Can't move into housing association house until January

[reallifeboogie]

Wasn't sure how to word the title.

My cousin escaped domestic abuse and stayed at a women's refuge for a while but her mental health was struggling around other people in similar situations so she moved in with a friend, along with 2 preschoolers and 2 dogs. Housing association put her in the top band/priority.
After 15 months!! she's been offered a property and went to see it last week after having to wait 3 weeks from being offered it due to the keys being misplaced!

Lovely 2 bedroom house with small garden. She knew she would be accepting it so both her and her friend loaded up their cars with cousins belongings, expecting to get the keys same day. This is how it normally is, you get the keys the day you view.

Unfortunately upon entering the house, it was discovered there was a leak in the bathroom and water was dripping through to the kitchen below. So the housing officer said they'd get it sorted. Cousin said OK thats fine, ill move my stuff in and I'll be careful in the bathroom.

Nope. Housing officer said sorry you won't be able move in until its been sorted. It'll need somebody to inspect the damage and do any repairs.

Yesterday she got a phone call from housing to say the inspection would take place on December 3rd and then it'll be another 2-3 weeks for the job to be completed. So due to Christmas it'll be January!

Cousins friend lives in a 3 bed house with her own 3 children and 2 dogs so 2 adults, 5 children and 4 dogs in a 3 bed house and it's been that way for 12 months at least

Surely being top priority means repairs should be top priority too??

This is a good friend!

She needs to pass the dogs on to someone else

and be patient

are you the poor friend by any chance?

She's been bloody lucky.

Depends how long the repairs will take, how long it takes to get a tradesperson free and how many other top priorities there are - the later I suspect is the problem

In her situation.. I wouldn't complain. She's extremely fortunate.

Not ideal but unfortunately these things do happen.

Given the circumstances your cousin can always ask if she can be matched to another 2 bed instead of she can't wait till Jan? But unfortunately it might be smaller/a flat instead of a house. Ultimately it's up to the council/housing association though but there's no harm asking!

How?? How is it lucky to be physically emotionally and financially abused for years? How is it lucky to lose absolutely everything she owns? How is it lucky to have to rely on a friend for a roof over her and her kids heads?

Of course she's not lucky to have the terrible life circumstances that have lead to her being a priority for housing

She's lucky because she's getting this house after only a year though. terrible though her circumstances are, they are not unique and others in a similar situation have waited longer and had worse housing at the end of it.

Given that the end is in sight she may be able to move to a different friend or relative for thr last 3 months so as to not impose on one person's kindness for too long.

Surely you can see that the poster was saying lucky to get a house / home?

It's obvious the HA is not responsible for any of the awful challenges your cousin has faced. It's also obvious that there are more people wanting places than there are places available.

How about saving the anger for the partner who put her in this position?

Could she look at a private tenancy instead?
I suppose they will see it that she is in a safe property at present when other people will be living in property that needs fixed first?

Oh don’t be daft op

Hahaha.

I've lived in a housing association property for 15 years. You're very naive about repairs. 3 months is actually a decent time frame. I've been waiting years for some repairs in my place. We spent a year with no TV as the satellite dish was damaged during a storm.

Some people have literally died from mould issues in their properties.

That's just how it is, inconvenient but she still has a house she likes to look forward to. Another few weeks, though difficult, will be forgotten eventually. She is lucky to be offered this house, whilst obviously a priority it could have been house she hated. Plus the stress of wondering where she will end up has been taken away. It's just a case of waiting it out.

She should find her own house if she isn't pleased with the housing association. Talk about ungrateful.

Huh?!
Yes lucky in that she has a friend who can put her and her family up, but in all other respects, to quote Mumsnet vernacular - are you on glue?!

🙄

It's just how it is I am afraid op. We were left with no boiler for a week over Christmas when we lived in our HA. We had no upstairs toilet for almost a month. Termites which we had to treat ourselves, damp, which never got dealt with. Windows that didn't open. The list is endless.

Then they had the cheek to try and charge me for leaving a 2 month old oven in situ when we left because we knew the woman moving in wanted it!!!

The end is in sight. She needs to be as easy a house guest as she possible can be and sit it out. It won’t be done earlier.

Like all public sectors, there will be staff shortages. No point your cousin getting peed off about it. She needs to try to look forward.

You obviously have not had any serious work done recently - that is a reasonable to urgent timescale. She has a date, any chance she can rent a small storage place and put lots of things in there to ease things at the house she staying?

It’ll soon be January and the wait will have been worth it. HA tenancies are like gold dust. Tell to hang in there and she’ll be in secure housing for as long as she needs it. The waiting list in my Borough is ten years x

Was just thinking this as I scrolled past the comments in horror. It isn't lucky or fortunate to wait over a year for housing when you're fleeing domestic abuse. Just because this is the situation for a lot of people doesn't mean we should find it acceptable. Safe shelter is a basic human need and we should want good quality, timely housing for people that need it within our communities.

That was my post as well

I can't believe someone who's getting housing is ungrateful and can't wait a few extra months for the repairs.

Yeh life has dealt her a shit card, but she's got some hope and a roof over her head and from what it sounds like bloody amazing friends. She is very lucky.

This. many people end up in hostels or B& B's. Bottom line is there just isn't enough social housing. Just be patient.

Thank you for your insightful opinion @baketray 👍