To think that if the council want people to down size then theyre going to have to help out financially in some way?

[TraineeBabyCatcher]

I am under occupying my house (its what I was housed in when I needed a home) as its a 3 bed and its just me and ds. I'm well aware of the changes to benefits because of this, and have looked at down sizing (i would find a swap v.easily) but I physically couldn't afford to do it if I wanted to.
I don't know if its different with other councils but ours off no support, yet to move it will cost you a huge amount- removals, changing of details for everything, bills etc, reflooring (in some cases- many I have seen have no flooring and I've spent ££££ on this house, flooring, repairing and decorating) etc. Surely if they need the houses enough then they're going to have to aid those moving?

Wow Sirzy, that little?! I'm impressed.
I've only asked on here really as I've only just fairly recently looked into it so don't know the ins and outs.

married, you should be embarrassed about posting this

"Odd isn't it; people who fund their own lives don't want to spend money unnecessarily; people whose lives are entitled feel a sense of unfairness if others aren't prepared to fund what they no longer need"

that's about the most ridiculous, narrow minded statement I've ever seen on MN

we need a new emoticon for you, a really doesn't suffice

Sorry ssd. I said there should be a moving grant. The welfare state is a safety net and should never provide more than any family needs.

What is narrow minded please. If people can't afford to provide for themselves, why should they have more than they need? Merely making the point that if people are spending their own money they tend to be more careful with it than when spending the money of other people.

Check with the Council before you even think about taking in a lodger. It could be against your tenancy agreement and/or you may need Council's permission first.
Tbh I'm at the amounts Councils seem to be paying people to move when everyone I know who has moved in the last year has paid between £50-£70 for a van and that's it.

I think the new legislation is restricted to a reduction in housing benefit only for social housing tenants of 'working age' with an extra room. It may also apply to those in private rentals who also need to receive Housing Benefit but I'm not sure. So, if you're working I don't think you can be forced to move, and not unless the Housing Authority have offered you somewhere else . If you try the Homeswapper website you will find the vast majority of listings are families looking to move to 3-bed from 2, so you'll have the pick of the crop. I personally think that this legislation should have extended to all social housing tenants as the vast majority of under-occupied social housing is by single, elderly (often very elderly) people whose families have grown and gone, I know of quite a few in 3 bed houses, but bizarrely the new legislation doesn't affect them.

Ignoring married having seen her benefit bashing a few times...

OP Most councils do a scheme, my ex bfs mum downsized from 3bed to 1 bed got priority, a good few k (can't remember now) removal costs paid for and her new place all decorated and carpeted and curtains. Ring up on monday and enquire.

Our LA offers money too. Surprised they all don't. Write to your MP to ask if they are planning to introduce one.

We hired a van for £53 and I rounded up my brothers to help. It doesn't have to cost loads :)

Could you take any of your flooring with you? It is normal when selling a house to be able to take carpets with you, so maybe you could do this too.

if youwe able to spent ££££ repairing flooring and decorating a house that was too big to begin with surely you can afford to spend a few ££££ on moving.

Our LA doesn't offer a bean.

Op, I agree.
DC and I are in a 3 bedroom, we were given this as I homeschool DC and extra room (as big as a telephone box) is used as a classroom.
Im on income support/housing rent/disability/carers etc as Im a fulltime carer for disabled DC and come April if we want to stay here I have to pay £30.a WEEK for that room from MY money (which after all expenses is about £5 a week)

btw Im saving government £19000.00 a year on school fees.

fair enough, there are families 0f eg-7 in a 1 bedroom house, and its more logical for THEM to have the extra rooms, I get that, but ive been looking for a smaller place in vain.

so, come april and were still here? what the f... to do? I should get help, council KNOW im looking, but i have to be specific for DCs physical needs as to what type of place.

and dont get me started on Abu whatshisname living on benefits in a big house etc etc etc......

I did a massive declutter and then moved by driving back and forth, back and forth while DS was at school. The move cost me the price of petrol.

If I had been moving further I would've used one of men with vans who post ads in shop windows etc, at very low rates.

It takes more forward planning (the decluttering and getting lots of boxes from various shops and gradually packing everything that won't be used over a period of weeks). But it certainly means that "moving costs" aren't an obstacle.

I still keep all the various allen keys that would take apart my flatpack furniture out of habit now.

Why on earth should the council pay for you to move? save up and pay it yourself like everyone else who owns their house or rents does. It's such entitled attitudes that completely outrage me. Next homeless person you see, sit with them and tell them your moving woes.

married the Welfare State, like the NHS and education, is not meant to be a 'safety net' for the desperate while the norm is rampant individualism. It is an essential element in integrating a cohesive society.

Celstial with housing ass and council you need your own white goods and furniture. They are empty even of flooring in most, no way would a car be able to get a fridge freezer in it even if the OP did drive.

The council pay for people to down size as an incentive and also because it free's up a bigger property that they make more money from.

Its not my fault the council gave us a three bedroomed house That sums it all up really, would you have prefered they didn't house you at all or did you expect them to send you you to the local estate agents so you could have your prefered choice!

Can you afford to pay the moving costs OP?

If not the council should help out.

If so then stop being such an entitled scrounger. Yes its annoying to be asked to move but no-one owes you a living in this world and the house should go to someone in more need even if it costs you a bit to move. You will still have a nice council house and will save money on bills etc. Think of it as spending a little of all the money you saved by not paying real rent.

"The council should help her as she's doing them a favour by giving them a home for a family who are currently costing them a fortune in a b&b"

doing them a favour, seriously?

she hasnt even found out exactly how much it would cost her but is already saying she should be compensated for it. the "entitled" streak kicked in before she did her sums.

Gosh, I've moved house a number of times without financial support. I used to do it bi-annually when I was a student, I remember carrying my belongings on two bikes and a wheelbarrow with a couple of friends once. Even when DH and I move now, we simply hire a van and do it ourselves, rather than pay the cost of extortionate removals firms. Quite often when I've moved, the new house hasn't been perfect for a while, in fact some of the uninhabitable dives I've moved into in order to get a foot on the housing ladder and keep climbing it would make you weep. I remember buying one house which had no flooring in the living room, just bare solum, and living in it for 6 months while the dry rot was finished being dealt with. Although at least there was one habitable room upstairs.

As for help in taking final meter readings and phoning up utility companies - you seriously want help with that???