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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it will be ok to leave social housing for a private rental?

51 replies

allieh37 · 09/02/2012 19:24

Any thoughts please? I'm a single SAHM of one toddler living in a semi rural village with very limited public transport (bus every 3 hrs) and no friends or family nearby, they're 30 miles away.

I have a nice flat, and moved here from London when DD was 3 months as it was a huge step nearer family and better than the cold damp council flat we had. I have made the most of it but have struggled with the location and haven't gone back to work as it would mean £10 in taxis per day to get to the town or train station to go elsewhere. I also have a very noisy neighbour above who I've had to formally complain about.

I want to move near my parents and would have to move to a private rental in order to do this. I have been offered one by a family friend that is quite shabby decor and much higher rent, but in the right location. Would it be foolish to accept and lose the social tenancy?

OP posts:
LilacWaltz · 09/02/2012 21:09

Thanks serenity it's 50 miles outside London.

Original poster
allieh37 · 09/02/2012 21:10

I would be renting for the forseable, don't think buying is possible for me. It's a HA tenancy I have and there are no exchanges to be had in the area I want, or the surrounding ones. I have been on the lists for 2 years and have been proactive in looking.

I guess I am being swayed by feeling isolated and the noisy neighbour. I would have support from my parents that I don't have now in the form of babysitting and that's obviously very attractive as I have none at the mo. It's a bugger really.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 09/02/2012 21:11

I GAVE UP my 2 bed council house with my own 10k kitchen a tenancy I had had for 16 years to move my kids to a better place to private rented accommodation, i don't regret it for a minute. A life is better than a social housing home.

childbearinhip · 09/02/2012 21:11

I would definitely move. I am renting privately been here for 3 years and it's great. I reckon it's better to be in a nice area tbh with good schools etc for yr children. I've read it's best to get the cheapest house in the best area you can afford than have the best house in crap area x

Serenitysutton · 09/02/2012 21:16

I don't think I'd worry too much about ending a HA tenancy- aside from the cheaper rent- its not like council housing. Depends on the area, as lilac said some areas there is no waiting for HA houses, they have hard to lets. Your quality of life is more important- good luck!

WorraLiberty · 09/02/2012 21:17

Have you tried putting postcards in the windows of all the shops in your parent's area?

There are loads of cards in our local shops offering exchanges.

Original poster
allieh37 · 09/02/2012 21:20

FabbyChic I think you're right re having a life versus the social housing tbh. I am stuck in this village most of the time and there's a post office, a butchers, a newsagent and a hairdressers. That's it.

Childbearinhip it is a good area (hence the reason noone is wanting to exchange out of it) with great schools and sense of community.

OP posts:
MistyMountainHop · 09/02/2012 21:21

no no no!!

try to get a house swap

don't leave the security of where you are now for a private tenancy

MistyMountainHop · 09/02/2012 21:26

A life is better than a social housing home.

^ fabby i didn't know the two were mutually exclusive? Hmm

FabbyChic · 09/02/2012 21:29

Sorry didn't word it very well, but the OP has tried a swap been looking for two years, with a move she might be able to work, would have better opportunities for herself and here children, so leaving social housing in hr situation would make her life better.

MistyMountainHop · 09/02/2012 21:33

ah ok fabby, in the context of OP's case i see what you mean :o

sorry, bit over sensitive Blush i live in social housing and have found myself judged a LOT for it!

januaryjojo · 09/02/2012 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nothingoldcanstay · 09/02/2012 21:43

What are the schools like near you and near your parents? It will only be a couple of years till you have to consider this too. If you don't drive will your DC be able to have friends to play where you are? If there is no children easily accessible I think you should move TBH. It's not the things you do it's the things you don't do...

FabbyChic · 09/02/2012 21:55

if not for where I lived I would too still live in it. My sister does. i had a lovely home cheap too. But the area got really rough and wasn't safe any more for my children.

