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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:
longwayoff · 17/01/2019 15:10

Write it off O P. Next she will try 'Oh, I've got rent arrears I didn't know about' and expect you to pay her. It's illegal to ask for money in an Exchange and I suspect this is an approach. Keep looking, there are many scammers and time wasters though, so be careful. Don't be too trusting.

VeganCow · 17/01/2019 15:43

Why dont you go round, and both of you can speak the the HA together, on speaker. Then she cant keep sending questioning texts.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 15:51

I think she was hoping I'd pay and then she would pull out and swap with somebody else, I really do believe it.
I've emailed the HA to see if they can confirm or deny what I've been told on the phone still waiting to hear back

OP posts:
ChariotsofFish · 17/01/2019 15:58

She sounds very unreliable, but you’ve got nothing to lose trying to pursue it.

ChickaaaaannDipppaaaaassss · 17/01/2019 16:34

I was part of a 3 way swap years ago.
Ideal house with no damage and I asked the lady outright in person if she had rent arrears as I didn't want to waste our time - She straight out lied to my face.
Sure enough she had massive rent arrears and her HA were in the process of getting her evicted. The other couple in the swap were so desperate they paid her arrears.
Guess what? She went to ground, wouldn't pick up the phone, blocked us on f/b and refused to answer the door, she also hid when I went in to her workplace.
It took small claims court to get the money back (which she defaulted on and bailiffs had to be involved, who came up with a payment plan of a pittance per month which she also defaulted on) I only lost my time, the poor other couple lost their time and several hundred pounds - Not to mention this all happened when she was heavily pregnant and was stressed out as it was.

Also of note: When we had our inspections done we all said we would take each others houses despite any work required and signed documents confirming so.

Dodgy as fuck OP.

Original poster
Continue1 · 17/01/2019 17:18

I've heard nothing from the lady and nothing from the HA, I don't know what to do?
I've decided that I will not be handing over any money, at most I'll fit the doors if she's got them but that's it and then that way I've still been a good person but not lost my money. I'm also in rent arrears so that would need sorting before I could move.
I felt so happy after speaking on the phone to HA but now just more confused than ever

OP posts:
Boomboomboomboom · 17/01/2019 19:24

She doesn't sound like she really wants to swap with you.

longwayoff · 17/01/2019 19:52

Any tenants wanting to swap, rent arrears will absolutely prevent your move. Always sort them out beforehand.

MatildaTheCat · 17/01/2019 19:58

I would suggest to her that you jointly make an appointment with the HA to confirm the details of your swap and get the deal made official. She’s either dodgy or doesn’t have a clue.

Surely the HA want to have things on an official footing?

Asta19 · 17/01/2019 20:13

Sorry OP, sounds like she was trying it on. If she genuinely wanted to swap with you she would have been happy about your news today. You have to sort out your rent arrears though, otherwise you could find yourself being the one not being allowed to swap in future because of that. Don’t lose heart. I was in a house I hated (for various reasons) and eventually did a 4 way swap! I’ve now been in this house for 10 years, still love it and won’t move again. During my time trying to swap I lost out on some places and, at the time, was devastated but now I’m glad it all worked out how it did.

rosiejaune · 17/01/2019 23:11

It's unlawful to give a tenant a financial incentive to exchange, anyway. This could be money, or offering to pay for repairs or moving costs etc. So you would be putting yourself at risk of being prosecuted or evicted or both.

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 06:41

Yes thank you I'm fully aware I cannot swap while in rent arrears. I'd have found a way to pay it off if the move was going ahead.
Although because of UC I'll always be in arrears so not really sure how it works

OP posts:
FraxinusExcelsior · 18/01/2019 07:30

It is SO hard to find HA swaps, you are really on your own out there.
I feel her HA Is being really difficult but I do get it why they want her to repair the damaged doors.

However when I swapped my HA property I had a couple of things I was told to fix, which I did - but no-one ever came round to check that I had done them and I was allowed to swap.

