'Give carers a home' (From Daily Echo)

Why are they unable to afford private rental- are they selling this 4 bed house at a loss? Can they not just downgrade to a smaller house or flat now that they are retired?

What a load of old tosh. Yes they have performed a valuable public service but no that does not remove their personal responsibilities. They are in their mid 70's and have not yet paid their mortgage off? Are they mad? Oh and the usual Echo 'grim stare' picture - get a life photographers!

Goldenwight wrote:
Why are they unable to afford private rental- are they selling this 4 bed house at a loss? Can they not just downgrade to a smaller house or flat now that they are retired?

They have an "interest-only" mortgage. They have also been on the housing list for 10 years - not unreasonable to expect some sort of housing after that length of time!

Huffter wrote:

Goldenwight wrote: Why are they unable to afford private rental- are they selling this 4 bed house at a loss? Can they not just downgrade to a smaller house or flat now that they are retired?

They have an "interest-only" mortgage. They have also been on the housing list for 10 years - not unreasonable to expect some sort of housing after that length of time!

If they have indeed been on the LA housing register for 10 years, and have diligently applied for each property which came up, then all I can say is that the housing supply in Eastleigh must be dire.

But that doesn't answer my point- is there no equity in the house that they are selling? What about buy & leaseback schemes? Presumably they have considered every option.

Interest only mortgages are a nightmare, great until you need to pay the balance. It's sad these people have ended up in this predicament.

it doesnt matter what the circumstances are these people are in need of help and our councils are turning their back on them people that have giving children care for 42 years these people have lived in this country all their life and get nothing and people that have lived here for 5 minutes know all the angles and get everything that they ask for

Thing is, there rightly is a priority list and this couple do not meet that criteria so their priority is low. They must be treated like everybody else on the list and cannot be given special treatment. Yes it is great that they were valuable foster carers and that's brilliant, but no way should they go ahead of someone else or their need be unjustly be seen as greater than someone else's just for that. I know loads of people in a far worse housing situation than them, patiently waiting their turn.
The council will offer help and advice about finding private rented accommodation when they sell their house.

Why would fostering 100 kids give them special attention? It was their choice, after all! why should they get any special priorities? They should have thought about their future. They won't fall into the 'high priority' category with the council cos they have somewhere to live, so they aren't homeless. Simple!!!

I cant believe they still have a mortgage at their ages ? how long have they lived in the house, they must have quite a bit of equity. It is reported in the Daily Mail that it was always their intension for them to retire into council accommodation (perhaps the council should have a selection for them to choose from) it doesn't matter how long they have been on the list they are making themselves intentionally homeless as many others have found when they couldn't pay their mortgage. Whether they are in private or council accommodation they will be entitled to housing benefit if they have insufficient funds themselves, i believe there are 6,000 on the housing list do they think they should jump the queue just because they have been foster parents (for which they have been very well paid) they are hoping to bring pressure to bear on the council by going to the papers and i hope for all of those on the housing list that the council retain their position, i do not object to them being housed as long as they are treated like everybody else.

Goldenwight wrote:
Why are they unable to afford private rental- are they selling this 4 bed house at a loss? Can they not just downgrade to a smaller house or flat now that they are retired?

no they cant downgrade to a smaller house they are selling the home at a loss

thinklikealocal wrote:
What a load of old tosh. Yes they have performed a valuable public service but no that does not remove their personal responsibilities. They are in their mid 70's and have not yet paid their mortgage off? Are they mad? Oh and the usual Echo 'grim stare' picture - get a life photographers!

RIGHT they have had to remorgage their home to support the foster children they have looked after over the years including the 2 that they have adopted thanks i would like to inform you I AM THEIR ADOPTED DAUGHTER

Huffter wrote:

Goldenwight wrote: Why are they unable to afford private rental- are they selling this 4 bed house at a loss? Can they not just downgrade to a smaller house or flat now that they are retired?

They have an "interest-only" mortgage. They have also been on the housing list for 10 years - not unreasonable to expect some sort of housing after that length of time!

thank you huffter for your say and putting people straight

red&white2010 wrote:
it doesnt matter what the circumstances are these people are in need of help and our councils are turning their back on them people that have giving children care for 42 years these people have lived in this country all their life and get nothing and people that have lived here for 5 minutes know all the angles and get everything that they ask for

well said red&white

BenjiWinsor wrote:
Thing is, there rightly is a priority list and this couple do not meet that criteria so their priority is low. They must be treated like everybody else on the list and cannot be given special treatment. Yes it is great that they were valuable foster carers and that's brilliant, but no way should they go ahead of someone else or their need be unjustly be seen as greater than someone else's just for that. I know loads of people in a far worse housing situation than them, patiently waiting their turn. The council will offer help and advice about finding private rented accommodation when they sell their house.

