Council homes to have fixed term tenancies - Page 3

MargaretR · 08-08-2010, 11:21

Most other european countries have a lower percentage of owner/occupiers.
It seems that social stigma against renting does not arise when the ratio of renting/owning is about 50/50.

In some ways owning can be a handicap because it makes it more difficult to move to where work is more readily available.

http://www.ebst.dk/file/2256/housing...stics_2003.pdf
page 42 shows a map of europe indicating the levels of owner/occupancy in countries

blazey · 08-08-2010, 15:33

I think renting offers more flexibility and in some ways a lot more security. You may not be able to say that your money bought you something permanent but at least you can move whenever you like without having to worry about whether your house will sell or not. People move around so much more for work these days, I'm surprised that more people aren't renting than buying.

Gremlin · 08-08-2010, 19:46

I thought about selling up and renting a bungalow near the coast. I tried a few estate agents and got some good properties to look at but what put me off was lack of security. They only ever offered me a six month tenancy and then a review. Most owners were just hanging on until house prices went back up again and were covering costs in the meantime while somebody else paid the poll tax and kept the place warm and dry.

kikine · 08-08-2010, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I thought about selling up and renting a bungalow near the coast. I tried a few estate agents and got some good properties to look at but what put me off was lack of security. They only ever offered me a six month tenancy and then a review. Most owners were just hanging on until house prices went back up again and were covering costs in the meantime while somebody else paid the poll tax and kept the place warm and dry.

I know where you come from Gremlin, I live on the coast and most the properties are second homes that are rented out at an extortinate rate with no security. Rent here is at the least £700 per month. If you own don't go back to renting. I wish you well.

cashman · 08-08-2010, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

I think renting offers more flexibility and in some ways a lot more security. You may not be able to say that your money bought you something permanent but at least you can move whenever you like without having to worry about whether your house will sell or not. People move around so much more for work these days, I'm surprised that more people aren't renting than buying.

i have never rented, always owned, but then i'm a dinosaur, this posted has pretty well nailed it, in my opinion, well said blaze.

Mancie · 08-08-2010, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

I think renting offers more flexibility and in some ways a lot more security. You may not be able to say that your money bought you something permanent but at least you can move whenever you like without having to worry about whether your house will sell or not. People move around so much more for work these days, I'm surprised that more people aren't renting than buying.

This all seems sensible.. but from experience of places like London you would have to be more than just flexible.. or have a very good income to go around renting flats/houses when it suits... £1200 minimum per month will get you a basic ex-council high rise flat.
My point is that in future all council homes/flat dwellers will be subject to a means test to determine wether they should stay in that home..this could be a home that families have had for 50 years or more.. we can "if and but" about the size of home or who can afford to rent private houses but we are talking about families and homes... does any Government have the right to evict a family who pay rent from thier home in order to give that home to some poor sod on benifits?.

flashy · 08-08-2010, 23:11

by the time this government has finished there will be no 'poor sods' on any benefit whatsoever.....what will they plan to do next? knock all the council houses down?

SPUGGIE J · 09-08-2010, 05:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashy

by the time this government has finished there will be no 'poor sods' on any benefit whatsoever.....what will they plan to do next? knock all the council houses down?

Only the bad ones the rest will be sold from under you to private buyers. Those that lose out will be in tents or caravans the way this could end up going.

jaysay · 09-08-2010, 09:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashy

by the time this government has finished there will be no 'poor sods' on any benefit whatsoever.....what will they plan to do next? knock all the council houses down?

No the only poor sods on benefit will be those who genuinely require them not families who are brought up on benefits from cradle to grave and bring their kids up in the same way, and its no use saying this doesn't happen it does and has been going on for donkey's years

jaysay · 09-08-2010, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

No the only poor sods on benefit will be those who genuinely require them not families who are brought up on benefits from cradle to grave and bring their kids up in the same way, and its no use saying this doesn't happen it does and has been going on for donkey's years

Revealed: The quarter of a million homes where no one's ever had a job | Mail Online
Just to back up what I'm saying

MargaretR · 09-08-2010, 10:19

Homelessness is not an aid to job seeking.

If we have tent cities (as is already happening in USA), they are breeding grounds for disease which can spread to the general population.

In a civilised society a roof over your head is a basic need.

jaysay · 09-08-2010, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

Homelessness is not an aid to job seeking.

If we have tent cities (as is already happening in USA), they are breeding grounds for disease which can spread to the general population.

In a civilised society a roof over your head is a basic need.

There's also a saying in the US of A which we hear quite regularly Trailer Trash, think over here we call um pike's

Gremlin · 09-08-2010, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by kikine

I know where you come from Gremlin, I live on the coast and most the properties are second homes that are rented out at an extortinate rate with no security. Rent here is at the least £700 per month. If you own don't go back to renting. I wish you well.

Yes it's the same here Kikine, I spent a lot of my childhood in Poulton le Fylde and some family still live there. My grandmas house was £2000.00 in 1948 and was recently sold for well over £200,000 and it was needing a lot of work on it.
Rent for a decent property especially a bungalow which me and my wife need is round about the same as you quote. We will stick to the bungalow we have and live in Accrington for a bit longer.

s.pollard · 09-08-2010, 19:32

There is nothing wrong with council schemes . When I clock out the children wont have to fight over who live here. they will just have to stop the benefits

blazey · 09-08-2010, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by s.pollard

There is nothing wrong with council schemes . When I clock out the children wont have to fight over who live here. they will just have to stop the benefits

So you are going to live on benefits until you die? I hope you have a good reason