Serenitysutton · 09/02/2012 21:57

Swaps are really very rare. When they work great, but it's an opportunity you have to grasp, not an option to wait round for.

Original poster
allieh37 · 09/02/2012 22:36

Thanks everyone i'm trying to get a swap but nothing doing so far, yes i've tried homeswapper and many other sites, thanks. I haven't tried putting cards in newsagents though, will give that a go. The schools where I am and also the ones at my parents are great. We actually have great classes, small library and toddler group here and there's a few kids around my daughter's age tbh. Really appreciate everyone's input it's helping.

OP posts:
nintendowee · 09/02/2012 22:44

I have done two housing swaps in council housing, and my parents and a friend have also done it. You do have to be pro-active and do things like physically putting notices up, approach as many people as possible on the websites, prepare some nice photos of your home and try to set up your own website so people will think of it as a nice place to move to.

I moved from Leeds to London and the family who I swapped with had no plans to move to Leeds, they just wanted to get out of London and I'd made a nice website with details of the local amenities, local attractions and took good photos of my house like you'd get on Rightmove.

I would say it's quite risky to move into private rental when you have the security of a secure tenancy, especially under the current govt. I know people who moved off my estate into private rentals but they've had their HB stripped back so much that they will have to move to another area, taking their kids out of their schools etc.

I understand what Fabby says about quality of life, but you could still have a better quality of life with both a social tenancy and be in a nice area near your parents. The place I moved to in London is near my parents and it's in a good area, lots of people thought I wouldn't be able to get a swap here but I was persistent and it paid off.

Original poster
allieh37 · 09/02/2012 22:56

Thanks nintendowee I'll give it a bigger effort. I swapped once before so I know it can be done, but I found my swap within 5 months last time. Will double my efforts I think.

OP posts:
HappyJoyful · 09/02/2012 23:01

don't stay in HA or Council just to have a tenancy for life.. it's just not worth it.. These days there is so much protection and renting in the private sector schemes offered by Councils to help people in your situation. If you get housing benefit now you still can. Just do it.. ??? Sounds like a total no brainer to me - honestly I work in HA's and it's not like you will ever ever get moved from where you are. MOVE ! Be Happy ! well worth the risk

perfectstorm · 09/02/2012 23:20

Does one of your parents have a car, and would they be willing to let you use it to commute if your Mum is also providing childcare (so may be village-based, anyway?) If you contributed to the running costs they might be very grateful; cars are really expensive to run, after all. It would also hugely reduce your insurance costs to be a named driver on someone else's car for a while before getting your own.

I'd be wary about leaving social housing. There's so little of it, and very little protection against rent hikes in the private sector. I appreciate the lack of flexibility is an issue, but the jobs market is pretty poor at the moment and the last thing you want is to be stranded in a private sector rental, with no security of tenure, a fair way from parental support and without a job. But if you are confident of finding relatively secure employment and would be less lonely in a town, then those factors are obviously important, too. (So's schooling, obviously, don't know how good your local preschool/primary is?)

Original poster
allieh37 · 09/02/2012 23:32

The local primary is excellent. Parents are not open to me using their car, no, one of the reasons I never learnt when younger. I lived in London for years and never needed to drive so it didn't come up.
My mum would only help out with the child care the odd hour here and there and only if I'm livng near by which is why I wanted to move nearer them. I think it's looking like I should stay put and try to find ways to work round it.

OP posts:
perfectstorm · 09/02/2012 23:34

Would it be possible to apply for jobs using your parent's address, and then move when you got one? That way you'd have more of your ducks in a row, so to speak, if you'd be moving closer to them anyway?

ike1 · 10/02/2012 02:54

dont give up the flat

ike1 · 10/02/2012 02:55

I would learn to drive apply for jobs and get car then

JugsyMalone · 10/02/2012 02:58

Totally - never give up a council tenancy unless you win the lottery! Don't do it.

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