Latest news with #councilhousing
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
We live in Britain's 'most depressing' council estate - there's no pub or GP surgery and two-thirds of the homes have been demolished... but here's why it's not as bad as you might think
It was once an important Christian pilgrimage site where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared. But now, on a hillside overlooking the stunning Rhondda Valley in Wales, 1,100ft above sea level, sits a neglected council estate: Penrhys. Homes built in the late 1960s as part of a 'modern council housing development' have been left to rot and are black-stained. In its heyday, 951 two and three-storey terraced homes were at the centre of a thriving community. A lonely shop, Woody's newsagents, and a concrete basketball court is all that remains of any form of amenities. The pub and doctor's surgery have all been closed down, and restaurants and takeaways where a Just Eat sign still hangs are boarded up in what has been branded as one of Britain's most depressing place to live. Two-thirds of the homes deemed uninhabitable have been bulldozed in the troubled estate since the 1990s. Today, the foundations are still visible in the hillside, and steps that once led to people's front doors now lead to nothing but rubble and an empty space. Green waste bins with the motto 'strong heritage, strong future' sit toppled on pavements, surrounded by empty paint tins, discarded energy drinks and nitrous oxide canisters. One empty home is infested with blue bottle flies, which crawl all over the grimy windows, and chilly winds blast locals. Former shoplifter and heroin addict Cullain Mais described it as a 'real eye-opener' when he took his cameras inside the dilapidated estate for his successful podcast The Central Club. 'I feel like i'm in a warzone here. Just rubble. Literally, you feel like you are in the West Bank,' he said as he stood among the remains of one demolished home. But despite its ramshackled appearance, people who live in the neighbourhood are fiercely protective of their community who say 'it's an amazing place to live'. Resident Michelle, who did not give her surname, has lived in Penrhys for 11 years and vowed to stay living there 'until I'm moved off'. She told The Central Club: 'It's such a tight-knit community, it's brilliant up here.' However, not everyone was as complimentary about the place. One bald-headed tattooed man had returned to live in the area six years ago having moved out in the 1990s. He said the difference between the two eras was clear: 'In the '80s it was full of people and everybody was happy. Now it's a f***ing s***hole. 'But there are some good people up here. It's a ghost town now.' Jan Griffiths, 72, told The Sun in February that they did have a problem with people setting cars on fire and guns but those days have since gone. A resident since the 1970s, she said: 'It might be a bit run down, but there are lots of run-down places. Anybody who wants to criticise should come and visit and see what a welcome they get – we welcome anybody.' Others though spoke of having leaky homes, and their rubbish bags that are only collected every four weeks are being torn open by cats and foxes. For 18 months, locals had to battle against a plague of giant rats that roamed the estate. A series of horror photographs showed the enormous rodents in gardens, food waste bins and rats caught in traps. On Reddit, former inhabitants and other commenters have come out in defence of the village. An abandoned home sits on the hillside of the Penrhys estate where locals have in the past had to contend with a plague of rats 'As an English person who lived there for a few years South Wales has a unique feel,' one person wrote. 'Largely impoverished valley towns built to sustain previous population growth bang in the midst of dramatic rural landscapes. 'These places may "look" somewhat depressing to a lot of people in the UK but you will struggle to find friendlier, more welcoming and homely places in the country. I can think of and know of far far far more depressing places to live.' Others think the area would be desirable with 'a nice trash pick up and some tree and plants'. 'Architecture is nice and the natural area is pretty, lots of open space,' they said. Former Plaid AM for Rhondda, Leanne Wood, said in 2017 that the village had been 'neglected by the powers that be'. She told Wales Online: 'It is a community that has been left behind. I see Penrhys as one of the victims of austerity. 'It is a place with so many good people with good attitudes and ideas, but with little support from statutory services.' Views from the top of the Penrhys Community Centre in December 1971 United Reform minister Patricia Parrish looks at some of the graffiti on the walls at her chapel on the Penrhys Estate -- March, 1986 Housing association Trivallis has some grand plans for Penrhys and hope building 1,000 new homes, a school and a community centre will breathe some much needed new life into the estate. Duncan Forbes, chief executive at Trivallis, told The Sun: 'Penrhys is far from forgotten — when you take time to get to know people there you can see that it's a strong, caring community where people look out for each other. Local volunteers have worked with us and other partners to support people and make a positive difference. 'We're proud to work with residents to build a better future and excited for what we'll achieve together.' Mr Mais agreed that the area needed some work, but commended those who lived in the village. 'If i was giving this a rating I'd have to give Penrhys five out of ten and the five is just because of the community and the people here,' he said. 'Maybe I'll give it a six for the view. The view is stunning.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a single mum and got £4.3k in UC this month – I've run out of cash & am begging people to donate to my boob job fund
