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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Social housing exchange - AIBU

310 replies

Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 21:56

Hey

just need some assurance / reality check I guess. I have managed to find a housing swap after quite some time ( the feedback I get is lovely house but too small) so not beating off offers by any means despite my home being to a high standard and spent thousands on it…

im due to sign a exchange soon. The man has the same bedrooms as me and he has a house in a area I desire but if this house wasn’t in the area I want I don’t know if I would actually go for it..

bonus points are - neighbours on one side only, good garden size, extra toilet downstairs, larger kitchen than mine, larger bathroom and about same size of the 4 bedrooms BUT

its pretty gross. He has 7 animals including 4 dogs, it needs gutted from top to bottom as in complete new flooring and complete decoration and the bathroom will need ripped out. It’s in a very poor conditon but has passed all the checks they do for exchanging .. I viewed it for the 3rd time last week and the house had a lot of flies, I mean a lot I suspect from the animals . It was super clear to me on that viewing just how much money and work will need to be put in whereas here mine needs only a freshen up on the painting upstairs there are no other costs to him..

of course he’s lucky and it’s not his fault that our homes are very different but I just feel am I being crazy to take it on? I’m legit starting from the bottom again and will need to spend a few weeks living outside and at least £15,000 to have it okay to move into.

I have the means to do both but I know it’s going to a long slog. Again the benefits are extra toilet, larger kitchen and bathroom more manageable sized garden and a better area ..

I guess I feel daunted by it all

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 26/06/2023 22:26

Round here you wouldn't be allowed to change kitchens bathrooms windows not even the front door. All done on a five year schedule by the HA or LA, how come they let you do so much work?

Fruitjellies · 26/06/2023 22:26

DoeRayMe · 26/06/2023 22:13

Not being rude but if you have £15k in savings to do it up, why are you in an HA home?

Just curious, not meaning to be rude. I have no idea how this works.

Yeah this. Social housing is in short supply. Anyone who can afford to spend £15k on doing up a house doesn't need social housing.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:28

Sarahtm35 · 26/06/2023 22:25

I’m mean this in the kindest way possible but if you have spent thousands of ££s and can afford to spend £15k on this new place then you really should not be eligible for social housing.
when we got our social housing we could barely afford paint. That’s why we needed the house because we weren’t well off. We have a huge homeless issue in this country and so it upsets me that there are people living in them that clearly have other choices with their renovations and fancy new kitchens. Sorry but i had to rant

No that’s okay you don’t need to apologise. I never mentioned a kitchen you just made an assumption a bit like saying that how can I need social housing if I can afford £15k output… it’s a well rooted but very outdated that the only types of people who live in social housing must be poor or should be poor .. why would anyone pay £1600/1800 in the area I live in for the same type of house when it’s less than £600 through social housing ?

OP posts:
CoreyTaylorsSoggyTshirt · 26/06/2023 22:29

Sarahtm35 · 26/06/2023 22:25

I’m mean this in the kindest way possible but if you have spent thousands of ££s and can afford to spend £15k on this new place then you really should not be eligible for social housing.
when we got our social housing we could barely afford paint. That’s why we needed the house because we weren’t well off. We have a huge homeless issue in this country and so it upsets me that there are people living in them that clearly have other choices with their renovations and fancy new kitchens. Sorry but i had to rant

You didn't have to rant though, did you. You chose to come on and be sanctimonious.

You don't know what position the op was in to get the house, and nobody in their right mind would give up a lifetime tenancy to give into private rental (as op can't afford to buy).

Sarahtm35 · 26/06/2023 22:29

Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:03

Sadly I’m not in a position to buy. I don’t believe they are, possibly his windows as they are rotten 🥲

Show quote history

Why aren’t you in a position to buy? You’ve Managed to spend thousands on your current house and have £15k to spend on the new one. Sounds like you’re well on your way to being able to buy

SausageinaBun · 26/06/2023 22:30

Doggymummar · 26/06/2023 22:26

Round here you wouldn't be allowed to change kitchens bathrooms windows not even the front door. All done on a five year schedule by the HA or LA, how come they let you do so much work?

Does that mean new bathroom and kitchen every 5 years? That sounds crazy.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:30

Doggymummar · 26/06/2023 22:26

Round here you wouldn't be allowed to change kitchens bathrooms windows not even the front door. All done on a five year schedule by the HA or LA, how come they let you do so much work?

That’s really good to know. I will be raising the windows , the kitchen is fine but the bathroom is old. Due to my tenancy type as long as I ask for permission it will be permitted ( I think anything that’s improvement usually is) I’m going to look more into it though

OP posts:
Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:31

Sarahtm35 · 26/06/2023 22:29

Why aren’t you in a position to buy? You’ve Managed to spend thousands on your current house and have £15k to spend on the new one. Sounds like you’re well on your way to being able to buy

Show quote history

Thousands over a long period of time and I’ve always saved where I can so now that’s going to be used .

OP posts:
ThreeFeetTall · 26/06/2023 22:31

I'd do it, once he and the pets are gone and you've aired it and wiped the walls it probably won't be so bad. Even just ripping up the carpets and having rugs for a year or two would be ok.

