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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take a bigger council house than we need?

999 replies

isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 10:11

Have namechanged for this as it's pretty obvious who I am if you know me...

We currently have a two bedroom house (3 children) and we can fir just about but it's a squeeze. We are "entitled" (cringe) to a 3 bed house but it's likely to be 4-5 yrs by the time we would be offered one so placed our details on the Housing Association's "mutual exchange" site. We have also said we are happy to take a 2 bedroom house with separate dining room to use as the 3rd bedroom.

Have been contact by someone via our housing association's "mutual exchange" list. They have a large 4 bed house with a dining room and massive garden and they want to downsize (older couple all kids left home) and would like our house.

Given that is is bigger than we actually need . Part of me thinks it should go to a family with 5/6 kids but part of me thinks this couple are looking for a mutual exchange to downsize to a 2 bed house, what's the chance of them fining such a large family in a 2 bed house that they want.

It would be fabulous for us of course, lots of space for everyone, kids could have their own bedrooms and a nice big garden to play and we wouldn't have to move again when we have more children (planning another 1 or 2 in next 5 years perhaps).

Would we be unreasonable to accept it?

OP posts:
Lonelybunny · 15/01/2013 13:12

We did :) a friend of DP had a 4 bed all to himself and wanted a 2 bed house. We have 3 children and we went for it as its a 10 year wait for a 3 bed in our area. They did question the swap tho and said out baby is not yet classed as a person Hmm but we explained she will grow pretty quickly actually :) and it went through. We also may have another child in the future so I don't think it's a problem children and young family's grow and expand. Hope it goes well :)

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:13

And no doubt you will get a grant from the HA to do the work to the house to turn it into a lifetime family Dream home?

Original poster
isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:13

No DSM I do not. The social housing system is perfectly fair it is just shit.

The system of who is eligible for social housing and the order of priority is perfectly fair and very very strict. It seems you have an issue with the length of the tenancy and the fact that people don't have to give it up after a set period of time, even if they start earning a huge wage etc, I can see your point about that and it is a bit shit.

OP posts:
creighton · 15/01/2013 13:13

isthis... the council would go out of their way to give the older couple what they want in exchange for a hard to come by large property. they would find a flat in the right location, adapt it and give them cash.

i hope the council vetoes the move, not out of personal spite as i have nothing to gain in this argument, but because a large family existing today should get the property.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:14

"but we explained she will grow pretty quickly actually"

Grin

How did you know?

zumbaholic · 15/01/2013 13:15

Go for it. Here (southwest) my HA let you swap as long as you only have 1 extra bedroom for your needs eg im "entitled" to 3 bed, but can swap for a four bed.

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:15

Obviously not in practice, no.

What I do think is that one should accept a HA house when they need it. If they no longer need it, and can afford to rent/buy, then they should no longer be 'entitled' to it.

You have said that your rent would be c.£500 a month more if you went private. So basically, you don't want to decrease your lifestyle to afford that. Therefore, there is no incentive for anyone to move out of social housing.

Original poster
isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:15

Lonely bunny - How very dare you consider another child, being social housing scum and all! Grin Yours sounds very similar to our story, I'm glad you're happy in your new home and if our swap goes ahead I'm sure we will be too.

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 15/01/2013 13:15

There is so much jealousy on this thread.
'If I can't have it, why should you' type attitude.
Blame the Government, not those that live in social housing, and campaign for lower rents and more social housing rather than knock the Op.

Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 13:16

Every post of yours DSM gets more bitter and "Poor meeeee!"

The fact of the matter is that the OP isnt doing anything wrong. IF you think it is unfair then you need to protest to those in charge of policy making, not demand anyone who gets a bit of a win out of it give up their good fortune just to make you feel better!

Whining about fairness wont make a blind bit of difference to the OP or the policy makers.

holidaysarenice · 15/01/2013 13:16

I would definitely take it, regardless of anything else you'll need the space. The other couple want your house, fair deals no-one is being pushed.

And the older couple could well be fored to move, even financially forced when the new rules enter play.

Enjoy your new home!!

isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:16

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DSM · 15/01/2013 13:17

So you think it is fair that some people get half price housing, for an unlimited amount of time - which they can upgrade when they fancy more children, and other people get no part of this?

That's fair to you? Hmm

BaresarkBunny · 15/01/2013 13:17

My husband is in the military so luckily we live in military housing. I have no idea how we will afford to rent/buy when he leaves. Both our families are in the SE.

Can the people who disagree with op honestly say they wouldn't do the same or at the very least if they lived in HA housing and couldn't comfortably pay more rent, would they move and rent privately?

Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 13:18

And no doubt you will get a grant from the HA to do the work to the house to turn it into a lifetime family Dream home?

Where do you get this crap from Pure?! The HA will make sure that the house is habitable, that is fit to live in, not a palace. That doesnt include (or atleast around here it doesnt) the garden, decor or carpets. All of the must be paid for by the tenant.

It would help your argument no end if you stopped making things up.

Lonelybunny · 15/01/2013 13:18

We both work full time and really crappy hours , sorry but I was given the opportunity I took it, we pay full rent too so we don't have any help with our rent at all.

Lol well she is a person no? A baby is a person :)

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:18

There is no bitterness.

I just find it really sad that someone is handed all this and seems to think it's fair. It isn't!

creighton · 15/01/2013 13:19

isthis..and lovebunny the council has to house people who exist now not mythical, magical, future beings. that is fair. i could go to my council and insist that i intend to have 6 children and demand a 7 bedroomed house now. isn't that stupid and selfish?

Original poster
isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:19

Creighton, they won't vetoe the move. I have already called them and their policy (varies between councils and even HA's in same area) is that you are allowed up to one spare bedroom based on their child sharing bedroom rules, which for us is a 4 bedroom. Luckily this council don't class a dining room as the 5th bedroom so they have said it will go through no problem, we just need to decide if we are going to both swap and then both do the paperwork.

OP posts:
Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 13:19

DSM as I just said, whining about fairness is not helpful at all.

If you disagree with current policy then do something about it. RUn for local council, county council or local MP, actually DO something instead of moaning.

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:20

Baresark - honestly - yes I can. I absolutely would use the opportunity of a few years in HA accommodation to save up and buy a house, or be earning enough that I could move out of the council sector and be self sufficient. Maybe I have too much pride though Grin

ImKateandsoismywife · 15/01/2013 13:21

Take the swap! Ignore the rude people and do whats best for your family Smile

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:21

Many councils do give grants. My neighbour did not like her staircase, she wanted a pine one, the council built it for her. She wanted french windows in her garden, they built it for her, she wanted stripped floor boards, the council came and did it for her. You absolutely must find out if the HA could fund the renovations, after all, it is their house, and their interest to keep it nice.

Lonelybunny · 15/01/2013 13:21

We had to spend £800 on new carpets and re paint it as it was tatty but we needed the space . I would have been happy to stay in our two bed as the bedrooms were pretty big and we would have fit them
All in. I would not expect to be housed because we had another child same as someone who is buying there home wouldn't expect the bank to lend more for a bigger house cause they had another child . But the opportunity was there and our friend was practically begging to swap as he couldn't afford the rent and was in arrears so made more sense.

Original poster
isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:22

Thanks Pure, I'll do that then. It's council not HA and perhaps given the state of the place they may offer to pay for it. Even better, free upgrades to my free house Wink

OP posts: