Please tell me this is an April Fools joke? (Council House 'swap')

JohnCleary

https://www.donedeal.ie/houseswaps-for-sale/council-house-swap-transfer-new-photos/9742634 - spotted on Facebook.

So not only are people getting houses for next to nothing (or nothing? Not certain, never been so lucky to find out), but now you can 'swap'... so essentially you can move around the country as if you're in a holiday home. Wonder how the cnuts would collect their welfare? Or can they 'swap' the Post Office they pick it up at too?

Sometimes I feel like just quitting and joining them :mad:

Surely the Council facilitate them in swapping, if they want to?

If not, why not?

People usually have very good reasons for moving to a new part of the country: new job, new opportunities, or avoiding bad memories or bad relationships.

So people do a swap with the council's permission. Who loses ?

When the Sun Hits

No, it's not an April fools joke. We're in July.

myshirt

Have seen these before, they are very real. Often involve money my way money your way type deals, there's certainly an active market.

Also, please don't hammer some of the poorest, it's not classy at all.

Samaris

JohnCleary wrote: »

Wonder how the cnuts would collect their welfare? Or can they 'swap' the Post Office they pick it up at too?

God, what is it with people who, on seeing anything they don't like, and usually to do with crime or anything "low class" immediately decide that the person involved is a slacker on the dole? It's bloody depressing. This is the third thread with some off-hand nasty comment about ho the culprit is -obviously- a dole-bird.

mickdw

At least they have kept their council house in very nice condition.
I'd have more issues with the scumbags who pull rads off walls and burn the floor boards for heat in winter time then complain to the council that the property is not good enough.

JohnCleary

Samaris wrote: »

God, what is it with people who, on seeing anything they don't like, and usually to do with crime or anything "low class" immediately decide that the person involved is a slacker on the dole? It's bloody depressing. This is the third thread with some off-hand nasty comment about ho the culprit is -obviously- a dole-bird.

Because I had to pay for my house, these layabouts didn't.

I'm just jealous, tbh.

The Backwards Man

I don't understand what your problem with this is OP. It's not like they're looking to move to a mansion in Dalkey

Justice4Adolf

Is anyone elses thoughts traveling in the direction mine are.

Estate of Fifteen.
Bungalow.
Council.

Bongalongherb

JohnCleary wrote: »

https://www.donedeal.ie/houseswaps-for-sale/council-house-swap-transfer-new-photos/9742634 - spotted on Facebook.

So not only are people getting houses for next to nothing (or nothing? Not certain, never been so lucky to find out), but now you can 'swap'... so essentially you can move around the country as if you're in a holiday home. Wonder how the cnuts would collect their welfare? Or can they 'swap' the Post Office they pick it up at too?

Sometimes I feel like just quitting and joining them :mad:

I am better than thou. You most definitely have a grudge about anyone unemployed calling them cnuts. You have a very nasty way of expressing yourself to your fellow human being.

It's called a housing need little feller.

The Backwards Man

JohnCleary wrote: »

Because I had to pay for my house, these layabouts didn't.

I'm just jealous, tbh.

Manys a hardworking skin lives in a council house, manys a layabout lives in a private house.

pablo128

JohnCleary wrote: »

Because I had to pay for my house, these layabouts didn't.

I'm just jealous, tbh.

I'm in a council apartment. I work, and my partner works part time. We don't earn enough to get a mortgage. We pay rent as a percentage of our income.

What is your opinion of me?

By the way, not one person who rents their home, has paid for it.

Cold War Kid

Housing transfers have always been standard protocols by local authorities. Not sure what the issue is. The very attraction of a swap is that nobody's losing something or gaining something they shouldn't. The cost will remain the same. They still have to find people who'll agree to swap too - and they may not.

Although if this is something the people are organising by themselves without applying to the local authority for a transfer, then it's obviously not the brightest of them to put it on Done Deal - but that's unlikely (hopefully).

Lots of people who are housed by the local authority can't afford private rent and are also working - considering how difficult a lot of council estates can be to live in, it's very unlikely to be a choice. I wouldn't feel lucky to have to live in a hard-as-nails estate. I don't know would you really want to quit and join them.

eternal

Why don't you live on your motor yacht?

darkpagandeath

JohnCleary wrote: »

Because I had to pay for my house, these layabouts didn't.

I'm just jealous, tbh.

Go swap with one of them in the council house then ? While you are at it go sign on the dole as everyone is living it up :P

JohnCleary

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I don't understand what you're problem with this is OP. It's not like they're looking to move to a mansion in Dalkey

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

darkpagandeath

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

Go sign on the dole then if it's so great.

