I just rented out my flat - Council bribed me
Discussion
I have a two bed flat which I have just refurbished.
I put the property on he market and had numerous applicants. Being honest I would have preferred a working couple, however I had a number of HB applicants.
I agreed to rent to this one girl who seemed nice and her mother was prepared to act as guarantor if required.
Single Mum, small child, not working, she informed me that the first months rent and deposit would be coming from the Council and she can top up the £225pcm shortfall going forward as she receives £1300pcm in Universal Credit.
Housing officer called me to confirm and then told me they would also pay me £1800.00 on top as an incentive! Which was suprising.
This was obviously fine by me.
That have also assigned a dedicated housing officer to her for the next 12 months who will support her throughout the tenancy.
However, it made me realise how much I would have to earn to cover all the costs, £1100pcm rent, £2500p.a council & £1300pcm UC.
I'd need to be earning £40k p.a before tax.
It's little wonder we have so many economically inactive people.
Purely an observation
I put the property on he market and had numerous applicants. Being honest I would have preferred a working couple, however I had a number of HB applicants.
I agreed to rent to this one girl who seemed nice and her mother was prepared to act as guarantor if required.
Single Mum, small child, not working, she informed me that the first months rent and deposit would be coming from the Council and she can top up the £225pcm shortfall going forward as she receives £1300pcm in Universal Credit.
Housing officer called me to confirm and then told me they would also pay me £1800.00 on top as an incentive! Which was suprising.
This was obviously fine by me.
That have also assigned a dedicated housing officer to her for the next 12 months who will support her throughout the tenancy.
However, it made me realise how much I would have to earn to cover all the costs, £1100pcm rent, £2500p.a council & £1300pcm UC.
I'd need to be earning £40k p.a before tax.
It's little wonder we have so many economically inactive people.
Purely an observation
We know a couple who treat benefits as an early retirement. They have more disposable income than we do, and we both have good jobs. They have a newer car, bigger house, bigger tv etc. Even though we will have decent pensions when we retire, they will probably still be better off with pension credits and any other benefits they can obtain. I'm not saying it`s true in every case, but some people really do know how to work the system.
Looked into this a while back as an "i'm sick of working" daydream thing.
You're limited to a certain level of cash (non pension) savings, but for us with 2 kids UC would pay out quite handsomely.
It doesn't take into account things like assets. So you could keep minimal savings to hand, and spunk any surplus on nice cars.
It also doesn't take into account owning your own home. We are mortgage free in a cheap to run house, so outgoings aren't too high. Could probably survive ok on UC and maybe a little part time work.
I don't think you can live like a king, but i do think as a country we've lost touch with what REAL poverty is.
Real poverty isn't about only having a 40" telly, or your kids not having the latest nintendo switch game, or only being able to afford a week abroad on holiday.
Sick of seeing sympathy pieces on the news of people pleading poverty and food banks, yet appearing on the news with new gel nails, freshly done hair, etc, moaning about having to make choices between eating and putting the heating on, yet carrying a spare 4st.
This is all another hangover from the Blair/Brown era. The worst government in history for selling us all down the river for short term political gain. Credit boom. Housing boom. PFI schemes. Non-jobs in public sector. Appointing people to top jobs based on diversity and not skills. The bloating of the welfare state. The explosion of right to buy. Selling off the gold reserves. Raiding pensions. Deregulation of the financial industry. 125% mortgages. Financial crash.
That said, the latest lot are just a continuation of that theme. Any attempt to bring down the welfare state bill is shouted down, like persuading people in council houses with more bedrooms than they need to downsize (seems sensible?), only to be labelled "bedroom tax" and quickly cancelled.
These are all reasons why now we have a situation where a single mum is being thrown money to put a roof over her head.
The lack of responsibility in this country is laughable.
/rant
There. That's better. I'm off to take some Rennie...
You're limited to a certain level of cash (non pension) savings, but for us with 2 kids UC would pay out quite handsomely.
It doesn't take into account things like assets. So you could keep minimal savings to hand, and spunk any surplus on nice cars.
It also doesn't take into account owning your own home. We are mortgage free in a cheap to run house, so outgoings aren't too high. Could probably survive ok on UC and maybe a little part time work.
