Property prices!

[Euro-commuter]

Well I'll never agree with you there I'm afraid.

My folks bought their council house in the 80's and it changed all of our lives.
People should be given a leg up if they need it, and I'm really proud of this country for doing that for people.

I thought that's what council houses were for: affordable rents. If you sell them all off, what happens to the next generation of people who need somewhere to live?

And what about those who didn't have a council house? Can they get a leg up to buy somewhere?

[Numptycorner]

Sally, The point is council houses are not being replaced, friends like yours are making it worse for everyone else. If you belive the market should sort out the housing shortage then fine, that's not really the point. Giving people subsidised housing to sell at profit IMHO is wrong, other people have not had this tax payer funded windfall, just because they haven't played the system.

Your views are that of the typical champagne socialist.

[rootsnall]

OK, so we all know they're insane...but this takes the buscuit!

My best mate bought her council flat 18 months ago.

Yes council flat!

Its in a nice enough block actually - not a big tower block or anything, 6 flats in it.

Anyway, she bought it 18 months ago for £40k, but as soon as she'd bought it, it was valued at £60k.
Just got it valued this morning for £90k!!!!

A council flat, on a council estate, in one of the most run down areas of Newcastle.....£90k!!!!

Bottom rung property has gone barmy in my neck of the woods in the past few months also, its being bought by amateur BTL landlords getting into the tail end of a boom. They are buying the old terraces that you couldn't give away not too long ago. Just flogging my grandad's old house and people are stuffing notes through the door begging to buy it, mad !!!

[SallyAnne]

I thought that's what council houses were for: affordable rents. If you sell them all off, what happens to the next generation of people who need somewhere to live?

This isn't something new - it's been happenning for the last 25 years. Are this generations kids all homeless? No.
The council build more houses (I'm guessing) with the money they earn from sellign them. It's priobably quite a tidy little money earning racket for them.
Theres no way it would have cost them anywhere near £40k to build her flat, or to build the next one that would replace it.

[SallyAnne]

Sally, The point is council houses are not being replaced, friends like yours are making it worse for everyone else. If you belive the market should sort out the housing shortage then fine, that's not really the point. Giving people subsidised housing to sell at profit IMHO is wrong, other people have not had this tax payer funded windfall, just because they haven't played the system.

Your views are that of the typical champagne socialist.

Yes they are being replaced.

There are 3 new estates round my neck of the woods which have been built in the last 3 years!

And how many times are you going to use that phrase? It was boring and meaningless the first time you said it.

[freakydancer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_socialist

[HRH]

Sally Im not knocking your parents but what Im saying is that its those who are on middle to low incomes/first time buyers who are getting screwed by this country where is there help to buy?!

I'd also remind EVERYONE that it was indeed THATCHER who made this possible when you are slagging her off.

[SallyAnne]

Sally Im not knocking your parents but what Im saying is that its those who are on middle to low incomes/first time buyers who are getting screwed by this country where is there help to buy?!

I'd also remind EVERYONE that it was indeed THATCHER who made this possible when you are slagging her off.

You couldn't knock my parents mate.

I'm well aware that it was Thatcher. Her policies directly changed my family's life for the better. Which always frustrates and torments me now that I live in Sunderland and see so many people who'd lives are only just getting back on track!

Its a strange world.

Help to buy for those middle income families are the 125% mortgages, which we talked about yesterday. There's always help if you look around.

[Euro-commuter]

Sally Im not knocking your parents but what Im saying is that its those who are on middle to low incomes/first time buyers who are getting screwed by this country where is there help to buy?!

I'd also remind EVERYONE that it was indeed THATCHER who made this possible when you are slagging her off.

There are things to be said for selling council houses, but not selling them off and not replacing them.

1. Subsidise the rent, or subsidise the sale. Same result.
2. People who own their houses voluntarily take better care of them.
3. Council houses are built to high standards: if you sell them and build more, you improve the standard of the nation's housing stock.

[NoddY]

Help to buy for those middle income families are the 125% mortgages, which we talked about yesterday. There's always help if you look around.

That's not help, it's a hindrance. Being in hock to 'our friends in the City' is not my definition of freedom.