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?

I`d downsize to a nice 2 bed cottage somewhere peaceful and not tell the family but its up to you what you do .

This. There is a massive housing shortage and your choice wouldn’t morally sit right to me and I couldn’t do what you’re doing.

Your family is out of order, but how does a single person manage to rent a 3 bedroom house with UC paying the rent? That's what jumped out for me here

Good luck with your university course op; just wanted to say, do not be in a hurry to move to a private rental - by all means, on your terms, look at a swop, but if you have a decent landlord, stick with them as long as it suits you.

You are my worst person I'm currently living in temporary accommodation fleeing domestic abuse in my tempary block there is loads of other family's many couples both working 30/40s. 2+ children in one bed flats.
you don't own your house it's selfish you had your turn let a family have there's

Op says herself that universal credit pays for most of it...

I think your family are being very unreasonable. I also think you are, or rather the system that allows you to do this is. This isn't your house, it belongs to the tax payers and is intended to house a family who wouldn't be able to be able to afford a family home off their own back. A single person occupying a 3 bed social housing property intended for a family is unethical.

All a bit strange really.

I'm surprised you're allowed to live there. Was your parent a lone parent and passed the tenancy to you before they died?

In my LA, we're allowed lifetime tenancy and can pass it once (IE. If I die, DH can stay and vice versa). We won't be able to pass the tenancy to our children at all. They will have to move out if we die.

Give over, she’s lived there all her life.
Stay put Op and enjoy your home.

I've only just read your comments, I understand your point of view. Yes, you have given useful advice. I've decided to wait for the HA investigation to be over so I can make a report and give any evidence that the HA has provided to the police.

You say it's "not normal" to be in the same house since you were born. In my area it is many families who are social housing or council tenants have children who lived there since they were born, it's genuinely a nice area, low crime rate, never been burgled etc.

I got the house via successions rights because my father passed away. At the time of applying my family were fine with me applying via successions rights, not that I needed their approval as they moved out years ago and wouldn't have been entitled to it either. But he had a lodger who was a friend of his that was staying at my house as he had some problems. Our local council managed to get him a bedsit which he was fine with. He got a bedsit three months after my father passed away.

All I know is that I was granted the three bedroom house because of "exceptional circumstances". I don't know if it's you that posted about income, I can't remember who did. But, I am on minimum wage and work full time, minimum wage is enough for me to live on as I'm single. Every single neighbour has kids, some have 6 kids. I budget my income, I'm not going to lie, if it weren't for universal credit then I probably wouldn't be able to live comfortably as they pay for the majority of my rent I would have struggled massively without universal credit, I also pay the full council tax per a month which is well over £200.00 so I am a tax payer.

@spicy2001 in your situation OP I would get a solicitor to send a letter to the HA reiterating that you have been the victim of identity theft and will not be giving up your home until you're ready.

And for the pp's telling a presumably young person (who has possibly lost her parents) to leave her childhood home just myob.

I’d say stop telling people your business.

I would never give up for private. My auntie is 50 with cancer and has been evicted 4 times now within the last 10 years through no fault of her own, just from selling the property or moving back in etc.

Your never safe. I wouldn't downsiz though even if it's the right thing to do

There's no moral imperative for OP to move now when she could more suitably move after her university course.

To move she'd need to spend money on removals and furnishings. She may have pets.

Do we kick all the windows and widowers out of their houses so families can move in? Or do we let them move when they are ready?

the career I'm going into is a good paying job so I'll be able to afford a one or two bedroom flat in private rent.

I would be wary of going into the private rented sector if you can avoid it; there is far less security, landlords who will evict you on a whim, and no real protection from rent rises.

For those saying downsize, I don't believe OP would be able to downsize to a 2 bed, only a 1 bed.

The problem here is the system. There isn't enough affordable homes.

In an ideal world people would have tenancies for life, choosing if they wanted to downsize/move and not be kicked out if their landlord was selling. Not be subjected to unaffordable rent rises.
But that's not where we are.

