Housing Fixed term tenancy

[user1478197457]

I am a council tenant for 7 years. It’s a 3 bed house and I was moved in when I had 3 kids all under 16. Now 2 of them are over 18 and house is a bit overcrowded.
Since 2018, I was planning to buy this home from council but then my youngest child diagnosed with life threatening illness and disability and all of the sudden her home is declared unsuitable for her by hospital.
Recently council offered me a housing association property but it comes with 6 years fixed term tenancy unlike my current assured tenancy.
The rent is also much higher than my current council home and I am not entitled for housing benefit because I am in full time job
I am struggling to reach a decision. Please advice.

Are you now not allowed to buy your own home?

Are your 18 year olds about to go off to uni/work - will that then make your home suitable for your child that is ill?

Depends in what way your current house is unsuitable, and as @LaurieFairyCake asks, are your older children shortly moving or if in work can they contribute to bills? If you moved do they say what happens after the six years?

My both over 18 live with me and goes to uni/work only on 10/15 minutes walking distance. The home is not unsuitable just because its overcrowded but because its not suitable for adaptation

My current house is unsuitable mainly because a lot of development work around likely to continue for couple of year. She had Bone marrow transplant and not allowed to live close to construction sites

@Pipandmum yes they are contributing and that is not a big concern but major concern is what will happen after 6 years. The haven't given much information

Do you feel it’s not suitable for adaptation? If it’s not then I think you’ve got very little choice other than to move. If it can be adapted or you can wait longer then I’m not sure I’d move as in 6 years it’s likely your older children will have moved out and then I’m not sure how it’d stand in terms of renewing the tenancy as they may want you to move somewhere smaller and I wonder how you’d manage the extra rent although if you’d be happy to move again then that’s different

I wouldn't take it, tbh. Hold out for a council place.

Security of tenure is priceless and I wouldn't advise anyone to give it up unless there is absolutely no alternative.

I would't give that as the reason though, if the rent on the HA place they've offered is significantly higher, tell them you can't afford it.

Is your house unsuitable because it can't be adapted or because of the nearby construction?

I imagine the council think that in 6 years, your two eldest will have left home and they can move you to a two bed home at that point, freeing up the larger home for people with children.

The increased rent is unfair though, just at the time when you might have increased care/transport costs, want to try to improve diet and keep your home extra clean. That’s really mean.

@avocadolovein The priority i got is based on several grounds but medical team has urged on construction, mould, narrow stairs, lot of asbestos and need of separate toilet close to her bedroom coz she developed gut's gvhd which is one of many side affects of BMT

The nearby construction won’t last forever .
Buy the house as planned and get it adapted yourself .
This is what you would have to do if you already owned it ?
There are grants available for disabled adaptations .

Mould can be treated . Toilets can be added .
There is no way I would give up my right to buy for a fixed six year period of renting which probably has no right to buy at the end of it

Could you find something more suitable by doing a house-swap?

What happens at the end of the 6 years?
This is the key thing. If you would be able to extend the tenancy (or guaranteed to be able to transfer to whatever size property you need at that time), then surely the benefits of the new property outweigh the disadvantages?

Would the air purifiers you can buy be enough to keep the air inside the house clean from any construction dust?
It sounds like you could do with a visit from the DIY SOS team!