Leaving a council tenancy to move back in with mum need some reassurance

prestatynprlck ·

You do not have to move. Your status at the moment is more than secure.

Look into your future, and what this government are doing at the moment. If you buy your own house you could be heaping up trouble for yourself in years to come.

Suppose you bought your own place and for various reasons may have to move. You would be less secure than you are now.

It would say from experience that it may be better to bide your time, keep your council flat and SAVE for the future.

You do not know what the future is, and buying a property has had a lot of benefits in the past. Not so much now.

I got up to go to work one morning and my legs gave way. Now I am not saying that happens to many other people, because it is a rare disease, but something similar could stop you working too. Many recover: I did not. I own my home. It is very hard to manage.

Disability is very expensive. You would get far more help as a council tenant than if you owned it. You would be more secure.

If you stay in your council flat and save as much as you can, then you could perhaps buy something when you are 50. You have to look to the future when you are making the biggest decision of your life.

Not only that, living with someone else will most likely not go well, especially as you are both probably independent and free minded.

Local authorities have different numbers of available properties. I am assuming the OP comes from Prestatyn who will likely have more available than, say, a busy London borough.

OP, have you considered getting a shared ownership property? They usually only ask for a 5% deposit. You can own a share like 25% and pay rent on the rest. If you pay off the mortgage, you can either staircase to full ownership by getting a mortgage again or you can just rent for a while and it’ll be cheaper than social housing rent. It gives you lots of options.

@Dalemp - many single people do qualify. That said, the OP has said her situation has changing so that if she gives up the tenancy she wouldn’t get another one. To me that’s the big issue- moving back in with her mum would be a big risk.

I think I’d stay in the flat for 2 years and save rather than 1 year saving at her mums.

OP is in a one bed council flat. A family wont be put in there as it would be overcrowded.

How did you qualify for a council house? I thought they would be impossible for a single person.

They do actually. My friends DD is in a 1 bed flat with 2 kids aged 8
Still on waiting list for a 2 bed

@prestatynprlck You said you're craving the stability of owning your own home. That's understandable but right now you have the next best thing to being a homeowner- a secure tenancy for life.

Don't give it up, it would be a mistake to move back to your mother's house.
What if you move back there and house prices rise, meaning you can't afford to buy at all, or you're stuck there for years trying to save enough to buy at the increased price? What if you're not approved for a mortgage for some reason, poor credit rating etc?

Stay in your own secure home and save. If you save enough you can buy in the future, but if for some reason you can't, you have your own little home for life. You'll still have the stability you want plus independence.

And that is why council properties are like gold dust. People buying them to make a quick buck instead of buying elsewhere and leaving the tenancy for someone else.

And to the pp who suggested subletting....I'm sure that's illegal. If not it's certainly immoral and should be illegal.

Sublet your council flat?

You might fall out with Mum. You might loose your job. You might become ill and unable to work. The market might explode and you can no longer afford what you thought you could.
A meteor might hit the earth, the plague may come back or Noah and his Ark will take over?

But can a parent manage a year with the OP?
it is absolute madness to give up a secure tenancy before you actually have the means to buy. Anything could go wrong. You might fall out with Mum. You might loose your job. You might become ill and unable to work. The market might explode and you can no longer afford what you thought you could. Sorry to be.so pessimistic but you have to be realistic. Stay where you are.

Don't give up your council flat!

Think long and hard, council house gis like gold dust now, many families who've rented privately are having to turn to council due to costs. Remember moving in with your mum could affect personal relationships (lack of private space). I'd stay out until literally a few months before you can buy

Don't give it up, buy your council flat so you get a big discount.
Then if you wanted to rent it out and move in with your mum, the rent would cover the mortgage

Do not give up your home!

Not right now, in terms of buying a home, does not mean never.

Going to echo what most people have said and say stay in your current flat, and save albeit a little slower.
If your DM is in SH, and god forbid something happened to her, you could be turfed out with 2 weeks notice.
Depending on the rules about housing where you live, having some money saved up could disqualify you for further council housing anyway. That is certainly the case where I live (if you have more than £16k, you can't even get on the list).

Oh I was going to ask if you worked for a private company as some do staff loans at really good rates so you could fast track your plans, but it looks like that's out unfortunately.

It's really good for a 28 year old! It's better than my pro-rata at 34. But houses and living costs are bloody expensive! I wouldn't be rushing to get rid of a decent and affordable place to live on that money. You need silly sums for a mortgage.

Stay. Absolutely.

Save up where you are and Then decide if to give up the tenancy.

It would take a LOT to make me give mine up and what your describing wouldn't come close to a reason

Is it your intention to split all the expenses with your mother if you move in with her, or are you hoping for a free ride so you can be secure in the future?

Move in with mum and let someone else have the flat then save, save, save. Before you know it you will have enough of a deposit that will give you more choice, life is sometimes too comfortable and parents are not around forever.

No.

But please do invest in a good property so that your safety net grows accordingly. Meaning small space in a good area.

Good luck 🌺

You can still be on a list, and bid for properties when you are living with someone.

If there is no one ahead of you on the bidding, in terms of need, you can be allocated the home.

You aren’t understanding- the issue isn’t “she shouldn’t have the flat” but “is living with your mum an issue that led to you getting the flat in the first place.” Relationships with parents can be tricky while you are living together. If it doesn’t work out, the OP has been clear she wouldn’t get a social housing property again. She now wouldn’t qualify. So if her relationship with her mum wasn’t rock solid, giving up her flat could be a disaster.

Given she is pretty confident she wouldn’t be able to get another flat if she applied now, then it’s even more important she only gives up the secure rental flat for the security of a bought home, not go insecure living with her mum, unless things are completely perfect with her mum.