Successful bid on council property

[TheTartfulLodger]

Posting for traffic as the housing forum is slow.

Possibly soon not to be a Tartful Lodger but a Tartful Tenant.

Miraculously I was placed in position 1 on a council property the weekend and was still position 1 when bidding closed at midnight. Does anyone have experience with how long it usually takes to be contacted for viewing please? It's Redbridge if that helps?

Yes I know 'why don't you call them, we can't tell you', but you can't because they won't tell you anything and it's possible someone on here can actually tell me because they've been where I am with bidding themselves recently.

The problem is -

A) I'm seeing multiple incidents where people have still not been contacted weeks later,

And

B) My anxiety is through the roof to the point I can't eat and feel sick because In more than 3 years of bidding I've never been in position 1 and this property is my absolute dream come true. It's really everything I dreamt of. I'm frightened to believe this is even happening.

Equal measures of scared and anxious, more so because I made the mistake of getting too invested when I realised nobody was out bidding me and I know I'll be devastated if this doesn't work out 😭

I'm just really unfamiliar with how the system works and don't know what happens if you get to position 1 because they don't really tell you much on the website. Has anyone been bidding on council property lately and got to position 1? Was there a long wait to be invited to view?

I feel so nervous I have to keep running to the loo! Really grateful for any feedback , even the ones telling me to just call them and ask. ☺️

Yes, I know I'm being unreasonable for using two emojis in one post. I'll take that one like a woman.

Title edited by MNHQ on OP's request

Well it turned out the communal door had not been repaired after all but I have a timeline for when it is going to be done now. My only concern is that being it has been broken for a while now the tenant responsible will view it as a sustainable way to gain access and just break it again if it takes weeks to repair.

However the housing officer has hinted very strongly to knowing which tenant is the likely suspect and is aware it isn't an accident after the second time. She says that if she can find any evidence linking the vandalism to one tenant in particular then she will take action. I worry there's already drama with one tenant and I haven't even moved in yet. Just hoping this isn't an indication that there's going to be issues when I move in.

Yet another forgotten log in but a quick update. Hopefully won't lose the keys to the new flat so often! 😂

I have stopped looking too often and avoided focusing on the day to day things. Not been there for weeks now.

Things are moving forward. Lots of work has gone on and I can now see noticeable changes. The kitchen floor is down and the walls have been re plastered. Bathroom and hallway floors are still up but just seeing the changes happening makes the move seems less far away in the future.

I think another month seems a bit optimistic but you never know. Now things are moving it could be finished sooner than later.

Oh I'm sooo excited for you.

I remember when my offer was accepted on this house. I phoned a few days later and was told 'at least a month, still a tenant in'. I did lots of drivebys and was panicking the existing tenant had changed their mind as nothing seemed to be changing.

Anyway, exactly a month later they called and booked a viewing and I signed the tenancy agreement there and then. The tenant had left more or less straight away, but didn't fully empty the property. The HA let me sign, then workmen came the next day and emptied it.

Have you got loads of paint colour charts, ikea catalogues, a big bag of B and M cleaning stuff all lined up ready? I know I did 😁

My friend described it as serendipity. Because in my head I have already moved I no longer feel settled where I am because this place is my past now.

I have so many plans for the new place. This is a dream come true for me and I know I will be so happy there. I have some money aside so will try to get flooring done before moving in. I will be going from a studio to 1 bed with a living room so I can just move things into one room at a time to get the laminate down.

I want to be there now 😂

Oh how exciting. I know Redbridge a bit. I'm picturing you in Woodford. Am I warm?

Fantastic to have a new start with security of tenure and more space. Fingers crossed for you.

Warm enough to make me start looking over my shoulder yes! 😉 😂

I'm moving across the motorway to the border with Chigwell. It has been over 3 years of bidding but I know that is nothing by today's standards and Redbridge are implementing new rules at the end of the year to make it even more difficult to get on the housing list so I really do feel so fortunate with this.

They want to means test letting people on the housing list and bring the savings limit in line with universal credit at £16k with an income limit of £49k to qualify for council housing, anything above and you will be expected to rent privately. They also want to review cases every few months because there are too many people who have been on the list for years but either never bid at all or don't bid often and also allow care leavers to only bid on studio flats so that more older residents can bid on 1 bed flats.

