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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sceptical, house swap

171 replies

Continue1 · 17/01/2019 07:01

I've got the chance of swapping my 2 bedroom with a 3 bedroom but the lady's house failed inspection ☹ she's got a list of stuff that needs doing, and has pretty much asked for my help as she doesn't know what to do. 5 internal doors need to be replaced and they have to be the HA doors, they are £68 a door 😩 toilet seats need replaced, actual brand ones. £26 a seat! She's basically said I can have the house but I need to help her. I have 3 children under 5, on UC. I could never afford this! Plus what if I do help and she swaps with somebody else? Or pulls out! I'm so torn☹

OP posts:
Chunkymonkey123 · 17/01/2019 08:20

From how I read it she’s told you not to go to the HA as they have turned down people before. This seems very dodgy to me. How does not involving the HA benefit you in anyway? I suspect if you spoken to them about her you would get a whole different story.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:21

It does doesn't it chunkymonkey, I doubt they'll phone her and say oh confused1 phoned about your house we told her no
Confused

OP posts:
Chunkymonkey123 · 17/01/2019 08:21

When you are saying ‘the other people ...’ are you actually hearing this from them or just taking her word for it?

EmeraldShamrock · 17/01/2019 08:22

Do the UK do crisis loan when on UC.

EmeraldShamrock · 17/01/2019 08:23

Go through HA before any money changes hands.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:24

I've only heard from one couple, I managed to find her on fb. She said the HA told her that she couldn't move in :/

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 17/01/2019 08:28

The HA will definitely not allow it,
The other people already asked them and they outright said no, will not allow others to move into it without repairs been done

But unless YOU have asked them, yourself, talking to her housing officer to get the full story, then you only have her word for it.

If you ask, they can confirm this is the case, and then at least you know.

You could discuss getting a written agreement, etc.

But until YOU ask the question you won't really know anything.

PlumpSyrianHamster · 17/01/2019 08:29

No, Emerald. Those went a while ago. You can do an 'advance payment' on your UC, it's a loan and they claw it back at a huge rate from future payments.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:29

I was gonna phone our HA when it opens and find out, even offering them the money is a good idea so then they'd know I'd do it asap

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 17/01/2019 08:30

Can you borrow the money from somewhere?

Quite honestly, if you like the rest of the house then the 200 odd quid you’d need to spend in order for her to be able to leave sounds like a bloody bargain.

WorryingWombat · 17/01/2019 08:32

Why would you pay for damage SHE or her ex caused? Quite honestly the HA might be at her anyway to fix the damage to there property!!

She wants to move as much as you to do this her house has to meet the right standards. That is her problem.

The fact this has happened BEFORE would worry me if its so easy as the other party paying the costs i am sure one of the other parties would have done it

Dont be a mug, tell her to replace everything she has broken, if you want to help with costs tell her you will pay a percentage AFTER you move

Boomboomboomboom · 17/01/2019 08:33

Have you actually seen the full letter sent by her landlord refusing to grant consent for a Mutual Exchange?
There may be far more to this than you know.
If it is simply a case of the doors, and the HA have confirmed that you would be entitled to Mutual Exchange after the work is done, you have two risk adverse choices.

One is contact HA and ask if they will agree to allow you to do the work - they could agree with you a variation to the tenancy to enforce this, the other is to agree a written contract with her that if you spend money/do work She WILL mutually exchange. You could try to enforce this in the county court.
Otherwise look elsewhere.
It is nonsensical NOT to talk to the housing association as they will be the only ones who can tell you the truth about potential exchange.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:34

Yes I've seen it, I've taken photos of it.
It's not as simple as look elsewhere, I've been waiting 11 months as it is

OP posts:
IceRebel · 17/01/2019 08:35

if its so easy as the other party paying the costs i am sure one of the other parties would have done it

This is the crux of the issue. I can believe one family would walk away due to costs, but you would be the 4th interested party to walk away. That suggests the problems are much more than just the costs of doors and toilet seats.

TheQueef · 17/01/2019 08:35

If someone moves out they will send in the vacant team to do the work and Bill the tenant responsible.
If they let new tenant in then the work becomes HA responsibility as pre existing repairs.

Getting a swap is like hens teeth good luck!

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:38

There is no problems beyond the doors, but at 68 pound a door I'd even struggle to afford that myself, one of my doors need replaced before I'd be able to swap like I said.
I will phone the HA and enquire

OP posts:
TheQueef · 17/01/2019 08:42

As others have said you need a guarantee that she will still swap after the work.
Maybe the HA will let you have a credit on your rent account to pay off.

(I bet you are gutted, so close but still out of reach Flowers)

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:45

I really needed the house, maybe why I'm happy to jump through hoops, I don't have even my own bedroom I sleep in the living room as I have a boy and 2 girls. The boy and girl cannot share as he will wake her up and stop her sleeping and stuff, the baby is still with me. A 3 bed would be the stuff of dreams! Has an amazing big back garden with a wee bit of decking Sad

OP posts:
Horsemenoftheaclopalypse · 17/01/2019 08:46

You are right to be suspicious

Even noted that she's had decking put in, even though she got permission for it.

She can afford decking but can’t afford £500 for doors Hmm despite being desperate to move...

Proceed with caution and go through the proper channels

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:50

The decking got put in 7 years ago

OP posts:
IceRebel · 17/01/2019 08:51

I think your desperation for this house is clouding your judgement somewhat. By all means go ahead with the swap. Offer to pay for the repairs etc, but don't be surprised if there are more blocks in the road after sorting out the initial doors and toilet seats.

If 3 others have walked away because of a few £100s, when the house is perfect in every other way that rings alarm bells.

VeganCow · 17/01/2019 08:54

Ignore the form, igore what others say, ignore what you believe the HA tol previous interested parties - speak to the HA yourself and get it from them.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 08:57

The HA have throughout inspected it, I mean every nook and cranny, some things needed replaced by them, such as a light fitting, and a part of the sink which they've done. As they even sent her the letter saying these had been repaired.
I will phone the HA asap and see if I can get their side to it

OP posts:
Esspee · 17/01/2019 09:05

Better to go into the HA in person.

BarbaraofSevillle · 17/01/2019 09:05

if 3 others have walked away because of a few £100s, when the house is perfect in every other way that rings alarm bells

But the house might not have been perfect for the other families, or they might not have been able to afford to pay out a few hundred pounds, or like the OP, might have been worried about fixing the doors but not getting the house.

The works stated are about £400, or £250 if the OP can use cheaper doors, which is probably less than one months rent, so it would be short sited to not take an otherwise suitable house that she has been waiting nearly a year for, for the sake of a fairly insignificant sum if she can pay/borrow it at all - OP is there anyone such as a parent, that you could borrow the money off if needed? (yes I know £400 is a lot of money to many, but it sounds like a very worthwhile investment in this case.