I don't think you can live like a king, but i do think as a country we've lost touch with what REAL poverty is.
Real poverty isn't about only having a 40" telly, or your kids not having the latest nintendo switch game, or only being able to afford a week abroad on holiday.
Sick of seeing sympathy pieces on the news of people pleading poverty and food banks, yet appearing on the news with new gel nails, freshly done hair, etc, moaning about having to make choices between eating and putting the heating on, yet carrying a spare 4st.
This is all another hangover from the Blair/Brown era. The worst government in history for selling us all down the river for short term political gain. Credit boom. Housing boom. PFI schemes. Non-jobs in public sector. Appointing people to top jobs based on diversity and not skills. The bloating of the welfare state. The explosion of right to buy. Selling off the gold reserves. Raiding pensions. Deregulation of the financial industry. 125% mortgages. Financial crash.
That said, the latest lot are just a continuation of that theme. Any attempt to bring down the welfare state bill is shouted down, like persuading people in council houses with more bedrooms than they need to downsize (seems sensible?), only to be labelled "bedroom tax" and quickly cancelled.
These are all reasons why now we have a situation where a single mum is being thrown money to put a roof over her head.
The lack of responsibility in this country is laughable.
/rant
There. That's better. I'm off to take some Rennie...
Edited by LowTread on Wednesday 19th June 09:39
dazmanultra said:
The root cause of course is that we're not building enough social housing. :/
So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
Absolutely.So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
Right to buy. Lack of building.
Private landlords taking up the slack.
dazmanultra said:
The root cause of course is that we're not building enough social housing. :/
So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
And selling off existing social housing such as the right to buy scheme. So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
Some of you need to read up on poverty and the effects of it. Sounds like some of you want to see street urchins dressed in rags begging to make you feel better for having a decent income?
We should be proud as a society that we have these safety nets, single parents are supported to "parent" and the children do not have to experience poverty.
Still we are not doing great:
https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-an...
But we manage similar to peers:
https://fullfact.org/economy/uks-poverty-rate-arou...
The real issue highlighted here by the OP is the price of property in the UK, and the distorted private rental market and lack of social housing. We wouldn't have to be bunging private landlords cash incentives if we hadn't sold off social housing and not built any more. Its another Tory transfer of wealth from the state to the already wealthy.
We should be proud as a society that we have these safety nets, single parents are supported to "parent" and the children do not have to experience poverty.
Still we are not doing great:
https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-an...
But we manage similar to peers:
https://fullfact.org/economy/uks-poverty-rate-arou...
The real issue highlighted here by the OP is the price of property in the UK, and the distorted private rental market and lack of social housing. We wouldn't have to be bunging private landlords cash incentives if we hadn't sold off social housing and not built any more. Its another Tory transfer of wealth from the state to the already wealthy.
Edited by was8v on Wednesday 19th June 09:51
Simon_GH said:
And selling off existing social housing such as the right to buy scheme.
Also once a person has a council house they are in it for as long as they want. Often they will get one in times of need but then get better job or meet a partner who has a better job. This means that they can afford somewhere on the private sector but choose not to because council house is cheaper. Same with people when children leave the home.If councils were allowed to better manage their stock allocations it would alleviate a lot of pressure.
was8v said:
Some of you need to read up on poverty and the effects of it. Sounds like some of you want to see street urchins dressed in rags begging to make you feel better for having a decent income?
We should be proud as a society that we have these safety nets, single parents are supported to "parent" and the children do not have to experience poverty.
Still we are not doing great:
https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-an...
But we manage similar to peers:
https://fullfact.org/economy/uks-poverty-rate-arou...
The real issue highlighted here by the OP is the price of property in the UK, and the distorted private rental market and lack of social housing. We wouldn't have to be bunging private landlords cash incentives if we hadn't sold off social housing and not built any more. Its another Tory transfer of wealth from the state to the already wealthy.
Pardon me, the state DOES NOT have wealth , its tax payer money ( reminder: people who work and pay net tax ) We should be proud as a society that we have these safety nets, single parents are supported to "parent" and the children do not have to experience poverty.
Still we are not doing great:
https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/poverty-facts-an...