the house has been SOLD and still getting no help

Solomon's Boot wrote:
Why would fostering 100 kids give them special attention? It was their choice, after all! why should they get any special priorities? They should have thought about their future. They won't fall into the 'high priority' category with the council cos they have somewhere to live, so they aren't homeless. Simple!!!

if you read it correctly you would understand look they have somewhere to live until 31st march when the new owners move in

ohec wrote:
I cant believe they still have a mortgage at their ages ? how long have they lived in the house, they must have quite a bit of equity. It is reported in the Daily Mail that it was always their intension for them to retire into council accommodation (perhaps the council should have a selection for them to choose from) it doesn't matter how long they have been on the list they are making themselves intentionally homeless as many others have found when they couldn't pay their mortgage. Whether they are in private or council accommodation they will be entitled to housing benefit if they have insufficient funds themselves, i believe there are 6,000 on the housing list do they think they should jump the queue just because they have been foster parents (for which they have been very well paid) they are hoping to bring pressure to bear on the council by going to the papers and i hope for all of those on the housing list that the council retain their position, i do not object to them being housed as long as they are treated like everybody else.

excuse me unless you knew the full story then you would understand they have had to remorgage their home so many times to help support the children in foster care. if it wasnt for them where would all these kids be they even adopted 2 of the children they fostered for many years.

Right this may sound wrong but im sorry im annoyed with many people that seem to think they know everything and disrespecting these 2 people that have done so much for their community. Is there really that many heartless people in this world.
Now im going to put these heartless people straight.
Right my parents Mary and Eric Snook have had to sell their house which i was brought up in due to not being able to afford the morgage anymore as they have had to remorgage to support the foster children and their 2 adopted children which I am one of the adopted children due to lack of funds from hampshire county council to support them to bring up the foster children. People seem to think when your foster parents you get alot of money well sorry you dont. My parents have struggled for many years and always put the children before their needs which has now sadly left them in this situation where they are going to be made homeless. Im sure if my parents where your parents and in the same situation you will do anything for them your not just going to just sit back and let this happen.
I wish they could afford to buy a smaller property but they cant.
People automatically assume you sale your house you have got money well sorry this doesnt always happen especially with my parents.

czksmsaj0009 wrote:

ohec wrote:
I cant believe they still have a mortgage at their ages ? how long have they lived in the house, they must have quite a bit of equity. It is reported in the Daily Mail that it was always their intension for them to retire into council accommodation (perhaps the council should have a selection for them to choose from) it doesn't matter how long they have been on the list they are making themselves intentionally homeless as many others have found when they couldn't pay their mortgage. Whether they are in private or council accommodation they will be entitled to housing benefit if they have insufficient funds themselves, i believe there are 6,000 on the housing list do they think they should jump the queue just because they have been foster parents (for which they have been very well paid) they are hoping to bring pressure to bear on the council by going to the papers and i hope for all of those on the housing list that the council retain their position, i do not object to them being housed as long as they are treated like everybody else.

excuse me unless you knew the full story then you would understand they have had to remorgage their home so many times to help support the children in foster care. if it wasnt for them where would all these kids be they even adopted 2 of the children they fostered for many years.

You might be their daughter and i understand you wish to support them but do you really think people are that stupid, they have been paid very well for their good work so don't try to give the impression that they are in their current position because of their good work. First and foremost they must take their position on the housing list like everybody else and that means when they qualify and a property becomes available they will be offered it, it makes no difference how long they have been on the housing list they will only be considered when they qualify, or do you think the council should have had one waiting for them or even a selection to choose from. There are people on housing lists that have fought for their country and all manner of reasons why they might think they should get priority and being foster parents is pretty low down in the grand scheme of things. If you really believe they are a priority case because of their fostering then you are as stupid as they appear to be. I also think that their finances should come under scrutiny ?????

Straight Question czksmsaj0009 Did they tell the Daily Mail that it was always their intension to retire into council accommodation or are the Daily Mail telling lies?? Most people think about their future long before they get to their mid 70s in fact a lot of people don't reach that age, but they can't expect the council to make up for their lack of thought for their own future. Spare a thought for the other 6000 on the housing list.

ohec wrote:
Straight Question czksmsaj0009 Did they tell the Daily Mail that it was always their intension to retire into council accommodation or are the Daily Mail telling lies?? Most people think about their future long before they get to their mid 70s in fact a lot of people don't reach that age, but they can't expect the council to make up for their lack of thought for their own future. Spare a thought for the other 6000 on the housing list.

no they didnt say that