Social Housing Infinite?

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 02:15PM #1

As there is so many people on the housing waiting list, Do people who live in Social Housing get to live there permanently even when they find their feet and get steady incomes?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 09-04-2016 02:20PM

I can't imagine the council would make one family homeless to put another family in the house. Isn't the rent reflective of the income anyway?

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 02:26PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I can't imagine the council would make one family homeless to put another family in the house. Isn't the rent reflective of the income anyway?

But isnt this leading to the Social housing issue?

If a family fall on hard times they move into social housing.

If that family then get on there feet and receive a good income, Shouldnt they be push out to the private market so the next family who are suffering move in?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 09-04-2016 02:29PM

I'd tend to agree to be honest, but I have no experience about living in social housing or what the requirements are. I do know there's a lot of senses of entitlement when it comes to people in this country, so why would they get out and make things better for themselves when they can have the council give them a house? I think some people end up buying their house from the council

Tasden · 09-04-2016 02:32PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I'd tend to agree to be honest, but I have no experience about living in social housing or what the requirements are. I do know there's a lot of senses of entitlement when it comes to people in this country, so why would they get out and make things better for themselves when they can have the council give them a house? I think some people end up buying their house from the council

Was just about to say this. Kicking them out once they earn a certain amount would just lead to a welfare trap where people won't try to earn more for fear of homelessness- especially nowadays where even when you can afford the crazy rents you are up against 10 other families who can too. The rent is set based on your income so its not like they pay the same rent rate as someone on the dole or whatever op.

Bubbaclaus · 09-04-2016 02:32PM

Why would you bother trying to pay for things on your own accord in Ireland? Just make yourself completely unemployable and you will be rewarded with a house, 188 a week, child benefit for every kid you decide to pop out, medical card, free travel etc

pickarooney · 09-04-2016 02:36PM

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Why would you bother trying to pay for things on your own accord in Ireland? Just make yourself completely unemployable and you will be rewarded with a house, 188 a week, child benefit for every kid you decide to pop out, medical card, free travel etc

You're not really addressing the actual question, are you? But indeed, why would anyone voluntarily move themselves an their family out of a cheap house and put themselves through the hassle of trying to find a more expensive one? Do you believe in altruism?

09-04-2016 02:39PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

But isnt this leading to the Social housing issue?

If a family fall on hard times they move into social housing.

If that family then get on there feet and receive a good income, Shouldnt they be push out to the private market so the next family who are suffering move in?

I think the fact that councils are not building social housing is the issue.

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 02:48PM

pickarooney wrote: »

You're not really addressing the actual question, are you? But indeed, why would anyone voluntarily move themselves an their family out of a cheap house and put themselves through the hassle of trying to find a more expensive one? Do you believe in altruism?

But isnt there a mechanism in place already where people get means tested for social welfare?

So if you live in social housing, Do you still get means tested to affirm that you still have a right to live there.

Or is it that once you get social housing, You can then get a great job paying well and you wont get means tested for the house your living in.

My second question is what if someone is provided a 4 bed house.

Children all grow up and move out. Does that parent still get to keep the 4 bed house that they received 20 years ago still paid by the state?

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 02:53PM

bubblypop wrote: »

I think the fact that councils are not building social housing is the issue.

But i would assume they are not being logically used if you can live there permanently.

If it was renamed emergency housing and you were means tested yearly, Surely the social housing would be rotated alot quicker?

c montgomery · 09-04-2016 02:56PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

As there is so many people on the housing waiting list, Do people who live in Social Housing get to live there permanently even when they find their feet and get steady incomes?

Yes is the answer.
Most pay between 8-15 % of there income for the privilege. Reviewed very infrequently.
Any slight issue with the house their on the phone demanding the council come round to fix.

Lights On · 09-04-2016 02:57PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

So if you live in social housing, Do you still get means tested to affirm that you still have a right to live there.

Or is it that once you get social housing, You can then get a great job paying well and you wont get means tested for the house your living in.

I grew up in a council house, rent gets rechecked at least once a year, you start earning more, or someone else in the house starts bringing in more income you pay more rent. Simple as that. Not sure where the idea that you could earn loads and pay nothing came from?

KERSPLAT! · 09-04-2016 02:59PM

c montgomery wrote: »

Yes is the answer.
Most pay between 8-15 % of there income for the privilege. Reviewed very infrequently.
Any slight issue with the house their on the phone demanding the council come round to fix.

What would you define as infrequent?

Asaiah · 09-04-2016 02:59PM

Folks, a person in social housing (Council housing or voluntary housing) can stay forever, even if they start to earn 6 figure salaries. The rent increases as a percentage of their income, 17% I believe. However this is capped, Not sure what the cap is but I used to know a taxi driver who told me his was capped at 400 euro per month (Don't know if it's changed since then, that was about 8 years ago). So in theory even if he brought in 2 grand a week he would still pay no more than 100 a week rent.

FizzleSticks · 09-04-2016 03:00PM

This post has been deleted.

c montgomery · 09-04-2016 03:02PM

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

What would you define as infrequent?

I would define it as every 2 years in this case.
My colleague has not been reviewed in over 3 years, tells us all the time.
I think review should be done every January based on p60.

KERSPLAT! · 09-04-2016 03:04PM

c montgomery wrote: »

I would define it as every 2 years in this case.
My colleague has not been reviewed in over 3 years, tells us all the time.
I think review should be done every January based on p60.

