Housing association offering flat with previous tenant’s belongings still inside

[davinia71]

I was offered a housing association flat today, the housing officer called me to let me know it was mine (not yet, it has only just become void, should move in in October) but he said something strange over the phone and sounded very put out when I said no, I'm writing this so I know what to say when he calls back on monday!

His exact words were' Just a quick call to let you know you were successful with the flat, it's yours, one other thing.. You can keep all the furniture from inside the flat' i told him I didn't want anything.

I was under the impression housing associations cleared everything out BEFORE someone else moved in so to me it sounds like they are trying to pass that on to me? never heard of this happening before.. I'm talking the entire flat is full of everything from wardrobes still with the clothes inside, sofas, white goods, towels.. even his paperwork etc is still in there.

Do housing associations usually do this? Are they trying to pass getting rid of all the stuff onto me?

Context.. previous person passed away of a drug overdose and had no family so it was never cleared of his stuff.

Well, it's definitely a bit odd but maybe there's stuff you could use or sell?

That doesnt sound right at all. Just put it down to the person being inexperienced or something, and expect the correct info on monday

Congratulations, lifetime tenancy and stable rent! ❤️

They do this in case you are furniture poor and to save the cost of clearing. It's not that unusual.

They would empty it all. That's part of the void. They're just offering you the furniture. When we were offered our house there was an unauthorised garage in the garden. They offered to knock it down, or if we signed a disclaimer to say they weren't responsible for maintaining it, we could keep it.

This.