Housing Association

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I am lucky enough to have a HA property. When I signed the 5 year contract 18 months ago, the agreed rent was £600pcm. It's a mid terrace. My neighbour in the end terrace is now moving out and the house is advertised for £500pcm. It's exactly the same layout as mine except it's end terrace and with a bigger garden. There is also another HA house on the street, a 3 bed semi at £570pcm (although I'd not be entitled to this because I only have 1 child).

I have just emailed the HA about moving next door but I know this is incredibly unlikely to be granted given I currently have housing and I don't really want to anyway, I'm settled but £1200 a year would make a massive difference as a single parent. Bigger garden and access to the side of the house would be good too.

Does anyone know if they might renegotiate the contract or should I just stfu and be grateful I have a lovely, secure home and t's just sour grapes that someone will get a better deal?

I very much doubt they would allow you to swap into the other house. There will be a bidding process which they have to follow to allocatte the house, and although they would get getting your house back in return, you swapping wouldn't be in line with the allocation policy.

I don't know if you are able to renegotiate rents or not, however if you dont ask, you wont get!

That's unlucky op.
I can see why you'd want to move next door, I would too for the space and the money, but I don't think they will let you.

No harm in asking though eh?

With the greatest respect would you be emailing them to put the rent up if it was advertised for more

I think it’s definitely worth asking otherwise you’ll always think what if. Find out what the process is and if you can be considered, what have you got to lose?

Yeah, and I don't really want to move either. But for me to be paying more for a 2 bed terrace than someone with a 3 bed semi really rankles. I'll see what they come back with with my daft enquiry. But that would be £6k saving over 5 years as well as having more space. I know their rents are supposed to reflect the economy but that's a big difference to me.

I don’t think they can move you Because it’s empty. When I was looking to move with my HA they couldn’t just give you the next one that might suit it had to go through their procedures. If that was point based or a bidding system. Technically if it’s you verses a homeless family then your not going get top priority. Even though it would make sense to let you swap then rent yours to the next family instead.

Id want to know why the difference in rent though for the same sized house, could have been an error on their side. Worth asking why. But no harm in asking you never know.

@Notapheasantplucker

That's unlucky op. I can see why you'd want to move next door, I would too for the space and the money, but I don't think they will let you.

No harm in asking though eh?

That.

@rwalker Of course not, but it's not the same.

If I quit my tenancy surely they'd have to let mine at £500 (or less) so they would lose out. But I can't do that, too risky I'd ever find anything as good and it'd be making myself homeless.

Your last point: many families are in very inappropriate housing, thought HA is based on need

@DespairingHomeowner I meant I would not quit my tenancy as I'd be making myself homeless and they would have no reason to help me. I was in inappropriate housing, which is why I applied for and was allocated a HA house. I love it, am just sour there is a nicer and cheaper house 2 years after I signed my contract. It's not the usual way rents work.

I’m sure Shelter had some housing ombudsman that could look at rent levels. While is still much cheaper than a private rent, if you can show the house next door is rented from same HA and so much cheaper they may be able to give some advice.

@Akire Thank, I will look at that. Tbh it wasn't cheaper than private rent. It was about the same, even more than a few semis that were around at the time but I was keen on it for the security you don't get with private. And I do put a high value on that.

If it was £20 or so a month I wouldn't be so bothered, but I am a single parent watching every penny and £100 a month would make a big difference. Also, they have a private alley way for their bins. I have 4 multicoloured bins in my much smaller garden

It's worth asking. It seems very unfair that you are paying more, and I would want to know why.

They won’t move you because you are adequately housed. The best you can hope for is they’ll match your rent to the other two bed.

It is worth asking, sure, I have been in a similar situation. The answer I got then was that the only way you can move to another HA property (other than mutual swap) is if you fulfil the criteria for that tenancy, and have registered a transfer application, evenif it's the same HA. You then get considered for properties you bid on, alongside other prospective new HA tenants and transfer customers. Their length of time on the register is also taken into account when considering allocations. That's how it goes with my HA, I presume it's a similar policy everywhere.

I wouldn't have asked to move into a cheaper house, you're just saying that you're happy for the rent difference so long as it benefits you.

I would definitely send an email stating you had noticed that the rent on the bigger property was cheaper and could they explain this to you. I would bet there is a perfectly valid reason.

OP: nicer & cheaper houses 2 doors down are a situation everyone faces.

Good friends of mine who are NOT eligible for HA have a couple & toddler twins in a 2 bed flat- paying 1200/month mortgage, not high income, no way to move for more space as market has dropped dramatically and they are in negative equity... That housing should be allocated on need, whereas now you have adequate housing and a secure tenancy way under market rent

@DespairingHomeowner They would be eligible for HA if they didn't have a mortgage. Sometimes people in negative equity lose their house and their mortgage and then they are eligible for HA which was my exact position 2 years ago.

I am not 'way under market rent' never was still not. The next door house will be and it is the same landlord in the same postcode, you wouldn't question that? Even if you were a single parent struggling for money. Sure.

I wonder what the process is to appeal your rent? There must be one and those 2 properties are evidence that yours is overpriced in comparison.

I'm in converted flats, all my neighbours in the block are charged different levels of rent - I have no idea how it all gets worked out. It gets reviewed annually, and was actually reduced 3 years running (can't remember the name of the scheme involved). It increased for the first time again this year, but that was mainly the service charge component .

What type of rent are you on?
Affordable
Intermediate or
Social ?
Your tenancy agreement will say.
It is perfectly possible that the cheaper properties are on a different rent regime to you and that would explain the difference in rent.
If however, you are on a social rent, yes it might be worth asking why the other rents are so much cheaper.