Is getting a council house the equivalent of winning the lotto

29-11-2018 12:47PM

Squatter wrote: »

It is good for them and they thoroughly deserve it as they are decent, honest, hardworking people whose only crime is to have voted for Charlie Haughey and then his son for the past 60 years!

But the objective of my post wasn't to inspire envy, but rather to look at the societal outcome of this particular social housing story.

It goes like this: council tenants buy cheap house (taxpayer subsidised) and live in it for the next 50 years. They die, their kids (middle aged and comfortably off) sell it and make a large killing but little or none of the windfall profit realised will go back to the taxpayer. Cui bono?

Yes, from a purely selfish viewpoint, it's great for the missus - but is that really the ideal way for our public housing policy to function?

you have a point except for the fact that they did buy the house so the councial got the money, even though it was a discounted price plus a council house purchased in 1983 for 10k is going to have vastly increased in price the same way as any other property.

29-11-2018 12:48PM

Sweet.Science wrote: »

Working people will never be looked after . We are a welfare state

Working people get social housing why would you think otherwise? as long as you are under the income limits.

Cina · 29-11-2018 12:50PM

Graces7 wrote: »

the word "scrounger"?

And no call for personal critique insults !!!!!! Clearly touched a nerve. I have a perfect grip thank you. We hear little but gripes re council tenants when so many of us are genuinely in need. This is not being defensive by the way. We have no need to be defensive. Just making a point that few council tenants are in fact scroungers.

I saw one person use the word 'scrounger' and then get rebuked for it by many people. My point was that you just came into the thread insinuating it was anothe thread for people to bash those on welfare and yet nobody (or very few) has actually done so.

"get a grip" is hardly a personal insult. :rolleyes:

Sweet.Science · 29-11-2018 12:53PM

mariaalice wrote: »

Working people get social housing why would you think otherwise? as long as you are under the income limits.

Right down the bottom of that list. Youd'd never get one . Never work , have kids, get the house then start working with childcare paid for by the state. Bingo

astrofool · 29-11-2018 12:54PM

It's probably the equivalent of a small sized lotto win, but ultimately (and it will vary person to person) it sets the living standard for that person from the moment they get it, till they die, it will be the biggest achievement of their life, and will likely be all that they leave behind, the bar has been set, and their job from that point onwards is to keep existing as best they can (which can be very fulfilling to some, in raising a family, going on budget holidays, saving for weddings, buying cars, being entertained etc.). It's a bit sad in a way, but not everyone can be a superstar, and the hope is only that their offspring can do better than their parents and improve on that living standard (which by definition of being on state welfare, puts you at the bottom rung in living standards for everything).

I, personally, would hate to exist like that.

Sweet.Science · 29-11-2018 12:57PM

astrofool wrote: »

It's probably the equivalent of a small sized lotto win, but ultimately (and it will vary person to person) it sets the living standard for that person from the moment they get it, till they die, it will be the biggest achievement of their life, and will likely be all that they leave behind, the bar has been set, and their job from that point onwards is to keep existing as best they can (which can be very fulfilling to some, in raising a family, going on budget holidays, saving for weddings, buying cars, being entertained etc.). It's a bit sad in a way, but not everyone can be a superstar, and the hope is only that their offspring can do better than their parents and improve on that living standard (which by definition of being on state welfare, puts you at the bottom rung in living standards for everything).

I, personally, would hate to exist like that.

But they have a disposable income that some people paying a mortgage wont have.

Do you know how much arrears the council are in for unpaid rent.

You dont have to pay it . All their social welfare money is disposable income.

engiweirdo · 29-11-2018 01:00PM

meeeeh wrote: »

When council houses are offered only to hardest cases then you will get getho. If you offer social housing to those on lower or middle incomes and charge rent proportionally to their income you have mixed communities which are not dominated by those who stopped working two generations ago. I don't think housing policies in UK and Ireland are working and ridiculous as it sounds it would probably work out better for society if more people were offered social housing.

100% agree here. Remove cap on rents and drastically raise income limits. Everyone pays an equal percentage of total income. Still a market for private housing for those who dont want to take up the offer.

29-11-2018 01:07PM

Sweet.Science wrote: »

Right down the bottom of that list. Youd'd never get one . Never work , have kids, get the house then start working with childcare paid for by the state. Bingo

So now you have an issue with someone one in social housing working because they started working after got social housing I am sure lots do feel resentful of all sorts but its illogical.

Deer Hunting with Jesus: Dispatches from America's Class War by Joe Bagean.

There is a great little bit in the book, there is no cash based welfare or had outs but the very poor with children get head start, a sort of extra pre school so some observes to the author if they are so poor how come they can drive that car.

In other words if those with nothing or next to nothing were given nothing in Ireland, those with something would still find something to resent the poor for.

RWCNT · 29-11-2018 01:19PM

Sweet.Science wrote: »

Hear me out

The 1st thing people would think of doing if they won the lotto is buying a house or paying off their mortgage.

The thought of living in a house mortgage free is the most appealing aspect of winning the lotto

Maybe for you, you boring drone. The first thing I'd think of doing is flying to Vegas and the most appealing aspect of winning the lotto for me would be driving a tricked out lamborghini into an olympic size swimming pool full of solid gold tits.

Ray Palmer · 29-11-2018 01:23PM

There is something very strange about the question to start with. What does "getting" a council house mean? Renting one means paying rent and while you can stop paying the rent and unlikely to be evicted you won't own it nor will your kids. If they aren't living there at the time of death they have no claim to it.

If they pay their rent and want to buy it of the council they have to get some form of mortgage even if it is discounted sale price. They will not be able to buy it off social welfare payments. They will have to say where the money comes from if not. CAB do pay attention to this

While it is extremely nice and a great offer for people it isn't like winning the lottery. It is certainly something to be happy about. As pointed out though the right to buy is pretty unfair and a bad use of social housing. I say that knowing I personally benefited from it as my first house was a council house that I bought off the son of the original resident who had bought it. My grandparents bought their house and my mother is now selling it and I get some money from that. It would absolutely disgust certain people that as a landlord I gained in this way. I don't think the right to buy should be allowed anymore.

Skylinehead · 29-11-2018 01:26PM

Mod: I think 5 bloody housing threads on the front page is quite enough.

Is getting a council house the equivalent of winning the lotto

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