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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not accept house

39 replies

Jasper00 · 05/12/2019 22:08

So I've been on bidding site for a while and keep been overlooked on anything nice I bid on, or all nicer properties all go to band 4 when im a one ( only specified band get house so if it says band 4 I would not get it). Anyway that isnt the issue even though I do think it's wrong because band 4 already are housed, but whatever.
So i bid on a house with a picture so I knew exactly where it is and it's a road I would want to be on, not entirely perfect but house looked ok and has proper front and back garden for the kids. On a main road so as k said not perfect but I could have stood it, so bidded and have a viewing this month.
Now to the problem.... The house I bid on and the house that was pictured is totally false. It isn't on the road stated, instead in the middle of an old estate behind the main road, which is full of alleys drunk kids and drug dealers use to their advantage. The front gardens are all open ( houses are all in a square onto eachother) with gardens not separated by borders and the back garden is nothing more than a concrete path with the space taken up by outbuildings.
So how the hell could my kids play out I don't know ( an enclosed grass back garden is my must), and the house itself is nothing like pictured and right in a place I've been careful not to bid on because I knew I wouldn't be happy in places like it.
So they pretty much lied about everything and surely that isn't right and I do not want to accept it because I wil be stuck there in something I hate. Aibu?

OP posts:

Singlenotsingle · 05/12/2019 23:33

In our area, you're allowed to refuse two offers without it causing a problem.

Bluerussian · 05/12/2019 23:55

I'm completely gob smacked that the house was so misrepresented, that was dreadful.

You would be quite reasonable to drop out of the viewing.

Original poster

Jasper00 · 05/12/2019 23:59

@MistyCloud
That is the exact question I asked the housing association the other week and it still doesn't make sense. They said it's unfair to always prioritize band 1 over the others, completely denied band 1 given all the crap but she did later slip up and say band 1 aren't as fussy and take anything so they get away with it. Hence hard to rent areas been band 1. Very unfair and why I'm considering private. I'm not a snob but i want something decent and safe. Not a big ask.

Interesting I saw an article the other day that this system might be unlawful and I think it is Liverpool might be changing it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Jasper00 · 06/12/2019 00:05

@Bluerussian
The only reason I bid was because I recognized the house in the picture and know where it is. Upon finding out the number I put it in Google to search for it and even that couldn't find the house so that had me suspicious and I knew it couldn't be where they claimed it to be.
Think will call up and cancel viewing, using screenshot as evidence so they cant hold it against me.

OP posts:

LAOLAHLAO · 06/12/2019 00:17

As has already been said contact them and tell them the house is not the same one you bid on, so there must have been a mistake.

cheesemongery · 06/12/2019 00:24

Okay, so I have been in your position. The new builds look lovely, but they are usually housing association properties with higher rent and less security than an actual council property.

I would contact the council and explain your reasons for withdrawing your bid. Does having a viewing mean you are top of the list in your area? I didn't even get a viewing I just got a house (for which I am immensely grateful).

Definitely give them a call, or even better go in and voice your concerns in person especially as it was not as advertised.

However, if you are on the emergency homeless list like I was - you really don't get a choice - I had to bid and believe me I was desperate not to get 'that' property that week.

It's not perfect where we are, the house is like a 1950's shoebox BUT we have lovely neighbours, it's actually a nice area and having to uproot schools etc has been for the best.

Tricky - I know. Good luck with your new home though whenever it may come. This wouldn't have been my first choice, but I just cried with relief at just getting a house when the offer came through. I was dancing when I got the keys! Home is what you make it.

cheesemongery · 06/12/2019 00:26

I hardly think band 1 aren't as fussy.

It's more likely band one are homeless.

Pissed off now with your post.

MistyCloud · 06/12/2019 00:32

@cheesemongery the OP didn't say that SHE thinks Band 1 (people kinda desperate and in most need usually) are 'not fussy and will take anything' she said the housing officer let it slip that that is why they offer shitty areas to Band 1 people. (Coz they're more likely to take it, as they are often a bit more desperate.)

I didn't see it as a slur or insult to anyone. Just pointing out what often happens.

@Jasper00

Yes of course you want somewhere nice and safe and decent. You are quite right to want the best for you and your family.

Have you already accepted it? Like officially? Or just bid on it?

Original poster

Jasper00 · 06/12/2019 00:43

@mistycloud
I bid, god, about three weeks ago I think it was, and agreed to view with an interest to take it bur that was before they told me the house number. They wouldn't tell me before when I asked out of curiosity after I initially bid, obvious why now.
Nothing new this new bidding cycle as iwas desperately hoping something might come up but nope. Suppose something still might, I'm still number one on a new build in a town five miles away which is a lovely olde worlde kinda place with everything there so you don't ever have to actually leave the town, but doesn't seem to ever get allocated. Go figure.

OP posts:

cheesemongery · 06/12/2019 01:10

@MistyCloud yes you're absolutely right and I shouldn't have been pissed off with the OP, but definitely pissed off with the council for saying it. It hit a raw nerve having been homeless with 2 kids and having to take what I was given (I was v lucky considering the options)

I apologise @Jasper00

PulyaSochsup · 06/12/2019 01:43

Please let us know what happens, I am hoping that you will get the cosy new build, it sounds great. A whole new start might be what you need. Best wishes OP

Hollyhobbi · 06/12/2019 02:35

When you said bidding I thought you were in a bidding war to buy a house! They are very common here in Ireland and it can be a LA or Housing Agency bidding against an unfortunate first time buyer who ends up withdrawing from it as they can't go any higher! Also what's Band 1 and Band 4?

PrincessPain · 06/12/2019 04:47

My council have a disclaimer on their website saying houses might not be exactly the one represented in the pictures and don't offer house numbers for this reason.
They also tell you NOT to visit a house or area before you are offered a formal viewing (we all do it anyway, check out where the local school, park, etc are).
But is there a similar disclaimer on your councils website?
There was sometimes houses without pictures, new builds which hadn't been built yet and just had "representation" pictures, and pictures from just similar houses close by because they didn't have enough time or manpower to photo every house.

ElluesPichulobu · 06/12/2019 05:04

of course it is fair to always prioritise band 1 people! that is what the banding means! though some band 1 aren't "desperate" as such themselves, because you can be band 1 if you are trying to do a major downsize because if you can be moved the place you vacate will fulfill someone else's urgent need.

@Hollyhobbi there's an explanation of the system (inc what bidding means in this context) here - the band signifies your level of housing need. you score points on the basis of how awful your current situation is and allocated a band on that score. there's a detailed description of the kind of situation typical for each band here but there will be some variance in different LAs.

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