Woman criticised as ‘welfare profiteer’ for living in three-bedroom social housing unit
A DIY enthusiast said she lives in social housing, but people think she is taking advantage of social services.
Rose-Ann Lay lives with her wife Jessie and their three dogs in a three-bedroom house in the UK.
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However, Rose-Ann and Jessie, who do not receive benefits, have become the target of internet trolls who see them as ‘benefit profiteers’.
Rose-Ann decided to share a video on TikTok showing that this is not the case and why she has every right to be a tenant in social housing.
She says, “Jessie and I don’t receive any benefits.
“We do indeed live in a social housing unit with three bedrooms.
READ MORE ABOUT MUNICIPAL HOUSING
“Nine times out of ten there are circumstances that cause people to buy social housing.”
Rose-Ann explained that she was first allocated social housing 12 years ago, but it was not the house she lives in now.
She continues: “I traded for this property.
“There were circumstances where I got one, but that’s a whole other story for another video.
“People’s circumstances can change, take that into account.”
Many people rushed to the comments section of her video, which she shared on her TikTok account @roseannlay94to share their thoughts.
Someone wrote: “My girlfriend lives in social housing and she and her partner both work full time, I never felt there was anything wrong with it.”
And another added: “What’s wrong with people living and working in social housing? I’m so confused. If they can, surely they’ll be given the option to buy it at some point. I’d rather see people who pay to live in it using it.”
Others complimented Rose-Ann on the decor of her home.
Someone wrote: “Your HOUSE is beautiful. It is unbelievable that because you have made it look so beautiful you must be rich and either buy your own house or rent a private home.
‘We did it ourselves’
“Enjoy your beautiful home.”
Rose-Ann previously told Fabulous how she decorated her home in a budget-friendly way.
She told how she’s bagged bargains at Ikea, Tk Maxx, The Range and B&M, and how people are amazed when they see the interior of her home.
The content creator posted on social media, giving her followers a peek inside her home.
How can I get social housing?
To apply for social housing, you must complete an application form and submit it to your municipality.
To find your municipality, you can simply use the municipality finder on the government website.
Once you have access to your municipality’s website, you will find guidelines there for completing your application.
After you register, you will likely be placed on a waiting list.
Please note that even if you are placed on the waiting list, this does not guarantee an offer of social housing.
Your local authority can also advise you on how to continue living in your current home and resolve any issues, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible for application for social housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK, provided you have not recently lived abroad.
Each municipality has its own local rules about who is eligible to be placed on the housing list for its area, but these rules are based on a system of ‘points’ or ‘bands’.
For example, you will probably be the first to be offered a home if you:
- are homeless
- living in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition that is aggravated by your current home
- trying to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on the municipality’s waiting list, you will be contacted as soon as a home becomes available.
In some municipalities you can submit an application from the age of 18, in other municipalities you can submit an application from the age of 16.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
You will be allocated social housing through a points system. Depending on your housing needs, you may be given low priority.
Once you are high enough on the waiting list, the municipality will contact you about available housing.
There is no limit to how long you will be on the waiting list.
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The couple’s home features trendy floors and paneled cabinets that look incredibly stylish.
They also have chic navy blue paint with funky pink splashback tiles and they even got their own log cabin with a bar.
Rose-Ann told Fabulous: “The cabinets are from Ikea, the kitchen is from Wickes.
“Soft furnishings are mainly Tk Mkaxx and The Range.
What it’s really like to grow up in social housing
Fantastic reporter Leanne Hall tells what it’s like to grow up in social housing.
I grew up in an apartment building in a social housing district and can therefore tell quite a few wild stories.
From the neighbor throwing dog poop at the janitor for asking to mow the lawn (I imagine they ended up on the Jeremy Kyle show later in life) to arguments over missing packages, I’ve seen it all.
There are certainly several moments when things go wrong, but I think it is usually because families living in social housing get to know each other so well that they forget that they are neighbours and not family.
Yes, things can quickly go from zero to a hundred, but you know that no matter what, you can count on your neighbor to lend you some milk or to keep an eye on the kids playing outside.
And if you ask me, it’s much nicer to live in a close-knit community where boundaries can be crossed than never knowing your neighbors’ names while living on a posh street.
“My wife built the bar in the log cabin herself and we got the stools from B&M.
“The bed is Luxury Bed Company, the bedside table in the bedroom is from Tk Mkaxx.”
As for the bathroom, Rose-Ann confirmed: “My wife did the sink and tiling herself.”
How to renovate your town hall cheaply
- Get inspired by more expensive stores and go to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decoration.
- Visit YouTube for easy-to-follow tutorials on how to decorate your home yourself without hiring professionals.
- Want to light up your floor or tiled floor quickly? Then choose self-adhesive vinyl to save costs.
- A lick of paint can work wonders and make a room look like new again.
- Replace kitchen cabinet knobs with modern ones instead of buying brand new cabinets