A SINGLE mother has claimed that she got paid more than £4,300 this month in Universal Credit, but has already run out of money. As a result, Ebony Wood, 26, who is currently not working and is living off of benefits, is now begging strangers online for cash. 2 Not only this, but she's even asking people to donate to her GoFundMe page, so that she can treat herself to a boob job. The young mother, who calls herself Bonnie and lives in a council property, shared a short clip on social media and wrote: 'I've ran out of Universal Credit, donate to my GoFundMe.' Clapping back to taxpayers, Bonnie filmed herself cleaning her filthy kitchen sink and said: 'I might be a single mum on Universal Credit, but at least I'm not dumb. 'You lot literally have to work 40 hours a week to get half of what I get - I literally get given £4,000 a month from the government.' While Bonnie asked trolls to 'stop putting hate' in her comments, she showed off her messy home and slammed: 'If it wasn't for you lot working full time and paying taxes, I would not even have these grey Tommy Hilfiger leggings.' But moments later, in response to a comment that accused her of lying about her Universal Credit payments, which are given to UK residents with a low income or those who need help with their living costs, Bonnie shared a screenshot of what she claimed to be her most recent payment - a hefty £4,320.98. In response to the hater, who blamed her for spreading ' rage bait ' content online, Bonnie said: 'Why would I lie? That's what I got paid like two weeks ago. 'Don't be jealous because I get given double what you earn in a month - I practically get your monthly wages in a week.' On Bonnie's profile, she has since shared a link to her GoFundMe page, whereby she is asking the public to donate to her boob job fund. She has an ambitious target of £2,200 and at the time of writing, had raised just £10 thanks to two donations. Debunking Myths: Life on Universal Credit While she can't afford to pay for the surgery herself, the mother claimed that she 'deserves to feel good' but stressed that getting the cosmetic work done 'isn't about vanity'. Social media users fume The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ bonniedontcare, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 344,000 views, 7,503 likes and 1,351 comments. Social media users were horrified by Bonnie's claims, with many eagerly sharing their views in the comments. One person said: 'This is embarrassing.' What help is available for parents? CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help. 30 hours free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week. To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs. Childcare vouchers - If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings. You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out. This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers. Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2. Another added: 'What in the benefits Britain is going on here?' money from tax payers is mad.' If it wasn't for you lot working full time and paying taxes, I would not even have these grey Tommy Hilfiger leggings Bonnie At the same time, someone else wrote: 'Stop boasting.' Meanwhile, someone else fumed: 'This honestly infuriates me!!!!' But that's not all, as another rudely chimed in and questioned: "What in the Jeremy Kyle is happening here?" How much Universal Credit can you get? TRYING to work out how much Universal Credit you can get can be overwhelming. There are so many different elements that can affect your claim and it makes the whole process even more complicated. There are several free calculators that you can use to help you get an estimate, such as Citizen's Advice, MoneySavingExpert, StepChange and Turn2Us. You will need: Details of all your income, such as existing benefits, tax credits, earnings from employment and your pensions, Details of your partner's income if you're married, in a civil partnership or living with someone as a couple. You will be assessed as a couple Information on any savings you have, How much you pay in council tax per year, and whether you get any discounts, reductions or exemptions, Details of your rent or mortgage payments, Employment and income information about anyone else living with you, such as grown-up children, Details about your carer's allowance if you receive it. You'll need to make sure that the information provided is as accurate as possible to get the truest estimate.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mum slammed as ‘embarrassing' over ‘desperate' plea for council to upgrade 2-bed house – as trolls say ‘get a futon'
A MOTHER has been slammed as 'really embarrassing' by trolls after sharing a 'desperate' plea online. Clare, a mum-of-three from Manchester, explained that she lives in a two-bedroom council house, which isn't suitable for her family. 2 The blonde, who is mother to Mason, Poppy and Leo, shared that two of her kids, both Poppy and Leo, have additional needs. As a result, she is eager to find a bigger council property, which has four bedrooms. Currently, the content creator, who has 24,000 followers online, doesn't have her own bedroom, which is yet another reason why she wants an upgrade. Posting on social media, alongside her short clip Clare wrote: 'Wish this housing crisis would sort itself out. I am absolutely desperate for a new house. A bigger home for my family. New beginnings and fresh starts.' As she filmed herself sitting outside her front door, the mum then said: 'I live in a two-bedroom council house but I've got three kids and two of them have got additional needs, so sharing bedrooms is out of the question. 'It means I don't have a bedroom, I kind of just sleep whenever.' But after 'more than a year', Clare confirmed that she has now been told by the council that she qualifies for a four-bedroom house. Despite this, much to her dismay, she recognised that there are currently 'no houses' available. Clare, who confessed she would 'never private rent ever', candidly admitted: 'Doom and gloom. Stuck in this house.' She shared her desire for a 'fresh house, a new start' and 'fresh beginnings' for her and her kids, as she explained: 'Now I'm just hitting another wall because there's no houses - when it rains it f*****g pours.' I'm 28 and homeless with 6 children - the council won't help and trolls call me a 'scrounger' and tell me to 'close my legs' & 'get a job' Clare then admitted to being 'sick' of her situation, as she fumed: 'I know there's a housing crisis but s**t, I'm sick of it. I don't wanna live here anymore.' The TikTok clip, which was posted less than 24 hours ago, has quickly racked almost 15,000 views, 208 likes and 232 comments. But moments after uploading the clip online, Clare was met with a barrage of nasty abuse from trolls, who not only accused her of being a ' sponger ', but urged her to simply 'get a grip' and 'get a futon'. One person said: 'Tough s**t, get a f*****g futon and sleep in the living room.' Another added: 'What a sponger.' 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. A third commented: 'Ridiculous how so many people expect everything from others.' Meanwhile, someone else questioned: 'Are you not embarrassed? This is really embarrassing.' Whilst another slammed: 'Get a job then.' Not only this, but at the same time one mother gasped: 'I sleep in the living room, what's the big deal, get a grip.'
