Page 3 | Giving up council house to private rent?

RedHelenB · 02/09/2023 08:21

BananaSlug · 01/09/2023 23:21

I live in a council house but I am really desperate to move areas, mutual exchange is out of the question as I live in a rough area and no one would move here, I’m thinking of giving up my house to private rent but would I be mad to do this? Has anyone done this? Did you regret it? I don’t want my kids growing up here.

If you want to move out of the area thrn you're making the only decision available to you. I think location is a key indicator of happiness, like health and money.

Issummernearlyover · 02/09/2023 08:21

I know it must be awful to live there, but my DD has social housing and her rent is a third of the rent of houses exactly the same being let by landlords privately on her estate. She saves the difference so that she has a deposit to buy in the future. You are far better sitting tight and saving. Also you can't be kicked out by a landlord who wants new tenants to pay more.

Skiphopandajump · 02/09/2023 08:23

I agree there is a shortage of social housing although developers have an obligation to build homes for renting. The reality is the rents they charge are far higher than a mortgage would cost a potential buyer.
I live in a really rough neighbourhood but a new build 3 bedroom house with a postage size garden is about £1300 a month to rent. It's insane.

Anothershitusername · 02/09/2023 08:31

Where I live there are so many families in bed and breakfast,or temporary accommodation of 4 people in one room .
these people can’t afford to rent
so why the hell are they dishing out council houses to people who can afford to rent …no it shouldn’t be for just anyone who wants the security
yes it should be for the poorest in society,.
so yes op move to a better area for your children,so someone living 4 people to one one room can have a home

Flidina · 02/09/2023 08:34

Don't disregard the mutual exchange website, I lived on a rough council estate, when my son was 3, really didn't want him growing up there, so put my house on the mutual exchange website, not expecting to swap with anyone, because no one wanted to be on that particular estate. About a month later, I got a call of my housing association, asking if I had any ideas in mind as to where I wanted to move to, so I told them, anywhere better than here, turned out they were doing a regeneration project in the area, and they had one family wanting to move onto my street, as they had family living there, so they offered me a house in a great local area, all private housing and about 7 housing association, so it can happen.

amlie8 · 02/09/2023 08:43

MidnightOnceMore · 02/09/2023 06:57

Council homes are for people who want secure tenancies. There's a lot of people not classed as in poverty who will never buy a home. In my area average house prices are about 10 times average income.

Everyone needs a home, the op was legally allocated a home.

Housing cost support via benefits is for those unable to afford housing costs (not that it is enough in many cases, as private rents climb).

Edited

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Thank you, @MidnightOnceMore A good faith answer to a good faith question! (I am someone who cannot yet afford to buy a home, but I expect I will be able to in time.)

Skiphopandajump · 02/09/2023 09:57

The councils don't dish out homes. Private rents are extortionate now and driving up the cost of buying a home. A lot( not all) of people in temporary accommodation have been evicted from their homes due to rent arrears. Back in the day housing benefit was usually paid directly to the landlord but this is no longer the case unless the landlord requests it to be after 2 or 3 months of arrears. There are those who cannot keep up with their mortgage payments and a lot of asylum seekers who are living in hotels etc. This country is not helping the situation because most authorities do impose a cap on rental costs.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 02/09/2023 10:07

I had a 2 bed council house age 17, with then DP who was 19. We had a child together. When he was 2.5 we managed to get a 4 bed detached privately rented in a better area. We stayed there for 3 years before being able to buy a house - a house I've been in for 15 years and am just about to move out of and in to a bigger house. I have no regrets leaving the council house. It was a shit hole area, and I didn't want my child growing up there.

caringcarer · 02/09/2023 10:33

SpringIntoChaos · 01/09/2023 23:41

I'm renting and honestly it's so insecure. Twice in three years I've had to move as the landlords 'were selling'. Only it turns out later that this is untrue, and once I had moved out (at great removal expense...twice!!) both times the landlords put them back on for rent at much higher prices.

It cost me thousands of pounds in removal costs, and huge stress trying to find new affordable houses to live in. Not to mention the physical time and energy it takes to actually move, which is horrendous (I'm nearly 60, single and work full time as a primary teacher, so logistically it was a bloody nightmare!)

So unless you are REALLY desperate to move...I'd stay put!

