Is a council house a lifelong thing?

maxsmum

Just wondering whay the story is here. Came across two families recently. Both parents working full time. One family sending 3 kids to private school. Both have council houses they got when kids were born. Surely when circumstances change you should have to give up the house?
One family actually said 'we've put in for a 4 bed house so the kids don't have to share a room'...
I mean me and my husband are breaking our backs saving to get out of a 2 bed. Not sure why these families aren't obliged to do the same?
Their jobs are all PAYE by the way so it's not like they're doing nixers.

salmocab

maxsmum wrote: »

Just wondering whay the story is here. Came across two families recently. Both parents working full time. One family sending 3 kids to private school. Both have council houses they got when kids were born. Surely when circumstances change you should have to give up the house?
One family actually said 'we've put in for a 4 bed house so the kids don't have to share a room'...
I mean me and my husband are breaking our backs saving to get out of a 2 bed. Not sure why these families aren't obliged to do the same?
Their jobs are all PAYE by the way so it's not like they're doing nixers.

Wait till you hear what happens the house when the kids grow up and the parents die

maxsmum

There's no way they inherit it....

Hitman3000

Can see where this thread is going to go......

lawred2

maxsmum wrote: »

Just wondering whay the story is here. Came across two families recently. Both parents working full time. One family sending 3 kids to private school. Both have council houses they got when kids were born. Surely when circumstances change you should have to give up the house?
One family actually said 'we've put in for a 4 bed house so the kids don't have to share a room'...
I mean me and my husband are breaking our backs saving to get out of a 2 bed. Not sure why these families aren't obliged to do the same?
Their jobs are all PAYE by the way so it's not like they're doing nixers.

well if they are of a certain age they will have bought the house off the council for a pittance..

PeterParker957

maxsmum wrote: »

Just wondering whay the story is here. Came across two families recently. Both parents working full time. One family sending 3 kids to private school. Both have council houses they got when kids were born. Surely when circumstances change you should have to give up the house?
One family actually said 'we've put in for a 4 bed house so the kids don't have to share a room'...
I mean me and my husband are breaking our backs saving to get out of a 2 bed. Not sure why these families aren't obliged to do the same?
Their jobs are all PAYE by the way so it's not like they're doing nixers.

I believe they are.

They f***ing shouldn't be though!!!

Roadtoad

There's another instance (or more, no doubt) where the couple go back to the in-laws, live three generations under the one roof, and pull rent out of the house that they got cheap/free/ subsidised.

PeterParker957

maxsmum wrote: »

There's no way they inherit it....

Oh but they do - they make up some b***ocks about them needing to stay - or more likely (as I've seen happen) the elderly parent asks for the child to be placed on the tenancy, and then it's their's when they continue.

Makes me sick!

PeterParker957

Roadtoad wrote: »

There's another instance (or more, no doubt) where the couple go back to the in-laws, live three generations under the one roof, and pull rent out of the house that they got cheap/free/ subsidised.

Sadly, seen that too. But "der bankers" or some guff eh ??? We're being robbed blind by the ***s that Murphy/Smith/Coppinger* would put up for beatification!

* doesn't she have a council house still ????

PeterParker957

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Can see where this thread is going to go......

Exactly where it SHOULD go - slagging off people who deserve it.

maxsmum

But honestly without descending into any judgmental ranting (tempting I know) does anyone know the actual rules?

Hitman3000

PeterParker957 wrote:

Exactly where it SHOULD go - slagging off people who deserve it.

Is that what this forum is for, slagging of people? I thought it was it was part of state benefits to give information, advice and seek same.
Are you providing the pitchfork, or is it bring your own?

PeterParker957

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Is that what this forum is for, slagging of people? I thought it was it was part of state benefits to give information, advice and seek same.
Are you providing the pitchfork, or is it bring your own?

No, that's what CitizensInformation.ie is for.

So, no opinion can be offered if it is contrary to yours ?

Hitman3000

maxsmum wrote:

But honestly without descending into any judgmental ranting (tempting I know) does anyone know the actual rules?

The children of a tenant can apply to be placed on the tenancy and continue to rent the house if approved. They are needs assessed.

Hitman3000

PeterParker957 wrote:

So, no opinion can be offered if it is contrary to yours ?

Slagging off those who you feel deserve it is not opinion.

Hitman3000

Hitman3000 wrote:

Slagging off those who you feel deserve it is not opinion.

