To consider leaving social housing?

[akaemmafrost]

Lone parent, 2 dc, both SN, one quite significant.

Live in a 2 bedroom flat atm. It's a nice flat but small, no garden, can't exchange as 3 bedroom accommodation in this city is near on none existent. I sleep on a bed sofa so my dc can have a room each, this is necessary due to their SN.

I think I am being short sighted but I yearn for a bedroom of my own and a garden. But would I be daft to consider moving into private rented. I suspect I would but just so cramped and miserable here and I honestly think it's affecting my health, physically and mentally . It's a secure, life time tenancy by the
way.

So opinions please.

I wouldn't. If you can swap or go on the list for something bigger/different area, I'd advise you do that instead.

Private renting could have you moving every 6 months! I don't know very many people these days who have a home for life in a private rental.

My children both have autism. We are fortunate enough to have a HA home. We owned at one point (belly up, long story) then went to private rented. We made it clear we were looking for somewhere to live for a long time and they said that's what they wanted too.

Less than a year later, they wanted their house back.

we were statutorily homeless. The council were talking about temporary accommodation, the kids were unsettled enough with one house move and a new school, we had to move again which set them right back. We kept them at the same school although it meant 40 miles a day, because they couldn't cope with yet another change at the same time.

The insecurity of private rented is horrible.

I really wouldn't give up a secure roof over your head unless you have no other option, I really wouldn't. you could find yourself moving so many times and that really really affects them.

With regards to housing benefit changes, as of April 2013 all non working house holds will lose 14% of their housing benefit for one unoccupied bedroom. 25% for two.

If your dc are both under 10, regardless of gender or disability they are considered to be able to share a bedroom. Over 10 and of different gender they are considered to need a bedroom each.

This government has not taken disabilities into account within the new reforms. So you can, (and i would if i were you), approach your landlord , to see if you could be moved, but it could effect your HB. The only help that has been given to disabled people is if they need an over night carer, allowances are for the carer to have a room to sleep in.

The benefit cap is different and basically all non working people, regardless of situation will have their benefits capped at 500 pounds per week, including HB, Carers Allowance Child benefit, Income Support or JSA/ESA. DLA has not been included in the cap.

I am in a similar situation to you, my 4 years old sleeps in my room as my 7 year old ds, (ASD&ADHD) is up half the night and my 4 year old ends up with him!

Good luck, hope things work out for you.

Thanks hecate ds has autism too, possibly dd, we are awaiting assessment.

No, moving every six months or even each year would be hideous. For all of us. Lift is stressful enough without adding worries about regular moves into the mix.

Ds will be 10 early next year, so that will help.

Sorry, point of my post... No, dont leave social housing, you could end up in a much more difficult situation!

I wouldnt go into private rental, we rent privately and my 8 year old has already had 6 houses. There is NO security and with your childrens needs I would say you would be better of staying where you are.

If DS is 10 next year you will be allowed 3bed anyway. Can you stick it out for a year plus 6 months to find a place?

I wouldn't private rent. I would check with the housing association you are in the right band. Have your circumstances changed at all since you were placed in the band you are in? In our area if you are put in a band or rebanded you have a period of time in which you can appeal if you think your band should be different. You may be able to do that if your circumstances have changed at all.

We have just been moved out of a two bed first floor flat due to expecting dc 2 as is was said it would be overcrowding (now two bed house and garden). We were in a higher band than expected and HA said we would get either two or three bed house. However there is also dp so extra adult may have sone effect. We also have bidding system and waited around 3-4 months. However the area we are bidding in is not particularly sought after. We accepted a two bed due to the housing benefit changes, as would have effected us. Which are effecting everyone who recieves the benefit not just non-working as a pp said.

I would be impressed if you could actually find a private rental while admitting to relying on HB!!!!
We privately rent a very small 2 bedroom and have 3 children. 2 big girls and a boy. We also rely on a HB top up of my wages. We have tried to move but not one letting aggent will take us as on paper wedont earn enough to cover the rent and they wont accept HB tenants. We are now esentially stuck here. No clue what to do to be honest.
My 16 month old DS is still in our room and we have no alternative but to put him in with the girls and somehow divide the room up.

Well, if you can afford to move to accommodation that better suits your needs then yes, why not do it. It sounds like at the moment you are 'existing' rather than 'living', iykwim. Good luck whatever you decide, I hope that things work out for you.

Well that's the thing as well crikey. Difficult to get anywhere decent with HB, I also have a small dog. I'm astounded actually at how many ads say no children, no dogs. So who do they want actually living in these houses if they don't want families?

It's clear to me that I need to just pull my finger out and make the best of my situation, instead of despairing about it.

PropertyNightmare

A HA tenant is usually an Assured Tenant which is effectively a tenancy for life as things now stand.

A private tenant has an Assured Shorthold Tenancy which can be terminated usually after 6 months.

It would be a big mistake to give up that security when you have children who might struggle with frequent moves due to SN.

OP
I would still get the medical assessment and also raise the issue of the childrens' ages. You want the strongest case possible to improve your priority.

Tbh if you have a lifetime secure tenancy I would stay put. The stress you would encounter possibly moving every 6 months would soon put things into perspective imo.

All agency rentals where I live state no animals and no exceptions even if you offer to pay more rent.

I wouldn't if I were you.

I was made homeless through no fault of my own by a private landlord. They can give you two months notice for no reason.

Also, if you would need to rely on any benefits or HB to private rent then you could be vulnerable to further cuts. The welfare budget seems to be the main target for government cuts and, in my opinion, they will cut it even more.

Is there anyway you could decorate or spruce things up a bit - I find that helps a bit when I get itchy feet?

Have you contacted SS for an OT assessment? Both my girls have SN and are in need of their own room. They came and assessed and agreed they need it but sadly as we own out house there is little they can do. They did offer to put plans forward for changing house to three bed but would mean agreeing to stay for many years and anything over a certain amount would require us to take a loan against the house.

Is doing an exchange an option ??

This site www.homeswapper.co.uk/ is good and most councils and some HA's are signed up to it so you don't have to pay.

If you're lucky, you might find someone who wants to downsize.

There is a programme on c4 about amazing spaces, which might be worth a look, some of the people have amazing budgets for their amazing spaces, others have to be more creative, but you might get inspired, their are probably loads of websites and blogs etc about this sort of thing - it is just knowing what to look for.