It's not OPs fault the system is a mess. I didn't notice OP mention their age or future plans - maybe they're younger and might eventually want a family. Moving to a 1 bed flat wouldn't be a good move then.

It's no-ones business but your own!

My father was a lone parent when he passed away I applied for successions rights. The tenancy I have is called an assured tenancy. I can't remember who told me but I was informed as well that if the successions rights tenancy was successful, I would be able to live there, but if I died and had a family of my own, they too would not be able to live there and would have to move out.

Worst person, really? What about your ex that put you in that situation? Surely that would be your worst person. Or the politicians that allowed the sale of social housing? Or the head of the HA that allow under occupancy? Is the OP really so bad for staying in the house they are legally allowed to remain in? I think not. If you want to be angry and blame somebody, try the People on the list I've already given you.

I live in a huge 5 bed council house with just one child left at home and one at uni. But this house has been adapted to my disability needs. I can't get another grant to adapt another council property for around 7-8 years so I'm staying here and I refuse to feel guilty. I might even buy it because the currently law says I can and it would suit me for the rest of my life. Plus my Cunty does actually reinvest the money in new build property.

Op what happens when you go to University - is it in your home town so you can stay in the house? I don't understand the bit about only going NC AFTER university?

As they're siblings and presumably its their childhood home too, are they resentful that you took over the tenancy from your parents?

Ultimately, regardless of the moral side, they can't make you move. Even if someone wants to swap, you would have to sign the paperwork to do so so leave it with the HA and forget about that stuff. You're neighbours are entitled to their opinions, you're entitled to disregard them.

Should people in family sized houses who don't need them and won't in the next few years downsize? Yes, generally they should but depending on your age and circs, life isn't always that clear cut.

The uk housing system allows this scenario. Your family and neighbours may or may not disagree with UK social housing policy but that doesn’t alter the fact this is acceptable. Your family may think it’s morally wrong but if it’s legal then it’s irrelevant. If they want to change it they need to write to their MP and start pushing for change legally.

Forging a form with your details may however be illegal. I would tell them the housing association is looking into their application as fraud and put in writing to them that you do not agree with them advertising your house on any website/newspaper etc as you WILL not be swapping. I would also let them you know you will tell the truth if this is investigated further. If that means a police visit then so be it.

With neighbours (assuming they are in HA properties) I would tell them it’s very worrying how a stranger could list THEIR home for swap without their consent. They could have anyone turning up knocking on their door.

Contact the website in writing, ask for all information they have on you and tell them you do not consent and you did not list the property.

Then meet new people and go low contact with these people who do not want the best for you.

I've a few views on op's situation because my aunts is also occupying a 3 bed house on her own and unfortunately here in Ireland we don't have a bedroom tax. She doesn't maintain the house regarding decor etc but it's looking run down compared to her neighbours who purchased their houses (I don't agree with being allowed to purchased local authority houses), she used the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, the other rooms are just closed off. She would move into a small house/apartment but there is none in the area, more LA houses have been built but all 2 and 3 bedrooms. There are thousands waiting for housing, some in hotels, others in private rented with the LA paying the tent, others living with family in overcrowded houses. The LA has to build small low maintenance apartments in lots of areas and then insist all rooms be used or introduce a bedroom tax or insist on under occupiers moving. In the op's case they are paying the extra, they want to stay and have the right to do so, it sounds more like sour grapes from the extended family regarding lower rent than a concern for others. I may not agree with the situation but my advice would be sit tight, ignore your family, let the LA investigate, do not move out in the belief you'll be able to afford private rent eventually, do not downsize unless it's what you want, no ones family should get to bully like that.

Thank you!!!

I completely forgot to mention about that! I was told by the council that all the downsizing schemes can take up to 15 years for one bedroom properties as there isn't many around. It can take 10 years for a two bedroom property.

I spoke to my HA they said it can take up to 10 years for me to downsize to a one bedroom property that a HA property. I haven't decided if I want to get married or have kids yet but by that time I would be in my 30s and I would probably have a family of my own if I chose to have kids and get married.

You find her a 1 bed and tell us when you have.
I'll give it several years.