I’m a mum living in a council house – I won’t ever move from this home, people say I’m taking up places but I don’t care
A MUM has hit back at trolls who say she should move form her council house – announcing she never plans to move.
Ashlan Hindle took to social media to reveal why she would never move, even if the rent is too expensive.
The mum-of-one responded to a comment that asked how people could hold onto council houses for decades when there were families more in need.
But Ashlan was quick to defend herself and her three-bed council house admitting she would have been homeless if it wasn’t for being offered social housing.
She said: “So when you get a council house, you receive a lifetime tenancy, which basically means so long as you cause no issues to your neighbours, your property is looked after, and you’re always up to date on your rent and your bills you’re here for life you also have the option to buy the property after so long.”
It’s important to note that every council has it’s own rules on this – some have five year contracts that can be reviewed and others have stopped the Right to Buy scheme.
She added one of the best parts about securing a council house was that she was stable and didn’t have to worry about rent increasing or moving every year like you would do in private housing.
Ashlan also debunked the myth that all council houses were cheap adding that it was more expensive than her privately rented home.
“My private was £545 and this is £745,” she revealed.
The mum continued: “We were desperate for a property because we were just about to be made homeless.
“But we were also umming and ahing because of the price of the property, and we were worried that would be living on the breadline.
“But when we sat down and looked at the bigger picture obviously we had the stability and we did have the income to pay the rent.
“It just didn’t leave us much left over.”
The mum shared the clip on her TikTok account @ashlan_hindle where it went viral with over 274k views and 8,000 likes.
People were quick to share their thoughts in the comments.
One person wrote: “It’s wrong you should only have a council house for the time you need it and get rid of the option to buy it’s for the next person that needs it.”
How can I get a council house?
To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority.
To find your local authority, simply use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Once you have access to your local council’s website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application.
After applying, you’ll most likely have to join a waiting list.
Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn’t guarantee you a council house offer.
Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently.
Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on “points” or a “banding” system.
For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:
- are homeless
- live in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition made worse by your current home
- are seeking to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on a council’s waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available.
Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority.
The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list.
There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list.
“That would be temporary accommodation then not a council house,” Ashlan replied.
Another commented: “How cruel are people, that they think someone should be given a place to make home and then chucked out later on.”
“I’ve been in my council house for 20 years now and have no plans to move,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “Your house looks gorgeous. Congratulations.”
“It’s lovely, great you got one,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “This is such a brilliant scheme and we need more of it. People are poor and can’t afford our own houses. Council housing for all.”
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