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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Asked to consider leaving our council house for private renting

81 replies

Edenviolet · 24/11/2014 11:18

Because we have been overpaying on rent and therefore should re evaluate our position.....

Bit of background, we had been in arrears which we paid off whilst dh was in work.then had a few months on IS and got HB and now dh has been working again (part time) we pay nearly all the rent.

We decided about 3-4 weeks ago to overpay our rent a bit each week to allow us two or three 'weeks off' over Christmas and new year.

Got a call today about my rent account as the balance is now in credit by just over £200 (so only a week and a half ahead really). Housing officer was offering an appointment for us to come in and discuss a possible move to private renting as there is a huge shortage of social housing and we could according to them afford it due to the fact we are overpaying our rent.

I explained why we have been paying a bit extra but she was quite pushy about us at least considering a move!

AIBUto think this is a bit pushy and wrong?

OP posts:
Daydreamersea · 24/11/2014 13:23

Do not cave to pressure, stop overpaying as from now and do not give up your council house for anything if you are happy there.

It will be difficult if not impossible to get another one and if you or your DH lose your jobs you will not want to be privately renting whatever HB say.

They have all been told to take this new stance recently so it's just a procedure she has to go through.

In fact as you have accrued money towards the rent I would underpay for a while to balance it out so they can not justify moving you and don't overpay again but save the money elsewhere as it obviously has worked against you in this instance.

In fact it is appalling they are using your overpayments against you to move you out of your home to make way for others. Do not move out.

Daydreamersea · 24/11/2014 13:27

Benefits have been told to actively look into cutting as many people benefits as they can for any valid reason so don't be bullied into moving and hold onto your home and stop giving them a reason by overpaying.

LegoAdventCalendar · 24/11/2014 13:27

'They're not Lego. It wasn't shared ownership, they took a mortgage to buy the house in full. They are both in regular work (nurses) and still in the house 10 years on. it was a great opportunity for them.'

But the OP said her partner is 'working again' and only part-time. Shared owernship isn't really feasible for them in such a case as from the sound of it he is in and out of work. IIRC, too, the OP is a carer for 4 disabled children, not a nurse. I'm not sure who you are referring to. Hmm

SaucyJack · 24/11/2014 13:50

Why have you decided the OP doesn't need her home thealias?

I know from other posts she's made that they have a large, young family and a low-ish salary. Aren't they exactly the sort of people who should be benefitting from non-profit housing?

JoffreyBaratheon · 24/11/2014 14:01

You'd never get a rent that cheap in the private sector, as they well know. It's your tenancy - keep it. My old neighbour - who had lived here 20 years - was forced out by bedroom tax. They replaced her with nightmare antisocial tenants. Apparently, this is happening all over the country.

It's your home. Stay there.

My ex neighbour's boyfriend gave up the council house he was born and brought up in, after his mum died. This was before bedroom tax came in, as well - but the council pressurised him to move out so a family could have the house who would 'need it'. Reluctantly, he decided to move out and within a few months... he walked past his old home only to see an extension being built, new front door and - the desperately poor in need of a home new tenants used right to buy. Now no-one in need of a home will ever get that house.

The very next people they move in could either be an antisocial nightmare (our nightmare neighbours were knowingly given the house despite being evicted from neighbouring York's social housing for ASB - go figure). Or they will buy it anyway.

It is just blackmail. I'm willing to bet there is nothing in your tenancy agreement to say you have to give up the tenancy if the council decide on a whim to try and blackmail you out. I'd get a week behind with the rent. That'll teach them.

JoffreyBaratheon · 24/11/2014 14:06

Forgot to say but we are on a low income. The neighbour hit by bedroom tax had been self employed for years and saw her business fold in the recession. So she had paid her own way for years. The bloke I was telling you about who was conned into giving up his family home so the council could sell it - he was also working but low wage.

We get some housing ben but not a lot. The new nightmare neighbours are on full housing ben. In other words - the council wants you out (as mine probably wants us out and wanted my ex neighbour's bf out) because we are not a safe bet. Their entire rent gets paid every week bar £11 bedroom tax (yes, the council really did kick someone out for not being able to afford bedroom tax, only to replace them with... a family too small for the house but whose mummy and daddy can bail them out paying their bedroom tax!)

They are a safer bet than people like us dependent on minmum wage/zero hours contracts/self employed. They want you gone not because you don't need the house - you do - but because they prefer tenants whose rent is fully or nearly fully paid for them. I'd tell the council woman that to her face if I was meeting her, too.

TheAlias · 24/11/2014 14:13

I haven't Saucy. I have said the OP shouldn't go to the meeting and it's entirely up to her if she wants to stay in the house.

I'm just not sure it was so wrong of the council to ask. I know of several people who have made use of schemes to move people out of council homes and been delighted.

We do need to find a way to free up housing stock and this is one. Obviously it won't be good for everyone but I don't see what's so wrong about asking.

Sorry Lego, I though you were referring to the people who used the scheme to purchase my old home.

ILovedYouYesterday · 24/11/2014 14:19

I'd be willing to bet you are not the only person to have had a call. My guess is that she's been told to ring round everyone who is in credit rather than it being specific to you so I wouldn't worry too much about why she called.

You have very valid reasons for staying put so just ignore and try not to let it prey on your mind too much (easier said than done, I know!)

SaucyJack · 24/11/2014 14:22

I think you're missing my point thealias.

