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Original poster

Moving into social housing.

36 replies

LjPowers · 10/03/2023 15:45

Hiya!

My family and I were offered a house at the beginning of feb and have gone through all the paperwork and have been accepted. The house we bid on was empty at the time of being listed and when bidding was completed and we had our interview we were told that the inspection had been done and that it was with maintenance. There were also no big issues with the house.

What I’m wanting to know is, what is your experience as far as the process goes? What is the average turn around time from being successful with your bid and getting the keys? We have yet to view the place and when we speak with our liaison we get the same response that she is waiting on the maintenance team to let her know when we can view. Does it normally take this long to view? And when we view what is the average time to get the keys?

We’re a little frantic on this end because the accommodation that we have comes to an end at the end of the month.

Thanks in advance for all responses.

OP posts:
Original poster
LjPowers · 24/03/2023 20:54

Huno

OP posts:
icanneverthinkofnc · 24/03/2023 21:17

We had a six week wait due to the redecoration of the property. We were given a few days' notice of the key collection date, and I had 2 days in between getting the keys and move date. I was able to decorate the front room before we moved in..just..😆 We were downsizing, though, from house to bungalow, so council were quite helpful.

CornishTiger · 24/03/2023 21:23

12 days average void turnaround here.

I would be asking what is happening. I suspect it’s gone to major works eg new bathroom or kitchen if it’s taking a long time.

CornishTiger · 24/03/2023 21:26

Lettings Officer needs to chase voids supervisor. Without a viewing and formal offer it was too soon to end your current rental but lots do.

Viewing normally happens when property is neatly ready. Then it’s quick to tenancy sign up and keys.

OnaBegonia · 24/03/2023 21:36

My LA are notoriously slow, a friend waited 12 weeks for her keys, she enlisted the help of her local councillor to press them into hurrying up, they had no major works needing done, just faffing and timewasting. I'd call the letting officer and say you have to move by end of month and can they hurry voids up.

CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 07:13

@OnaBegonia 12 weeks!!!!! Without it going to major works ( new kitchen/bathroom) that’s shocking. The income loss is unacceptable just for faffing.

OnaBegonia · 25/03/2023 07:28

I know, she was stressed beyond words as in temp accommodation and desperate to move, they found out one of the jobs on voids list was cutting the grass!!! Fortunately managed to tell them forget it, give me the keys!!!
You need to be pro active and pushy!

CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 07:41

That’s even worst as the cost of temp accommodation is so high and either she or the tax paying would be paying £££££ for temp charge.

The other issue is once you are nominated for a property you are then unable to bid on other properties.

Delays do happen but with good pre void management, proactive lettings teams and timely voids works it can be minimised.

Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 08:06

Thanks everyone for the responses. We’re still waiting and move out is a week away. There’s been movement at the property but we’re still pushing for feedback and an update. It’ll be eight weeks waiting next week. 😕There are no plans to do any bathroom or kitchen works, this was confirmed when the house was offered to us at the beginning of Feb.

Unfortunately our current landlord is wanting to come in and do renovation/alteration works on the home so staying longer wasn’t much of a choice.

I just wish they could tell us what is going on and why it’s taking forever, well, forever for us.

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 08:25

@LjPowers have you asked to speak to the lettings manager? I know you are probably worried about making a fuss and getting off on wrong foot but this is absolutely not ok.

Im going to assume they haven’t had a formal offer yet? This is because they don’t want to be held to doing temp accommodation charges if they don’t move you in when said.

Email me asking to raise a complaint to lettings manager explaining the lack of progress and communication is causing you stress and you have to vacant your accommodation by x date.

Speak to your landlord. You’ll need to stay put and pay what’s owed for extra days. I’m sure he’d rather you come to an arrangement. Tenants do overstay and the only option to get them gone is court action. He’d rather you come to an agreement than that.

Have you tried to do a view of the property. I’d go round and see if workman in it . Ask them what works they are doing. Some would let you have a look if not major works…… I’m cheeky though. The only thing they can say is no. Tbh most operatives if in-house with my HA will be quite keen to get works done if they knew of your plight.

CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 08:26

Email in asking to raise a complaint to lettings manager explaining the lack of progress and communication is causing you stress and you have to vacant your accommodation by x date.

Bemyclementine · 25/03/2023 08:29

@LjPowers where do you live out of interest?

I'm a housing officer , our housing associations have HUGE backlogs of works needing to be done. One of my cases has waited 6 months from offer to tenancy start date.
Previously it would have been a week or 2.

Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 08:50

I’m in the Cotswolds.

The current house I’m in, the rent is so crazy high it’s not worth staying here, cheaper to go into a hotel like the travel lodge.

The crazy thing is when we had our interview she asked when we wanted to move, etc and we said as asap and told her that we have two months notice because of the works and she said that’s fine, not to worry, she’s just waiting for maintenance to give her the go ahead for us to view. 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 08:55

CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 08:25

@LjPowers have you asked to speak to the lettings manager? I know you are probably worried about making a fuss and getting off on wrong foot but this is absolutely not ok.

Im going to assume they haven’t had a formal offer yet? This is because they don’t want to be held to doing temp accommodation charges if they don’t move you in when said.

Email me asking to raise a complaint to lettings manager explaining the lack of progress and communication is causing you stress and you have to vacant your accommodation by x date.

