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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:
SamSmalaidh · 15/01/2013 13:33

More than one adult can live in a household Confused

Chunderella · 15/01/2013 13:34

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PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:34

DSM, he is still in education.

But if the rules that the op is talking about, with a spare bedroom, then I guess this will be the reason why my neighbour will move into a 2 bed with her son?

creighton · 15/01/2013 13:35

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DSM · 15/01/2013 13:35

givemeaclue I would need to wait years, according to the council website, as I fit absolutely none of the criteria for priority.

I hope in 'years' time, I will be buying my own house.

I am not moaning about my situation, nor am I criticising the OP for hers. I am merely raising the discussion that the system does seem grossly unfair, and I personally think it should be reassessed every so often.

I honestly think that anyone who doesn't agree with that sentiment is being defensive over something they have, and don't want to lose.

LadyBeagleEyes · 15/01/2013 13:36

Sorry Quint, but that is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard.
Councils have a duty of care to their properties and every few years some are listed for improvements, it's their property and they have to look after it.
That would include things like central heating, insulation or double glazing, you can't just call them and give them a list of what you want.
It's a sensible investment for them.
My HA property is quite new, it didn't have a shower, I had it put in myself, as have all my neighbours.
Though I wish you were right, I would love new stripped floorboards and French windows.

purpleflower123 · 15/01/2013 13:36

When doing a mutual exchange the council or HA don't do it up. You take it on as it is.

My new house was a state, it's up to us to fix it up. As it will be my home until we choose to leave it I will put the effort in and make it nice (it will take a long time due to money) if my tenancy was only 5 years it wouldn't be worth it for me to do.

Seabird72 · 15/01/2013 13:37

do the swap - you need the bigger space with 3 kids and a bigger garden - you might fit at the moment but a couple of years down the line could feel differently and you are in a 2 bed house that is actually ideal for someone else who wants to swap.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:38

DSM, buying your own house is not such a bad thing though. At least you wont have to move and downsize as your children move out, and you will have something to leave behind for them. You can build and work on a dream home that is actually your own, and know that the money you spend will benefit you and your family for years to come.

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:39

quint Ah, I didn't think of that Blush

orange I think that you have answered the bigger issue yourself there, why would anyone want to own their own home when they can do whatever modifications they like to a council home, for a fraction of the money?

chunder I see your point, I apologise for using the word subsidised. I was just referring to the fact that she said she pays £325 and it would be £500 if it weren't a HA house.

Feminine · 15/01/2013 13:40

Still so much misunderstanding about social housing here...still the same crap is posted time and again, by posters that still don't get it!

sometimes HA/council tenants pay full rent, sometimes they don't. This is the same in private rentals.

What op is hoping to do is totally the way it works in HA/council housing. There is the option to swap with other tenants ...that would like to.

It is just a little perk. Just like house values Wink a nice thing that can sometimes happen.

Original poster
isthisunreasonable · 15/01/2013 13:41

It's not all fluffy and happy living in social housing, you don't just "get" a house, despite popular belief.

I had something awful happen in my life which resulted in me and my baby being homeless. We lived in a hostel for nearly a year, it was shit, really really shit. Then we lived in a one bed flat for a year, that was pretty shit too. As it was what the council call "temporary accommodation" the rent was much higher than normal social housing and I paid nearly £700 a month (similar to private rental places). I waited a year on "the list" and eventually got offered this lovely 2 bed house, which is perfect, my rent nearly halved from the shit one bed flat to this lovely 2 bed house. (Maybe one of the council / HA employees knows hwy this is as it nearly made me homeless again, homeless from temporary accommodation lol).

OP posts:
purpleflower123 · 15/01/2013 13:41

There is still the option of a 3 way swap. There are more 3 beds wanting a 4 than 3 beds wanting a 2. So you could find a 3 bed that way if you didn't want to take the 4.

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:42

Quint - I don't know if you have misread my post, or maybe I worded it badly (probably Blush) but I was referring to whomever told me to join the HA waiting list.

I would need to wait years, and in a few years I would rather be buying my own house than moving into a HA house.

I want to own my own house.

But - I can see why people in HA houses don't want to move - they have all the benefits of owning (can decorate, can do modifications etc) but don't have to pay for it.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 13:42

Lady, I dont know why they have done all that for my neighbour! The council was asking ME to re-tarmac our shared pathway, as they said they would not do this as half the path were mine, but otherwise they would have done it for her. She was mighty annoyed with me for standing in the way of a nice new path. Hmm The housing officer actually knocked on the door to ask me. He wanted to strike a deal, saying if I did the work on the path now, they could maintain it. (like they have failed to maintain most roads around here, I should imagine, it is pot hole mayhem)

I thought naively perhaps, that the councils were really doing all this sort of renovation work for everybody, like the staircase, stripped floors, french windows, etc?

Wallison · 15/01/2013 13:43

Yes, DSM, it is very unfair that there aren't enough council houses to go round. It is also very unfair that private tenancy is about as regulated as fucking cockle picking and costs the country billions of ££s in housing benefit paying off bloody landlords' property empires.

However, there are solutions to those problems that don't involve taking away security from council tenants, and that are fair and just for everyone. For eg, rent capping, long-term lets with a break clause for tenants, building more council houses etc. Just because private tenants get the shitty end of the stick, doesn't mean that council tenants also should do and that makes it all 'fair' somehow.

Chunderella · 15/01/2013 13:44

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JakeBullet · 15/01/2013 13:45

I am in a HA home and the kitchens are done every 25 years apparently. As far as I know I cannot make any alterations to the property apart from painting, putting up shelves etc. In other words I can make it look nice as long as I don't alter the structure of it.

I have a secure tenancy but the house is not and never will be mine.

DSM · 15/01/2013 13:45

I'm not entirely sure how private renting isn't regulated or whatever, and costing billions in housing benefit, but I would be intrigued to know more?

bellamafia · 15/01/2013 13:46

All I'm thinking about is the tax I'm paying each month being used to pay for someone's lifestyle like this. CRINGE!!!!!!

Matildaduck · 15/01/2013 13:46

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creighton · 15/01/2013 13:47

social housing rents are like this.

social rents, charged by councils and housing associations. these are a fraction of 'market rents' i.e. £70-90 a week for a one bed flat.

at present councils charge v. low rents and these will be brought in line with housing assocation rents.

intermediate rents are higher than social rents, but substantially lower than market rents i.e £110 a week for a one bed flat. i believe these are offered to working people who are not yet in social housing

market rents £150-200 a week for a one bed flat open to anyone who can afford it.

JakeBullet · 15/01/2013 13:48

And if I do any "making it look nice" I absolutely DO have to pay for it. If the HA decide to out in a new kitchen that's their decision and not mine.

Kormachameleon · 15/01/2013 13:48

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CecilyP · 15/01/2013 13:49

New windows and loft insulation thoughout an estate is normal. Individual, fancy home improvements is not. Neither is maintaining hedges, except for elderly or disabled tenants.