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mum living in crowded council house moans about ‘flawed' system, sick trolls say she should give kids to social services
A MOTHER has complained about the 'flawed' council housing system, after her family-of-seven have been forced to live in a two-bedroom property. Lauren Thackeray and her fiancé Chris, who both have two children from previous relationships and one child they share, have lived in their council house for the past 10 years. 2 2 But instead of having their own bedroom, the couple have no choice but to sleep in their living room. And now, Lauren has been hit with a barrage of horrendous abuse from sick trolls - with many telling her to 'close your legs' and some even suggesting she give her children to social services. The pair have also been accused of 'living off benefits ', but the content creator who has 21,400 followers on TikTok, was eager to reveal the reality behind her living situation. Posting on social media, the mother claimed: 'My council house is not big enough for my family and I desperately need a bigger house.' While their home is much too small for the family-of-seven, Lauren shared: 'Me and my partner are currently saving up to buy a bigger house, hopefully in the next year or so. 'We are actually on the waiting list for a council house - however even if we got offered a house tomorrow, I really don't think we would accept it and that is because even though we have five children, we are only entitled to three bedrooms.' Lauren then clarified: 'The reason we're only entitled to three bedrooms is because we don't claim child benefit for my two stepchildren which means in the eyes of the housing they don't exist - even though they stay with us three nights a week, they wouldn't be entitled to a bedroom, which personally I think is flawed.' Lauren recognised that she and Chris are 'fortunate enough' to be in a position to buy a bigger house, which is why they are making ends meet in their crowded home. Following this, the savvy mum continued: 'Our goal has always been to buy a house which is why we stayed in this house, because we've been able to save up for a deposit faster.' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ laurenamyt, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 34,500 views, 832 likes and 113 comments. I'm 28 and homeless with 6 children - the council won't help and trolls call me a 'scrounger' and tell me to 'close my legs' & 'get a job' But social media users were left stunned by Lauren's claims and many eagerly rushed to the comments to share their thoughts. One person said: 'If you can't afford your children, keep your legs closed.' Another added: 'Have SS take your kids.' The reality of living in a council house LEANNE Hall, Digital Writer at Fabulous, has discussed what it was like growing up in a council house, and why those living in such properties are often judged... When I was a child I grew up in a council house, and was blissfully unaware of the discrimination that came with that, until I became an adult. My younger years were spent running up and down the stairs of my flat, meeting with other friends who lived there and making the most of the communal garden. But now, it seems no matter your circumstance, everyone has something to say about why you shouldn't be there. Living just outside of London like I did, rent prices are still high, and as my mum was at home raising three kids at the time, it wasn't easy to find a job that fit around that. People in council houses are often labelled as 'scroungers' or 'lazy' but it's nothing of the sort. Most families in council homes experience overcrowding, and let's not even mention the horrendous amount of damp and mould that comes from living in old social housing that hasn't had work done to them in 50 or so years. It's not ideal for many, but it does provide a secure home without the fear your rent will shoot up every single year, which I would argue is vital to children growing up on the poverty line. A third commented: 'Don't feel sorry for you at all, your choice to have so many kids.' To this, Lauren clapped back and wrote: 'I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me.' Meanwhile, someone else slammed: 'Get a job. Move where you want.' I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me Lauren Thackeray "Why should the council give you extra space for kids who have their own room already." Despite the numerous negative remarks, others were keen to wish Lauren the best in the search for her next home. One user wrote: "Good luck on getting your forever home." Whilst a second chimed in: "Best of luck to you."
