooms.

[bednobs]

suppose so. However, even if you own your own house, it's reasonably likely you might move to upsize or downsize depending on your life circumstances, so i can't see what's so terrible about it! If you are in a position to need social housing, surely you should be happy you have somewhere suitable for your needs? You can win the lottery and become a millionairre and still be entitled to a CH plus the right to pass it to your relatives which just seems bananas bonkers to me, especially when there are over 1 million people/families on the waiting list. There is a person on here cant remember who who was waiting for a larger house because of 2 disabled children and it would be crazy if they couldn't get one because some singleton was in a 5 bedroomed house because their circumstances had changed

[bobjugs12]

The way it was described on LBC yesterday was that:
a) It will not affect existing tennants
and
b) Will make it easier for councils to move tennants according to the priorities they are faced with. ie Mr and Mrs Smith living in 3 bed council house, but have no kids with them are moved to make way for Mr and Mrs Jones who have 3 kids. Then as the Jones' housing needs change they are moved to another property leaving the 3-bed clear for Miss Patel and her 4 kids and so on.

Makes sense to me

[China Doll]

Sounds reasonable. I suppose there could be fears about where they move to though, if there's no one bedroom places in the area you live in and you have to move far away then perhaps that's a consideration that would worry them.

[joggerjayne]

It does sound sensible.

You see all the news abMWs and Mercs parked outside.

Maybe those residents should move into the private sector, so that some homeless people can have somewhere to live.

[bednobs]

but again, if i were to become unable to afford my mortgage i may well have to move to somewhere cheaper/somewhere not in posh berkshire :) I wouldn't relish it, for sure but it would make sense

[DEN53]

Bob - I think Miss Patel and her 4 kids would only want a £2 million home in London though not a manky council house - allegedly !

[bobjugs12]

Oooooh controversial DEN ;-)

[McMouse]

jj all the new BMW and Mercs belong to drug dealers and pimps.

[lotsafun]

in one i way i do understand what he is saying as i used to think this, i was once on the council waiting list for many years and had no joy of getting a house because if the ridiculous waiting system that was in place. I used to feel resentful of people who had a 3 bedroom house for example when all there children had grown and moved out. I used to think they dont need that room so if they want to stay with council then move them into a flat and let a families have the houses. Afterall it does make sense doesnt it? However i also see it from another perspective too. I grew up on a council estate and my mother and father have lived in that house for over 25 years now, they have never claimed benefits, brought up 3 children, payed their own rent and bills etc and they have worked damned hard all their lives. They have maintained the house and garden to a good standard and have never caused or been involved in any trouble. I see this situation as why on earth should they now be told that they have to leave? Obviously we have now grown up and moved out but they now like to have those bedrooms for when the grandkids stay over etc. I honestly think it would break our hearts to see them leave this house now, we have so many memories there and i feel that theyve paid their way in society so therefore should be entitled to get something back so to speak

[joggerjayne]

"drug dealers and pimps" should definitely be moved off the council estates.

People like that get council estates a bad name.

[mazie]

I think it all boils down to need rather than want. There are so many families who need a house and so many couples who don't, but want to stay and I can understand that as well. It does make sense but it's going to create some very unhappy people along the way....

[bednobs]

imho, social housing is about need rather than want, and perhaps that needs to be embedded into the culture of social housing?

[China Doll]

True bednobs... I think I would feel sorry for the elderly if they were moved far from their grandchildren and any family support, particularly if the family support is what is keeping them living independently as then I guess a whole new set of problems would ensue. I do agree that social housing has to be more about need and less about entitlement though. I also think that homes for staff in the public sector who are not on the highest wage needs to be addressed too, they cut the admin staff out of the keyworker sheme which I thought was wrong.

(Btw, hope all is well with you and things are progressing nicely :c)