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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:
Asta19 · 17/01/2019 09:13

Definitely speak to the HA yourself so you know the exact situation. Unfortunately the rules state that people can change their minds about swapping right up until they actually take possession of the new place (have swapped a lot myself) so there is no way to guarantee she will move if you pay for this stuff. House exchanges are a bit of a leap of faith. I've been lucky myself but I knew one woman who had her van all loaded up on the day of the move and the other people pulled out and she had to have it all unpacked again! You may just end up in a situation where you have to judge whether the risk is worth spending some money and hoping for the best.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:14

Ok I phoned the HA it looks promising 😁😁😁

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 17/01/2019 09:14

Fingers crossed OP Smile.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:17

Ok so they said it shouldn't be a problem for me to take the house in the state it's in, as long as I okay it with the maintenance team

OP posts:
Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:19

I'm over thinking everything now lol
The lady on the phone said "itd be up to the maintenance team to ok it, that you're happy to take it in it's condition.
As long as you can ok it on the phone"
Does that mean it's fine or that I still need to speak to maintenance? As I can't find a number on Google for that team!!!

OP posts:
cloudtree · 17/01/2019 09:21

You need to speak to the maintenance team

cloudtree · 17/01/2019 09:22

and ask the first woman to confirm this to you by email

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:24

I didn't think of that cloudtree! I'm off the phone to them now Sad

OP posts:
cloudtree · 17/01/2019 09:28

call them back

SheSellSeaShells · 17/01/2019 09:31

fingers crossed for you

Isitweekendyet · 17/01/2019 09:32

OP get a contract written up with her.

You agree to replace X, Y and Z ON THE CONDITION that you and your children will be moving in by X date.

That way if it falls through you have written proof of your intentions.

Frouby · 17/01/2019 09:32

That looks promising OP.

Why not email the housing department and state 'as per conversation today I am happy to proceed with the exchange with the property x, on the understanding that x,y,z needs replacing by me at a time I can afford to do so, and absolutely by the time I vacate the property, I will not expect the HA to fund this' or words to that effect.

That way if anything else needs doing when you are in they can't bill you for it, but you can msybr replace the worse door and patch up the damaged ones until you gey round to replacing them. Unless they are fire doors once you are in you can buy a cheaper door anyway. Good luck, I understand why you are so desperate, a big garden will be brilliant for 3 little ones.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:34

On the phone to HA again, a seperate lady has confirmed that it shouldn't be a problem to take it as seen, but I'm getting put through to the housing officer to ok it.
Thank you all for your help I probably wouldn't have been so ballsy to phone them if you hadn't all been egging me on Grin

OP posts:
Xmastummyhasgonebig · 17/01/2019 09:39

Well done, sounds like you have negotiated well! Smile

Jux · 17/01/2019 09:43

Go to the HA. Try to negotiate something with them. I take it that this woman is the one who's told you about the others who've looked and why they haven't done the swap? You have no way of knowing whether that's the full story.

Cornettoninja · 17/01/2019 09:48

If another problem crops up with someone deciding to revert to everything having to be done by the current tennent I would get my local mp involved. They usually have surgeries where you can speak to them face to face.

It’s daft to stand in the way of two families housing solutions just because of an easily solveable issue. It might only take a quick email/letter from your mp.

IceRebel · 17/01/2019 09:56

I'm really pleased this might work out for you OP, but also very confused about why the other families weren't able to move in until the works were completed but you are.

each time these people have contacted the HA to say "I don't care about damages, will take the house as it is" and the HA just say no, we won't allow that

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

longtimelurkerhelen · 17/01/2019 09:57

GET IT IN WRITING Do not proceed with anything as they could deny they said it. Must get all permissions in writing.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 09:59

Ok so I told the lady that the HA said it would be fine. I now think she will choose to swap with somebody else Sad seeing as they will allow it
She sent me this message "eh what's changed for them to allow it. Other ppl phoned and were told no. Don't say I didn't warn you"
Sad

OP posts:
caringcarer · 17/01/2019 10:02

You really need to speak to HA. Tell them to ask this person to make repairs on her property. She is probably in breach on contract if she has managed to break all doors. It is not your responsibility to get this work done. She must do it before she will be allowed to move out or swap. She may be packed up but that means nothing. Anyway buying the doors will be the cheaper bit the fitting will be expensive. She is probably looking at £250 for fitting five doors and two toilet seats as each door has to have handles and hinges removed from old door to new one and new door might not be perfect fit so may need plaining down. My dh put on new door last Sunday and he is no Carpenter and so it took him about 3 hours and my son helped by holding door in place whilst he screwed it onto hinges. It is not a quick job even to do one door. I would be telling this lady sort your house out so we can swap.

penelopepig · 17/01/2019 10:02

Have you spoken to Shelter? They're really good with this kind of thing

SaucyJack · 17/01/2019 10:03

Maybe she’s just a massive time waster then :-(

There are plenty around sadly.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 10:03

Then a further message saying I just can't believe it, who did you speak to. Don't want to get my hopes up

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 17/01/2019 10:07

We went through this endlessly in my teens, swapping houses under HAs. There are a notorious amount of time wasters. She sounds like one.

You've done everything you can do now, the ball is in her court. She is, realistically, now going to assess who showed interest and whose house she would rather live in, and ask them if they want to swap.

Buy nothing for her house until you actually live there, and try not to get your hopes up, just incase she disappears completely, is using this to try and negotiate with the HA or picks someone else.

I do hope she comes through for you, but be careful doing too much for her.

MotherWol · 17/01/2019 10:09

I'm really glad you spoke to the HA, and had the confidence to check it out with them. If it turns out that she was just taking you for a ride, then look at it this way: you're not out of pocket, and you've dodged a bullet. Fingers crossed it works out for you, but if it's not this one there will be another.

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