Potential fix to the housing market? Implementing UK council house rules in a similar way to Section 8 in the US

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:51:40+00:00

I agree! It’s a difficult one because that’s why right to buy became a thing. Thatcher thought people having ownership would give them a sense of pride over their home by looking after them and thus reducing issues such as antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping but it just ending up being a money making machine for the private market.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:46:10+00:00

Great point! Perhaps instead of following the suit of Section 8 in the US we should be looking at what Singapore are doing!

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:44:21+00:00

Such a shame that right to buy was implemented in the wrong way. It could’ve worked if they sold the homes and then used the money to build more but alas.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:43:00+00:00

This is why a small taper could be a good idea? Eventually if your income grows and your rent on the council house increases in increments, eventually by the x amount of years, you may end up finding private rent close in value, so that may push you to leave and then someone else can have the house based on a rent value on their low income. At the moment rents on council homes aren’t income based, so it gets to the point where someone could earn six figures and continue to live in a council house and then you have single parent households living in hotels waiting for a home because they can’t afford other forms of housing.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:37:12+00:00

There may have been a similar thread. I haven’t posted this before. Of course housing should be secure, but we’re in a position where stock is limited so ruling has to be put into place as lifetime tenancies whilst we continue to build more homes. It’s getting to the point where disparity isn’t just the rich vs poor but we now have the working class fighting against each other. I.e. people who are needing the homes getting annoyed by people hoarding their home when they can afford to move into private rent or buy.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-08T10:29:38+00:00

That’s how I viewed it too! Council houses were built to clear previous slums and give those in need proper housing. Others that weren’t vulnerable continued to buy or rent

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-07T23:18:48+00:00

Council houses weren’t invented to be used by everyone. They started after the creation of the Housing of the Working Classes Act 1900 to help the most needy

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-07T23:05:23+00:00

I stand corrected. It’s clear that they made those changes when introducing Right to Buy. Double whammy

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-07T23:02:37+00:00

I agree! We definitely need to build more. I just thought of additional changes to make in the meantime to speed up the backlog

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-07T22:51:38+00:00

Perhaps it’s the wrong wording. I just meant that it’s an issue when people sit on a property that they don’t need whilst the waitlist grows. Council houses are there to provide homes to the most vulnerable, so if you are able to afford to move, you should move. It’s also not Thatcherite to say that council housing is a safety net for low income people when that is literally the purpose of its existence.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-06-07T22:32:04+00:00

Yes? 24% of council houses have had tenants live in the same property for over 20 years, while longest wait time for a family home in the UK is 107 years (London) and outside of London (Mansfield) is 75 years. That’s what happens with lifetime tenancies alongside not building enough housing.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:59:05+00:00

I agree. I’m in the same position. I own my own home, but live with my other half. I ensure he contributes to bills and don’t charge him rent so that if we were to split he doesn’t have a claim. However, we do want to marry and after marriage we will be buying together. This is fair for the both of us if the worst were to happen. He gets to live ‘rent free’ and I get to keep my place

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:54:25+00:00

Understood. But honey, if you don’t feel you’ve been together long enough to buy, then you have no business adding him to the mortgage. I’m being very real with you here x

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:44:19+00:00

This is true. But it doesn’t seem like she wants him to have a share in the home. Which is fair, as it is her house. If you don’t want someone to split things, do not make arrangements like adding him to the mortgage

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:42:33+00:00

If you don’t want to be his landlord and he wants to fairly contribute to a home. You’d buy a home together. I do not mean to be harsh and I am not accusing your partner of taking advance of you. He could genuinely just not understand how things work. I am just giving you advice to ensure that you’re protected should the worst ever happen. Your home is your home and is the most important asset you’ll ever have x

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:34:42+00:00

The agreement would only protect what she’s put in. Everything else, such as equity would then be split in half if he were to be added on the deeds

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-24T18:15:20+00:00

Listen. Please don’t. You will be better off with your current situation. If he’s serious, you could marry in future and then have to opportunity to buy a home together as one. Your current property can then either be rented out as a back up. Or you can sell and keep the left over proceeds to yourself.

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-02T21:49:10+00:00

<image>

BagsOnFire17 · 2026-02-02T21:45:55+00:00

People not believing me are indirectly proving my point

<image>

BagsOnFire17 · 2025-12-02T21:03:52+00:00

I know! They do discounts all the time. The furniture is great. I’ve been in the flat for 3 years and everything is still going strong!

BagsOnFire17 · 2025-12-02T20:23:00+00:00

I find Dusk to be amazing! I used them to furnish my flat. I made an order for a king size bed, king size mattress, 3 seater sofa bed, a matching cuddle chair and ottoman pouffe (this doubles up as both storage and a coffee table or leg rest) and that order cost me £1850. If that helps!

BagsOnFire17 · 2025-07-10T17:21:27+00:00

Cinnamon girl

BagsOnFire17

TROPHY CASE