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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:
FinnyStory · 13/08/2020 13:11

Does your child have an ECHP? If you can get the school named in the plan, that should help with funded transport.

FinnyStory · 13/08/2020 13:12

EHCP, one day that will start tripping off the tounge...

NoSleepInTheHeat · 13/08/2020 13:14

Any chance you could look at private rentals?
I understand not wanting to change school so I would continue looking for another job closer to where you live or to the school. Or could you maybe work remotely with your current job?

mumofftwo · 13/08/2020 13:15

Its was council. Both houses where I was worried about not being allowed but when they came out they said it was fine and they allow it have u asked if you would be allowed if you do mutal exchange?

Felifox · 13/08/2020 13:24

The best advice I could give you is to contact your MP"s office to ask if they can help by contacting the LA and also re transport.

Good luck.

TableFlowerss · 13/08/2020 13:32

Could the amount you spend on petrol each month not go toward a private rent with beds? Must cost you £200 odd petrol...

TableFlowerss · 13/08/2020 13:32

3 beds

ParisOnWheels · 13/08/2020 13:40

@GiantMouseofMinsk it could potentially change the priority if you can put together an argument (with professional back up) that the SEN means DC would benefit from a different property or location.

x2boys · 13/08/2020 13:41

No it isn't necessarily true @GiantMouseOFMinsk it depends why your child with special needs needs a bigger house or an adapted house ,just having evidence that your child has special needs isn't usually enough ,I live in a two bed housing association with two boys one of whom has severe autism and learning disabilities he can't share with his brother as he. disturbs him but without a sleep assessment ( which we are currently doing ) etc ,the housing association see us as adequately housed ,so we have divided the big bedroom up ,it is what is ,we did get fencing as our previous fencing was very low but we had to have an OT assessment and it took nearly 12 months to complete ,.

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:42

The council knows she's SEN which is why I don't want her to change schools but they've not said this makes a difference to the waiting time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:45

have u asked if you would be allowed if you do mutal exchange?

Yes I emailed the council and explained that it was a mutual exchange and I would be willing to pay extra rent and show proof that I am trying to exchange for a 2 bed in that area just in case they thought I purposely was trying to get a 3 bed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:48

I have looked into private rent but the prices are so expensive. The ones I have applied for have all turned me down and I don't know if it's because of my credit score or because I'm a single parent so they might think I will struggle with the rent or something.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/08/2020 13:51

Don't give up a secure tenancy for a private rental!!!!

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 13:57

Don't give up a secure tenancy for a private rental!!!!

I really don't want to!

OP posts:
Howyiz · 13/08/2020 20:26

Is your child going to an in catchment area school in Sept that they can get transport to?

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 20:40

No the school they are going to is right next to the current primary school so they still can't get transport there.

OP posts:
JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 13/08/2020 20:53

Can you not just put the exchange request in and see what happens?

We exchanged from a 3 to a 4 bed before we were “entitled” to one but it’s housing association so not sure it’s the same rules.

Should add we are now fully entitled to the 4 bed and at the point of exchanging we knew we would be entitled to it after 18 months had passed (was pregnant with dc4 who we knew was a boy and eldest dc was only girl and due to turn 10 and therefore entitled to her own room).

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaaaan · 13/08/2020 21:03

Hi op. I work for Local Authority in tenancy changes and this is my main job. You need to challenge there decision regarding the extra bedroom. We do allow this as long as it's affordable. Also how old are the boys. The oldest will be entitled to his own room at 16 regardless anyway.

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaaaan · 13/08/2020 21:04

*their Blush

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaaaan · 13/08/2020 21:16

I would send an email to their head of service in housing. Outline every you have on here.

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 21:30

Can you not just put the exchange request in and see what happens?

I was thinking about this but apparently it can take a couple of months to sort out so I didn't want the other person to think I was a time-waster. I also emailed them to ask if I would be allowed it - I shouldn't have done this!

OP posts:
DianaT1969 · 13/08/2020 21:33

Why don't you put flyers through the doors of council properties in the area you want to move to? (Assuming it's possible to tell which are council). You never know, maybe someone wants a rural area but hasn't thought to apply for an exchange.

Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 21:34

@doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaaaan

I only have one so I wouldn't be eligible for an extra bedroom in the future anyway.
I don't get help with my rent and I have said I would be happy to pay extra for the spare room (it would still be cheaper than private) but they still said no because it's council.

Would you suggest I just try it?
Or is there anything that I can do to increase my chances of getting the 3 bed?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hammer12 · 13/08/2020 21:35

Why don't you put flyers through the doors of council properties in the area you want to move to?

This is a good idea. I only use the internet so there may be some people who can't use the internet very well who want to exchange.

OP posts:
Cinderbelly · 13/08/2020 21:36

Hi op, our borough would let you go one bedroom over your needs (so you could swap a 2 for a 3 bed here) provided no rent arrears on either side.
I would push for the swap if you can as it will be much easier for you to swap a 3Bed for a 2 bed into a different area later on then being in the situation you’re in now and trying to swap a 2 bed for a different 2 bed.

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