To leave social housing to private rent.

[CoconutSky]

I’ve made threads about my social housing flat
Ground floor, adapted, ridiculously small kitchen and full of what they describe as “condensation”

I keep complaining, asking them for a move and I’m getting nowhere just being stuck on their allocations bidding list when their larger properties only go to homeless nominations

I am depressed, anxious, miserable and full of anger. I can’t exchange, decorating has been a waste of time as the mould has just ruined it all

Has anyone got any experience of leaving a social housing property for a private rental?

This is a really difficult one and would depend on a lot of factors for me. I did leave a ha flat a few years ago for a private rental and it was the right decision for our family, but we are in a precarious situation now (landlord selling up, can’t afford new private rentals). Do you have children? Are you overcrowded? Are you the only adult? Do you feel you can afford private renting and could you if rents were to increase further? Have you exhausted all options to get the issues with your property sorted out?
I would be very reluctant to give up a HA property now, with the way the private renting market is going x

I don't have any experience of leaving a social housing property for a private rental, but I do have a lot of experience with dealing with condensation and mould - if you'd like to get advice on that, make a separate thread and post the link here so that this thread can stay about your rental situation.

There's a lot of risks to moving to private rental and whether it's a wise move depends on a lot of factors. What was your situation when you succeeded in getting social housing and has your situation improved significantly and permanently since then?

I remember reading your previous thread, I'm sorry you're still in the flat.... have you gone down the ombudsman route? It might force their hand in moving you to a more suitable property

I’ve made endless complaints, ombudsman, put myself on other housing register lists
I’m a single parent, I work part time and attend uni part time. The flat whilst classed as a 2 bed is ridiculously small, I’ve got weird as fuck neighbours as well

It’s also falling to bits and quite dingy tbh. It’s such hard decision x

I have. It’s abit of a shit show. I’ve had to raise a secondary complaint with the ombudsman but I’ve absolutely 0 idea how long that will take and I honestly don’t think I’ve got any more fight in me. I spoke to them again last week re the damp and they told me I’ve got damp in my living room cos I’ve got wallpaper.

Have you gone down the disrepair legal route? That at least should get repairs resolved.
why can’t you exchange? You have to consider what you are willing to compromise on? Would you move areas to get the right flat?
you can give up yr flat but not guarantee you would get another or that your next place would be better.

what changes can you make or are willing to make?

is ur issue repairs/ neighbours/size of flat/ something else? You say it’s falling to bits, are these things you are responsible for and struggling with or are repairs not being completed?

Yabu, I'm sorry girl

You'll never get another one and it's a safety net for you

It's adapted as well, so presumably you have a disability?

Are you overcrowded?

Sorry, op x

I’m not disabled, it was adapted for someone previously

Whilst I’m not bedroom overcrowded I don’t have any space. DD’s room is absolutely tiny so it’s mostly used as storage for her stuff. She doesn’t like sleeping in there cos it stinks and there’s a problem with damp

It's not necessarily true that you won't get another HA tenancy if you leave, in some areas social housing is being built in quite large numbers but it really depends where you are.. I wouldn't risk leaving it if I were in Manchester or Birmingham for example. I agree it's a huge decision to make. Sorry you're going through this

Do you have a local connection to any other areas? Like more rural areas or smaller towns where the chance of getting social housing is higher?

I can’t exchange cos it’s a shithole that’s not big enough for more than 1 person, it’s adapted, the kitchen has 2 cupboards.
It’s falling to bits because it’s old and it’s been made with shit cheap materials. If you google the nasty flat blocks in Pripyat it looks like one of them

I can’t move area because of school and work. I can’t compromise where there is no wriggle room. I don’t want a palace I just want something of a decent size

As hard as it is, I think I would stick it out and keep fighting. I would bite your hand off for a HA as rent is ridiculous and will get worse!

I know it ducks OP and they shouldn't leave you like this. But I would keep fighting your corner. Get some MPs on your side also.

My MP is Angela Rayner. I have emailed her.
I’ve been battling them for 3 years now. And I don’t know how much more I can take.

How bad is the mould? You could contact Kwajo Tweneboa who helps people living in poor housing.

I wouldn't encourage you to leave the property

Have you spoken to a solicitor about a housing disrepair claim?

It’s condensation apparently. Its not as bad as some properties but it’s mostly my furniture and walls going mouldy.

Do not leave a secure tenancy. Make as much fuss as you can for improvements

I have. They aren’t interested. The solicitor I spoke to informed me that they cannot force them to move me, only to repair this flat. However unless by repair they mean putting an extension on it’s pointless as they do the repairs, but there’s still mould and it’s still not big enough.

All you can do is work out your budget, look at local rents and decide if you can manage it. The only thing i would say is in reality, a single parent working part time is not going to be beloved of many private landlords as your income will be too low.

Can you really afford the luxury of going to uni right now? Are you near the end of the course - will it lead to significantly better pay?

If it won't, you might need to pause studies to work full time, earn more & provide for your family

I go to uni one night a week. It’s paid for by my work. It’s not exactly a luxury. It’s a requirement for my job.

in private renting as a single parent who is both studying and working PT, you will be in a worse position, not better.
Your mouldy dilapidated flat would cost twice as much, and youd be frightened to complain because they could evict you.

The grass is not greener in the world of private rentals. I can assure you.
Keep on at your housing association and also worth doing as much as you can to deal with the mould yourself, (even if you shouldnt have to) dehumidifiers etc
Your children need the stability.

This sounds such a bad situation. If you can afford it I would go for a private rental. Choose somewhere you want and like. Wishing you well.

Ah apologies i assumed studying was the reason you were only able to work part time, as that's obviously going to lower your income/reduce what you can afford to rent.

I remember your previous thread and definitely think you should leave. Your flat is destroying your mental and physical health.

In this situation i would not. Since your working part time and part time student. I'm making the assumption you get help with your rent via UC.

It's extremely hard to get a private rent when you reply on uc . Unless you have a guarantor. The uc rarely covers the rent and you have to top the rent up alot. Which could leave you struggling.

If you could find a private rent you could be there for just a year or 2 then the landlord may decide to sell. Or other reasons. Then you may need to find another place which may not happen due to need help via uc/low income. You could then have to go through the eviction route . End up in temporary accommodation for years .

People are being evicted left right and centre. Its not worth the risk.

Regarding the damp have you tried stripping the wall paper. Washing the damp off. And then using a couple coats of damp paint. This worked for me years ago. It never came back in the 6+ years it was there.

Life is too short for this shit. Your daughters childhood is disapppearing fast. If you can rent somewhere less awful, I think you should (up hours).