The OP is on a low income, and is fully occupying her house. Moving her on to the private sector purely to move another family in identical circs in isn't a good way to free up housing stock. It's just moving numbers about.

Maybe if MrHedgehog was on 60k a year or the kids had grown-up and left home then you would have a logical point.

Bowchickawowow · 24/11/2014 14:25

Today 12:06 TheAlias

And how would you pay for that Lego?
The couple who bought my last house received a call like this from the council and were delighted as the council paid the deposit on their new (owned) home. It's not all bad."

The council paid the deposit on a privately purchased home?!?!?!?!
I have never heard of this happening!!! And I have lived most of my life in social housing.
I could rent privately on paper but the lack of security and extra costs would not be worth living in a house instead of a weeny flat. And shared ownership is a joke imo, you still need a 10% deposit on your share plus costs, you pay rent but are liable for repair costs, and service charges are very high. Plus, very few people actually manage to staircase their share up, purchasing additional percentages - there was a report about it recently.

LegoAdventCalendar · 24/11/2014 14:26

I don't think she was wrong to ask, but should have dropped it the moment the OP said NO and explained why they were paying in advance (not that it's anyone's business).

TheAlias · 24/11/2014 14:33

I'm not missing the point at all Saucy. The OP is right to want to stay exactly as she is. The housing officer didn't know that without asking.

Bow, you can use as many ??? as you like, it's true. I know this because we had to accept a 5% deposit, rather than the more standard 20%. It was a while ago when mortgages were easier to get but there was a scheme that meant they could get a mortgage on that basis because they were in a needed profession (there's another, better term for that, isn't there?)

So, it's not right for OP and that's fine but it is good for some and where the council identifies one it is also good for the family on the list who gets to move into their vacated home.

ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks · 24/11/2014 14:33

NO. Don't do it.

I live in SH too and no way would I accept this for the same reasons as you. We're both self employed and our earnings vary hugely from month to month.

MrsRabbitsTwin · 24/11/2014 14:42

OP, is there a credit union near you? They normally have better rates than banks and some do Christmas saving clubs. It could be a better way to save than overpaying rent.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 24/11/2014 14:55

Cancel the appointment rather than just not turn up as you can be fined for missing certain appointments. Don't be pressured into moving, you need your tenancy so keep it.

Staywithme · 24/11/2014 14:56

I would not move if I was in good social housing either. We own our home, but to be honest I see 'some' social housing in my area that is lovely and if I had the choice would live there instead. Don't strangle yourself with a mortgage if you don't have to.

ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks · 24/11/2014 14:57

Oh yes...cancel it like Decaff says! Cheeky they are! You;ve no need to attend just so she can fill her quota!

attilathebun · 24/11/2014 14:59

Don't rent privately if you are happy where you are. You have far more security as a HA tenant than you would chancing your arm with a private rental. Stand your ground and don't let this person treat you like a second class citizen. If there is a shortage of HA properties, tell the HA to petition our shitty government about it instead of putting pressure on the people who are quietly trying to enjoy their homes.

JoffreyBaratheon · 24/11/2014 15:08

I wouldn't cancel. I would go and give it to them straight. Politely, firmly and - for my own peace of mind - find out their rationale. As someone said upthread, it's probably a merge letter everyone gets who gets a week or two ahead. From now on I'd stay firmly a week behind in rent. Have the money sitting in an account making interest for you, not them. But I would go if I was OP (a) cos I'd be curious what they are upto and (b) cos I'd want to give them a piece of my mind. I'd also print out and take with me my tenancy agreement and ask her to highlight where it says they can do this to tenants. I dare you.

PausingFlatly · 24/11/2014 15:10

Agree with Decaff, don't just not turn up.

Take this opportunity to repeat IN WRITING, in reply to their letter, what you said on the phone.

"Thank you for your letter offering an appointment to discuss my tenancy. As I said on the phone, I will not be taking up the appointment, as I do not wish to end my council tenancy."

If you like, add the stuff about irregular income and "for example, as you are aware we were behind on rent earlier this year for this very reason. I have chosen overpaying my rent as a way of putting rent aside for the leaner times, but if you would prefer that I saved the money in a bank account instead of overpaying I will of course do that."

exmrs · 24/11/2014 15:11

Our housing sent us a letter actually wanting people to overpay to prepare for when universal credit comes in then everyone will go into arrears waiting for the first monthly payment there will be a stopgap of 4/5 weeks with no money

PausingFlatly · 24/11/2014 15:12

I really wouldn't have this discussion verbally - and for that reason wouldn't go to the meeting. Everything on paper.

helpmeunderstand · 24/11/2014 15:50

I've been an involved resident for the last 11 years and would never move away from RSL. RSL isn't just for people in need or people who can't afford it, if you want to be there then don't let them push you out. You're under no obligation to do this meeting and they can't get you out without a court order which are not easy for them to find, I think any judge would laugh at them trying to bring an overpayment as a reason for a possession order! You don't have to explain anything to them just tell them no you're not interested.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 24/11/2014 16:00

I always pay my rent a month ahead as we get paid monthly so it's easier.

What would they suggest to people who pay monthly.

I too pay extra rent £40 a month rent in order to cover most of Decembers rent.

26Point2Miles · 24/11/2014 16:07

But you claim partial housing benefit!

Not many landlords out there accept it due to insurance restrictions on their mortgages