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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be gutted about losing out on this house? (council house swap related)

58 replies

MoomieAndFreddie · 21/10/2012 18:41

am in a housing assoc house, and we want to move

theres nothing much wrong with our area but its quite inner city, and while i am happy to live here while dc are small (6 and 3) i don't think it will be good for them as they grow up. ideally i want to swap for a council house (as cheaper rent and chance to buy) and want a more rural location.

my area used to have an awful reputation, but in the last 10 - 15 years the city council have spent a lot on regeneration and its much better. but people still have this preconception that its awful because of its old reputation. but it really isn't. i am on homeswapper (mutual exchange website) and every bloody time i find a potential swap they either don't come or mess us about. and i am sick of it. i don't want to be stuck here forever.

anyway. the other day, to my AMAZEMENT, i had a message from someone who said she would be interested in swapping with me, and her house was so perfect for us, great location, council, and a decent size. and we arranged for her to come and see our house today. well i spent all day cleaning and tidying only to get a text 10 mins before she was due to get here with some lame excuse why she couldn't come and that she would call and reschedule :(

i just don't think i am going to hear from her again. as this has happened so many times. i just want to live somewhere i'm happy with, and before anyone suggests private renting or buying - NO to private renting as its a rip off and not secure enough, and we can't buy, thats not an option. bar a lottery win

not sure what i am hoping for posting this, just wanted to vent really :(

OP posts:

IneedAsockamnesty · 21/10/2012 21:16

no stuntgirl they are not ha houses are run by housing associations,council houses are run by the la.

a ha tenancy is usually not quite as secure as a la one but it very much depends on the type of tenancy.

private rents are very insecure. social tenancys are often lifetime unless you do something wrong,they are not subject to the whims of a landlord

PartyFops · 21/10/2012 21:17

Housing associations are private companies or charities, councils are local authorities. Councils and HAs offer secure/assured tenancies which basically are for life as long as you abide by the tenancy conditions.

Private rents are usually on assured short hold tenancies which are usually for 6-12 months at a time, and relatively easy for a landlord to evict you for no reason after an initial term.

iloveshortshorts · 21/10/2012 21:47

thanks Sockreturningpixie

TheMonster · 21/10/2012 21:56

Renting privately limits your choices too.

Original poster

MoomieAndFreddie · 22/10/2012 08:47

yes iloveshorts you can join if you are council.

where are you, wanna swap, my house and area is lovely honest

OP posts:

TakeMyEyesButNotTheGoat · 22/10/2012 09:17

I Can understand the of private tenants in this, being a private tenant myself. I don't agree with the life long tenanacy agreements with social housing when there is such a shortage.

I know people who are earning a bigger wage than us that have a HA or council house. I think it should be reviewed when your circumstances improve but understand its more complex than that.

I disagree with not having much choice with private renting. In fact IME, you can choose where to live as long as you can afford it but that is where there is a problem too. Private rent can be way too expensive.

That is for a different thread though is suppose.

Anyway OP, I guess its like bidding on eBay or something. You have to sit and wait patiently for the right house. One will come along eventually that will be perfectfor you.

We had it with the private rent house we're in now, so much competition.

Oh and btw, if we had a life long tendency with HA/council, there is no way I would give it up. Even though I don't agree with it

GalaxyDefender · 22/10/2012 10:22

OP, YAsooooooNBU. People will think you are, because you're in a HA property, but you're not. It's easy to underestimate how soul-destroying being in a house that makes you miserable can be.

I'm in a HA property. I'm so desperate, I'm looking into private renting because anything would be better than the constant stress and misery I'm dealing with in my current flat. It's actually making me ill, and having a negative effect on my DS. I'd gladly give up my secure tenancy for just the ability to allow my DS to play at will in his own house

I had a perfect property come up on Homeswapper and I was so excited when they contacted me, but then they just stopped responding. It's been over a month now, and they've contacted other people but ignored us It's so depressing. I feel your pain.

LST · 22/10/2012 10:33

Op don't move out of ha. I'm in ha and I'm staying firmly put! It took the council 6 months to move us from our ha flat to our house when we'd had DS. Have you tried the transfers straight from the council? We bided to get our house.

