Neighbours in an area where the majority are 'below the breadline' have expressed scepticism over a new 'right to buy scheme' for council tenants.
People living in the Bells Lane Estate, in Aspley, spoke out about the government scheme which will mean tenants will get help to take the first step on the property ladder.
The government says it will commit to building replacement social homes for each one sold. The Government is working closely with the housing association sector on the design of the scheme.
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Peter Hutchson, now retired, doesn't think that the scheme should be extended.
The 70-year-old said: “At first view of the scheme, it’s lovely but when you look into the information, it’s alright selling social housing off but what happens to people who can’t afford social housing? On this street, there are very few houses that are owned.”
Peter continued, saying: “This estate is ruined, there’s good people and it’s a nice enough area but about 90% of people here are living below the breadline.
“Like Hyson Green, soon, there'll be no social housing, where will the children of tomorrow live? My wife still works, we’ve worked until we couldn’t afford to buy a house.
“I think it’s a bad idea, people will be in their 40s before they get offered a house.”
You are eligible to apply to buy your council home if: it’s your only or main home, it’s self-contained, you’re a secure tenant and you’ve had a public sector landlord (for example, a council, housing association or NHS trust) for 3 years - it does not have to be three years in a row.
If your home used to be owned by the council, but they sold it to another landlord (like a housing association) while you were living in it, you may have the ‘Right to Buy’ this is called ‘Preserved Right to Buy.’
Barbara Mensah, also from the Bells Lane estate, was familiar with the Right to Buy scheme. Barbara, who is a saleswoman mostly agreed with the scheme but understood that there could be some downfalls.
The 37-year-old said: “I think that this scheme is a privilege, not everyone wants to rent forever but they don’t have the privileges of being able to afford buying. Now with this scheme, it helps them afford to buy and the scheme is for everyone, not just for one group of people.
“The scheme could help housing waiting lists go down, the government can’t sell social housing forever and not give some privileges that's why I think it is a good thing but to houses being given to people need to be in good condition, I hear all the time of people getting messed up houses which they wouldn’t buy.”
Craig Matthews, a kitchen manager also from Aspley, said he was sceptical about the scheme. The 33-year-old said: “It definitely opens up the doors for people where buying a house is completely off the cards but my problem is what if you don’t like your house, can you use the scheme to then buy another council house?
“The conditions of some council houses across the country are awful, who’s buying them? Absolutely no-one so I hope this isn’t a scheme for the government to make themselves look good to have something to boast about and try to win the next election.”
Twenty-two-year-old Alicia Greyson said that she thinks the scheme should benefit people. Alicia currently lives in a council house in Broxtowe with her two children. The sales assistant said: “I feel like because rent just goes up with hardly any warning, just like that, a chance to be able to buy your home would be a good thing. You’d be surprised at how many people like their council houses, some of them are really lovely. I’d buy my house. Just even being able to say ‘right, I own this, this is my house’ is what anyone really wants especially, when you have kids.”
