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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be afraid of giving up social housing

31 replies

lattelov3r · 04/05/2012 21:12

So i live in a lovely HA house problem is its 70 miles from where i want to live its a small town with literally nothing to do very few shops, nothing to do with children, everything closing down, literally no family or friends or roots for our family at all despite being here 10 years, but as its an HA house we have security here, large house with garden affordable rent etc. If we moved to where we want to be, somewhere we would all have a better quality of life we would need to live in a private let there would be no long term security chances are it would be a flat or much smaller house and likely no garden and we would pay higher rent and council tax and also for the first time be reliant on help of LHA im desperate to go but afraid its a big mistake AIBU?

OP posts:
ll31 · 04/05/2012 21:16

Surely if you're there ten years you must have met some people - are you children in school - do they not have friends, clubs etc?

neuroticmumof3 · 04/05/2012 21:16

It's a tough decision. I have a friend who recently gave up a HA house to move for a job and she's now in the very expensive and insecure private sector. I think about doing it as I live in a not very nice house in a rough area but I do like the security of being HA. Have you tried Homeswapper to see if you can get an exchange?

olimpia · 04/05/2012 21:16

Who can say? It's always size versus location. Some people go for lEnvycation and some for size.
Overall it doesn't sound like a brill idea IMO if you have to stretch financially in these bleak economic climate

ratspeaker · 04/05/2012 21:20

Have you looked into doing a swap with someone in a a HA in the area you want to live.
Some HA allow this

CreamolaFoamless · 04/05/2012 21:21

would you be able to go on a exchange site? Someone might love the idea of living where you are?

Original poster
lattelov3r · 04/05/2012 21:23

We have one lo in school we moved here when i was very young and having been so isolated ive battled depression and anxiety all this time i know people i can pass the time of day with now and again but no friends my friends and family all live 70 miles away i rarely see them these days. We have never lived in the private sector so its all new to us, some people have said go for it get away from their and enjoy life again and others have said no dont give up your house

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 04/05/2012 21:24

I would say you should take a risk. It's far better to regret something you did do rather than something you didn't.

If you are desparate to move despite having to live somewhere smaller, then you must really want to go! Quality of life is more important than a secure tennancy. Life is too short to always take the easy option.

Original poster
lattelov3r · 04/05/2012 21:24

sorry meant to say have registered on a few exchange sites heard nothing so far also looked into HA transfer service but they no longer have one

OP posts:
NettoSuperstar · 04/05/2012 21:25

Why have you not made friends in ten years?
What makes you think you will in the new area?

Can you get an exchange?

usualsuspect · 04/05/2012 21:25

Can you try and exchange with someone in the place you want to live?

Mrbojangles1 · 04/05/2012 21:27

Never take the risk when it comes to keeping roof over kids heads if it were just you then fine but if you give up this home you will never get on the council list again

And with the housing benafit changes yu might be hard pushed to find somthing you can afford

AmberLeaf · 04/05/2012 21:28

Dont give up your HA property for a private let! you would be mad to.

Are you on Homeswapper ?

You will have zero security in a private let.

Mrbojangles1 · 04/05/2012 21:32

Exchange I did went from a 2 bed on an estate to a 3 bed on a lovely road in a village

hotheels · 04/05/2012 21:37

Imo you really shouldn't do it. I had a council tenancy 8 years ago and gave it up for private rental. It has taken me till February of this year to get back in to council having moved every year for 9 years! Believe me it is soul destroying not being able to put roots down. I have suffered with depression in the past and I put a lot of that down to our previous housing situation. I am feeling a hell of a lot better now we are more secure.

Original poster
lattelov3r · 04/05/2012 21:40

Netto i know im weird not making friends in all this time im very quiet and like i said above have a long history of anxiety i didnt leave the house at all for a long time im 90% better now but still very shy, i already know people in the other area friends and family as im from there originally

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 04/05/2012 21:41

Is there any reason you want to do it now after 10 years or is it just a general "I'd like a better life" thing? Can you afford the higher rents in the private sector? I'd stay for another 6months/year, putting aside the difference between current rent and higher rent as you may need money for moving fees etc, and make it clearer to you what your quality of life would be, that higher rent, can you make the numbers work?

If you could houseswap, look into it. I don't think I'd stay somewhere I hated just to keep a council property, but then before buying our house we were very lucky with landlords, so I do have rather a 'rose tinted' view of private rentals.

Olympia2012 · 04/05/2012 21:41

What about your jobs? You have a dp/DH too?

Original poster
lattelov3r · 04/05/2012 21:46

dontmindifido - ive sort of spent a looong time in a haze scared of change and letting life pass my by i suppose ive reached a point where i feel enoughs enough but the security thing still scares me

olympia - I have a dh i dont work myself but he can be transferred internally to the other area

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 04/05/2012 21:56

could you do a homeswapper for other H A houses seems a waste to give up a secure tenacy but if you are unhappy then change is good private rent is so expensive and what if you get a useless landlord , im saying this from somebody who is to scared to move tot he next town Grin

BerryMenlove · 04/05/2012 22:09

If you do consider exchanging be aware- social housing is changing.

My local housing associations have already implemented the higher rents (80% of what private rent costs) and 5 year tenancies. This even applies if you are already a tenant.

BerryMenlove · 04/05/2012 22:10

*by 'already a tenant', I mean one that wants to exchange, therefore starting new tenancy.

Mrbojangles1 · 04/05/2012 22:11

BerryMenlove please do not scare monger the new rules can and only apply to new tenants

BerryMenlove · 04/05/2012 22:14

Mrbojangles that is the way it works in my area. I imagine it will probably roll out everywhere eventually.
Please don't accuse me of scaremongering. It is fact where I live.

Olympia2012 · 04/05/2012 22:52

They don't apply to existing tenancies..... They would need to end your current one and start you on a new one

BerryMenlove · 04/05/2012 23:08

If you exchanged with a new h/a they would be starting you on a new tenancy.