Page 6 | Social housing exchange - AIBU

Brighton5555 · 2023-06-26T20:56:47+00:00

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

Skinthin · 27/06/2023 08:44

Spidey66 · 27/06/2023 08:26

Ahh the old council house jealousy.

Op may have 15k savings, but depending on where she is that's unlikely to cover a deposit, let alone moving costs. And if she's (say ) 50, she probably doesn't want a 25 year mortgage.

Would the new council pay to put bathroom in?

But lots of people can’t afford to buy and have to private rent

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 08:48

Beezknees · 27/06/2023 08:37

Better idea would be to invest in more social housing so more people have that option.

Show quote history

Do you know how many houses would need to be built to meet this aspiration? Remember that people would be entitled to stay in their SH for as long as they wanted to irrespective of whether they became millionaires or no longer needed a a large family house when their children have grown up.

Realistically very real constraints exist that would limit the amount of SH that would be built even if the government was more interested in doing this. SH, especially in some areas, is likely to remain a scarce resource and the lazy response that the government should just miraculously build more of it doesn't help tackle some of the obvious inequalities in the system.

Beezknees · 27/06/2023 08:49

Skinthin · 27/06/2023 08:44

But lots of people can’t afford to buy and have to private rent

Show quote history

Which is why we ought to have more social housing.

Beezknees · 27/06/2023 08:51

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 08:48

Do you know how many houses would need to be built to meet this aspiration? Remember that people would be entitled to stay in their SH for as long as they wanted to irrespective of whether they became millionaires or no longer needed a a large family house when their children have grown up.

Realistically very real constraints exist that would limit the amount of SH that would be built even if the government was more interested in doing this. SH, especially in some areas, is likely to remain a scarce resource and the lazy response that the government should just miraculously build more of it doesn't help tackle some of the obvious inequalities in the system.

Show quote history

I'd be happy to swap my 2 bedroom place for a 1 bedroom or studio when DS leaves home.

Let's be real, most people who live in social housing are not millionaires. If I was a millionaire I would buy a house outright!

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 27/06/2023 08:53

the lazy response that the government should just miraculously build more of it doesn't help tackle some of the obvious inequalities in the system.

And building virtually none gives no help to anyone at all…

That’s the lazy response. And the constant “they can’t build enough anyway…” basically excuses them from not even bothering.

Skinthin · 27/06/2023 08:55

Beezknees · 27/06/2023 08:49

Which is why we ought to have more social housing.

Show quote history

Agree

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 08:57

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 27/06/2023 08:40

The fact that it’s hard in places like London shouldn’t be used as an excuse for them not to build in other places.

Not should everywhere be subject to the same kind of tenancies that are wanted/needed in places like London though. Most of the Uk isn’t London.

They could easily remove right to buy from new tenants. It’s been done in Scotland.

It’s all just excuses. Lots more SH could easily be build. There’s just not the political will for it.

Show quote history

It can't be 'easily' built. New housing generally, not just SH, consistently lags behind government targets and this is where private developers are incentivised by potentially large profits. If you've ever tried to build anything then you would know that it can be really difficult to get the tradespeople and materials you need at a good price at the right time. NIMBYism is very real and we have a green belt to protect. I haven't even gone into the particular funding constraints and financial issues associated with building SH.

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 09:01

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 27/06/2023 08:53

the lazy response that the government should just miraculously build more of it doesn't help tackle some of the obvious inequalities in the system.

And building virtually none gives no help to anyone at all…

That’s the lazy response. And the constant “they can’t build enough anyway…” basically excuses them from not even bothering.

No, it's much harder to suggest we need to reform the system instead of pretending that more SH can/will be built when it blatantly isn't going to happen. Just saying build more houses means that nobody needs to tackle people that feel entitled to their SH irrespective of their circumstances. That feels mean and unkind and nasty. It is infinitely easier to pin it on the big bad government.

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 09:03

Beezknees · 27/06/2023 08:51

I'd be happy to swap my 2 bedroom place for a 1 bedroom or studio when DS leaves home.

Let's be real, most people who live in social housing are not millionaires. If I was a millionaire I would buy a house outright!

Show quote history

But lots of people don't want to do that and nobody can make them under the current rules.

