Family wants me to give up my social house and I'm not - wwyd?

[spicy2001]

I currently rent a three bedroom social housing property and I live on my own. Most of the rent is paid for by universal credit and I have to pay 25% bedroom tax which is very affordable to me which is for two rooms and a shortfall of £30.55p.

I did speak to a housing officer and they said I am legally allowed to occupy it, and as long as I pay the rent on time, tax and shortfall, then everything is fine. I don't feel guilty for occupying this three bedroom house, it's been my home since I was born.

Recently, I noticed that my family were talking a lot about me downsizing. I asked why are they talking about me downsizing? They said because I don't need this property and have to downsize.

I explained I'm legally allowed to stay here, this is my property and not yours. I get that I don't need this property but I'm staying here because I'm allowed too. I found out that they actually joined a site called "home swapper" and a site called "glass bob" my sibling set up an account using her email address to advertise my property. If I'm correct, I've never joined these so I don't know 100% but they're platforms where you can do mutual exchange and advertise your property.

I phoned my housing association and explained the situation, they've started an investigation and they are speaking to various departments to see if they can do it from the end to see if they can do anything as they approved it but they don't know if they can disapprove it.

The other day a tenant from another part of my cul-de-sac came round and told me she knows I'm downsizing and she has a friend whose currently living in a one bedroom flat with his wife and they've got a one year old daughter and another baby on the way. I explained to this person my family have been trying to get me to downsize to a one bedroom flat and I'm not actually looking to downsize so I won't swap with them but told her I do sympathize with their situation.

She told all my neighbours about her friend and now all the neighbours are peed off at me because I'm not downsizing. My family are also peed of that I'm not downsizing. As far as I'm concerned I don't care as I have the legal right to stay here for as long as I like or want.

I just wanted to know though what would you do if you was in my situation?

She gets most of the rent paid by the taxpayer!!

How about the state stops paying rent.

As do a portion a private renters with UC and Local Housing Allowance and homeowners with Support for Mortgage Interest.

The rent of all council property is a minimum of 20% lower than market rare, often a lot lower. The difference between market rate (eg what non council tenants pay) and what council tenants pay (eg the discount on market prices) is the subsidy.

I think you said you planned on going to uni in the same county this autumn?
Putting aside the family, and the morals side of things, I think in your shoes I would approach the HA and ask if they have any smaller properties near to the uni that you might move into, thus freeing up the house for a family from their waiting lists.
This would be much better for you over the next few years, less rent, cheaper bills, closer to uni and new friends that might bring. If you could swing a 2 bed then you could have a roommate which would help with expenses.
I know what it's like to lose your remaining parent and to part with the family home, it's really difficult, but you must look to the future.

You should downsize. That property is not yours and could house a family.

@JenniferBooth yes, OP is a SH tenant, that doesn't mean we shouldn't dare call her out on her choices and lack of compassion when they affect others.

Just as someone who didn't need it would be rightfully judged for taking from a food bank. OP is taking more than she needs simply because she can and depriving others in the process.

And the vast majority of private tenants have to move around 'like chess pieces' at their landlord's whim, it's a hell of a luxury to be able to stay in one house for life.

No one is attacking SH tenants- but resources are limited and it isn't nice to see people taking more than they need.

Support for Mortgage Interest? Is that a thing? Never heard of that

Nasty. Bring back the slums eh?

@Tidsleytiddy https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest

Interesting, explain why they can't own what they want with their own money?

Sounds a bit like communism. How many loaves of bread am I allowed comrade?

Id bet a penny to a pinch of shit that some of the same posters moaning about the OP for having extra space are at least SOME of the same posters who moaned about SH tenants not having enough space at home to self isolate from other family members during the lockdowns!!!!

Because a social tenants place is in the wrong.

Social tenants always get a bashing when the private rents go up and they’re currently through the roof. Anyone who thinks there are an abundance of smaller HA properties available to swap into are much mistaken. If the government implemented a proper building programme we wouldn’t be in this mess but then of course people on here calling the OP immoral would no doubt vote against any big development of social housing properties being built near them

And yet just about any private tenant would give their right arm to have a social tenancy. Social tenancies are like gold dust, the waiting lists are enormous. Social tenants are unquestionably getting a much better deal.

I'm sorry your family have been so presumptuous OP. I know what it's like to be really connected to a childhood home - the thought of leaving it must be scary.

The size of the house does sound a little big for you, especially if you know there's a lot of demand in the area. Having said that, it's the system that's wrong and given the challenges you might have in trying to downsize, I can't say I blame you for sticking with it

I would stop with the point around tax though . The large majority of people pay council tax plus income tax plus various others. The fact you pay council tax doesn't make you anymore entitled to that house.

Good luck with it all, I hope your family back off.

It's a public forum so what was the point in posting if not to get replies? And if it would end after the OPs post without the saintly people, then what would be the point posting a rhetorical question exactly? Surely you are also sticking your beak in by commenting, or is it different for the 'un' saintly people? If she was only allowed to swap to a 1 bed and one wasn't available then at least she would have tried and the option was there if it did come up.

Her family are dicks. She doesn't come off well either but for different reasons.

This is a situation where a "nice to have" i.e. being able to stay in your housing association home because it's your home, rather than because you need it, rubs up against a social crisis, namely a lack of affordable housing. Imo, you shouldn't be allowed to stay in your home, as there's so many families in desperate need of housing. Yes it would be rubbish to be evicted from your home, but it's more rubbish to be a 4+ person family in a one bedroom flat, or a hostel. Of course the housing association should find you somewhere else locally to live before they can evict you, but they should be able to evict you. Were these terms, that allow tenants to stay in a property they don't need drawn up in a different time, before social housing was pretty much all sold off? If so, they're no longer fit for purpose, and really should be changed. When young children are living in tiny properties where there's no space to play, which is important for child development, we're not in a place where we can afford for single people to be allowed to stay in social housing that's suitable for families.

Well I never…

And folks don’t forget who started all this: Thatcher, when she sold off the council houses that weren’t hers to sell in the first place

Paid by the SMI element of Universal Credit.

www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest

Perhaps we should all look to that then. I had no idea people were buying houses they obvs can’t afford and then asking the government for help whilst the house rises in value

Oh please, it's her family home, nothing immoral about it, why should she give up her home to provide housing for a stranger, it's the governments job to provide affordable housing.
I'll just bet you're sat pretty in your nice house passing judgement on a situation you've never experienced.
How about someone comes along and tells you to move out of your house to make way for another more deserving family.
Bet you'd have a different attitude then.
She pays rent, the tenancy is hers, it's her home

I see what you are saying but I disagree. Council housing is self sustaining financially and is considered an asset to local councils. Therefore there is no subsidy.

Private rents are inflated to be profitable for BTL Landlords. Here is where the problem lies. Any property on a BTL mortage should not be allowed to be rented at profit or a very minimal profit.

I've lost track as to whether you're being sarcastic! But clearly people who are down on their luck need public subsidy to provide a roof over their head.

The rents are NOT subsidised! They are just set at affordable rates in comparison to the greed of BTL

Totally agree with both points.