Jay Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Are people means tested before being allowed to rent local authority housing? And are tenants means tested on a regular basis to ascertain whether they still qualify for cheap housing? If someone lives in local authority housing but is able to afford to buy, or rent privately, are they forced to do so, thereby vacating a cheaper rental property for someone who needs it? I know several people who live in council/commissioners housing who could comfortably afford alternative acommodation. It just seems a bit unfair on those who have a genuine need for cheap housing but are prevented by those who don't.
Mission Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 I think they are but I guess it's like all things in life; you can always bend the truth to suit your needs.
Fred Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 http://www.gov.im/dlge/housing/public/welcome.xml Gives various information,basically you qualify if income is less than £24-30,000 depending upon number of children. As far as I'm aware,once allocated a house-income is then ignored?
Snaipyr Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Are people means tested before being allowed to rent local authority housing?And are tenants means tested on a regular basis to ascertain whether they still qualify for cheap housing? If someone lives in local authority housing but is able to afford to buy, or rent privately, are they forced to do so, thereby vacating a cheaper rental property for someone who needs it? I know several people who live in council/commissioners housing who could comfortably afford alternative acommodation. It just seems a bit unfair on those who have a genuine need for cheap housing but are prevented by those who don't. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'd make a rule that only people who like dogs can get a local authority house.
WilDDog Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Are people means tested before being allowed to rent local authority housing?No don't think so. And are tenants means tested on a regular basis to ascertain whether they still qualify for cheap housing? No If someone lives in local authority housing but is able to afford to buy, or rent privately, are they forced to do so, thereby vacating a cheaper rental property for someone who needs it?No I know several people who live in council/commissioners housing who could comfortably afford alternative acommodation. Yep I know quite a few people who could comfortably afford their own property. It just seems a bit unfair on those who have a genuine need for cheap housing but are prevented by those who don't. I agree. There are some rules and regulations before you can qualify for a commissioners propery or a local Government Board house though, you must be able to afford a new car or cars, go on regular holidays and have broadband installed.
Mission Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Don't forget satellite tv, huge weekly shopping budget and daily trips to the pub.
WilDDog Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Sorry Mission, I forgot those. Oh and I nearly forgot working for themselves and setting up a successfull business and employing people to make lots of money for themselves. Then saying nothing to the Town Hall so they can stay in their cheap accommodation, just so that someone who deserves that house can't have it.
Ceaser & Cleo Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Don't forget satellite tv, huge weekly shopping budget and daily trips to the pub. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you own a lawn mower you have no chance of being alocated a council house.
WilDDog Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Don't forget satellite tv, huge weekly shopping budget and daily trips to the pub. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If you own a lawn mower you have no chance of being alocated a council house. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's true, they would expect you to have a person to operate it as well.
Mission Posted August 15, 2004 Posted August 15, 2004 Oh, and not forgeting of course.... Letting the outside of the house become a huge skip whilst ensuring the inside looks like something from Ideal Home magazine.
Jay Posted August 15, 2004 Author Posted August 15, 2004 Oh, and not forgeting of course....Letting the outside of the house become a huge skip whilst ensuring the inside looks like something from Ideal Home magazine. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Maybe some of the properties are a bit scruffy and unkempt, perhaps the landlord should make those responsible clean things up. I am thinking more about the people who are to all intent and purpose, 'using' the system to the detriment of others. If people are not means tested before they are allocated accommodation and during their tenancy, they should be.
Minnie Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 I agree that people in local authority housing should be means tested regularly whilst they occupy the property and if they are seen to be able to comfortably afford either a privately rented property or be able to apply for a mortgage, they should be given notice to vacate the house so that a more needy family can move in. Likewise if circumstances change, ie job change or a partner moving into the house and bringing another wage into the household, the council should be made aware of these facts and assess the situation accordingly. I know many people who live in local authority houses and they have kitchens ripped out and brand new fitted ones installed, families who holiday 3 and 4 times a year, drive round in brand new cars, and I even know someone who actually applied for permission to have a huge conservatory built on the back of their council house (permission was denied). As someone mentioned, the problem seems to be that once a person moves into a council house that's them for good then, income etc is never checked. Another problem, in my opinion, is when a couple living in local authority housing have children who have grown up and moved out but the parents still get to live in a 3 bedroomed house. I also know families with 3 or 4 children who are cramped into a 2 bedroomed council house, surely that's not fair when there are married couples, with grown up children, living in a larger house.
Slim Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 Means testing doesn't happen after they've been allocated. Once you've got a house, you're nearly impossible to shift. My way of dealing with people who take the xxxx (oh and there are plenty, just look at the fookin cars parked in the estates!) would be to means test them during their tennancy and charge rent on a scale.
Kelly Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 the idea behind council houses is not purely so that skint people can get a house though. Or at least it wasn't originally maybe it should be now. It was so that people who don't want to buy or waste money on rent can have somewhere to live and if they could then afford holidays then good. these days though with people being richer and homes being scarse maybe they should rethink that ideal and start means testing. and old people whose kids have grown should be moved to smaller houses too.
Slim Posted August 16, 2004 Posted August 16, 2004 That's probably the daftest reply I've ever seen... You're seriously saying that council housing are supposed to be for people with no shortage of money who just don't fancy paying rent?
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