To move from housing association to private rented?

[avata]

I currently live in a 2 bed terraced new build with DS5, housing association property. Pay £610pcm.

I need three bedrooms, but my main reason for moving is that I was attacked by an intruder in this home, and has issues with a stalker trying to enter the property. The issue has since been resolved, but I cannot fully relax here. I could probably learn to, in time.

The property I'm looking at is £995pcm. Three bed, detached. There's nothing cheaper in my area that fits our needs.

Pros:

Third bedroom
Fresh start
Detached

Cons:

More expensive
Lack of security? I could live in my housing association home forever if I wanted to. I don't like the thought of being told to move at any point.

AIBU to move?

Not in a million years would I give up that HA tenancy! Look at a transfer or exchange yes but no way would I swap a secure tenancy for the unpredictability of private rent. I had a similar experience, really nasty aggravated burglary and our HA moved us but it still took a long time and some therapy to get over, agree with PP's that you will take your anxiety with you. I would use the extra rent money for therapy in your shoes, EMDR works really well for PTSD

Never ever leave a HA for private rented. You could be there 6 months and get a s21 served and be evicted. Try and get a HA swap, there are loads of Facebook groups for it.

Do not give up your HA tenancy

Wait till you can move to another HA

You're actually safer where you are because safety measures have been put in place by the police

Call the Samaritans to talk through your fears they're very good to talk to about all sorts of things

I wouldn't I'd go on the list for a 3 bed or ask for an exchange in your area.

I'm so sorry you had a horrible time in your home.

I had a tricky ex stalker situation and can relate to feeling jumpy in your own home.

The police may be able to do a security assessment on your home, extra locks, flagged number, etc.

Victim support may be able to provide some help to help you process what has happened.

As a private renting single mum, may I say private rent is a nightmare.

Additionally, now that your child is school age - you'll not want to be at the risk of landlord selling up and having to move house / potentially area and change schools/friends/support.

I also feel there is certain prejudice from private landlords towards renting to single parents. I've been looking to move for years and had no joy.

See what options you have within HA / homeswapper and take it from there?

Take care x

This in spades. There is massive insecurity in private renting and the behaviour of SOME landlords is atrocious - you could get one who turns up and insists to be let in or just lets themself in (as DD’s has done), invading your privacy, ignoring repairs, no maintenance done, dictating that you can’t even put a picture up on the wall, trying to retain the deposit for nonsensical ‘damages’, putting rent up with little notice, having to leave at the landlords whim, etc. You never know what kind of LL you’re going to get until you’re in!

I assume the HA pretty much leaves you alone, carries out essential maintenance and repairs, you can make your home your own and they can’t just kick you out for no reason? If you can’t work for whatever reason housing benefit will cover most of your rent? Will it cover private rented?

Agree the extra you’d spend on rent would be better put to making you feel safer where you are - through therapy or tech, while you see if you can move into another HA property.

Is the extra bedroom due to you having another child or just wanting more space? If it’s not for sleeping in, have you considered a free standing garden studio room type of thing (if you have a garden)?

Keep your housing association house. Private rental is nothing but stress and anxiety, and you'll regret moving over to it.

You need the peace of mind now.

DONT DO IT.
I know someone that did do it and it was bad started well nice home and all.
But 1 year later land lord wanted to sell.
She went to housing but they would not help her as she gave up her home her self.
Housing put her in a b&b she got another PR home but rent got too much she had to find a new home again.
She spent 7 years trying to get back into a HA home.
She was on 3 different bidding sites at the time.
And always worried that she may have to move again.
It was getting too expensive and alot of landlords stopped taking HB.
Finally after 7 long years and bidding for 4 she got a call about a home it was a flat but it was hers a home forever.
She said if she was to ever move again it would be a swap only but i doubt she would move again.
7 years of private lets and b&bs last place was a hostel for 6 months she was so happy to have a second floor flat she still lives there today.

No I would not do this. You’ll never get another housing association place again. Was the attack reported to the police? If so I would contact them and ask for a crime number, then contact housing association and ask for a transfer, you will get more points for this. Also if you receiving any counselling or etc for trauma mention this to them

I wonder if the housing association would be sympathetic to moving you, given the circumstances? Worth asking, unless you have already.

I would think it's better than private renting, even if both were the same price. There are a lot of awful landlords.

I rent privately and would never recommend it over a secure tenancy with an HA.
My rent is currently 80% of my full time monthly salary.
My home can be sold at any time by my landlord and I will get just 8 weeks to uproot my life and pay all the cost of finding somewhere else which will be smaller and even more expensive to rent, for it to possibly happen all over again and again.
I cannot settle, it is not a secure way to live and I have absolutely no way out of this situation,like thousands of other people at the moment. Try to find a way of making the current situation work and keep your lifetime tenancy.