But we manage similar to peers:
https://fullfact.org/economy/uks-poverty-rate-arou...
The real issue highlighted here by the OP is the price of property in the UK, and the distorted private rental market and lack of social housing. We wouldn't have to be bunging private landlords cash incentives if we hadn't sold off social housing and not built any more. Its another Tory transfer of wealth from the state to the already wealthy.
Edited by was8v on Wednesday 19th June 09:51
Simon_GH said:
dazmanultra said:
The root cause of course is that we're not building enough social housing. :/
So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
And selling off existing social housing such as the right to buy scheme. So we're all paying through our taxes for properties at this level. We need to take a much longer term view of housing in this country.
My aunt and her partner need to find a new place to rent, they don't want much, a 1 bed flat or studio is all they need, but there is just nothing affordable for them out there. Both work in relatively low paid jobs, but still earn just enough to take them over the threshold for support.
It's crazy that the only realistic option for a working couple in their 60's is to find a house share with a bunch of strangers.
was8v said:
Its another Tory transfer of wealth from the state to the already wealthy.
I'm no tory fan, but it's not a Tory thing.I had next door neighbours in 2006 that decided to upsize into an off-plan newbuild. Dream home for them at the time. They mortgaged themselves up to their eyeballs to do it.
We visited when they moved in.
They had their then new neighbours around at the same time. Lots of kids running round.
Got chatting to them. They had about 5 or 6 kids, across 3 different fathers. Not working. It was the council that housed them in this nice house, because they had to have a large place because of the number of kids they had.
Her only comment was "i've always wanted a big family".
Yeah. I've always wanted a Ferrari F40, but i'm not expecting everyone else to pick up the tab for it!
Our neighbours were under massive financial stress at the time to afford living there, but right next door was a family living there for nothing.
Then the market crashed, he became an alcoholic, and they got divorced. Sad story.
That was under labour.
Another story from the early 2000s. Work colleague married a woman that owned her own place. She'd lived in it for ages as a council tennant. She bought it with an enormous discount (like 80% or something daft).
They then moved and rent it out privately.
They still own it to this day. Rent still paying out. And the mortgage on their new place is paid for now too.
That was also under labour.
Edited by LowTread on Wednesday 19th June 10:22
Edited by LowTread on Wednesday 19th June 10:22
LowTread said:
I'm no tory fan, but it's not a Tory thing.
I had next door neighbours in 2006 that decided to upsize into an off-plan newbuild. Dream home for them at the time. They mortgaged themselves up to their eyeballs to do it.
We visited when they moved in.
They had their then new neighbours around at the same time. Lots of kids running round.
Got chatting to them. They had about 5 or 6 kids, across 3 different fathers. Not working. It was the council that housed them in this nice house, because they had to have a large place because of the number of kids they had.
Her only comment was "i've always wanted a big family".
Yeah. I've always wanted a Ferrari F40, but i'm not expecting everyone else to pick up the tab for it!
That was under labour.
Similar situation with some other friends in the early 2000s. He married a woman that owned her own place. She'd lived in it for ages as a council tennant. She bought it with an enormous discount (like 80% or something daft).
They then moved and rent it out privately.
They still own it to this day. Rent still paying out. And the mortgage on their new place is paid for now too.
That was also under labour.
Luckily we chose carefully when we bought our house on what was then a new-ish build estate. Some houses however, are right next to social housing, which when you have paid £500 - 750k for the house of your dreams, to find your neighbours are paying a pittance for the same house with the resultant lack of respect for it and its surroundings, is a bit of a gutter. A (very) few of the social houses are looked after (one chap in particular, a refugee from Somalia, who was so pleased and proud to have somewhere to live, kept it absolutely immaculate until he left. Needless to say the new tenants have trashed it), but the majority have abandoned cars, old mattresses etc outside and are absolutely filthy. I assume they get some kind of inspection every so often, but I'm not sure what they actually inspect. I had next door neighbours in 2006 that decided to upsize into an off-plan newbuild. Dream home for them at the time. They mortgaged themselves up to their eyeballs to do it.
We visited when they moved in.
They had their then new neighbours around at the same time. Lots of kids running round.