JohnCleary

eternal wrote: »

Why don't you live on your motor yacht?

I do, on the weekends between April - September... as you would have read on the other thread.

But what difference does that make?

JohnCleary

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Go sign on the dole then if it's so great.

I wouldn't dare be such a liability to society, tbh.

eternal

They don't hand out houses. It takes years even if you've loads of kids to get located. Have you seen the housing crisis in the country? Ill informed comments and snobbery reeks off this thread.

professore

Poverty in modern Ireland

darkpagandeath

JohnCleary wrote: »

I wouldn't dare be such a liability to society, tbh.

So that's a no to they are living it up.

JohnCleary

eternal wrote: »

They don't hand out houses. It takes years even if you've loads of kids to get located. Have you seen the housing crisis in the country? Ill informed comments and snobbery reeks off this thread.

Or just someone who is happy to go our and earn their keep, instead of going to the state for handouts.

darkpagandeath

eternal wrote: »

They don't hand out houses. It takes years even if you've loads of kids to get located. Have you seen the housing crisis in the country? Ill informed comments and snobbery reeks off this thread.

I hear they get sky sports free to, And leave buggies at bus stops as they will just be given an new one. You can tell elections are coming up.

darkpagandeath

JohnCleary wrote: »

Or just someone who is happy to go our and earn their keep, instead of going to the state for handouts.

Then I take it one will give back the children's allowance then if they had children ?

Bongalongherb

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

You do know that stress is a killer don't you. Just don't think about what other folks are doing and just focus on bettering your-own situation is the best way with no stress of thinking about things like this if they hurt you mentally. There's more to life than crying over other folks lifestyles of difficulty.

Word bingo for this thread

"Squeezed middle"
"Entitlement"
"Hard-pressed PAYE worker"
"mug"
"welfare state"
"taken for a ride"
"52% tax rate" (that's the bonus ball)

Everything else is just filling in the gaps.

The Backwards Man

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

That's a very good dole-bashing rant and all, but what's it got to do with a council house swap?

darkpagandeath

Bongalongherb wrote: »

You do know that stress is a killer don't you. Just don't think about what other folks are doing and just focus on bettering your-own situation is the best way with no stress of thinking about things like this if they hurt you mentally. There's more to life than crying over other folks lifestyles of difficulty.

I think the op has a problem with people on the dole working or doing criminal activity. As just being on the dole does not allow you this lifestyle that's being mentioned. But lets just say it's everyone on the minimum dole payments that are taking holidays every other couple of months. :pac:

Bongalongherb

Greed is not good for a person, it detaches you from your obligations to be a good human being. Enjoy the yacht experience and the pina coladas in the warm ocean breeze. OP, you worry too much.

Cold War Kid

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

I understand your annoyance at people taking the piss out of state assistance (although you don't seem to acknowledge the numerous people who genuinely need it) but a housing transfer seems a strange thing to get annoyed about - it's nothing extra.

darkpagandeath

The Backwards Man wrote: »

That's a very good dole-bashing rant and all, but what's it got to do with a council house swap?

Did they not just give you a set of house keys when you sign on :P Surely these massive waiting lists and complete failure in supply are made up.

osarusan

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die.

That's hardly something we should be looking to emulate, is it?

KERSPLAT!

Mod

Keep it civil please, no need for the abuse.

Justice4Adolf

JohnCleary wrote: »

Please tell me this is an April Fools joke

This is an April Fools joke.

Bongalongherb

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Did they not just give you a set of house keys when you sign on :P Surely these massive waiting lists and complete failure in supply are made up.

There's single folk waiting on the housing list for the last 15 years. It's a very long wait especially if you are single and have no kids, a person like this could be waiting for-ever.

daveville30

If your working and have a council house in be as dear as a morgage.I know people that have gave the keys back and would rather private rent.

pablo128

daveville30 wrote: »

If your working and have a council house in be as dear as a morgage.I know people that have gave the keys back and would rather private rent.

Yep. The more you earn, the more you pay. If it's a household with working parents and working adult children, it would be a fair auld whack all right.

Sonics2k

JohnCleary wrote: »

I have a problem with our too generous welfare state, full stop.

I have travelled many parts of the world. In the majority of these countries, if you don't go out and work... you die. Yet here, you can choose not to work and you get a (quite basic, but not too shabby) lifestyle handed to you.

