Would you give up social housing to move out of the area? Or stay put?

[Teapotslime]

We’ve been looking at moving out of the area and it would mean giving up a housing association property and diving back into private renting. I’m very nervous about the idea because tbh I think I’ve become very used to timely repairs and being able to contact the landlord immediately with any issues. I can’t decide whether having a stable renting situation outweighs moving to a nicer area or not! The main reason for moving is wanting a fresh start and really being unhappy where we are now. No chance of mutual exchange or transfer out of the area unfortunately so it is private rent or stay put.

This is very hard to answer... do you think your unhappiness is linked to where you are? How would it be solved by moving? It is hard to give up a secure tenancy for something less stable. Is there anything you could do to make your current situation better where you are?

Depends, are you able to afford moving quickly and often?

Need more info: current issues/ income etc

This is so hard for you. Best wishes and I hope whatever choice you make it works out for you.
It is one of the side effects of the foolish unequal housing security that people get stuck, just as you are, not only when, like you, they are unhappy, but when they need to move for work or for family support or some other reason. Really the housing system is badly broken, for tenancy or ownership.
The ideal solution would involve flexibility for everyone. Only that will maximise life quality and will also maximise the number of people in optimum housing, the right size and the right place and the right accessibility for them. Underoccupancy and crowding are side by side, and so are neighbours who hate one another.

It’s hard to say - is your location the reason you’re so unhappy?

We’re private renting and been here 10 years nearly. No interest in buying but will get around to it at some point as the chance of a stable tenancy is non existent. The closer our landlord comes to retirement, the more stressed I am the house will be sold (we’re hoping by then we will be able to just buy it from him though)

I’d kill for social housing and a secure, properly long term tenancy.

We've had endless issues with private renting and some frankly vile landlords. It took 10 years to finally get out of the system. We're shared ownership and would never go back to private.
Good luck

I used to have a council house tenancy and I would never have given it up for private renting. I've seen too many people in private rentals struggle after having rents increased, being asked to leave at short notice and struggling to get repairs done.

I was lucky that I was able to buy my flat and then eventually gain equity to move house. But if I hadn't been in a position to do that I would have stayed living there - the area isn't as nice as where I live now but it was fine, and the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

Why is there no chance of an exchange? That's odd. If you give it up for one less bedroom, people usually bite you hand off.

My biggest regret is giving up my social housing property.
I've been on the list 11 years and in that time I've lived in 4 different places.
My landlord here is amazing but elderly so I worry every day I'll lose this one.
I wouldn't give it up but maybe swap with someone if at all possible ?

No chance of an exchange because no one wants to move from outside of the area into this one 😂😂 any homes that come up on the homeswapping website that would want our house are from the same area (literally streets away).

It’s a mixture of location making us unhappy and wanting to move near family really. But many good points about how awful private can be which is why it’s so hard to choose I think! Because a horrible landlord can affect so much of your life that it may outweigh the benefits of moving.

@flappityflippers1 it’s horirble having that hanging over you. I remember one private landlord we had would mention every time we saw him how his wife was pushing him to sell up so they could buy a bigger house for themselves to live in. He never did but that was us on edge every month the whole time we lived there!

Sorry I missed the bit about exchange.
I'd still hold tight for the security and ability to treat it as home.

Have you tried looking for an exchange on other websites apart from homeswapper? E.g. there are FB groups, cards in newsagent windows. I did a swap from my first council house to another one in a city miles away. The people that I swapped with weren't specifically wanting to move to my area, but they just wanted to get out of their local area so would have been open to moving anywhere. Using the FB groups allow you to put in more info, e.g. more photos and details about the area so it might attract people who wouldn't otherwise do a specific search, or might not consider the move but they like the look of your house if you've done it up nicely.

Hi op, I'm having the same dilemma. I want more space, a secure garden and to live in a house I've actually chosen because I like it not because it's what I've been given.

My plan is to save up some money and offer cash to another housing association tenant to swap. A friend of mine swapped from a tower block to a lovely home by offering 1k.

I think unless you feel unsafe in your area or something, you are much better off in social housing. You have stability and security which is worth a lot.

What is your current rent compared to a house of the same size on the private rental market?