LST · 22/10/2012 10:34

Mine is actually council then not ha.

Original poster

MoomieAndFreddie · 22/10/2012 10:41

aww galaxy :( my friends in a similar position to you so i completely sympathise

peoples attitudes towards certain areas PISS ME OFF. we are ALL in the same boat when we are first housed - ie in a bad situation hence the need for social housing - its just a total LOTTERY what area you get, but some people think they are so much better than you just for the area they live in. (i am talking about people in LA / HA housing.)

lst whats this about swapping direct with the council / ha? i didn't know you could do this? dunno about anyone else but my HA doesnt give you ANY information at all to do with moving house, you really have to dig for it or "know" about stuff :(

OP posts:

PartyFops · 22/10/2012 18:24

Moomie call and speak with your housing officer, that's what they are there for. They won't give you moving advice unless you ask for it. Ask what different options there are for you.

Don't forget with the new HB reforms lots of people are looking to downsize.

Good luck.

missuswife · 22/10/2012 18:55

OP, I just wanted to say I don't think YABU. Just because I'm having a hard time finding anywhere to live doesn't mean I have a grudge against anyone who has managed to wangle HA or LA housing. I hope you find the swap you want and everything works out for you.

lisad123 · 22/10/2012 18:59

Sorry I hate my house and my area. It's too small, on a massive main road and in a bad area. We brought this when I was pregnant with dd1.
Sorry but just because you LA doesn't mean you should have what you want easy. If its that bad consider saving of deposit.

Original poster

MoomieAndFreddie · 22/10/2012 19:29

Moomie call and speak with your housing officer

OP posts:

Original poster

MoomieAndFreddie · 22/10/2012 19:31

Moomie call and speak with your housing officer

am LOLLing at this. Trying to get hold of her is like trying to get the prime minister on the phone :o

(no idea what happened with the post before this one - think i need a new laptop that doesn't have a mind of its own, never mind a new house )

OP posts:

iloveshortshorts · 22/10/2012 19:53

MoomieAndFreddie
i would swap but i doubt you want a tiny 1 bed flat

PartyFops · 22/10/2012 19:57

Moomie Which HA are you with? I am a Housing Officer, people find me difficult to contact sometimes, but that's because we are so pushed, find out if he/she works full time and what days they might be in the office, and make sure someone takes a message each time you call. They should have policies in how long they take to return your call etc.

ChaoticismyLife · 22/10/2012 19:58

Yes, because we're all in a position to be able to save for a deposit

OP this may, or may not, help you out. I've no experience of it so can't say whether it's any good or not but have a look.

Original poster

MoomieAndFreddie · 22/10/2012 20:18

party i am with ASRA East Midlands (they used to be LHA)

its impossible to get a housing officer as we are not given direct lines. understandable given the type of people on my estate so you have to go through their call centre. and when i speak to their useless advisers they seem to think its their job to stop you speaking to a housing officer (aka someone who actually knows what they are on about and doesn't spout scripted platitudes ). and i actually find it stressful talking to the call centre as its so cringeworthy listening to them box ticking and sticking to the script. and trying to force you to do a fucking customer satisfaction survey at the end of the call.

anyway

and yeah my thoughts exactly chaotic, i couldnt be arsed to even dignify that one with a response. will check out that link, thanks

OP posts:

CuttedUpPear · 22/10/2012 20:22

There is a house swap topic on here.
I think I'm the only one that has posted in it

PartyFops · 22/10/2012 20:28

moomie The HA I work for are the same, they have a call centre that take all our calls and only very few get through to us. You could try saying that you are returning their call from last week (do you have their name?) or write to them asking them to call you to arrange a tenant visit to discuss some issues.

Mutual exchanges are due to take off massively over the next 12 months due to the Benefit reforms, so keep at it.

SuePurblybilt · 22/10/2012 20:34

The house swap thing is for holidays, isn't it?

CuttedUpPear · 22/10/2012 21:15

Is it??

...
....
.....

Anyone for a holiday then?.....

KrassKim · 22/10/2012 21:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PartyFops · 22/10/2012 21:45

Have you tried the homes direct homeswap link on the ASRA website?

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