Speak to your landlord. You’ll need to stay put and pay what’s owed for extra days. I’m sure he’d rather you come to an arrangement. Tenants do overstay and the only option to get them gone is court action. He’d rather you come to an agreement than that.

Have you tried to do a view of the property. I’d go round and see if workman in it . Ask them what works they are doing. Some would let you have a look if not major works…… I’m cheeky though. The only thing they can say is no. Tbh most operatives if in-house with my HA will be quite keen to get works done if they knew of your plight.

No formal offer until we’ve viewed 🙄

We’ve been trying to call in but always no answer. We’ve left messages and sent emails. We have definitely been scared of rocking the boat but now we’re a bit fed up to be fair.

We’ve been past the house and only in the last two weeks have we seen movement and signs that someone has been in there. What they have been up to we don’t know, but this past Thursday we saw a worksvan coming out the road and a skip right by our house, so fingers crossed. Although we’re still a bit skeptical that could be for someone else though. We can only see through the kitchen and the laminate floors are still down as well as a stove in the kitchen. I’m definitely nosey but don’t want to go past too often as it’s in a culdesac and the neighbours might think we’re stalkers or something 😂

OP posts:
OnaBegonia · 25/03/2023 09:16

Id definitely be more pushy, get in touch with your local councillor and get them to get in touch with leggings on your behalf, can't believe you've not viewed, our LA it's offer, view, works, move.

Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 09:21

OnaBegonia · 25/03/2023 09:16

Id definitely be more pushy, get in touch with your local councillor and get them to get in touch with leggings on your behalf, can't believe you've not viewed, our LA it's offer, view, works, move.

Honestly that’s the impression we got when we did our interview. It was even mentioned be ready to move because it’s going to happen quickly, but here we sit.

We’re going to call through on Monday and sit on them until we have some answers or a way forward. I’ll get in touch with our local councillor too for assistance to get this resolved.

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 25/03/2023 09:25

Bemyclementine · 25/03/2023 08:29

@LjPowers where do you live out of interest?

I'm a housing officer , our housing associations have HUGE backlogs of works needing to be done. One of my cases has waited 6 months from offer to tenancy start date.
Previously it would have been a week or 2.

Why are you @Bemyclementine that’s crazy. Are repairs and maintenance in house or out sourced. Insane timescales.

Stomacharmeleon · 25/03/2023 09:27

I downsized in the summer from a four double bedroom (much in demand) to a two bedroom. I waited 2/3 weeks after viewing for the 'works' to be finished and it was awful. The contractor for my council often admits to timewasting and booking out a day for an hour job.
My big house sat for weeks. It was immaculate and I had carpets professionally cleaned as house was so large. No one in for at least three/ four months.

abigailsnan · 25/03/2023 09:29

Works on all void properties are taking so much longer at the minute they will have to get in gas/electrical contractors to do all the required checks they take time as there is no chance that they will both turn up on the same day to save time.
I waited 7 weeks from my first bid to getting keys then had 2 weeks to move myself in as said the amount of rent they loose is mind blowing.

Bemyclementine · 25/03/2023 10:41

@CornishTiger norfolk. It's madness. Our temporary accommodation is full of people with offers. I'm amazed no one has kicked up a fuss yet!

The "main" landlord has old the old council stock, they have their own workforce and also contractors . It's not just them though, it's other housing associations we work with too.

oviraptor21 · 25/03/2023 10:41

Has your current landlord issued a section 21?

Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 11:37

I don’t mind waiting, honestly I don’t. I just would like some feedback to let us know that we will be waiting. Thankfully no gas on the property, just electrical so only one contractor for that. The property has currently been empty for three months and was in really good condition when the old tenants left. I have seen pictures of the inside as the previous tenants were trying for a home swap but weren’t successful.

We haven’t been issued a section 21. We have been privately renting and were happy with the landlord wanting the property back because it was within the timelines discussed with the CLO from the HA. The arrangement between the landlord and ourselves were all agreeable and a mutual decision was made.

Like I’ve said, I’m happy to wait if they need us to wait. We’ll put our things into storage and will try sofa surf with our children and dogs until the house is ready. It’s just difficult when you have kids and pets because we don’t have the support nearby to accommodate us. We are happy to go and stay at say a Travelodge, but we don’t want to outlay a £1000 only for them to say next week, “Hey, here are the keys.” We’re struggling so much at the moment that every penny counts and obviously don’t want to be wasting money where we don’t need to.

I guess the main problem here is just communication from the CLO at the HA. It’s hard to plan and organise when you’re being told nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
LjPowers · 25/03/2023 11:40

abigailsnan · 25/03/2023 09:29

Works on all void properties are taking so much longer at the minute they will have to get in gas/electrical contractors to do all the required checks they take time as there is no chance that they will both turn up on the same day to save time.
I waited 7 weeks from my first bid to getting keys then had 2 weeks to move myself in as said the amount of rent they loose is mind blowing.

😔We’re at 10 weeks on Monday from bid of waiting so hoping that with the movement at the property that we’ve seen when popping past that something is going to happen soon.

OP posts:
LadyJ2023 · 25/03/2023 12:53

Almost 3months for us from bid acceptance and phone call to getting the keys as house was over hauled as old person had it

oviraptor21 · 26/03/2023 07:54

If you don't have a section 21 you don't have to move out.
Talk to your housing officer or Citizens Advice.