To leave housing association flat for private renting?

[ntsure]

The town I live in is very expensive (south east) and I currently live in a 2bed housing association flat with my two DC, eldest dc is autistic and adhd and sharing a room with his brother is just becoming more and more impossible, we live right by the town centre and on a busy road and it’s just such a stressful place to live as ds1 can be so hyper and just nearly runs into the road all the time, the “local” shop is a huge supermarket so even just popping out for milk with him is hard, because he gets dealt overwhelmed and acts out. There’s no parking spaces so no option to have a car.
I basically just hate living here, I’m south east and I wouldn’t ever be able to afford a better standard of life here as a single parent. I want to just move to a different, more affordable part of the country (yorkshire way possibly)
I’m a bit nervous about giving up the security of my tenancy for private renting but I’m so miserable here, and living in town with no garden is crap for the dc. I just want to move, study, get a half decent job and have a half decent life. I feel so trapped here
Am I mad giving up my tenancy? I know social housing is in short supply.
I’ve been trying all the home swap sites for years and no luck.

Don’t do it. When I was stuck private renting it was awful, shit landlords, one good landlord who had to sell. Finding another house quickly was really hard, it was so stressful. It’s impossible to get housing association properties in my area, I would have given anything to have one.

Me an hubby got made homeless during the pandemic because out landlord had to move back in the flat (he was a great landlord and we had no issues with him but life happens I suppose). We were fortunate enough to get a housing association house last year, and under no circumstances would I give it up. Have you looked at swapping? You might be able to swap for a coucil/ association house in a different area.

Mutual exchange?

Are you on the housing exchange Facebook groups, there’s a lot of action on those. My friend has swapped twice and is now where she’ll stay for a very long time.

I would join as many as possible, take decent photos and post to them all. Then search the area you’d like to be in the search function and see if anyone’s already looking for your area.

If you managed to get to where you want to be, do your studying and end up in a decent job you would eventually be able to buy with a hefty discount.

Nothing in the world would make me give up a social housing tenancy tbh. They're like gold dust. I am sure there are around 6 million people waiting for social housing accommodation in the UK.

You will very likely never EVER get a social housing property again, unless you are prepared to take a very hard-to-let property. And they're hard-to-lets for a reason. Often because they are in shitty/rough as fuck areas that are probably much worse than where you are now.

Private let is NOBODY'S first choice. The vast VAST majority of people would give their right arm to swap places with you and be in social housing.

As a pp said, maybe advertise on facebook??? See if someone wants to swap?

Can you look for an exchange?

I have a similar dilemma OP.
I was in private rented accommodation for 10 years, then was offered a HA property out of my area, as one of my daughters lived there, so I was eligible under 'rural connection'.
My home is a 3 bed new build on a lovely estate of privately owned houses. However, it's quite rural, no local shops, nowhere to walk to as the country roads have no pavements.
Even so I loved the house, and have spent a lot of money on making it my own.
My daughter and son in law decided last year to move back to our home town. This is where all my other adult children and their partners live too.
So now I'm miles away, in a 3 bed house alone. Son and youngest daughter now both at uni.
I'm on Rightmove every evening looking for somewhere to rent back in my home town.
The increased rent isn't an issue for me thankfully, but I am just so worried about giving up a secure, lifetime tenancy,knowing how lucky I was to get one in the first place.
For months now I have struggled with what to do.
I too have been on the home swapping sites every day.
My home is very much in demand, however very few people want to live this rurally, plus my rent is considerable more than HA usually charge, which has put people off.
It's so, so hard deciding what to do.

ntsure Have you told your LL you need help? Talk to your housing officer, as your son gets older his needs will change and they might be able to do something to help.

As your son has those issues you may be entitled for a 3 bed house - its just another option to look into. Giving up a SH tenancy should be an absolute last resort.

Don't do it. İ know it's hard but this is just a temporary time in your life and it won't be difficult with two children forever.
Stay on the homeswapper site, you never know who might join it and look on the Facebook mutual exchange groups in the area you're in and the area you want to move.
Use the money you save on rent to get lots of cheap special offer caravan holidays where kids can run around freely. Housing association may change to right to buy in a few years, then you would be able to get a mortgage and rent the place out after a year, to live where you dream.

You need to try homeswopper. Please don't give up an assured tenancy, they are like gold dust.

Try looking for an exchange, plenty of people want to move to London area

@ComDummings Have you tried facebook groups for a swap? There is loads from all over the country so definitely have a look.

Have you contacted your HA about your son? You should get put back on the list if he has a diagnosis and you get DLA he will be entitled to his own bedroom, also ask your GP to write a supporting letter!

I wouldn't private rent especially in the current climate.

I'm doing it. Moving south east to North East. I'm sick of living in a poorly maintained flat with no outside space. Yes the rent is cheap but up there I will have a 3 bed house for the same price. I'm slowly saving 6 month's rent up and the moving costs and then I will find a new job when up there. Don't mind what work initially as long as I'm bringing home money. I think in the long run my and my child's whole life will be better.
I've got 3 months saved so far, I plan to be gone as soon as.

Don't give up your ha place, I live in a 2 bed with my 2 children, my son is autistic and they have a bed room each and I sleep in the front room.

Don't do it.
But speak to Shelter for advice on how to improve your housing situation. They will have good advice. It might involve getting support from your GP.

Private is hugely expensive and unreliable.
Whilst social housing can be problematic with repairs just as much (if not more) than private, you're really better off in social housing.

I beg you don't give up a HA property to privately rent. You'll never get same security of tenancy nor good rent control in private rental sector. Do a HA swop like others suggested
. Someone will prefer a town centre flat like yours is, compared to their house or
Flat a bit further out where you may get parking.

Dont do it, Ive worked in social housing and now work in the private rental market. An yone who comes to me to private rent who is currently in social housing i advise to stay put. Apply for an exchange, dont give up your security.

Hm, I would definitely move up North (I mean I literally did) because it's so much cheaper. I live in an area of Liverpool considered undesirable but it's actually lovely. Rent in the 3 bed home is 320/month.

I'm with a social landlord - how I always wanted.

If this were me I would move to rented but small, then go on the list as overcrowded.

Do you have family you can move up North to be near to?

Private renting is like the wild west at the moment, there is zero security. I'd try the suggestions on here about swapping.

Private renting is a nightmare, no real rights, landlord could be tricky. At least with HA they are usually fair and won't kick you out on a whim. Try to get an exchange. Definitely don't leave HA.

If everyone is telling you from their own experience to keep the HA place why are you ignoring them?

Do a swap!!

Don't do it. Like others have said try an exchange. I had a flat and eventually a house with the HA. The only reason I gave it up was buying my own home.

I’ve tried the Facebook groups etc for years and no luck but I will try the housing association regarding ds (though not hopefully as it’s is mainly a London housing association and doesn’t even have many properties in this area, and London obviously has a huge huge shortage of social housing!)
My rent isn’t even particularly cheap for social housing (£700 a month) so even staying put with the intention of saving in the future towards a deposit seems impossible!
I’ll just keep trying with the swap sites and hope something comes up I think

Now is a bad time for anybody trying to rent somewhere. There's really not much out there so the prices are competitive

Stay put for the time being and look into courses and they often pay towards childcare

What kind of thing are you thinking of doing ?