I wonder where people live if 15k is a deposit? And that they can know that OP could get a mortgage just because she's got some savings? Confused

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:32

ThreeFeetTall · 26/06/2023 22:31

I'd do it, once he and the pets are gone and you've aired it and wiped the walls it probably won't be so bad. Even just ripping up the carpets and having rugs for a year or two would be ok.

I wonder where people live if 15k is a deposit? And that they can know that OP could get a mortgage just because she's got some savings? Confused

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
ThreeFeetTall · 26/06/2023 22:33

And yes for a lifetime tenancy you can request to change the bathroom (and they can't unreasonably refuse) but if it's old it might be on the list to be done in a few years anyway.

Wizzbangfizz · 26/06/2023 22:33

If you have 15k you can easily afford to use to upgrade your new property why are you in social housing? I thought it was for people in dire need? That isn’t as critical as it sounds and is more a judgment on where we find ourselves as a society today - help and benefits are going towards to the working poor and not to those in dire straits.

bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:34

Doggymummar · 26/06/2023 22:26

Round here you wouldn't be allowed to change kitchens bathrooms windows not even the front door. All done on a five year schedule by the HA or LA, how come they let you do so much work?

I was going to ask the same question, social housing usually does not allow people to put in their own kitchens and bathrooms and certainly not windows. Flooring yes, decor yes.

LovelyLooby · 26/06/2023 22:35

I would go for it if I was in your position.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:35

bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:34

I was going to ask the same question, social housing usually does not allow people to put in their own kitchens and bathrooms and certainly not windows. Flooring yes, decor yes.

Show quote history

I put my own bathroom and kitchen in here . As long as you get permission and use proper people it’s agreed .

OP posts:
tanyaturneristhegoat · 26/06/2023 22:35

Doggymummar · 26/06/2023 22:26

Round here you wouldn't be allowed to change kitchens bathrooms windows not even the front door. All done on a five year schedule by the HA or LA, how come they let you do so much work?

What HA/LA does upgrades every 5 years?

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:35

LovelyLooby · 26/06/2023 22:35

I would go for it if I was in your position.

Thank you so much 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:36

Wizzbangfizz · 26/06/2023 22:33

If you have 15k you can easily afford to use to upgrade your new property why are you in social housing? I thought it was for people in dire need? That isn’t as critical as it sounds and is more a judgment on where we find ourselves as a society today - help and benefits are going towards to the working poor and not to those in dire straits.

I agree on the working poor. We can thank the government for that or the corrupt councils.

OP posts:
bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:38

tanyaturneristhegoat · 26/06/2023 22:35

What HA/LA does upgrades every 5 years?

Show quote history

Many do

Also, if OP left her home and it went back out to be rented to someone else (not through exchange), her lovely kitchen and bathroom that she put in would be ripped out with council standard bathroom and kitchen put back in, usually at worse quality than what waas there. Same with the flooring.

Dinnaehinksae · 26/06/2023 22:39

Would he be allowed to exchange if the house is so bad? I know my housing association do an inspection before you're allowed to exchange and the house has to be upto a certain standard or it is not allowed to go ahead. The tenant is given a certain amount of time to do the repairs and make good of any issues before hand though.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:39

bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:38

Many do

Also, if OP left her home and it went back out to be rented to someone else (not through exchange), her lovely kitchen and bathroom that she put in would be ripped out with council standard bathroom and kitchen put back in, usually at worse quality than what waas there. Same with the flooring.

Show quote history

This is actually crazy but true !

OP posts:
tanyaturneristhegoat · 26/06/2023 22:40

bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:38

Many do

Also, if OP left her home and it went back out to be rented to someone else (not through exchange), her lovely kitchen and bathroom that she put in would be ripped out with council standard bathroom and kitchen put back in, usually at worse quality than what waas there. Same with the flooring.

Show quote history

Many do yes but not every 5 years. I want whatever crack your smoking hunny 😂 if your under HA/LA you are allowed to make your own improvements with permission from them.

Original poster
Brighton5555 · 26/06/2023 22:40

Dinnaehinksae · 26/06/2023 22:39

Would he be allowed to exchange if the house is so bad? I know my housing association do an inspection before you're allowed to exchange and the house has to be upto a certain standard or it is not allowed to go ahead. The tenant is given a certain amount of time to do the repairs and make good of any issues before hand though.

I know and I fully expected things to show up but he passed

OP posts:
Reugny · 26/06/2023 22:41

bellac11 · 26/06/2023 22:34

I was going to ask the same question, social housing usually does not allow people to put in their own kitchens and bathrooms and certainly not windows. Flooring yes, decor yes.

Show quote history

It depends on the social housing provider.

I know someone who got paid some money for his kitchen after he was also got paid to move to a smaller property by a council.

His own kitchen was to a higher standard than what the council would put in.

Oh and before you think he's lucky he had a serious illness and family shit over the years.

Doobydoo · 26/06/2023 22:43

Hi OP. I think it is understandable to feel nervous. But if it is in the location you want I say go for it. It sounds like you will be able to get things sorted. Good luck!