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?

Not sarcastic at all. I truly had no idea this scheme existed. It doesn’t seem right or fair to me. That’s what I’m getting at

They could “subsidise” themselves by selling the house surely?

So it's different if you own a home that's too big and you can't afford it so require "taxpayer help"? Surely they should sell the house? A family that can afford a mortgage on that home could have it... Just like everyone says the OP should move out because UC is paying her rent and the house is too big.

considered an asset to local councils. Therefore there is no subsidy.

The council could get a better return on those assets to the benefit of everyone else served by the council. It chooses instead to take a lower return to benefit its tenants. There's a choice being made their to subsidise the tenants at the cost of others. The extra money from a market rent could be used for zebra crossings or social workers or flower pots on the High Street.

In my view it's often the right choice, but to pretend that there isn't a subsidy is disingenuous.

And live where?

Exactly. Adults make their own decisions, children don't have that luxury. It's almost as if people think it's fine for them to have an awful start because of adults who were lucky enough to have memories in a family home that was big enough for them.

Not your house. It was a home given to help because your own parents were on a low income, it was never owned. Be grateful for that then pass the same privilege on to others.

Sounds like you are sensible and well-organised, OP.

Well therein lies the problem. We’ve come back to the building of more houses again. It’s all a holy mess and how it’s ever going to be resolved I’ve no idea

OP's family need to butt out.

We were in a one bedroom HA property and we needed a two bedroom, we're now in a three bedroom property as there are no two bedroom ones available so the HA used some common sense to get us out.

Both myself and my husband work, we pay our way so the bedroom tax doesn't effect us.

Nobody knows when they will need assistance in some way.

I would downsize in your position.

Never give up social housing for private rented. Your bedroom tax depending on your age would go from minimal to you paying hundreds in extra rent depending on your areas Local housing allowance. Stay put. And tell everyone to mind their own.
On another note , haven't read whole thread, if you are on benefits and receiving housing element, going to full time education may affect this so get that checked xxx

If you think that SMI is a bountiful fund that will keep you in the manner to which you've become accustomed then have a look at how it works!

I'd much rather be an unemployed council tenant than an unemployed mortgagor. Social tenancies are coveted and envied for good reason.

But homeswappers has to be mutually approved so not sure why your famiky think this will work

I agree with every word of this, @Whatthediddlyfeck

It makes my blood boil, though.

I mean we could just let them live on the streets I guess ...

That’s why we need more housing stock!

I can't imagine anyone moaning that a single person in SH wouldn't have enough space to isolate, never mind a a single person with a kitchen, living room, bathroom, three bedrooms plus a garden.

It's one person, not a family.

All profits from social housing are ringfenced to social housing. This is stated in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. There is no loss to any other council services.

Not your house. It was a home given to help because your own parents were on a low income, it was never owned. Be grateful for that then pass the same privilege on to others.

Exactly.
Our neighbour in HA house died and his daughter and her partner took on the tenancy. Both work full time. He works on the oil rigs and earns a bloody fortune. Both drive big flashy cars. Bloody great campervan parked in the drive. They're laughing all the way to the bank.
This is not how social housing is supposed to work.

Your family sound awful.

Be very wary of them.

Definitely report their fraud to the police one the investigation is completed.

Good luck with your university course.

I would hang on to my HA home like grim death.

There very evidently is, it's just that the loss to other services is mandated by statute!

You are unlikely to get anything more secure and affordable privately renting and you sound young enough that you may choose to start a family at some stage in next few years. I'd be holding onto the house until you make some life decisions on where you want to be in the next few years.

There is usually only one right to succession and they don't allow larger houses to stay with a single person lightly so your circumstances must have hit their criteria. You may never get social housing again if you leave for private and downsizing at your age when you are likely to have a family one day needs serious consideration.

I would not be surprised if most of the people on this thread frothing and foaming about "morally wrong" and "you should downsize" etc. are owner-occupiers and know next to nothing about living in social housing or a life lived on benefits.

This is why I think everyone should have to live on the equivalent of JSA for a single person for at least 6 months of their adult lives.
That would teach some of you at least a little bit of compassion and empathy that you are seriously lacking.

This topic boils my piss.

It's not just the OP but the housing situation in this country is an absolute joke.