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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:
Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 11:30

An awful lot of private landlords cant take HB as a condition of their mortgage, so again it comes back to the banks and the government.

expatinscotland · 15/01/2013 11:30

'I would not be surprised if Camerons next move is to abolish council housing. Few countries have as much council housing as Britain.'

Ever been to France? And few countries have such horrible, discriminatory private rental laws as Britain.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 11:31

Bogeyface, yeah, why not? Seems to me like she has won the lottery! Grin
She is set up for life, with a rent so small that she can afford 5 kids! While others who really need it, are struggling to get a roof above their heads. Why should she not be thankful?

SamSmalaidh · 15/01/2013 11:31

I wouldn't be surprised if council housing was abolished either, because now as ever the Tories favour the rich over hardworking poor families, and would rather see wealthy landowners' pocket's lined than working class people live in decent safe housing.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 11:32

That would be because most countries have nothing but private rentals.... Maybe with more social housing these countries would also have a big difference in private and social rent?

Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 11:32

Orwellian Been reading the daily mail again?

There seems to be a myth that thousands of families are breeding like rabbits and moving into bigger and bigger houses. This is not the case, not least because there are barely any large houses available. The cases of families being put into £2 million mansions in London make the headlines because they are so rare, not because it happens every day!

Waitingforastartofall · 15/01/2013 11:33

I live in HA housing, with 3 children in a 3 bedroom property ( schildren who live with us half the time) 2 boys share, sd has her own room. If i was offered a swap on the homemover scheme like yours i would take it. The homemover scheme round here is between the two people who want to swap if you both do then i see no problem. Obviously bills will go up accordingly but thats expected. You can spend your time worrying about the moral obligation or do whats best for your family. I know what id do.

LilBlondePessimist · 15/01/2013 11:33

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SamSmalaidh · 15/01/2013 11:33

Yes Orwellian, but it wasn't always like that. We used to have much more social housing and fewer private landlords. The answer is build more social housing, and help those in shitty private housing - not just drag everyone with affordable housing down into the gutter too Hmm

expatinscotland · 15/01/2013 11:34

'What a crazy country where we have an apartheid system which means people in social housing can have as many children as they like and a bigger property subsidised by the taxpayer and those who are not entitled have to limit the number of children they have, pay much much more for a smaller place with less security. Great system to reward work and responsibility - not!'

Yes, what a crazy country where we have a system where taxpayers pay for so many to have a second or more property via HB for working people, whilst increasing millions of working people are unable to afford even one and will live forever with the threat of having to move, possibly as frequently as every 4 months. Great system to reward work and responsibility indeed!

Bogeyface · 15/01/2013 11:35

Thankful? Yes. I am thankful that I bought my house at the lowest point of the last recession as there is no way I could afford to buy now. But it was not generosity that she fulfilled the criteria to be given a home.

This is a HOME not a luxury!

Only in Britain is a house considered an asset first and a home second Hmm

McNewPants2013 · 15/01/2013 11:35

I would never give up my HA to go into private rent.

I have a 3 bedroom that I have decorated, carpeted and done all the small repairs ourselves.

I have had a new kitchen from the HA which due to some government policy on renting they had to do it.

I like the security of ha and it means my DC will never have to move school. Ds has austism so he needs to be secure in his school.

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 11:36

Well, we see where it is going. The welfare state is slowly picked to pieces, tax credits, child benefit etc and now also the pension is revamped.

The Flat Pension will push people into having their own private pension plans or savings to live of in retirement. £145 per week regardless of your income? Taxable, too? Who can survive on that. Fuel allowance only for the most wealthy pensioners?

expatinscotland · 15/01/2013 11:36

'That would be because most countries have nothing but private rentals.... Maybe with more social housing these countries would also have a big difference in private and social rent?'

That would be because most countries have far more secure and less discriminatory rental laws.

IfNotNowThenWhen · 15/01/2013 11:36

Yup expat. I just tried to rent a house (cheaper than where I am now) which was perfect for us, but didn't get it as the LL didn't want any children.(I only have one small boy!)
He rented it to students instead, who will doubtless stay one year and trash the place I hope..
Whenever we move I get so stressed,as moving is hard work and expensive- £800 upfront deposit, £150 movers, £150 estate agent fees.
And we never know how long we will be able to stay.

DSM · 15/01/2013 11:40

Yes, bogeyface I agree with Quint. She bloody well should be grateful for the very lucky position she is in. And we are a low-income household, living in the second most expensive city in the UK. I have not had the benefit of HA cheap rent that the OP has had, and for that reason have not been able to have the 5 kids she is in the middle of having. We have had to stick to one, as we can't afford more.

So yes, I think she should thank her lucky stars, and be grateful.

WorraLiberty · 15/01/2013 11:41

Hats off to the OP though, who I suspect knew exactly the sort of feelings this thread would throw up Wink

And to go from 'feeling guilty and between to minds' to 'feeling very excited' in the space of 5 minutes...genius! Grin

sashh · 15/01/2013 11:41

DSM

There are rules about social housing. Councils expect same sex children and any children under 10 to share a bedroom so the OP can only apply for a bigger house when she has more children.

Housing Associatins have slightly different rooms.

No it is not free, people pay rent and moving expenses.

But, and this seems to be what is happening here, you can arrange a swap for more suitable accomodation.

So the couple in the large HA house want something smaller, the OP wants something bigger. If they agree and the council agrees (they usually don't disagree) the OP and her family swap houses.

OP

Do it. You are not taking a house away from someone who needs it more than you so I don't see the problem.

shesariver · 15/01/2013 11:42

Ask I keep repeating, and as few of you understand because you're unlikely to be net contributors to the tax pool

What a nasty post this is, based on assumptions - you have no knowledge of peoples backgrounds here!

And as to askign the OP to give up her house, you seriously think that would be a good idea? At the moment she is paying full rent and not claiming HB, the chances are she woudl need HB to make up the difference in a private let so would end up claiming benefits, mad!

McNewPants2013 · 15/01/2013 11:45

DSM then move to a place that is not so expensive to live and have the 2nd baby

sashh · 15/01/2013 11:45

*DSM"

Housing associations do not have cheap rents, they are market rents, no cheaper than private, just a secure tenancy.

shesariver · 15/01/2013 11:47

Worra I was beginning to think that to Grin

Waitingforastartofall · 15/01/2013 11:48

As sashh says HA rents are market rents, i pay the same as i paid living in private rented which i had to move out of. The reason i stay here is not low costs it is the security.

DSM · 15/01/2013 11:51

McNew - I'd have to move to a different city, as we already live on the outskirts, not in town. We are not able to do that.

sashh If they are market rents, then why is the OP paying half what she would for a private rent in the same area Hmm

PureQuintessence · 15/01/2013 11:51

The 4 students who rented our house for 2 years did not trash the place. The just left behind some rubbish. All I had to do with carry it out, and give the house a spring clean.

The single mum of 2 kids managed to trash the place quite successfully, to the point of letting her kids draw on every single wall (and the furniture) with spirit marker, rip off wallpaper, soil the carpets, radiators and fridge with nail varnish, and throw poo nappies out in to the garden, for two years, rather than using the bin.

I am never letting my house again.

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