Council exchange

[Leona99]

Hi.
After 2 years of living in a 2 bedroom ground floor masonette, stairs off our landing and in general abit of a death trap we have found a mutual exchange. The lady were swapping with has a 3 bedrooms home but one of the bedrooms is a box room, but it's just her on her own. Here's the thing though; the 3 bed house was my family home whilst I was growing up, i lost my dad 7 months ago as he committed suicide so things have been difficult to say the least but the home I've potentially got a chance to move back to was where all of my good memories as a little girl was when my parents was happily married and my dad was well. So what my question here is, has anyone else been granted permission to exchange from a 2 bedroom to a 3 with just yourself, partner and one child? I feel like it's all to good to be true and the council might find any little reasons to not grant me the exchange. I've been told they do allow normally you to move with an extra bedroom providing it's not substantially bigger then your current home and it's not.
I should also add I'm currently using my councils bidding system and im band b, coming in the top 5 on houses so the council already know I'm due to be moving at some point.
Thanks so much for reading, any comments appreciated X x

Usually they won’t let you move to a house bugger than your needs so I doubt it. Sometimes there is leniency if the person moving is desperate for smaller for cheaper rent etc or if you are pregnant or have a second child that will eventually need the room. But I’d call them before getting your hopes up for sure. Would be a lovely coincidence to move back in though!

All local housing associations in my area allow 1 spare bedroom except 1, they are strict. Could you call the housing and ask?

@aFaintSeashellAroma thankyou for your reply. We do currently have my partners 2 girls every other weekend but its difficult having them here because of the size, I know they would take that into consideration anyway. My council are also aware I had a misscariage at the start of january so at some point we will extend our family. My council have said to me that they allow one unoccupied bedroom but I'd have to make up the short fall for the bedroom text, but that wont be a problem as my partner has now managed to get abit of his self employed business up and running again. X

Hey thanks for the reply. Sorry could you explain what you mean allow 1 spare bedroom except 1? I'm calling them tomorrow to get the papers. The thing is I'll have to wait a couple of weeks for a decision and abit anxious x

Ah if there other children who stay then absolutely you will be entitled to three bedrooms

If you pay the re to yourself it would maybe be possible. If you claim any UC or HB it’s unlikely as the other children do not live there permanently.
The council will not let you deliberately put yourself in a position where you pay bedroom tax.

*re to should be rent.

You need a room for visiting children. as long as that’s an agreement and you have informed them you need the room for that (usually there’s a space on forms) then it will be allowed

Thanks ladies. I'm going to ring tomorrow and see what they say. I'm hoping it's not an issue, my grandmother lives on the back of the home I want and shes also unable to walk hardly anymore without nearly falling and she has to wait a year for her leg op, it really could be useful me being there even for that reason. I'm just hoping they see it as a the same as me, shes a single lady and will be handing a home over to a family and shes taking something with less space. It's really not the bedrooms I want anyway its genuinely the fact its was my home as a child, my dad spent thousands on the home and I'd love to be able to get my dad a beautiful plaque in a home he cherished. I've been digging on their website and it says they allow you to have one extra bedroom so I'm guessing it shouldn't be a problem, it's not like it's a 5 bedroom house. Also the rent is £25 cheaper then my masonette so technically I'd be better off. Thankyou for all your replies x

Hey ladies. Thought I'd add to the post incase anyone else is going through the current situation. My council have accepted my homeswap, I can now return back to my first ever home🍾💗

Result. Congrats!

That’s brilliant what are the chances of ending up back I would love that. Enjoy!

Thankyou. I'm so excited, praying it all goes smoothly Xxx

That's a great result! I did a council swap years ago to get back to my home town - not the same house, but it was great to get home and be close to my family.