Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Live in a nice house and be skint or stay in a not nice house but have more money?

44 replies

Bazinga2022 · 10/06/2022 09:05

So we are currently living in a housing association property, 2 bedroom paying £520 pcm, the neighbours are awful constant loud music, using power tools, lighting fires and smoking drugs. my dd11 and ds9 are still sharing a room. The housing list for a 3 bed housing association property is at least another 3 years wait.
We have seen a 3 bedroom house in a nicer part of town that we love the look of, private rent of £1500 pcm, we can just about afford it if dh ups his hours at work and works a 55 hour week, it would leave us with pretty much no disposable income, but would be our dream house and closer to the new school dd is starting in September.
Would we be mad to consider this or is this our only way out?

OP posts:
Isaidnoalready · 10/06/2022 09:12

Your mad to triple your housing costs when the cost of living is skyrocketing

Can you exchange?

Original poster
Bazinga2022 · 10/06/2022 09:17

I know we are, but we are just so unhappy where we are living now. We have been looking for an exchange for years but have not been successful

OP posts:
IanOsenfrote · 10/06/2022 09:23

Although it's a crappy situation, you are safe there housingwise. Tripling your rent to give a private landlord the power to evict anytime is daft.

Either tough it out for three years or start complaining to the HA about your neighbours (preferably both).

Having your husband virtually living at work is no good to either of you.

Your kids are going to need seperate rooms soon, aren't they? Maybe start pushing that, if you can.

MovinOnUp · 10/06/2022 09:28

Stay where you are.
Giving up a reasonable rent and secure tenancy would not be very clever.

Indoctro · 10/06/2022 09:29

You have security in LA house you have zero in private rented

What if landlord decides to sell 1 year later and then you struggling to find a affordable property

I would stay were you are and lodge complaints about your neighbours

Original poster
Bazinga2022 · 10/06/2022 09:42

We have lodged many complaints about the neighbours, nothing changes, in fact the last time my dh lodged a complaint we didn't even get a call back or acknowledgement, so it's seems there is no point. Also the neighbours the other side their son is in prison for drug dealing and peadophilia, not sure when he will be out, but we would rather not be living here when he comes home!
The kids do need seperate rooms, but there are harldy any 3 bedroom housing association properties becoming available and each one that does become available has over 100 bids on it, so there are over 100 other people in our town in the same situation as us, so hence the roughly 3 year wait ( we have already been waiting 18 months since dd turned 10!, so the total wait is actually more like 4-5 years).
The fact a private landlord can evict us when our tenancy is up is one of my biggest worries, but I just don't know how much longer I can carry on living here.

OP posts:
icelolly12 · 10/06/2022 09:49

If you can only just afford it, I doubt you'd get the rental anyway, there is huge competition for private rentals and income and so on are all taken into account.

IanOsenfrote · 10/06/2022 10:08

Bazinga2022 · 10/06/2022 09:42

We have lodged many complaints about the neighbours, nothing changes, in fact the last time my dh lodged a complaint we didn't even get a call back or acknowledgement, so it's seems there is no point. Also the neighbours the other side their son is in prison for drug dealing and peadophilia, not sure when he will be out, but we would rather not be living here when he comes home!
The kids do need seperate rooms, but there are harldy any 3 bedroom housing association properties becoming available and each one that does become available has over 100 bids on it, so there are over 100 other people in our town in the same situation as us, so hence the roughly 3 year wait ( we have already been waiting 18 months since dd turned 10!, so the total wait is actually more like 4-5 years).
The fact a private landlord can evict us when our tenancy is up is one of my biggest worries, but I just don't know how much longer I can carry on living here.

You need to start complaining to the HA about the HA ignoring your complaints.

I bitch and gripe about anything and I take it higher every time I am not happy. The complaints people are dealing with the likes of me and don't have time for the likes of more passive people like you (not knocking you personally).

The squeaky wheel really does get the grease.

jackstini · 10/06/2022 10:09

If you can afford the difference, I would try and save the £1k month

In 3 years you could have a deposit to buy a house and mortgage payments would likely be less than £1500

HotChoc10 · 10/06/2022 10:40

Working 55 hours a week, indefinitely (?), to have no disposable income would be awful for your DH I think.

Dinoteeth · 10/06/2022 10:46

Op that's madness, If anything went wrong and DH couldn't get the overtime or was ill unable to work you'd be screwed. Absolutely screwed.

