15 replies to this topic

[Eddie]

I must confess I was amazed to find out this week that it was perfectly legal to be given a council house, and then sub let it for profit. I think that is immoral, and I support the stance taken by the government here. It should be illegal

[Reg Cubit]

Didn't think there were still such things as Council Housing

[Eddie]

Got up on the wrong side of bed Reg ?

[GRACELAND]

never knew you could do that i agree it should not be allowed !!

[Barry Kirby]

Agreed, it should be stamped upon, at the end of the day a Council house is rented from the state and is there to help people in need not an asset to be profiteered from!

[Reg Cubit]

Eddie, on 02 January 2012 - 01:13 PM, said:

Got up on the wrong side of bed Reg ?

Er no, Social Housing is predominately run by Housing Associations this days.

[Kay Powell]

Reg Cubit, on 02 January 2012 - 06:07 PM, said:

Er no, Social Housing is predominately run by Housing Associations this days.

There are thousands of council houses and flats in Gloucester, Reg.

[Tony]

Taken from the Cheltenham Borough Homes website;

We are one of the top performing Arms Length Management organisations (ALMOs) in the country having been awarded 3 stars for excellent services and excellent prospects for improvement. We look after the management and maintenance of approximately 5,000 council-owned and leasehold properties in Cheltenham.

So "council houses" are alive (if not so well) in Cheltenham, also.....

Having caught the tail end of the report, I also found the fact that there are around 6000 tenants that earn more than £100000 per year astonishing.
Included in that figure are 3 MP's!
I live in a council house and couldn't afford to rent privately in Cheltenham, at least not without a great deal of housing/Council tax benefit contributions.
My daughter has just moved into a 2 bed, rented, flat (very nice, new build) which she and her partner pay £675 plus all utility bills per month.
He's on a reasonable wage for a 24 year old and she works part time. (new baby in August, so time is at a premium) but they can't get any help towards housing costs, but these guys get subsidised housing? ... yet another example of the system needing a good overhaul and the sooner the better!

[Kay Powell]

Council houses are supposed to be there to provide decent housing for those who would struggle to rent privately. It's awful that some of them are let to people who don't need them.

[emdia]

Eddie, on 02 January 2012 - 10:11 AM, said:

I must confess I was amazed to find out this week that it was perfectly legal to be given a council house, and then sub let it for profit. I think that is immoral, and I support the stance taken by the government here. It should be illegal

that boggles my mind. So I could move from town to town obtaining council accommodation, then rent it out and ..... repeat. You could acquire a nice income that way I think. Why would that ever have been permitted?

[Barry Kirby]

emdia, on 03 January 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

that boggles my mind. So I could move from town to town obtaining council accommodation, then rent it out and ..... repeat. You could acquire a nice income that way I think. Why would that ever have been permitted?

I think its more like the systems in place wouldn;t catch you for it rather than it being permitted. But it basically boils down to people ripping off the syste that is supposed to be there to help people in genuine need. It is this that completely masks the real need for the welfare side of things! I think people who do that should be serverely punnished. The state does a very good "alternative" state provided housing!

[Reg Cubit]

Kay Powell, on 02 January 2012 - 08:37 PM, said:

There are thousands of council houses and flats in Gloucester, Reg.

Yes but isn't Gloucester City Homes a "private" company as opposed to being the Council.

[doughnut]

Whatever Reg, it's simply the system being moved out from council to housing association, the aim is supposed to be the same. The thing that baffles me is that high earners can even get onto the list. As for getting several houses???

I had to go to some meeting at Ferndown Council and finished up sitting next to the East Dorset Housing Assoc. person. I got into conversation during a coffee break and asked her about the waiting list. (I had a family of four living in a 14ft caravan and awning at the time - they couldn't get listed as priority.) They had 3200 properties on their books and at that time they had 3400 on their waiting list!

Oh and by the way, the EDHA was based where? At the council offices.

[Reg Cubit]

I take it the EDHA are one of these At Arms Length Organisations; that pretend to be a private company; but in reality are abranch o the Council.

i see Gloucester City Homes have new offices on Bruton Way.

[Kay Powell]

Reg Cubit, on 04 January 2012 - 05:29 PM, said:

Yes but isn't Gloucester City Homes a "private" company as opposed to being the Council.

Gloucester City Homes is wholly owned by Gloucester City Council, and manages houses and flats that are also owned by Gloucester City Council. I'd call them council houses - wouldn't you?

[Tony]

Kay Powell, on 09 January 2012 - 12:03 AM, said:

Gloucester City Homes is wholly owned by Gloucester City Council, and manages houses and flats that are also owned by Gloucester City Council. I'd call them council houses - wouldn't you?

Indeed I would.....