Also - it's absolutely none of anyone's business whether you are on benefits or not, any commenters on that subject can stick it where the sun don't shine.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 18/01/2019 08:39

She's very unlikely to be serious at this point. There were red flags all over this from the start.

If you've messaged her and she knows you've had permission, she knows everything she needs too. The ball is firmly in her court now.

I do hope you get a good exchange soon though Thanks

VeganCow · 18/01/2019 09:04

Why do you think she would rather swap with someone else, is their house preferable to yours?

FraxinusExcelsior · 18/01/2019 09:15

I couldn't believe how many time wasters there were when I was trying to swap.
People who just wanted an afternoon out judging looking at other people's houses, one woman who told me she was ready to go and was packed up with a removals lorry booked....bullshitters all.

I really feel for you OP.

Original poster
Continue1 · 18/01/2019 09:17

I don't know I haven't seen their house?

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 18/01/2019 17:39

OP did you get any further? I hope it works out for you.

Palaver1 · 18/01/2019 17:55

Ask yourself how badly do you want or need the house

XmasPudPlsd · 18/01/2019 17:56

Hi
Just reading the comments and wanted to say that the HA won’t be held responsible for any outstanding repairs that you have mentioned if you go ahead with the exchange knowing that they were there, they will become your responsibility to remedy.
Be careful about offering her anything towards the repairs as I have seen lots of exchanges go wrong in my experience.

Palaver1 · 18/01/2019 17:56

Is it worth the stress shes putting you through

princessTiasmum · 18/01/2019 17:57

Maybe this has already been said, but is she up todate with her rent?
I am sure there must be other resons shes not allowed to swap, and so many doors off doesnt sound good, especially if they have been off so long Does she have any family that could help her?
Can you not find another 3 bedroomed house ,
I am afraid all that damage would put me off, and its not your place to replace them
If her ex has done this damage,the HA should charge him with criminal damage

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/01/2019 18:01

Doesn't the housing association have to cover this?

WTF - really, damage has been carried out to HA property, they aren’t going to pay for materials and labour T a cost to the self.

OP, most HA, allow you to make home improvements, have your requested permission to carry out the work yourself.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/01/2019 18:03

Also when doing a mutual exchange, the vast majority of HA, won’t do any redemial repairs for the first 2 years, only wind and water tight, and emergency repairs (burst pipes, boiler not operational etc)

Bekstar · 18/01/2019 18:10

For a hpusing association to say no because of repairs may indicate that she has dome similar before. My neighbour did a swap with someone and was caught out. They had an inspection and aome repairs needed doing which where previous twnanta responsibility. As my neighbour was a joiner he offered to do them for free prior to the swap. However the actual swap took place nearly three months after the inspection due to these works. Neighbour came to the house and did repairs while they were still in so they could go ahead with the swap. But that was two month prior to swapping keys etc and when he moved in the damage was phenonamal. She had ripped out some of the doors he had replaced at his cost amd sold them on facebook. The kitchen units he had fixed months previously were damaged again and part of the nath paneling had been smashed which hadnt been done earlier. Two windows at the rear wherw cracked and the garden was filles with rubbish. The kitchen was also aged but he had been shown a list of modernisation dates by the tenant which showed the property was on schedule for updating the kitchen, HO told them it had been brought forward and she had reduaes meaing he had another ten year to wait. But the key exchange happened at the housing office. When neighbour approached his housing officer he didnt have a leg to atand on as the paperwork signed stated he accepted it as it was and that he had confirmed that other than the work he had done there was no other known outstanding repairs. Someone said she had done it previously to another tenant but HO wouldnt tell them due to data protection hence why she had been told to fix things before hand. They woukdnt pay for any repairs as there had been a small print clause in paperwork stating it was his responsibility to check the property did meet the inspection sheet conditiona prioe to signing. But she had insisted everything was fine. The house he left had recently been upgraded bathroom and kitchen and electrics and he had to move inti a mess or he woukd be homeless. I would not recommend swapping until the work is done and demand to hand over the keys and sign at her property so you can check it has been before doing so.

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