Foodbank client stories

[PurpleGorilla]

You talk about a solution like there's a problem that anyone who can do anything about would actually bother doing anything about. It's not in lenders' interests for prices to drop. Governments wouldn't want it either; the more equity in property, the richer people feel and consumer confidence to get spending is fuelled.

Indeed - it's been a gravy train for TPTB for years.

We are beyond fooked. I don't see an easy fix.

[PurpleGorilla]

and what's wrong with it, why can't our parents remain in larger properties capable of hosting the whole family for celebrations and festivals ?

what's nicer for our parents than having their children + spouses + all sets of grandchildren running around the house at Christmas ?

My house is 4,300sqft and I'm looking forward to Christmas's and easters and summer weekends with the whole family staying at our place, 3 or 4 generations under one roof for the weekend

So the argument against older people staying in large properties is not valid, the root cause of the problem is not enough land is free for building and not enough new properties are being built

it's like saying the pensioners should spend more, it's not their fault they saved hard for the retirement, the problem is the next generations not saving or not having capacity to save and again... this problem is linked to the property ownership problem

my dad's first house cost 2,5 x his annual salary when we was 23.

Milan.

It's a wasted for the 95% of they year when the parents are rattling around it all alone.

Maybe they should bring back the window tax, or a square footage tax.

[SueEllen]

and what's wrong with it, why can't our parents remain in larger properties capable of hosting the whole family for celebrations and festivals ?

what's nicer for our parents than having their children + spouses + all sets of grandchildren running around the house at Christmas ?

My house is 4,300sqft and I'm looking forward to Christmas's and easters and summer weekends with the whole family staying at our place, 3 or 4 generations under one roof for the weekend

So the argument against older people staying in large properties is not valid, the root cause of the problem is not enough land is free for building and not enough new properties are being built

It is a valid argument but not in the way it was framed.

The problem for pensioners is not when they are healthy and strong but when they are older and more fragile. Having a 4-5 bedroom old house of 3-4 stories which is hard to heat and has bathrooms put in later in it's history so aren't in the best places etc is fine when you are 70. However when you are 94, less mobile and more fragile you are likely not to be able to use your whole house.

To be fair I know a few older people who have moved to smaller* more modern properties because they are planning for when they are older and more fragile. They still have the same number of bedrooms but because the rooms are smaller including in height, it is easier for them to clean, heat, maintain and move around in. Things like the width of the doors, bathrooms and kitchens are also more disability friendly.

*Since their old houses were massive and tended to be built from the 17th- early 20th centuries, smaller simply means an equivalent bedroom house built after 2000.

[NigelJK]

They've already paid for their home, you'd condone them (and later on yourself) paying more tax?

Net migration into this country is currently running at 330,000. How many new homes are needed to house these?

[milanbenes]

it's their house, they bought it, they can live in it if they want to

if they want to live in one room there when they're older that's fine

the problem is not older people blocking properties, it is the provision of new properties

Milan.

[PurpleGorilla]

it's their house, they bought it, they can live in it if they want to

if they want to live in one room there when they're older that's fine

the problem is not older people blocking properties, it is the provision of new properties

Milan.

My parents scoff at what is on offer for £500k as a 'downsize' property.

In fairness many silver surfers downsizing from their country piles are competing for the same sorts of homes that families want.

There is a lack of supply for modern, well designed, attractive bungalows.

[milanbenes]

My parents scoff at what is on offer for £500k as a 'downsize' property.

In fairness many silver surfers downsizing from their country piles are competing for the same sorts of homes that families want.

There is a lack of supply for modern, well designed, attractive bungalows.

If there was a modern well designed attractive bungalow for the right money, guess what.... there'd be a family living in it, not a couple of pensioners.

Milan.

[northernladyuk]

My parents scoff at what is on offer for £500k as a 'downsize' property.

In fairness many silver surfers downsizing from their country piles are competing for the same sorts of homes that families want.

There is a lack of supply for modern, well designed, attractive bungalows.

Check their will and then poison them.

[vetran]

If there was a modern well designed attractive bungalow for the right money, guess what.... there'd be a family living in it, not a couple of pensioners.

Milan.

£500K is the right money for many downsizers. They are market that needs servicing as well.

Both sets of parents have downsized but £500k was far in the rear view mirror.

Bungalows tend to have 2 bedrooms so they aren't much use for the average family of 2.4 kids.

[vetran]

Check their will and then poison them.

why ? both sets of them are working hard on enjoying themselves having raised us for years.