It is.

Here we go

maxsmum wrote: »

There's no way they inherit it....

Not inherit but if there registerd on the floor they take over tenancy.

Hitman3000

Deleted User wrote:

It is.

It's not really, it's nothing other than a prejudice and the poster seeks to turn the Ops query into nothing more than an outlet for his/her rant. Have you seen an attempt to address the opening question?

thierry14

Nothing stopping you doing the same thing OP

Fair play to them

Clever bunch playing the game

They are doing nothing wrong

Your being a good auld sheep working your ass, getting a mortgage for a crap 2 bed

Why are you doing that?

Its what society expects from you?

Its what your supposed to do?

Why don't you go against it?

**** what society thinks

Its everyone for themselves out there

Now way would i live your life, heartbreaking working hard to live in a 2 bed and have to take on a big mortgage to do it

I know a family staying in a new build detached house in a lovely estate in West Limerick, house worth about 300k

Wife works in Tesco, husband does nothing, 4 kids, get 800e a week after tax with fís payment, pay 70e a week rent for a detached new build that that is basically there's now

Thats social housing

Thats what idiots in Street protest about

10% of that private new estate went to social housing.

Poor souls paying 1000e a month mortgages for 35 years and the vulnerable in social housing paying 70e a week subsidised by the state for the same house, which the government will sell to them for 30k in 10 years time

Hitman3000

thierry14 wrote:

Wife works in Tesco, husband does nothing, 4 kids, get 800e a week after tax with fís payment, pay 70e a week rent for a detached new build that that is basically there's now

You just gotta love anecdotes. Its amazing how many people who get social housing share their intimate financial details with other people. Absolutely credible......

not yet

maxsmum wrote: »

But honestly without descending into any judgmental ranting (tempting I know) does anyone know the actual rules?

Yes, it is for life, unless they are evicted for anti-social behaviour etc. If the grown up Children are included for rent purposes they have the tenancy after the parents die. simple really!!!

thierry14

Hitman3000 wrote: »

You just gotta love anecdotes. Its amazing how many people who get social housing share their intimate financial details with other people. Absolutely credible......

I know

Proud of it

Its crazy what's going on

How people are putting up with it

PeterParker957

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Slagging off those who you feel deserve it is not opinion.

Au contraire - it's the very definition of opinion.

My opinion is that there are people living in council houses who do not deserve them whilst others with fewer funds coming in have to struggle privately.

lawred2

thierry14 wrote: »

I know

Proud of it

Its crazy what's going on

How people are putting up with it

have we entered into a sarcasm death match?

not yet

thierry14 wrote: »

Nothing stopping you doing the same thing OP

Fair play to them

Clever bunch playing the game

They are doing nothing wrong

Your being a good auld sheep working your ass, getting a mortgage for a crap 2 bed

Why are you doing that?

Its what society expects from you?



Its what your supposed to do?



Why don't you go against it?

**** what society thinks

Its everyone for themselves out there

Now way would i live your life, heartbreaking working hard to live in a 2 bed and have to take on a big mortgage to do it

I know a family staying in a new build detached house in a lovely estate in West Limerick, house worth about 300k

Wife works in Tesco, husband does nothing, 4 kids, get 800e a week after tax with fís payment, pay 70e a week rent for a detached new build that that is basically there's now

Thats social housing

Thats what idiots in Street protest about

10% of that private new estate went to social housing.

Poor souls paying 1000e a month mortgages for 35 years and the vulnerable in social housing paying 70e a week subsidised by the state for the same house, which the government will sell to them for 30k in 10 years time

I personally know people who have bought council homes and resold them for 4 times the purchase price years later, they then went on to go back on the list under their single name..

Hitman3000

PeterParker957 wrote:

My opinion is that there are people living in council houses who do not deserve them whilst others with fewer funds coming in have to struggle privately.

Your issue is with how the council allocates housing, people apply and are assessed based on need. Likewise the continuation of a tenancy to other family members is assessed. Whether you think people deserve the house or not is irrelevant and thankfully so.

Hitman3000

not yet wrote:

I personally know people who have bought council homes and resold them for 4 times the purchase price years later, they then went on to go back on the list under their single name..

Cool story.