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Dublin City Council built just 35 social houses in 2024. That's one symptom of a bigger problem
For much of the 20th century, council housing was the backbone of housing supply in Ireland. My own house was completed in 1930 by well-known builders Crampton. This was a year when the country was economically indigent, life expectancy was less than 60 years, Guinness and Ford were our largest employers, and just five years had passed since 'Ireland's forgotten famine' – the grim winter of 1925 when as many as 750,000 people were reported to be starving. Yet even in those harsh times councils built 5,000 new houses out of a total of 17,906 for a population of just under 3 million. In the 1930s, social housing accounted for 54.8 per cent of total housing output . In 2024, councils built 1,708 new houses for a population of 5.3 million. Since mid-2016, the start of Simon Coveney's Rebuilding Ireland plan, councils have built 10,480 new houses, or 5.5 per cent of all new housing output. An additional 32,000 social houses have been delivered by councils purchasing 7,464 new houses (those already built or about to be built) – which are known as turnkeys – and by approved housing bodies (AHBs) building some and purchasing more than 20,000 turnkeys. Politicians point to the use of turnkeys as important sources of new social housing, and they are somewhat correct. However, the use of turnkeys is expensive, inflationary, market-dependent and any housing delivered by AHBs is not owned by the State and could potentially be sold at a later date. Turnkeys are increasingly being bought from developers who have planning permission to build apartments, but no market to sell them to. And so a symbiotic relationship has emerged between them and the State: the State needs social housing, and the developers need bailing out. The State has become the market. Policies such as tenure mix – a lesson from Ballymun, where new developments should have a mix of ownership and rental – have been abandoned in the interests of quantity over quality. READ MORE In 2024, councils bought 1,269 turnkeys from developers, and AHBs bought 3,567 turnkeys and built 335 new social houses, a ratio of 11 to one. One council built no new housing in 2024, and AHBs built nothing in 19 out of 31 council areas. The use of turnkey purchases has increased steadily over the years, and the proportion of directly built new council housing has declined. Many councils are meeting their targets by buying more houses, particularly in areas where housing is expensive, while also sitting on large land banks . Last year, the four Dublin councils and AHBs combined managed a total of 2,267 new houses, comprising a mix of new builds (514) and turnkey purchases (1,753). Within those 514 new builds are just 342 social houses built by councils, just over half what they built in 2018. The combined social housing waiting list in these authorities is 24,575 households or 41 per cent of the national total of 59,941 . The total of all new social housing nationally was 7,518 in 2024, which includes hundreds of Part Vs, which are purchases of new houses developers are obliged to build for councils. Removing this, the total figure is 6,879, of which the local authority new build contribution was up 29 per cent on 2023. This increase is positive, but still only similar to council output in 2022. Seven councils built 10 houses or fewer. Four councils – Limerick, Meath, South Dublin and Cork City – built more than 100 new houses. Monaghan, the council that failed to build one new house, has 330 households on its social housing waiting list. Most councillors don't know what their own councils have built. [ State missed its target for delivery of social homes in 2024 by almost 20% Opens in new window ] Councils building housing is critical. It is the only delivery stream that we can control and it remains part of the State's social housing stock. It also delivers better value: urban councils built a three-bed house in 2024 for as little as €264,000, and a two-bed apartment for €290,000, including all costs and land where applicable, and even less in rural areas. Given Ireland's precarious economic strategy of relying on a handful of companies for the bulk of its tax income, if (or when) State funds dry up, the capacity to purchase turnkey housing – the primary source of new social housing – will also dry up. It is questionable having organs of the State fixing the poor financial decisions of developers and sometimes competing against potential homebuyers keen to make a start in life. It is no wonder our home ownership rate (66 per cent) has fallen below the European average (69.2 per cent), which has its own serious implications. To be strategic, to prepare for a tougher economic climate, to provide a countercyclical stream of work for the construction industry and to get better value for taxpayers' money, the State needs to substantially increase the amount of housing that councils directly build each year, until they are completing 10,000 annually on top of any other sources. Councils need approval from the Department of Housing for any proposed housing under a single-stage process for developments less than €8 million, and a four-stage process for anything above that. The target for single-stage approval is four weeks less than the 59 weeks given for the four-stage . Only then does building begin. This back-and-forth between councils and the department drives many councils to buy more turnkeys and it's not hard to see why: it is simply less hassle. When councils delivered housing at scale they were allowed to borrow money and had a large degree of autonomy. Councils should now be handed annual output targets based on a proportion of their social housing waiting list , or a 30 per cent cumulative increase on their highest-ever annual output. The Department of Housing should not be involved in site-specific pre-approval, but should audit costs post-completion. Resources, authority and the responsibility for delivery should be returned to councils, which generally do good work when they are given the leeway. An outsourcing of our housing delivery responsibilities and commensurate reliance on the market has got us to where we are today. Common sense dictates it is time to take ownership of the issue and return to the basics of council building. Dr Lorcan Sirr is senior lecturer in housing at the Technological University Dublin
