Leicester faces local lockdown

[mick brown]

To be honest most people that work can't even afford to buy a home.

I couldn't if I had to buy one now. I bought my house for £38k , it was valued a few years ago at about £150k
Wouldn't want that mortgage.

 

[crustyfolker]

Ok mate, I may have misunderstood some of your original post. If you can buy your house then I have no problem with it as that is the council's offer/rule. As long as everyone who lives in a council house can do the same if they want/can. What I was saying before I responded to your post was that I don't think anyone should be allowed to buy a council house. IMO, and it is just my opinion, I believe that they shouldn't be sold. They're there for people who can't get mortgages for whatever reason.
But, the part where you say my statement "you want it you work for it " is discriminatory and everybody has the "right" to buy I'm afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree.
If you are disabled and unable to work and buy something then I don't see that as discrimination. It's just life being shit. Unfortunately it happens.
I'm currently having issues with my back and elbows and can't see myself being able to stay in the same career until I'm 66 (53 now ) , so am trying to save as much as I can so I can retire from it early and maybe do a part time job that is less stressful on my joints. I have always stood on my own 2 feet and have never relied on anyone else. I'm too independent for that. Maybe I've been luckier than some.
If the worst comes to the worse, there's "other" options for me.

Take care of yourself. [emoji106]

As said no offence taken i don't fall out with folks easy especially over a discussion. I hope you can get your life sorted how you want it to go due to your back n joints. Possibly its Arthritis which i hope it is not. I am on Tramadol for a back problem called Schumanns disease. They said i had early arthritis that was 13 years back.
Council homes I know people who wanted to buy and even though the mortgage would have been cheaper than rent, banks wouldn't give them a mortgage, now thats unfair on working people totally unfair.

 

[crustyfolker]

To be honest most people that work can't even afford to buy a home.

True. but todays life has loads of tech, people spens loads on tech, go back to the 90's and no one payed a grand for a phone. I think the whole Housing thing would take forever to debate as there is so many scenarios

 

[Leni]

I agree. with this and everyone does have the right to buy even workers, they also get the same discount as everyone else so it is a fair system. I feel workers do not understand that they would get the same if they where disabled so why is it unfair, Disabled folks lives are a lot harder in most cases. But i guess those complaining never stop to think how much easier life is for themselves. Try spending a day wearing steamed up glasses with one eye the other eye gives so little i am classed as blind. this is the easiest way to describe my vision. Thank god for googles accesability, i can blow the screen up to read the larger writing, it just becomes a pain scrolling side to side to read it. or use the speak and listen software.

What’s unfair (imo) is that the discount you talk about only exists for those in council accommodation. There’s no option to buy - and certainly no discount - if you’re renting privately, at least not until you’re earning a hell of a lot more than most people are earning in their younger years. So while it’s great that some do have that opportunity, I can see why a young couple wanting to start a family, but who can’t get a mortgage because they’re both on a low income, might be a bit pissed off. It would also be a great help if councils replaced the homes they’re selling off, because there isn’t enough property available for the people who need it. We’ve got families living in b&bs because there’s nowhere else for the council to house them, so something is badly wrong.

 

[Simon G]

True. but todays life has loads of tech, people spens loads on tech, go back to the 90's and no one payed a grand for a phone. I think the whole Housing thing would take forever to debate as there is so many scenarios

Some people do, personally I wouldn't dream of spending that on a phone... mine was £80 and I thought that was a rip off.

 

[mick brown]

True. but todays life has loads of tech, people spens loads on tech, go back to the 90's and no one payed a grand for a phone. I think the whole Housing thing would take forever to debate as there is so many scenarios

I agree with you there a grand on a phone, several grand on a tv. You've got to be kidding. There's absolutely no way I'd spend that sort of money on those trivial items, it's ridiculous.
Now 2.5 grand on a gun, I have done that. It will however out last me unlike this modern technology that only lasts a couple of years before it needs replacing.

 

[Simon G]

What’s unfair (imo) is that the discount you talk about only exists for those in council accommodation. There’s no option to buy - and certainly no discount - if you’re renting privately, at least not until you’re earning a hell of a lot more than most people are earning in their younger years. So while it’s great that some do have that opportunity, I can see why a young couple wanting to start a family, but who can’t get a mortgage because they’re both on a low income, might be a bit pissed off. It would also be a great help if councils replaced the homes they’re selling off, because there isn’t enough property available for the people who need it. We’ve got families living in b&bs because there’s nowhere else for the council to house them, so something is badly wrong.

That's what it all boils down to, for decades we've not been building anywhere near enough houses for the population. It keeps house prices artificially high, private rents artificially high and housing association/council houses in massive demand.

 

[crustyfolker]

What’s unfair (imo) is that the discount you talk about only exists for those in council accommodation. There’s no option to buy - and certainly no discount - if you’re renting privately, at least not until you’re earning a hell of a lot more than most people are earning in their younger years. So while it’s great that some do have that opportunity, I can see why a young couple wanting to start a family, but who can’t get a mortgage because they’re both on a low income, might be a bit pissed off. It would also be a great help if councils replaced the homes they’re selling off, because there isn’t enough property available for the people who need it. We’ve got families living in b&bs because there’s nowhere else for the council to house them, so something is badly wrong.

People will not like this but. i remember working back in 2000, we had loads of eastern europeans in gambling, I used to manage betting shops. They where telling us we come to England get given a home, money for this and that a mobile phone, car. Back then was the start. Councils where told by the Gov to house EU immigrants before UK citezens. Now the Gov did not expect 6 Million to arrive over time and this is what led to the private rent sector taking off.
If anyone is to blame for all this it is the Gov. Governments voted in by UK people. If councils had built to supply demand then everyone would have an affordable home. If you are someone living in private rent i feel for you. I had to for 4 years and the council left me £100 short of my rent, i had to use my DLA to make it up, money that should have gone towards my travel costs. totally agree that private rent is a blight on lives. It's another Richer folks cashing in off poor folks. Something needs doing about this but what?. The gov won't step in so folks are screwed.
I Blame our GOV no one else.

 

[Leni]

That's what it all boils down to, for decades we've not been building anywhere near enough houses for the population. It keeps house prices artificially high, private rents artificially high and housing association/council houses in massive demand.

I inquired about possible council housing before I moved in here - I was told that even with getting more ‘points’ due to being disabled, I’d be on a waiting list for years, because I wasn’t immediately homeless. As it happens, I got very lucky with my privately-rented flat, so I have no complaints, it worked out for the best.

My phone - I bought it for £20 off a friend about 5 years ago

 

[tootingyoda]

Here's one for you. The guy I commute and work with lives on his own in a 3 (possibly 4) bed council house. It's been his family home all his life, which he took over after his parents died. He's on a decent wage, doesn't have an extravagant lifestyle, never smoked, and drinks cheap lager (all this from 7 years of chauffeuring him to and from work). The council have done extensive modernisation to the property, and he always whinges about the standard of workmanship. He really went apeshit on the introduction of the bedroom tax, but doesn't want to buy it because rent is so cheap, plus the council pay to get his house fixed. He's a true Yorkshireman to the core.

He didn't appreciate me saying I thought it immoral, when so many families are caught in the rental trap, and he has plenty of spare capacity, used solely for junk storage. I get that it's the family home, but why should it be subsidised by the council and taxpayer when he has (or should have) the means to support himself.

Am I wrong?