WHEN Anne Saunders joined TikTok last year, she never expected it to become anything more than a place where she could share hilarious clips of her two sons.
But since May 2020, Anne, from Southampton, has racked up over 29,000 followers for her VERY relatable mum content.
And while she's gained some superfans along the way, the mum has also faced some criticism too - especially about the family's council house.
Anne - who now works full-time in financial services - moved into the council home 13 years ago and has slowly been renovating it over the years.
But when she mentioned this on TikTok, trolls were quick to claim council houses should be given to those "who really need it" and she should have her home 'taken off her'.
The mum-of-two was so shocked by the responses that she recorded a rant explaining that 'no one in their right mind' would give up their council house - especially as her children had grown up in it and she'd invested money in renovations.
When Anne moved into the property in 2008, council homes were offered with a lifetime tenancy - but this was changed as part of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
In a clip that has racked up over 50,000 views, Anne said: "For those of you who got confused, council housing is a form of affordable living.
"When you're given council property, you're offered a lifetime tenancy. Do I agree with the system? Absolutely not.
"But no-one in their right mind is giving up a council house. My children have grown up in this house, I've spent money renovating it, and I'm not giving it up for no security."
"Council houses should be taken away from people who are working full time," one replied. "It's just not fair."
Another added: "I think this is rather smug, you're living from what it seems beyond comfortable, meanwhile there's a waiting list of 10 years for a family in need."
"You are the problem then," a third said. "Council houses should be for those who struggle. You are taking a roof away from those with no other option."
Anne says she made her first video on council houses to challenge the stereotype that social housing is "only for those who are struggling".
She continued: "I was in a women's refuge before I got my house, so that was the case for me at the beginning, but it's not anymore.
"A lot of people seem to think that if you live in a council house, you are a certain type of person - you're dirty, you don't look after your house, you don't work, you live off the taxpayer, you should get a job.
"I've also got friends who are midwives, teachers and nurses, who are living in council houses. They have lovely homes and work hard."
Although critics say Anne and her husband should try and get on the property ladder, she insists that this doesn't make sense for their family.
She said: "I've spent a few years here, I've brought my family up here and I've spent money to make it nice.
"Maybe if the private renting sector was better, it would encourage people to think 'Okay, I've done my time here' and view council housing as a stepping stone.
"But people don't view it as a stepping stone. I had people telling me I should go buy a house.
"My husband is self-employed, so there is the risk he couldn't work. To give up all this stability to go save up for a deposit to try and buy a house with the lack of security, would mean I'd lose my house and probably end up back in council housing."
What's more, some viewers also came out in support of Anne and defended her against her critics.
"There should be more council housing, the government should build them," one insisted. "Everyone deserves somewhere to live that's affordable."
Another commented: "Don't understand why people are complaining that other people have a roof over their head."