It's only in consultation stage but will be brought in by the end of 2024 so I imagine they will already have checked how watertight the proposals are legally.

They do that already in most LA's. When you get to the shortlisted stage that's one of the things they check for when asking for your bank statements, to see that you actually are.still eligible for social housing because some people have been on the list so long and their situations have changed dramatically. It's fair enough really because it makes sure people who genuinely can't afford housing still have access to it.

Sorry didn't mean to spook you. I know exactly where you mean.

Order yourself some paint samples and catalogues to keep yourself entertained.

I think we may be slightly behind here. I’ve already had the formal offer letter and they asked me to just bring the bank statements with me to the sign up. I’ve got all that ready.

Only kidding 😊

I’ve already been in B and M and seen some lovely things I want. Someone in a really posh part of Woodford Wells gave me some beautiful heavy lined curtains worth hundreds which I’m over the moon with too ❤️

I wondered why there were so many posts but no update then I finally decided to check and found your post!

im glad things are moving along so well. It won’t be too long until your in!

are we going to get some (well angled to protect your privacy) photos of your new castle?

Absolutely. My sister wants me to send her a video of the inside but I will post some anonymous looking pictures once I am in 😊

Looking forward to it!

Hi, I’ve been stalking so many pages on here and this seems to be the most up to date one.

I have received an email telling me I am “case 1” on a property. I have cried with pure joy as myself and children are fleeing DV. We have all court orders in place etc but this was the final step.

does this mean I have the property? I haven’t seen anyone refer to “case 1” before

You really need to make your own thread so you get proper advice @motherofboydragons
you won’t get many replies on here because it will only be people who are checking in with the original op for updates on her situation.

as for case 1 I don’t know what that means. I’m very glad for you and your boys though tha you are getting away from dv! Good luck

Ok thank you

It’s a bit confusing because each authority seems to use different terminology. I have heard of silver band, band one, yours is case 1.

from experience I was in Band 2 which is the highest group for medical need and placed in position 1 on this property, I then got a formal letter offering the property to me.

i think it’s a matter of how the terms translate in your area but I would assume Case 1 puts you in first place? That’s what I would be thinking anyway. See if you can contact them and ask specifically what Case 1 means where you are? Good luck 😊

Thank you so much for your reply! It’s so confusing isn’t it? I gave in and text my housing officer and she said “it’s yours. You’ve been working with us for years now so all ID and documents are ready so now it’s a case of viewing and collecting keys”

I had been given full homeless duty etc due to circumstances but was always coming up between 40-60 so to see “case 1” I didn’t have a clue what was going on

I’ve been to see it today and scope the area (I know the area from years ago so comfortable and it’s got beautiful nature areas near by) it’s a 3 bed low rise flat which is perfect for our needs. I’m just so happy 😁

I’m happy for you @motherofboydragons i hope it works out well for you all

Lovely, Lovely, Lovely
A hard row to hoe, Excellent!

I was the same, always right down the list without a hope of getting it then suddenly at the begining of May I placed a bid and it stayed at position 1 all through the bank holiday weekend and I thought this must be a mistake. At the midnight when bids closed I stayed awake to the last second and was still position 1 so I suppose it is a matter of just not giving up. I knew the minute I saw the picture that this place was for me. Not been able to get inside yet because so much work is going on but I already have the formal offer and the paperwork is all ready so I know it's mine.

Well done enjoy your new home x

Oooooooooohhh!! 😱

I've just been past the flat and all the rubbish and furniture left in the back garden by the previous tenant is being dragged round the front to the roadside. If they are clearing up the garden then this could mean there's not a lot left to do indoors before they call me. Oh god I'm so nervous lol

Exciting times!
Now get yourself round to B&M /Dunelm/ the range to ear mark those bits and pieces that will help make your new home feel cosy.

Oooh I'm so hoping for your sake that you're right. You've been so bloody patient I'd have been climbing the walls by now😅 loving seeing your updates. You so deserve to be happy with your beautiful new flat😊

Hi op, I was in this position very recently and it was so nerve wracking not having any updates from the HA. Every bit of new info we got was from visits to the property to peep at what was happening. Bid was on April 6th and we finally moved in 18th July so hopefully it won't be too long for you either. Fingers crossed!