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haven't had time to look through the thread until now, just one thing, not all council tenants are hard up, not all council tenants are lowlifes, as some seem to think, and not all who have shared that home with their loved ones, and seen them depart, through children leaving or death of a spouse wish to vacate, if you have had 40 years in a property, and grown up with a community how hard would it be to leave, nigh on impossible. This is about people who can well afford to live the high life someplace else, and those who own lots of homes should be using ones of those, instead of a much needed council property. As to means testing, our council does, they ask for bank statements, and any assets, and usually if you have over a certain sum, dont qualify.
Boxtops is right, these properties are subsidised by the taxpayer, they are getting fewer, because some were bought, and many now go over to housing associations, so out of direct control of the local council.
There are endless council properties that need tlc, are left abandoned by the council and if done up to a degree could go to needy families.