Like hospitals have bed blocking, we have relatively financially comfortable people (I agree very few millionaires) 'house blocking' people with a greater need than them. They do this because they prefer the security of SH. Like I said, I get it, a turkey doesn't vote for Christmas but that doesn't mean it should be allowed.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 27/06/2023 09:06

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 08:57

It can't be 'easily' built. New housing generally, not just SH, consistently lags behind government targets and this is where private developers are incentivised by potentially large profits. If you've ever tried to build anything then you would know that it can be really difficult to get the tradespeople and materials you need at a good price at the right time. NIMBYism is very real and we have a green belt to protect. I haven't even gone into the particular funding constraints and financial issues associated with building SH.

Show quote history

No idea what your ‘easily’ is all about as I didn’t say it could be easily built.

I said they could easily remove right ti but from new tenants as Scotland has.

No-one is saying it’s easy, but it could be done on a much larger scale than it is if there was political will for it.

That there’s no political will for it, and because so many people would rather highlight problems than find solutions, means the conversation will run in circles for years with nothing being done.

Outofthepark · 27/06/2023 09:13

Nasty posters having a go at OP should just back off. It's lovely to someone in a nice situation with something to look forward to, what with all the crap going on in the world. Why tear her down?

BlockbusterVideoCard · 27/06/2023 09:15

But if you suggest older people / retirees downsize you get "it's their home they've lived in it all their life" etc.
Same for those in SH.

No, it's not the same as the homeowners own their home outright after having paid for it (usually over many years with a mortgage and often at great sacrifice, whatever their relatively fortunate starting point). So it's entirely up to them if they want to downsize or carry on caring for and paying for the larger home where they have always been. Social housing and privately rented housing with housing benefits is subsidised and therefore ought to be for those that need it, while they need it, at the size they currently need it, appropriate for any additional needs they have, and relatively near to their work and schools if applicable.

There are HUGE problems with the way the housing market (in the broadest sense) works or rather doesn't work, in the UK, but these two things above are still not the same thing at all.

Spidey66 · 27/06/2023 09:17

Bumpitybumper · 27/06/2023 08:29

Building SH is often very difficult, especially in places like London where demand is sky high and there isn't an abundance of land just sitting around ready to be developed into SH. Unsurprisingly the vast majority of homeowners would fight against a massive SH development being built on their doorstep (even if it's sacrilege to suggest this on MN) and it's hard to make the financial case for building SH for as long as right to buy is in place.

Show quote history

Doesn't stop private developers building left right and centre in London. They just build upwards....which seems to be out of favour for council housing, but not private.

EmpressSoleil · 27/06/2023 09:17

If people never did anything to make their SH homes nice, people would be up in arms saying "look how they don't look after their houses". It would become another stick to beat SH tenants with. You can't have a system whereby you kick people out just because they're not on the breadline.

What people need to understand is this. The no1 reason for anyone to work is to provide a roof over their heads. That is more important than anything. If you take away peoples incentive to work by taking their home away from them if they do earn "too much", every SH tenant would be on benefits or stick to minimum wage jobs. Although they'd probably find being on benefits didn't leave them much worse off, so most people would do that. They'd still be "blocking" the homes, but also then reliant on the state. How would that help?

OP definitely take the house and do the work. It will be worth it. It took me about 10 years to get my current home up to a good standard but I knew when I exchanged into it that I'd stay here for good, so it's worth it. I also find it's quite satisfying to see all the transformations you make.

BlockbusterVideoCard · 27/06/2023 09:21

OP, the house sounds disgusting really and the 'standards' applied by the HA are grim and this shouldn't be so. But location is everything and you want to be in that area, so in your specific circumstances, you should definitely take it.

I agree in principle with the person who said that social housing shouldn't be for people with money to do that level of work. But I know that this definitely isn't how things work in practice these days, and anyone would be mad to give up the security of social housing for the more precarious private rental market, and if you can't get a mortgage for what you need, you can't. You OP need to look after yourself within the system you are in, within the rules, which you are. And well done for planning ahead and saving the money up too, knowing that this would probably be the case.

Spidey66 · 27/06/2023 09:23

EmpressSoleil · 27/06/2023 09:17

If people never did anything to make their SH homes nice, people would be up in arms saying "look how they don't look after their houses". It would become another stick to beat SH tenants with. You can't have a system whereby you kick people out just because they're not on the breadline.

What people need to understand is this. The no1 reason for anyone to work is to provide a roof over their heads. That is more important than anything. If you take away peoples incentive to work by taking their home away from them if they do earn "too much", every SH tenant would be on benefits or stick to minimum wage jobs. Although they'd probably find being on benefits didn't leave them much worse off, so most people would do that. They'd still be "blocking" the homes, but also then reliant on the state. How would that help?