I don't believe your friend. I'm sure in some instances it may be more but the norm is a yearly rent review where each person listed as living in the house must supply SW slips or pay slips, rent is then reviewed accordingly.

andekwarhola · 09-04-2016 03:12PM

Social housing isn't supposed to be solely for the unemployed. It's subsidized housing for low income.

The rent increases if your household income rises.

Dunno what the local authority do if your income rises to a certain extent but I'm presuming few people, bar criminals, would actually elect to live in a council estate when they're earning a decent middle-class income.

c montgomery · 09-04-2016 03:14PM

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

I don't believe your friend. I'm sure in some instances it may be more but the norm is a yearly rent review where each person listed as living in the house must supply SW slips or pay slips, rent is then reviewed accordingly.

Perhaps, this is cork cc in my friends case.

Should be done on p60 to cover the entire years earnings

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 03:17PM

So is the rent capped on social housing?

Even if you earn large sums of money later on?

If I lived in a house paying 1400 a month and the neighbour who lives in a council house earns 2X my wages, They would only be paying 1/3 of what i pay Max?

MarkAnthony · 09-04-2016 03:19PM

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Why would you bother trying to pay for things on your own accord in Ireland? Just make yourself completely unemployable and you will be rewarded with a house, 188 a week, child benefit for every kid you decide to pop out, medical card, free travel etc

Becuase some of us, usually with the benefit of encouragement and upbringing from out parent(s)/gaurdian grow up with aspirations beyond sitting on our arse living off the state.

user2011 · 09-04-2016 03:22PM

c montgomery wrote: »

Yes is the answer.
Most pay between 8-15 % of there income for the privilege. Reviewed very infrequently.
Any slight issue with the house their on the phone demanding the council come round to fix.

A bit like when you live in privately rented accommodation?

Polo_Mint · 09-04-2016 03:24PM

user2011 wrote: »

A bit like when you live in privately rented accommodation?

I would think alot of people are paying nearly 50% of there income on rent.

Is Council housing rent capped and whats the %?

FalconGirl · 09-04-2016 03:25PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

But isnt this leading to the Social housing issue?

If a family fall on hard times they move into social housing.

If that family then get on there feet and receive a good income, Shouldnt they be push out to the private market so the next family who are suffering move in?

Yes they should be made to get back on their feet and pushed into the private market. A family a couple of doors up from me have never worked a day in their lives and the grown up kids are now doing the same. All living under one roof in social housing and instead of contributing to society they are reaping all the benefits through others hard work. They have been like this as long as I can remember (28yrs).

Infuriating to see take-away delivery drivers at the door most nights.

deseil · 09-04-2016 03:25PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

But isnt there a mechanism in place already where people get means tested for social welfare?

So if you live in social housing, Do you still get means tested to affirm that you still have a right to live there.

Or is it that once you get social housing, You can then get a great job paying well and you wont get means tested for the house your living in.

My second question is what if someone is provided a 4 bed house.

Children all grow up and move out. Does that parent still get to keep the 4 bed house that they received 20 years ago still paid by the state?

Yes they keep the house even when the kids move out. This is a huge issue single older people living in 3/4 bedroom houses.

The council charges 15% of your earnings. So on 188 per week you pay just under 30 eur rent but if you get a job and earn 1000 per week you pay 150 eur per week which is madness imo.

I wish my mortgage was only 15% of my earnings id be loaded.

Owryan · 09-04-2016 03:28PM

Rent is supposed to be reviewed yearly, also if the tenant/family's income changes they are supposed to notify the council.

Most families stay in their council house for life and that's even if they get well paid jobs. They will pay more rent as it is means tested but some counties cap the max amount, others don't.

In some ways it's an unfair system, people who can afford to rent privately are let stay in a house a more needy family might be more deserving of.

I ve worked with families in council houses who are earning good money €600-700 PW and are paying a fraction in rent compared to if they were renting privately.

user2011 · 09-04-2016 03:38PM

Polo_Mint wrote: »

I would think alot of people are paying nearly 50% of there income on rent.

Is Council housing rent capped and whats the %?

You'll still go to the person responsible for taking care of fixing stuff no matter the percentage.

c montgomery · 09-04-2016 03:40PM

Owryan wrote: »

Rent is supposed to be reviewed yearly, also if the tenant/family's income changes they are supposed to notify the council.

Most families stay in their council house for life and that's even if they get well paid jobs. They will pay more rent as it is means tested but some counties cap the max amount, others don't.

In some ways it's an unfair system, people who can afford to rent privately are let stay in a house a more needy family might be more deserving of.

I ve worked with families in council houses who are earning good money €600-700 PW and are paying a fraction in rent compared to if they were renting privately.

Yip completely unfair.

One big section of society subsidised by a relatively small section of society.

c montgomery · 09-04-2016 03:42PM

user2011 wrote: »

You'll still go to the person responsible for taking care of fixing stuff no matter the percentage.

It's small things that you should be able to deal with yourself that I was talking about. Also things that's would not be landlords responsibility but seems to fall on the council.

user2011 · 09-04-2016 03:43PM

c montgomery wrote: »

Yip completely unfair.

One big section of society subsidised by a relatively small section of society.

You'd wonder something serious how this small section pays for housing health dole etc. So small.....

user2011 · 09-04-2016 03:44PM

c montgomery wrote: »

It's small things that you should be able to deal with yourself that I was talking about. Also things that's would not be landlords responsibility but seems to fall on the council.

Care to give examples that can be checked?

Social Housing Infinite?

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