[WillowTheWhisp]

I think Slinky is saying that no lender will offer a mortgage to someone on benefits. If I understand A-b correctly, he is suggesting that HBC be the lender and that in fact the tenants don't actually borrow any money but continue to pay the "rent" to HBC as now but that it is classed as a mortgage payment so that at the end of a fixed term the tenant becomes the owner. Should the tenant wish to move house they put it on the market like an ordinary owner and receive part of the money just as they would if they had an outstanding mortgage.

The problem with this idea, which initially seems excellent, is that the tenants would immediately become liable for all repairs to their property and for anyone on a limited income they wouldn't necessarily have the wherewithall to pay for it. The answer to that may seem logical to borrow against the equity they have suddenly aquired in their property but this is where the plan falls down because a person on benefit wouldn't be able to borrow (unless the council were willing and able to stand as lender) but more importantly if they are on a limited income how would they find the extra money to pay back such a loan?

I fear that the council unloading housing stock is simply going to lead to a lot more private landlords and I've recently come across some very unscrupulous ones.

I know someone whose back door won't open and the front door now won't close properly, someone else whose fires don't work and there is no central heating installed so she has had to borrow electric fires. A house not a million miles from me has a backyard wall which is in a dangerous condition and could seriously injure someone if it falls on them. A couple of years ago whilst helping someone to look for a rental property we came across one with mushrooms growing up the bathroom wall and a lovely indoor water feature in the room below! I could go on ....................