OP definitely take the house and do the work. It will be worth it. It took me about 10 years to get my current home up to a good standard but I knew when I exchanged into it that I'd stay here for good, so it's worth it. I also find it's quite satisfying to see all the transformations you make.

Yes.

If people are forced to move once their homes are deemed inappropriate, by their nature council estates would be transient and temporary. This could in term mean people failing to take care of their property or area, and would only mean estates have no sense of community, and would give them an even more negative reputation than they already have.

Wildlyboring · 27/06/2023 09:23

I'd go for it, get a cleaning company in to do an end of tenancy style clean in his house then review. It'll be worth it in the end.

Menora · 27/06/2023 09:25

I am in social housing and no I wouldn’t do this. I moved into HA from private so I was prepared to do some decorating and I had to spend a lot on carpets and I have replaced things like taps but unless I was completely desperate to get out of my area I am not sure I would spend this kind of money on a house I don’t own.

Original poster

Brighton5555 · 27/06/2023 09:26

BlockbusterVideoCard · 27/06/2023 09:21

OP, the house sounds disgusting really and the 'standards' applied by the HA are grim and this shouldn't be so. But location is everything and you want to be in that area, so in your specific circumstances, you should definitely take it.

I agree in principle with the person who said that social housing shouldn't be for people with money to do that level of work. But I know that this definitely isn't how things work in practice these days, and anyone would be mad to give up the security of social housing for the more precarious private rental market, and if you can't get a mortgage for what you need, you can't. You OP need to look after yourself within the system you are in, within the rules, which you are. And well done for planning ahead and saving the money up too, knowing that this would probably be the case.

Thank you so much 😊

OP posts:

Original poster

Brighton5555 · 27/06/2023 09:27

Wildlyboring · 27/06/2023 09:23

I'd go for it, get a cleaning company in to do an end of tenancy style clean in his house then review. It'll be worth it in the end.

Thanks . I’m going to stay elsewhere for a couple of weeks for the work to start. I plan to clean it myself with about 15 bottles of bleach 😂

OP posts:

Wizzbangfizz · 27/06/2023 09:38

So it's entirely up to them if they want to downsize or carry on caring for and paying for the larger home where they have always been. Social housing and privately rented housing with housing benefits is subsidised and therefore ought to be for those that need it, while they need it, at the size they currently need it, appropriate for any additional needs they have, and relatively near to their work and schools if applicable.

This. I was raised to believe that the state was there to support you if you couldn’t support yourself.

Skinthin · 27/06/2023 09:39

EmpressSoleil · 27/06/2023 09:17

If people never did anything to make their SH homes nice, people would be up in arms saying "look how they don't look after their houses". It would become another stick to beat SH tenants with. You can't have a system whereby you kick people out just because they're not on the breadline.

What people need to understand is this. The no1 reason for anyone to work is to provide a roof over their heads. That is more important than anything. If you take away peoples incentive to work by taking their home away from them if they do earn "too much", every SH tenant would be on benefits or stick to minimum wage jobs. Although they'd probably find being on benefits didn't leave them much worse off, so most people would do that. They'd still be "blocking" the homes, but also then reliant on the state. How would that help?

OP definitely take the house and do the work. It will be worth it. It took me about 10 years to get my current home up to a good standard but I knew when I exchanged into it that I'd stay here for good, so it's worth it. I also find it's quite satisfying to see all the transformations you make.

If you take away peoples incentive to work by taking their home away from them if they do earn "too much", every SH tenant would be on benefits or stick to minimum wage jobs. Although they'd probably find being on benefits didn't leave them much worse off, so most people would do that. They'd still be "blocking" the homes, but also then reliant on the state

that’s a really good point

waterrat · 27/06/2023 09:48

Go for it ok. This is for life and it sounds good basic structure plus right location.

Missingmyusername · 27/06/2023 09:52

If it’s a life tenancy then I would go for it. Animals aside I’ve been in homes where you wipe your feet to go IN!

Sunnydaize · 27/06/2023 09:59

I made this mistake. I moved from an immaculate house to a disgusting one that has cost me thousands to fix up. I moved in a hurry because of bad neighbours but I regret it immensely. The house still isn’t at the standards I want but I can no longer afford to fix the other issues so I am moving once again. Think long and hard. If the structure, size and location is what you want then consider it but arrange for end of tenancy cleaners to arrive before you move in. If there is any damage report it as he will have to repair anything he caused before the forms will be accepted. If you have strong doubts like I did then don’t go through with it because you’ll be overwhelmed and resentful of the work.