Gonad

At the moment my rent is 1500 euro . After my rent is paid and all bills I am left with nothing at. End of the month . Myself and partner have 2 young kids who won’t be starting school for years yet . It will take me years to save for deposit for a home at this rate . I know I should have thought about that before having kids but life has a weird way of not always going to plan :

I would love my own home one day and would have no problem paying 1000 per month for rest of my working life but getting a deposit is going to be a pain in the arse. Don’t blame al the people who take council houses because why wouldn’t you ?

thierry14

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Cool story.

It is

Do you work for the government or something?

Seem to be a fan of social housing

Why may I ask?

Hitman3000

thierry14 wrote:

Seem to be a fan of social housing

Do I agree with social housing... yes. Do I like it being abused....no.
Do I call b.s. when I see it.. also yes.

dhaughton99

not yet wrote: »

Yes, it is for life, unless they are evicted for anti-social behaviour etc. If the grown up Children are included for rent purposes they have the tenancy after the parents die. simple really!!!

“evicted for anti-social behavior”
Yeah, some chance of that happening.

helimachoptor

On a similar thread a while back someone posted now that councils are only giving people houses for 30 years rather than for life

not yet

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Cool story.

D'ya think so...?

tretorn

I know of one old lady who is living in a three bed house she has paid rent on for decades. Her son moved in when he separated and is paying rent. He intends to stay in the three bed house on his own when his mother dies, is this right.

Some myths in here, I'm afraid.

Yep, you can theoretically have a Council house in your family for generations.

Yep, many people play the trick of 'when a parent is nearly dead, stick my name on the rent again so when they die, the house goes to me'.

Yep, you can buy a Council house at half it's market value. But you have to be employed and get an actual mortgage with a bank, or alternatively get a Council mortgage (which is much the same but generally with a lower income requirement/interest rate). But Social Welfare payments don't count towards it, so it does have to be an actual job you have.

You can buy a council house (not apartment, only house, and only if you've no record of anti social behaviour or the house hasn't been adapted for disabled people at all (ie if your mam is in a wheelchair or needs safety rails etc. the council will install them but then the house is no longer available to buy).

If that happens, when the person with the disability dies, the other person/s on the list are asked to move to a more suitable property (but they dont have to).

All you have to do to buy it, is be living in it a year without hassle.

But.. the council generally have a clawback on the discount, so if you sell the house within 5 years, you owe them back the difference in discount (ie if you sell the house within 5 years, you effectively end up paying market value). After 5 years the amount they clawback starts to get reduced as a percentage (it drops by 2% every year until 25 years has elapsed at which point it's eliminated completely).


The rules for buying are generally fair, to be honest. and they are in such a way as to encourage good tenants (ie; scumbags cant buy their house if theyve anti social behaviour reported against them, or people who never worked cant buy it as welfare isnt considered income etc.).

The idea is to try and create mature housing estates with decent residents who, once they realise they're there long term, will take care of the place.

Ireland has no backbone for dealing with anti social behaviour, so this is one of the ways to try and force gentrification on an area, I reckon. It's a good scheme, but of course it's open to abuse. What scheme isn't.

thierry14

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Do I agree with social housing... yes. Do I like it being abused....no.
Do I call b.s. when I see it.. also yes.

Interesting

Why do you agree with social housing?

How can it not be abused?

Who gets it?

Who are the vulnerable?

How do they become not vulnerable?

What about travelling community, how to get them off social housing?

Do you think people not born in Ireland should get social housing?

Do you think a cashless society would even the playing field and not lead to system abuse?

My story is true by the way, no bs

tretorn

tretorn wrote: »

I know of one old lady who is living in a three bed house she has paid rent on for decades. Her son moved in when he separated and is paying rent. He intends to stay in the three bed house on his own when his mother dies, is this right.

Yep, he will pay the rent and is as entitled as anyone to do it.

Why don't you go and get pally with some single old milf down the road with a decent council house? You could go on the rent and get the house when they die (not as likely in real life, but in theory there's nothing to stop it).


Hell, once you're on the rent a year, just buy the house. Depending where it is, you could be renting it before they get her coffin out.


Any scheme is open to abuse.

Here we go

not yet wrote: »

Yes, it is for life, unless they are evicted for anti-social behaviour etc. If the grown up Children are included for rent purposes they have the tenancy after the parents die. simple really!!!

