Moving from social housing to private rent

[nonamemummy]

I’ve been renting from a housing association and am soon to be moving in to a private rented house. I’m feeling quite nervous so if anyone here has done the same could I please ask you some questions

It’s not something that is generally recommended.

I know but there just isn’t enough room where I am now and would not be able to move to another social housing house for year so it’s my only option really

No, don't do it.

Do you really want to give up an assured tenancy to be at the whim of a private landlord that can give you notice at anytime?

Like many others do, just hang on in there in social housing until you can get a transfer to something bigger.

Don't, wait for a move/exchange.

I wouldn't advise this, especially at the moment with things being so precarious.

How many rooms do you have and how many do you need? Could you put a sofa bed in a living room for now as a temporary measure?

It is generally not advised to move from a secure tennancy such as social housing to a private landlord OP.

I would also be feeling nervous, but what is down is done now I suppose.

I wouldn’t move, how many rooms including a dining room do you have and how many people? @nonamemummy

Stay where you are. Ask for suggestions on making the best use of space from us all but please don't give up a secure tenancy.

Don't move. You're far better off where you are.

I did this years ago. There will be lots of people saying don't do it you mustn't let go yada yada ya. Don't listen. Move forward with life it's okay to give things up and yes it costs more and there are more risks but if you love your new place your quality of life will go up massively.

Caveat mine was council not housing association. I regret nothing!!

I've done both. Please don't give up a secure home for an insecure one.

@roxfox

I did this years ago. There will be lots of people saying don't do it you mustn't let go yada yada ya. Don't listen. Move forward with life it's okay to give things up and yes it costs more and there are more risks but if you love your new place your quality of life will go up massively.

Caveat mine was council not housing association. I regret nothing!!

That was years ago, not during a pandemic where things just won't be the same at the end of this year as they were at the beginning.

but if you love your new place your quality of life will go up massively. yes maybe, until she is asked to move on, or worse evicted due to struggling To pay rent in the current economic situation.

private landlords do not 'evict on a whim' - that is Guardian and MN propaganda. Like councils, they evict for anti social behaviour, wrecking or rent arrears.

Unlike councils, private landords also evict tenants because they die, divorce, go bankrupt and get repossessed, want to move back into the house or the business of being a landlord becomes uneconomic. None of these latter reasons will apply to a council although the last may happen to a housing association.

so yes, a council or HA tenancy is more secure.

Tell us more about the space issues, because it really must be extreme for you to consider doing this.

A Pp is right. Sign up to homeswAppers and look on fb for swaps locally.

It would be absolutely crazy imo to move from a secure tenancy to an insecure one in this financial climate.

Look at ways of reorganizing your furniture to save space. I was in a tiny flat for years and every bit of furniture served more than one purpose. L9ts of advice out there too, look on Pinterest.

I would never give up my housing cooperative tenancy. Knowing my children sleep under a roof that is secure is worth more than gold. I've been in both 0rivate and rented and I feel desperately sorry for people and families who are trapped in precarious private rented accommodation.

We can't all afford to buy and the costs of private rent coupled with the lack of Affordable social housing is a national scandal, imo.

Please think carefully before you discard a significant safety net for you and your family.

Knowing my children sleep under a roof that is secure is worth more than gold. I've been in both 0rivate and rented and I feel desperately sorry for people and families who are trapped in precarious private rented accommodation

This all the way. Don't do it op! You don't know the landlord you'll get. we have had no end of problems with mould, damp and landlords refusing to take responsibility for their property being in an unliveable state due to leaky roofs, etc. At least with social housing you know they have to fix any problems..well hopefully they should!

I left social housing to move it a private accommodation. I was there only six months then the landlord wanted property back to live in due to financial difficulties. I get evicted went into temp accommodation for five years. Then got a council property two years later I move out to buy my own home. It's not an easy situation to be in because private is not secured.

As a private tenant that has had to move in the last year due to the landlord selling his property I can say this is definitely one of the downfalls. However if you have the deposit put by and you have a reasonable credit rating, it would be easy to swap if you either didn't like the house, the landlord/lady or you needed to move closer to schools/work. You don't need to worry about expenses like boiler braking down or the plumbing, and if your careful in what you choose to rent you could have a beautifully decorated house with little upkeep. Definitely look into, put feelers out as to what the landlord/lady is like. Is it a managed property or direct with the owner? Done both kinds and it's easier to agree changes to the property when dealing with the owner.

LL do evict on a whim. I’ve been asked to leave because LL child fancies moving out, because they wanted to liquidise their assets and because they wanted to double the rents during the olympics. It’s miserable being insecure and the whim of even decent LLs

I wouldn't do it and I am a LL.

Are you still about, Op? Do any of these posts resonate with you?

Is it too late to change your mind?

I’ve paid the holding fee already. There’s 4 of us in a small 2 bed flat. No one wants to exchange from a 3 bed down to a 2 bed top floor flat and I wouldn’t be able to get another social housing place for years. I just feel it’s my only option

No way in hell would I do it.
The new place may well be bigger, but then the landlord sells and then what?