Home swapping is ridiculous

[Aaliyah1990]

I’m more than frustrated with the fact that you could bid for years and not get anywhere. Then you think to yourself oh maybe house swap might help? Nope not at all!!! the housing system is a big joke if you ain’t got a garden you can forget it,the demands people are asking for just makes you feel worse and all your hopes are thrown out the window. It’s almost like doing the lottery and hoping you get lucky. I don’t know if somehow these so called serious swappers are getting a power buzz out of it cause that’s what it’s seem to me. In all reality we should all stop compiling to these ridiculous set ups, you waste so many of years being unhappy then you feel as you have to beg in a way to get a property you want. I think it’s all wrong and the council should be responsible if your over crowded etc and the bidding set up is more of a joke you’ll be on there for centuries 🙄. Until the day everyone stops compiling then that’s the day you’ll be able to get what you want but everyone seems to conform to things that are unrealistic,draining and upsetting. From today I’m not doing any of the guideline rules forget it!!! It doesn’t work out and it just makes their jobs easier while we suffer nope not anymore. So on that note I’ll get back to you guys. I’ll update to see that my situation will have improved. And I’ll let you what I did to get out of the flat/cage I’m in.

'The council should be responsible if your over crowded'

How?

You could private rent if you are so picky.

I understand your frustration, but if you had a nice house with a garden would you want to swap for a small flat? Even if you didn’t need the room any more could you be bothered with the hassle and expense?

It must be difficult to be stuck in a home you don't like, it sounds frustrating. I guess a swap isn't going to appeal to people if your house isn't nice in the first place though? Why would someone want to swap a nice house for a not nice flat. It's a shame the council don't have enough stock where you are and they definitely shouldn't have sold them all off.

Or dont have kids you can't afford... controversial but true.

Mammy I agree, assuming the OP is overcrowded because they have too many children in a small space, stop having children that you can't properly house. Private rent if it's such an issue.

Someone DH works with has just swapped a two bed flat in a not very nice area for a two bed house with garage and garden, opposite a park in a nicer area. The people they swapped with need to be closer to the hospital and don't drive. It helps that they kept their flat immaculately. There isn't enough social housing I work with people who've been in hostels or grim b&bs for years with children and would love to have a flat. If you want more choice you have to privately rent I'm afraid

As a social housing tenant I just accept what I have been given and am taking steps to move privately

I’m a bit confused, what are people compiling?

As said above, people aren’t going to want to swap for somewhere that is too small or not very nice.

I actually have great sympathy with the op. I wish we had more council properties and fewer people were forced to put up with the shitty rental market in the UK.

Or what's worst is having to pay rent of £950 a month just to have a roof over your kids head, and it's only a 2 bed flat covered in mould. Can't afford to pay any more or get together another £2k for fees to move. And also our landlord can chuck us out at any point. At least you have stability, things could be much worse.

If you describe your flat as a cage then it's presumably not that surprising that people don't want to swap!

Is there anything you can emphasise? Is the location good?

Mammy it's not fucking "true" to say "If you can't afford kids don't have them"

people have changing circumstances.

And no not sure what you mean by compiling as someone asked? Is that making a list of things you want? Or part of the house swapping process?

I do see some house swaps advertised on FB but I assume successful ones are few and far between

You won't get any sympathy on here OP.

I agree though, homeswapper is a joke. So many people wanting a day out in my experience.

Maybe you should be grateful that you have a roof over your head!!!!

And don't even get me started on saying the council is responsible that you are over crowded!!! Try taking some responsibility.

Sorry but ybu

Would you swap a house for a flat? Run down or not?

I'm in the same situation I a run down flat, its falling apart, has mould that incant get rid off or if i don't comes back. And have been for 8 years. Due to a burglary and constant drug dealers hanging by I am now able to bid as a band B. Which is quite high up but it's been 8 months and I'm still waiting.

I understand people dont want to swap with me.
It's not their fault

Privet rent should be more affordable, min wage should be a living wage and there should be better care for sh and more of them.

Iv also seen many house swaps but mainly house for house or the rare flat.
It's not the people on homeswappers fault . Your allowed to be picky but they cant?

I think the op means complying, not compiling.

I'm doing a house swap at the moment and I'm really hoping it will work as we've already had one fall through. You do get a lot of time wasters though, who just seem to want to have a nosy at your house! Lots seem to have very unrealistic expectations too, which is fair enough but then I see the same people complaining that they are not getting anywhere.

And no not sure what you mean by compiling as someone asked? Is that making a list of things you want? Or part of the house swapping process?

It’s very obvious that she means “complying”

Private rent is comparable to social housing rents where I live before people start with the rent subsidy Bollocks .

The number of children issue really depends. If you had the children first, when you could afford to house them and then something awful happens and your circumstances completely change then that's when the council should step in to help. It's meant to be a safety net; that's the society we designed.

But if you're in a small flat/house and cannot afford to move but continue adding children then you really can't go around demanding a new place to live. People in privately owned homes who don't get extra help or benefits need to consider whether or not they afford another child and house that child etc. The same should apply to those in social housing.

It's give and take. If no-one wants your property then you won't be able to move.

You can't do anything to change that. No matter the rules, the procedures, the process... someone has to want your property.

I really think that social housing should be temporary, there isn’t enough to give everyone a house for life anymore.
It should be while you get back on your feet and should be reassessed so that if you are now earning more etc you can then free up a house for the families in hostels and b&bs etx.

We private rent, it’s shit but it is what it is and we can’t ever see being able to buy a house as we’d need about 50k deposit. We wouldn’t have more kids as we can’t afford to live in a bigger house or provide everything they need.