To be upset about viewing HA house

[booksandhearts]

Went to view a HA house the other day and it was lovely and perfect for us, this was a bulk viewing there were two of us and the other people were first in line, obviously they accepted.
The housing officer came downstairs told us the other person wanted the house and that was it, the other person apologised and it was all just really awkward.
AIBU that this is a really awkward way of doing things
and AIBU to be upset about it I can't stop thinking of how perfect it was for us.

I think it is a bad way to do it. I am sorry!

Things happen for a reason.

Something better will come along soon.

Of course you’re NBU to feel upset, I guess they are just doing things in the quickest way possible for the, so they can almost guarantee that someone will take that property on that day without them having to do multiple visits. Understandable considering they’re probably stretched, but it makes it very emotional for people in your position.

However perfect it might have felt for you, hopefully your real perfect home is waiting somewhere else.

that's really shitty they should have staggered the viewings with enough time to cancel the appointment for you say one day apart rather than show you round and then snatch it out of your hands hopefully if they are a decent Ha you will be right near the top of the list and wont have to wait too long for another opportunity all the best

Thank you it means a lot, really x

Wasn't a good way to do it at all. Wasn't meant to be and agree with misty Could you ask next time if you will the first ones to view? Also a waste of your time.

I will definitely ask next time as to not get my hopes up.
I did ask if this meant I was quite high in the list but she said not with our HA as this is the only house available with us right now x

I know someone who went to a viewing and 6 other families were meant to be there but she was the only one who turned up and so she got it.
If it didn't work out it was meant to be and something better will come along. You are probably quite high up. Just keep hoping and you will be glad you didn't get the one before.

I viewed one with my son. It was obviously popular. The deal was everyone give feedback and then they would score according to their criteria if over subscribed.

What happened to you was very poor and may not meet the HA mission statement. I would complain myself

I definitely think having everyone there at the same time was a bad idea, and could have ended really badly! Hopefully something better will be along soon. x

It’s a cold way of dealing with this situation but I expect that the HA is trying to maximise their time.
That being said... I suspect your perfect home is probably around the corner.
Good luck!

It's not unusual to do it like that, keeps costs down and stops houses being empty for ages while a succession of people view it.

Just keep persisting. However nice the property people can turn it down for all sorts of reasons and you might end up getting one even when you aren't top of the list.

I turned down a lovely house I was first in line for because it had a few steps on the front path. Would have been totally trivial to most people, but a major safety issue for my SEN dd.

Yes, it must be a demeaning process, and particulalry horrid at this time of year.
The alternative of staged viewings one a day would mean the house being empty an additional week, and having to tie up the resources of a housing officer for a week.
THe HA has a duty to use resources efficiently.

It's because they've cut back staff and closed offices.

But I don't think it's right

I used to manage a team who did viewings like this. It is to get the property let ASAP as single views are a waste of officers time if people don't show up and delays letting the property. We always said before the viewing what position number people were in on the housing list so the people in second or third place for the property were aware they may not get it if number one accepted.

I don’t see a problem with doing it that way and at least you were rejected on the spot and didn’t have to wait.

Similar to renting privately. You view and put in your application but don’t get your hopes up as someone else may get chosen. That’s worse as you often have to wait.

They could have done it differently but administratively it would cost more. You have every right to be upset but sparing your feelings would cost a lot more for everyone.

It's not a pleasant process but it's often the same in private rented or when you buy a house. When I viewed mine there were three other people wandering around with tape measures at the same time.

I suppose this does happen in the retail market, it’s a way of cutting costs for the estate agent. I have been to house viewings which have been queued out the door.

It’s awkward and you never really get to see the room property with lots of other people standing around.

But I get that in those circumstances everyone gets to bid and the person who is willing to offer the most gets it.

Your viewing sounds even more awkward.

This is how it works in the private sector too, as it takes less time. It might seem unfair, but there's no guarantee that the first person will want it.

You weren’t owed this house. I understand your disappointment but you got attached to something that wasn’t yours and in this instance led to disappointment.

Understandable to be disappointed, but many viewings for rental or purchase are done the same way. It is just more efficient.

Housing officers can't be expected to arrange private viewings for all the properties, especially with the number of no-show they face. It's a reasonable system.

Sympathies OP. That's an awful situation all round. Really hope you find somewhere equally as lovely soon.

I've had this happen with private renting too. The house I'm in I got purely out of luck being the first on the list after someone pulled out. A person was waiting by the door to view it after me and I paid the deposit over the phone in my car whilst they were looking around. Obviously they would be disappointed and it's heartbreaking as I have been that person too several times!

Rentals of any kind are very thin on the ground in this part of SW London. My DD got the private one she and her partner have been in for The past three three months by checking the listings every morning, getting an appointment for a viewing , managing to split her work shift and making a dash on the Tube to see it - not first in the queue but while the couple ahead of her took a walk around the area to think about it, she filled in application form in the estate agent’s car. Three other couples were looking at it as she was finishing.