A SINGLE mum has hit back at people who think she lives a ‘free’ life just because she has a council house.
Megs, 25, shared a video on her TikTok explaining how she has been living in her first-ever council house for a “few months.”
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But since sharing that news with people, she has received comments from those automatically assuming that she has been given the house for free.
She also hit back at those who think that rent is £300 and that she doesn’t have to pay any bills or council tax, calling these assumptions fake.
Megs, who is known as @motherhoodandmegs on TikTok, believes that these points are “obviously not very realistic.”
The single mum, who works full time “like most people,” explained that she is the sole provider for her and her child.
READ MORE ON COUNCIL HOUSES
Megs, who pays council tax every month and is not entitled to any discounts, says: “Every single month I watch as my rent, bills and council tax burn a big fat hole in my bank statement.
“And for me living in this house, it’s only £50 cheaper than private rent in the same area.”
She adds: “I do pay quite a lot in bills as well. I have a child who thinks we live at Blackpool Illuminations.
“If you could see my house from space, you would probably think it’s on fire.”
Megs is also renovating the house, which she is currently trying to stick to a budget for.
Her video gained over 230,000 views, with 548 people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “I live in a council house. I pay over £400 per month rent, so all you who think it’s free, go have a word with yourself.”
A second added: “I’m a single working mum and have a social housing house.
“Nothing’s free; they just aren’t insane rent prices that private landlords charge.
“I pay £580 pcm whilst the private rent next door pays £1100.”
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A third asked: “You’ll receive housing benefit, how much does that pay towards rent?”
To which Meg replied: “I don’t receive benefits, I work full time for everything I need.”
The reality of living in a council house
LEANNE Hall, Digital Writer at Fabulous, has discussed what it was like growing up in a council house, and why those living in such properties are often judged…
When I was a child I grew up in a council house, and was blissfully unaware of the discrimination that came with that, until I became an adult.
My younger years were spent running up and down the stairs of my flat, meeting with other friends who lived there and making the most of the communal garden.
But now, it seems no matter your circumstance, everyone has something to say about why you shouldn’t be there.
Living just outside of London like I did, rent prices are still high, and as my mum was at home raising three kids at the time, it wasn’t easy to find a job that fit around that.
People in council houses are often labelled as ‘scroungers’ or ‘lazy’ but it’s nothing of the sort.
Most families in council homes experience overcrowding, and let’s not even mention the horrendous amount of damp and mould that comes from living in old social housing that hasn’t had work done to them in 50 or so years.
It’s not ideal for many, but it does provide a secure home without the fear your rent will shoot up every single year, which I would argue is vital to children growing up on the poverty line.
