Moving out of social housing - help

[revivingeve]

Hi everyone, I’ll try to be as concise as I can but please bear with me. I don’t really have anyone I can discuss this with IRL so hopefully I can have some perspective here.

3 years ago I moved from private renting into social housing with my then 14 year old. It didn’t make much difference financially as while it was cheaper, I would also be losing the housing benefit + I’d have to start commuting so at the end of the day it just about broke even.
The thing is… I hate it here. Upon better inspection, the place needed way more TLC than I realised when I visited and the neighbours are essentially people with addiction issues. Very polite (even though I get asked for money every time I see some of them) and generally quiet, but the building is never, ever clean and in one of the floors there’s some obvious trafficking going on.

My daughter and I want to relocate to a city nearby - she wants to go to uni there, I want to live in a city myself as I feel very isolated in this small town with mostly young families or elderly folk, there’s more employment opportunities, social life, etc. Am I mental to just give it up and go back to private?

I am aware that I can ask for a transfer, but that can take ages and frankly no person in their right mind would swap with me for this flat so I’m not putting much stock in that. My tenancy also requires both bedrooms to be occupied, so even if I were to stay, if my daughter moved out I’d have to either have a lodger or vacate the property. It was never meant to be a permanent option.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

I would leave. I know privately renting is not as secure but there is nothing worse than hating where you live.

Try and do a swap to start with. Would you be eligible for help to buy or something similar?

You can try to join the housing list but you will
Likely never get a move and it usually takes longer depending on your area, mine is (15 years min again other areas will vary) or mutual exchange, those are the only two options for moving through the council, or going private.

Why dont you try swapping first while you're pondering the issue. I'm not a huge fan of homeswapper but it's a good place to start. As well as going on swap lists with councils if they still do that.

I agree with the other posters. I am just wondering if its a condition of the tenancy that both bedrooms are occupied doesn't that mean the housing association would offer you something else once your daughter moves out? Maybe worth checking?

I would get on a swap list, FB have area pages plus official channels - someone may have family nearby or want something away from the city - you won’t know until you try!

You have 4 years before DD wants to move - and a city flat will give you more options later.

My bil lived in a flat that had drug dealers living above him . The block of flats and the street was notorious for it .
He put in for a swap and now lives in a nicer area . You should try .