It sickens me. Get up off your hole, and you WILL find work (or may even come up with a bright idea yourself)

I am sick of seeing first hand 'lone parents' getting council houses, living with their partner (also on the dole) and coming in with quite a generous cash sum at the end of the week. And also people on 'disability'... doesn't stop them going out on the lash on a regular basis or going on foreign holidays.

And yes, all of the above is first hand information. I just can't bring myself to report them :mad:

Right, because I'm so sick of seeing complete ****e like this being spouted on these forums, here's a challenge.

Quit your job and go on the dole. If it's so great. Bloody well go for it.

As a -fact- I was unemployed for a few years after the bust, with a kid to feed, and living in a house that we could happily afford before I lost my job.
I gotta tell you, living on the bare minimum was not fun for a few years and working gives me a hell of a lot more money than the dole ever did.

Put your money where your mouth is, quit and go on the dole.

darkpagandeath

pablo128 wrote: »

Yep. The more you earn, the more you pay. If it's a household with working parents and working adult children, it would be a fair auld whack all right.

Aye even in affordable housing it's means tested and it's a fair whack of your money. No idea where people get this ridiculous idea of free houses. It's always anecdotal evidence, Or people they know to be on the dole and also working that's a completely different issue that's dole fraud.

pablo128

Sonics2k wrote: »

Right, because I'm so sick of seeing complete ****e like this being spouted on these forums, here's a challenge.

Quit your job and go on the dole. If it's so great. Bloody well go for it.

As a -fact- I was unemployed for a few years after the bust, with a kid to feed, and living in a house that we could happily afford before I lost my job.
I gotta tell you, living on the bare minimum was not fun for a few years and working gives me a hell of a lot more money than the dole ever did.

Put your money where your mouth is, quit and go on the dole.

Or alternatively go onto the housing list and wait a decade for that 'dream' free house.

Cold War Kid

The only way you'd get council accommodation quickly would be taking a home in a very tough/run-down place.

darkpagandeath

pablo128 wrote: »

Or alternatively go onto the housing list and wait a decade for that 'dream' free house.

I hear all the ones in Dublin are going to be build in the leafy south side suburbs.

JustTheOne

pablo128 wrote: »

Or alternatively go onto the housing list and wait a decade for that 'dream' free house.

The majority won't be waiting ten years and if they are they will still be in receipt of rent allowance.

Don't agree with the op but let's not pretend our welfare system isn't generous or been taken advantage of by a huge proportion.

20 billion a year, one third of our expenditure goes on social welfare.

knird evol

There's a difference between someone who lost their job and say a 16 year old who like all her mates gets knocked up and waits to move from family council house to her own one to collect single mothers allowance and live with her fella and get a free fridge.

melted_face

who cares ? what difference does that make to anyone else's life ?

JustTheOne

JustTheOne wrote: »

20 billion a year, one third of our expenditure goes on social welfare.

That includes stuff like pensions to 500,000 people and payments to the disabled. Most people equate social protection payments with joblessness, but actually that's only where a minority of the budget goes.

Most of the Social Protection budget goes on pensions, child benefit and payments to carers and the disabled.

You might see it as negative, but I think most Irish people are fundamentally good-natured and see it as their duty to look after these people in some way. God forbid we might need it ourselves some day, knock on wood.

melted_face

melted_face wrote: »

who cares ? what difference does that make to anyone else's life ?

don't agree with the OP but this is a bizarre sentiment to take towards a twenty billion current budget item, in the midst of a housing crisis

my understanding was that public housing was moving away from "house for life" and right-to-purchase schemes anyway....

Grandeeod

I spent 16 years of my life in a council house, before my parents actually managed to buy their own house. We moved 3 times before that via the well known "transfers" Ad in the evening Herald. Mid 70s to mid 80s. I don't recall the same level of disgust displayed by the OP back then. But of course we didn't have the internet or people so far up their own holes back then.

Cold War Kid

I think they mean what difference does a direct swap make to things already, and it doesn't make any difference to be fair.

RDM_83 again

eternal wrote: »

They don't hand out houses. It takes years even if you've loads of kids to get located. Have you seen the housing crisis in the country? Ill informed comments and snobbery reeks off this thread.

To me thats actually part of the problem, I think Ireland having a generous system of benefits is a good thing but things like the Housing and to a much lesser extent Rental Allowance or assistance take a long time to come through. You get the most from the system the longer you are on it, thats exactly the opposite of the system of welfare in most of Europe and it doesn't even make much sense from a progressive viewpoint either.