Got chatting to them. They had about 5 or 6 kids, across 3 different fathers. Not working. It was the council that housed them in this nice house, because they had to have a large place because of the number of kids they had.
Her only comment was "i've always wanted a big family".
Yeah. I've always wanted a Ferrari F40, but i'm not expecting everyone else to pick up the tab for it!
That was under labour.
Similar situation with some other friends in the early 2000s. He married a woman that owned her own place. She'd lived in it for ages as a council tennant. She bought it with an enormous discount (like 80% or something daft).
They then moved and rent it out privately.
They still own it to this day. Rent still paying out. And the mortgage on their new place is paid for now too.
That was also under labour.
Acorn1 said:
I have a two bed flat which I have just refurbished.
I put the property on he market and had numerous applicants. Being honest I would have preferred a working couple, however I had a number of HB applicants.
I agreed to rent to this one girl who seemed nice and her mother was prepared to act as guarantor if required.
Single Mum, small child, not working, she informed me that the first months rent and deposit would be coming from the Council and she can top up the £225pcm shortfall going forward as she receives £1300pcm in Universal Credit.
Housing officer called me to confirm and then told me they would also pay me £1800.00 on top as an incentive! Which was suprising.
This was obviously fine by me.
That have also assigned a dedicated housing officer to her for the next 12 months who will support her throughout the tenancy.
However, it made me realise how much I would have to earn to cover all the costs, £1100pcm rent, £2500p.a council & £1300pcm UC.
I'd need to be earning £40k p.a before tax.
It's little wonder we have so many economically inactive people.
Purely an observation
I've been in many houses decorated to a much higher standard than my own home. These people don't work, their children don't and they have no intention of working. In the early 90s I knew second generation non workers who actively spoke about the ways to dodge work and keep on sleeping in every day. I put the property on he market and had numerous applicants. Being honest I would have preferred a working couple, however I had a number of HB applicants.
I agreed to rent to this one girl who seemed nice and her mother was prepared to act as guarantor if required.
Single Mum, small child, not working, she informed me that the first months rent and deposit would be coming from the Council and she can top up the £225pcm shortfall going forward as she receives £1300pcm in Universal Credit.
Housing officer called me to confirm and then told me they would also pay me £1800.00 on top as an incentive! Which was suprising.
This was obviously fine by me.
That have also assigned a dedicated housing officer to her for the next 12 months who will support her throughout the tenancy.
However, it made me realise how much I would have to earn to cover all the costs, £1100pcm rent, £2500p.a council & £1300pcm UC.
I'd need to be earning £40k p.a before tax.
It's little wonder we have so many economically inactive people.
Purely an observation
Do you blame them? Then bring another child into the world.
Imagine a life of never having to work- someone pays you not to.
There is no incentive to work. As a single young male I had the choice of knock someone up (no not my style then), starve or work my ass off.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I've been in many houses decorated to a much higher standard than my own home. These people don't work, their children don't and they have no intention of working. In the early 90s I knew second generation non workers who actively spoke about the ways to dodge work and keep on sleeping in every day.
Do you blame them? Then bring another child into the world.
Imagine a life of never having to work- someone pays you not to.
There is no incentive to work. As a single young male I had the choice of knock someone up (no not my style then), starve or work my ass off.
I have quite a few ailments, more in fact than people I know of who are "on the sick". I could milk it and find a willing doctor to get me on benefits, but I really couldn't do it. While I am physically able to work, I will do.Do you blame them? Then bring another child into the world.
Imagine a life of never having to work- someone pays you not to.
There is no incentive to work. As a single young male I had the choice of knock someone up (no not my style then), starve or work my ass off.
Young couple walking by the river in front of me in town a few weeks ago.
I was walking because i was trying to think of how to solve a technical problem at work.
The couple in front were discussing the ins/outs of the benefit system. How many hours to work. How much in savings. Who to talk to. What to say.
It's an occupation for them. Quite a skilled one at that.
I came home wondering where i'd gone wrong.
I was walking because i was trying to think of how to solve a technical problem at work.
The couple in front were discussing the ins/outs of the benefit system. How many hours to work. How much in savings. Who to talk to. What to say.
It's an occupation for them. Quite a skilled one at that.
I came home wondering where i'd gone wrong.
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