Can't move into housing association house until January

I waited from October until the last week of January to get the keys to my new build via the council. To me it was worth waiting for but they offered to withdraw my offer and let me bid elsewhere if I didn’t want to wait.

I’m glad I waited.

Thing is I am not sure what you’re expecting the Council to do? I very much doubt that the inspection/ repair people are twiddling their thumbs waiting until December/ Jan. I’d assume that they have a long list of people who’ve also got issues with their homes who need work doing.

And if they allowed her to leave her stuff or, worse, move in and all the stuff got ruined or she/ her kids got an infection from mould/ damp that would make things worse.

At the moment she has somewhere to live, she’s safe, her family is safe and warm- that probably means that she’s lower down the list than say an elderly person with no water, or a family who’d have to leave and literally be homeless. Or they could operate a literal taxi rank system and her issue has only been discovered, plus the house is empty.

I agree it sounds hard but if she’s been there that long surely another 2 months isn’t going to kill anyone? Or is there any chance of some house sitting in December so that she can give the friend a break?

She's lucky to get a house so quickly and she's lucky enough that the repairs will be done when she's moving in. She's also lucky to have a rental property lined up that will accept her dogs.

She's also lucky to have a friend, hat gives her a roof over her head.

As for the 3 months wait.... she could probably move into a hostel / B&B if it's to much for the friend. Obviously the dogs would have to go elsewhere or she has to give them up....

2 adults
5 young children
4 dogs
3 bed house

My heart goes out to the neighbours!

It seems unlikely that it would be delayed three weeks due to misplaced keys. They'd be more likely to change the locks than lose out on three weeks' rent.

It may be that they need the leak to fully dry out in order to check for work needing doing.

YABU. Given the current housing crisis She is lucky to be getting what she is getting so quickly. I know families who live in one room in a hostel with shared bathroom/kitchen facilities. I also know one adult brother and sister who share a room in an HMO with no electricity on the first floor (where their room is). There don't dare complain about the landlord as they are scared of becoming homeless.

By the time anyone gets in touch with a local Councillor and they get in touch with the HA and all of the necessary back and forth it will be January anyway.....
Yes it's disappointing, but surely 3 months will go quickly.

This should be prioritised, contact your local Councillor to get them to speed it up.

Our neighbours also had a leak in their bathroom that damaged the kitchen (they own the house). With all the faff of insurance companies, assessors, getting quotes, finding trades etc it took 6 months to be fixed. Three months is fast in any circumstances, let alone with a housing association involved.

And she's been given one. She just has to wait for it. If that isn't good enough for her then she should get out the queue, let someone that will appreciate it have it, and provide for herself 🤷‍♀️

Probably a bit late in the day, but the Dog's Trust runs the Freedom Project to foster the dogs of people fleeing domestic abuse. Other charities participate to care for other pets.
I'm surprised the refuge the woman stayed at didn't signal her to that.

Just as well she wasn't searching for a private rental with two dogs to accommodate.

Ahhh yey you're in!!! I was thinking of your thread when i was reading through this one. So happy for you!!

@Viviennemary @VeronicaWouldntStandForThat
Do you feel better having made those unnecessary snotty remarks?
Can you imagine being desperate for a home after fleeing abuse? she's allowed to be disappointed, find her own home? do you think she'd be living with family if she could magic up a house?
Talk about out of touch!!

I'm not MOANING about them not prioritising it, I'm letting OP know how long these things can take when living in HA.

@TheFlakyPoster
My comment was reported!!
Seriously? I point out ppl are being vile and it gets removed!
SH posts bring out the worst of snobs and nastiness.

It's a communal dish. I live in an apartment building. And pay a service charge for these things.

I get what your saying op. Your friend has Been through alot . And felt the end was near just to be disappointed.

I also get why she wanted to move in and just be careful. After all had the leak happend after she had moved in. They would not have told her to leave would they.

A leak should be prority so it really should not take as long as they are saying . I would email and question it . Also maybe explain why your friend needs to move faster . You may not get any where but there's nothing to loose by trying .

@Viviennemary I don’t think it’s a case of not being pleased. I’d say she’s disappointed that she’s unable to move sooner. Repairs take time. HAs have a duty to make sure their properties are fit for habitation. Most are. Some haven’t been in the past but I believe all that is being rectified

Exactly

This is a crap situation but I would say better than moving in and being charged rent for an unsuitable property, having to wait in for workmen, getting your stuff damaged by the leak. Better they get it sorted whilst property still empty.

The HA will be trying to do it quickly as will be money (rent) lost for them. I assume it is a big job or waiting for parts or something.

Very unusual to sign tenancy the day you view. Most people have properties they need to give notice on anyway. (I know this is not your friends situation)

Have a search for my thread called Successful bid on council property. I was also in the top priority band for disability. After just over 3 years of bidding I was offered the property on 8th May. I moved in 30th September.

I've never heard of anyone getting the keys on the day they viewed, I've heard waits of several weeks as they use the vacancy to do essential upgrades. Most recent person I know through work who was rehoused in similar circumstances had to wait 6 weeks from viewing to getting the keys

Why did she assume she'd be moving in the same day as viewing it? That never happens. When we viewed our housing association house we didn't assume we could move in straight away.
January is actually bloody quick. We accepted the house that had nothing wrong with it and still had to wait a month. Of course she can't move in id it's not safe. If something happened to her or the kids she could sue them.
She could get rid of the dogs, she could stay in a B&B, she could move in with someone who has space. I can't believe she left the shelter and was given top priority on housing association. She is very lucky in that respect.