There is a term limit I belive of two years so child has to be on flirt for two years prior to the tenent passing away from what Iv seen it's usually grand kids not the kids tent usually works out cheaper

thierry14

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yep, he will pay the rent and is as entitled as anyone to do it.

Why don't you go and get pally with some single old milf down the road with a decent council house? You could go on the rent and get the house when they die (not as likely in real life, but in theory there's nothing to stop it).


Hell, once you're on the rent a year, just buy the house. Depending where it is, you could be renting it before they get her coffin out.


Any scheme is open to abuse.

See that's the problem

Long term Council housing shouldnt exist

It should be for 6 months max for any well abled body

Till u get a job and on your feet

Can't manage that

Go live on the street where you belong, you might die, no big deal, your good to know anyway

LirW

thierry14 wrote: »

See that's the problem

Long term Council housing shouldnt exist

It should be for 6 months max for any well abled body

Till u get a job and on your feet

Can't manage that

Go live on the street where you belong, you might die, no big deal, your good to know anyway

Yeah, nice simple view on a problem that's pretty complex and where you have so many individual situations. Yes there are people gaming the system but get off your high horse and stop being so angry.

I live in a tiny council estate in a rural village. There are 10 houses, half of them are privately owned. The estate is in a good nick, it's kept spotless by the residents and there is an amazing sense of community here.

Next door lives an elderly couple, he's working and she's helping her son running the local pub.
A few houses up lives a young family with 3 children, he works full time in a local factory, that one keeps the people in the area employed, it's not a fortune they earn but you can make it by. She's at home at the moment but going back to work in autumn and she's a low income worker too.
They are established here, pay their rent to the council (I know how much, not gonna explain it here but believe me, it's enough). They are simply low-income workers with family. They don't live a lavish lifestyle. And by asking why don't they move somewhere else and pay private rent or somewhere cheaper: That is the area you move to when you need to move somewhere cheaper. There is next to none private rental supply. The people here appreciate what they get and treat it well and contribute their part.

Same goes for the other families or couples living here in the estate and rent from the council. They all work. There's one unit privately owned that's rented and the last tenant was troublesome but moved on last weekend.

I'd rather have people like the ones living here around me for a very long time because they are all amazing than having a constant in and out. One of the neighbours is in the process of buying the house out and of course it's a lot less than we paid for the house but am I bitter? No. I'm happy for them that they have the chance to get themselves sorted even on low incomes and give their kids stability.

I know it's different in the cities with pockets you don't wanna set a foot in but jesus, give it a rest, the country is a bit more than Dublin, Galway and Cork.

Hitman3000

not yet wrote:

D'ya think so...?

Not really, I think it's b.s.

Hitman3000

thierry14 wrote:

My story is true by the way, no bs

Nah don't believe you. Maybe someone on a bar stool told you and you lapped it up.

Hitman3000

thierry14 wrote:

Go live on the street where you belong, you might die, no big deal, your good to know anyway

We have a live one here..... Happily our society doesn't operate in this manner.

poppies2

Here we go wrote: »

There is a term limit I belive of two years so child has to be on flirt for two years prior to the tenent passing away from what Iv seen it's usually grand kids not the kids tent usually works out cheaper

This is true, as in they must have been declared for rent purposes (paying rent also) and over 18.

A council tenancy is for life, it is extremely hard to get an eviction even for non payment of rent and antisocial behaviour but it has happened.

thierry14

Hitman3000 wrote: »

We have a live one here..... Happily our society doesn't operate in this manner.

Not here

Other European countries it does

jimmycrackcorm

helimachoptor wrote:

On a similar thread a while back someone posted now that councils are only giving people houses for 30 years rather than for life

I'll warrant that nobody has seen a case where a council tenant would be forced to leave after 30 years. Brid Smith and the anti everything party would cream themselves at such a protest opportunity.

Graces7

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I'll warrant that nobody has seen a case where a council tenant would be forced to leave after 30 years. Brid Smith and the anti everything party would cream themselves at such a protest opportunity.

If they were then old it would be totally wrong.

not yet

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Not really, I think it's b.s.

What part do you think is BS.

Hitman3000

thierry14 wrote:

Other European countries it does

Off you go.....

Hitman3000

not yet wrote:

What part do you think is BS.

99.9999% of it.

not yet

Hitman3000 wrote: »

99.9999% of it.

Right so, you continue to live in your little bubble whist the real world revolves around you. I can also take it you think welfare fraud doesn't happen so..