If you can I'd look at a lifetime ISA and bang as much savings into it as possible with a view to buying and getting out-of the rental market.

stepuporshutup · 10/06/2022 11:01

jackstini · 10/06/2022 10:09

If you can afford the difference, I would try and save the £1k month

In 3 years you could have a deposit to buy a house and mortgage payments would likely be less than £1500

This is the best advice op

Beachbabe1 · 10/06/2022 11:10

stepuporshutup · 10/06/2022 11:01

This is the best advice op

Show quote history

Brilliant advice! Save save save!! Use a lifetime isa, government gives you 25% bonus on everything you save upto 4k a year!! Aim to buy your own house!!! Best bet!

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 10/06/2022 11:46

stepuporshutup · 10/06/2022 11:01

This is the best advice op

Show quote history

Agree with this.
Also working 55 hours a week with nothing disposable just to keep a roof over my head would have me really spiralling into a dark place. I couldn’t ask my DP to do that

Didyousaysomethingdarling · 10/06/2022 11:50

Boris announced yesterday that people in housing association houses are going to be able to buy at HUGE discounts, using UC benefits etc. The government have made the private rental sector far less profitable. With a lot more restrictions and costs planned, many landlords are selling up. If you have a secure tenancy you'd be mad to move. Can you put in for a swap?

Yodaisawally · 10/06/2022 11:51

Is there nothing in between? I would start saving hard and stick it out. I wouldn't give up a secure tenancy to triple housing costs.

Readtheroom · 10/06/2022 11:52

dont. life costs money and you cant afford it with the new house. find one in your budget

RitaFires · 10/06/2022 11:52

A secure tenancy is so much better than private renting. Particularly with the rises in the cost of living, it doesn't make financial sense. Overstretching yourself can be every bit as stressful as having shit neighbours.

Giggorata · 10/06/2022 11:56

I don't think that your question quite addresses the issue, which to me is, have a secure tenancy, or not?
I know which I’d prefer.
And continue pressing the HA for appropriate action with neighbours, as someone said upthread, taking it higher and higher.
The recent news that tenants may soon be allowed to buy their HA house at a vast discount would seal the deal for me. It looks as though my sister will be able to buy her house in Fulham, what a result!

Butteryflakycrust83 · 10/06/2022 12:08

Please please think hard before you give up a secure tenancy for that rent. My mum gave up hers to relocate and within a year her LL sold, rents are skyrocketing and shes struggling to even get a viewing as properties go so fast.

I echo the above - save save save save. Get a deposit to buy and have cheaper mortgage payments.

goldfinchonthelawn · 10/06/2022 12:19

OP, these are not the only two options. Find a middle way. A bit more space, away from horrendous neighbours, but well within your price range. And look for jobs that might pay more, so you can absorb the rising costs more easily. Just put 3 bed 1000pcm into right move in your area plus 1 mile radius and see what comes up.

NohoHank · 10/06/2022 12:22

Is there nothing to rent in a less expensive area of town but a bit nicer than current area?

I agree with PP about your current secured tenancy vs private rent but I do also understand how an 11yold would want their own space rather than sharing with their little brother. Especially as she's becoming a teenager. I just don't think working 55 hours a week for no disposable income is something that anyone could or should do.

purpleboy · 10/06/2022 12:48

jackstini · 10/06/2022 10:09

If you can afford the difference, I would try and save the £1k month

In 3 years you could have a deposit to buy a house and mortgage payments would likely be less than £1500

I was going to say exactly the same thing!
Save and buy!

Spaghettionaplate · 10/06/2022 12:50

IanOsenfrote · 10/06/2022 09:23

Although it's a crappy situation, you are safe there housingwise. Tripling your rent to give a private landlord the power to evict anytime is daft.

Either tough it out for three years or start complaining to the HA about your neighbours (preferably both).

Having your husband virtually living at work is no good to either of you.

Your kids are going to need seperate rooms soon, aren't they? Maybe start pushing that, if you can.

The HA will say the children can share until 18. Then they can move out.

Stay where you are OP, although it's shit. Wait for a more reasonably priced alternative to appear.

Spaghettionaplate · 10/06/2022 12:53

Also don't assume that the neighbours in the 'nice area' are any better. I moved into a 'nice' street 3 years ago after living in a bad area. In those 3 years there has been two drug dealers and one paedophile arrested in the street (which only has a handful of houses!) My joining neighbours were absolute arseholes with parking and loud music. Thankfully they have just moved out!