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Original poster

Want a bigger council house.

57 replies

Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 11:46

I'm sure i'll get flamed for this but please read my post first.

I currently live in a 2 bedroom council house. I am only eligible for a 2 bedroom.

I have been trying to exchange for over 3 years now. I live in a nice area but it is very rural and has no public transport so I have struggled to find anyone who can swap with me.

My DS goes to school 20miles away (40miles round trip) we are out of the catchment area so there is no school bus so I have to take them and bring them back every day. They are SEN and for various reasons I do not want them changing schools so this isn't an option.

The issue is that I work 40 miles away (80 miles round trip) in the opposite direction and I cannot change my job (I have been looking). I am a single parent so I am having to rely on a childminder but they only start and finish at certain times so my DC is having to wait outside for over an hour for me to pick them up. I have tried to get other childcare but none is available and my childminder is stopping at the end of this year. My DS will be starting secondary school this September.

I am on the council list but I am low down and there are only a handful of properties available so I am having no luck.
I have finally managed to find a potential exchange with someone who wants mine BUT they have a 3-bed council house.
I have asked the council if I am allowed to exchange with them and I will pay extra rent and go back on the exchange site to move to a 2 bed but they have said councils won't allow this.

Has anyone had any experience with this? And do you know if there is any way I can get a 3 bed?
As I said I am happy to move again to a 2 bed but right now I physically and mentally cannot cope with the stress of getting my DC to school and to work every day so I feel like my only option would be to give up work which I really don't want to do!

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 13/08/2020 11:52

I don't think it's allowed. There's a shortage of council housing and 3 beds are in demand.
However....you're driving 120 miles a day?? I do a round trip of 24 miles to work, it takes about an hour each way in rush hour. How is that time or financially viable?

MrsSpookyM · 13/08/2020 12:02

Is the issue actually a 3 bed?

Isn't it that you need one in a different location?

I'm not quite sure I understand. The issue seems to be that the school and your job are far apart. How would a 3 bed help that?

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 12:03

How is that time or financially viable?

It's not really but I have tried to get another job and haven't been able to yet. I can only work sociable hours with doesn't help. And with COVID it's going to be even harder to get a different job now. But if I give it up I apparently won't be eligible for benefits as I've chosen to leave.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 12:05

Isn't it that you need one in a different location?

Yes I need a different location. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I am on the housing list and exchange sites to try and get another 2 bedroom but it's been 3 years and nothing has come up yet.

I now have someone with a 3 bed that wants to exchange with me.

OP posts:
Totickleamockingbird · 13/08/2020 12:09

Sounds really tough. No answers really. Just wanted to say you sound like a hardworking woman and a great mum. Flowers

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 12:11

Sounds really tough. No answers really. Just wanted to say you sound like a hardworking woman and a great mum.

Thank you so much! That has really made my day!
I know MN can be brutal sometimes so I was ready to get flamed for it haha.

OP posts:
ClaudiaWankleman · 13/08/2020 12:18

God that day to day sounds like an absolute nightmare. I don't know the ins and outs of council housing but you really do have my sympathy.

Is your DC's school in the same local authority?

Russell19 · 13/08/2020 12:20

I don't know much about council housing so apologies for my ignorance but wouldn't your issues be solved if you privately rented in a suitable location? But my other suggestion is that you could do with an different job nearer to your child's school too. Is that an option?

Trashtara · 13/08/2020 12:21

If your children have SEN any chance a professional could write you a letter saying one needs his own room due to the SEN? I know this is sometimes the case.

UggyPow · 13/08/2020 12:24

Sounds really difficult- only thing I can think of is there any way to find a third person in the same area who is currently in a 2 bed but who qualifies for a 3 bed & could you do a 3 way swap.
I know nothing about housing though so don’t even know if this is possible 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pavlova31 · 13/08/2020 12:24

I also think you sound a nice person and a really good mum too Op Smile
I hope your housing situation works out well for you Smile👍🏻

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/08/2020 12:28

www.gov.uk/help-home-school-transport

Could you check if you are eligible for out of catchment transport?

What s the distance on the new secondary school?

Bananabread8 · 13/08/2020 12:33

Have you explained all this to the housing on top of your children having SEN you should be awarded a higher priority. Can you contact your local councillor where you live? Get as many support letters from professionals you may be involved with even your GP.

Are your kids at a mainstream school? I know a relative of mine got transport (taxis paid for she lived in a rural area too) there and back to a school really far away.. all funded. It doesn’t sound right that they have to wait outside for Over an hour what happens in the bad weather OP?

toomanyplants · 13/08/2020 12:36

Like @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I was going to suggest approaching the council for assisting with transport, that sounds like a shocker of a time for you.

KenAdams · 13/08/2020 12:37

Is there any way to do a three way exchange? Find someone in the same area as the 3 bed that's currently in a 2 bed, they take the 3 bed and you get their 2 bed?

mumofftwo · 13/08/2020 12:40

I did a mutual exchange in January from a 2 bed house to a 3 bed house and as its not live stock they allow you to have a extra bedroom i have 2 girls and was not entitled to a 3 bed but i could do a exchange to get one

Seriouslyconfused3 · 13/08/2020 12:47

Honestly op it sounds ridiculous. I’d kick up such a fuss. Complain, speak to your mp, write to your local paper.

Amber2019 · 13/08/2020 12:57

If both kids are sen do they need their own rooms? If you have a health visitor, paediatrician or similar they can give a supporting letter as to why you need an extra room. Currently going through the same thing, although a 16 year old and 3 year old so they are entitled to their own bedrooms but the council said a supporting letter would help to get a bigger house quicker.

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:01

Thank you so much everyone!

I am trying to do a 3-way swap. So someone who has a 2 bed will go to the 3-bed ladies but it is quite difficult to find and the lady with the 3 bed is reluctant to do a 3-way swap as she has been let down several times in the past.

I have spoken to the council several times but they won't put me any higher as I'm not classed as homeless or under-occupying.

I have asked about transport but because there is a school more local to me they said that I could change schools. My DC was already in school before I moved here and I was in a situation where I had to move anywhere that the council gave me. But I will look into this more to make sure.

I have been looking at private rent but the rent is really expensive and requires deposits and fees on top. The ones I have seen all need a credit check and I don't have the best credit score ( I am working on this though).

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:02

@mumofftwo was this council or housing association?
The one I am in now is council and the 3 bed is the same council but when I spoke to them they said I wouldn't be allowed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:04

If both kids are sen do they need their own rooms? If you have a health visitor, paediatrician or similar they can give a supporting letter as to why you need an extra room.

Sorry I should have stated earlier. I only have one DC so it is just me and them. So there is less reason for me to have a 3 bed but I said I would be happy to exchange again to a 2 bed once I am closer.

OP posts:
GiantMouseofMinsk · 13/08/2020 13:05

Is this true about the SEN? My DS is on the register, and I didn't realise that disclosing this to the council would make a difference to the time it takes to get a property.

GiantMouseofMinsk · 13/08/2020 13:06

Sorry OP I hope my query above is OK on your thread?

Sounds like your in a tough spot - any chance your DS is eligible for transport?

GiantMouseofMinsk · 13/08/2020 13:07

you're, not your

vagshapedbox · 13/08/2020 13:09

It sounds like an awful situation OP, I do hope you can get something sorted. To clarify, have the council told you that you cannot swap to the 3 bed?
I'm confused as I didn't realise they would block exchanges. I would write a formal letter of complaint if that is the case explaining your reasons and your circumstances.

I would suggested that you do not give up your tenancy for private rented accommodation, it would be mad to do that when private housing is so unpredictable, insecure and expensive.