How strange the LL didn't just increase your rent and give you the option of paying more or moving out.

caringcarer · 02/09/2023 10:36

I suppose it depends if you can afford to pay more rent each month. Private rentals are not subsidised like council houses or housing association ones are. I do understand you wanting a nicer environment for your DC especially if the place you live in has a drug/gang/high crime or vandalism culture. Private rentals are less secure though.

2jacqi · 02/09/2023 10:45

do not under any circumstances enter into private rental!!! apart from rent being really high, the landlord can evict you just by saying he needs the house for a member of family. apply for other areas and get on the swap list. speak to the housing officer at your council offices.

SparkyBlue · 02/09/2023 10:54

OP I grew up in a similar area. It was rough as anything and notorious for drugs anti social behaviour etc but like you we weren't targeted and minded our own business and never had any issues however I absolutely hated living there as a teenager. My parents are still there and the area is actually quite nice now and all the same neighbours as when I was a child and a great community spirit. Now depending on what age your children are I'd stay put and save save save. And then try to buy somewhere in a few years. I'd also try the exchange route as there is often someone who wants a particular street or whatever to be near family so it's worth a try. However I 100% understand how you feel.

TheSkull · 02/09/2023 10:58

caringcarer · 02/09/2023 10:36

I suppose it depends if you can afford to pay more rent each month. Private rentals are not subsidised like council houses or housing association ones are. I do understand you wanting a nicer environment for your DC especially if the place you live in has a drug/gang/high crime or vandalism culture. Private rentals are less secure though.

It what way are they subsidised? They’re not subsidised. It’s the private rents that are overpriced by greedy landlords.

DesolationRow · 02/09/2023 11:24

@caringcarer who do you believe is subsidising council/HA housing?

ItstimeToMoveagain · 02/09/2023 11:33

I wouldn't, I live in a rough area although it's gotten better over the years. If your children are drawn to trouble then it won't matter where you live . Our secondary covers some very good areas as well as our rough one so kids are mixing from all different areas

HappiDaze · 02/09/2023 11:35

Stay where you are

You have no control of your future rentals and the stress that can bring you

You have a safe permanent roof over your head

Betty000 · 02/09/2023 11:37

Anothershitusername · 02/09/2023 08:31

Where I live there are so many families in bed and breakfast,or temporary accommodation of 4 people in one room .
these people can’t afford to rent
so why the hell are they dishing out council houses to people who can afford to rent …no it shouldn’t be for just anyone who wants the security
yes it should be for the poorest in society,.
so yes op move to a better area for your children,so someone living 4 people to one one room can have a home

This. We have waited many years to get a council house and only now, due to a several awful years of struggling, we now have one. It’s not in the best area but we love it. I can breathe at last. Doesn’t sound like you need to be in one at all. Your post is in such poor taste, right now, when so many people are struggling. Move if you want to, sounds like it would be best for you.

OriginalUsername2 · 02/09/2023 11:37

The only way I would give up mine is if I got rich. They’re gold dust!

SpringIntoChaos · 02/09/2023 11:48

@Betty000 I was still in contract so they issued a Section 21 saying they were selling. In reality they were taking advantage of rising rent prices and I had a fixed rental contract so they couldn't raise my rent. Criminal really.

caringcarer · 02/09/2023 11:53

Council rents and housing associations are not for profit. If they need lots of repairs/maintenance the council funds it from council tax. Not many businesses can operate on this basis this subsadised.

caringcarer · 02/09/2023 11:59

Council tax. Council houses and housing associations operate on not for profit principles but if they need major repairs they get subsidised from either council or bid for grants from various funding sources. LL can't do this so much cover all cost from rent.

Tomeeornottomee · 02/09/2023 12:17

We did it 21 years ago. Gave up a 2 bed council flat in a really rough area. Police raiding the flat below at least once a month, fights in the block and on the street. Constant music from the dickhead on the bottom floor..and that was just our block of 6 flats. Our kids were 7 and 3 and the 7 year old had never been allowed to play out.. we would drive halfway across town to take them to parks outside of our area. We moved to a completely different town in the same county, rented a 2 bed house and when my 2 kids got a bit older, rented a 3 bed. We've been in the same house for 15 years now and love it. I genuinely believe that if we had stayed in the flat DH and I would have ended up divorcing because it was such a stressful place to live.
I was terrified of giving it up and having to move every couple of years. We got lucky with our house and landlord so you really need to consider it carefully. Whatever you decide, good luck.

DesolationRow · 02/09/2023 12:18

@caringcarer Nonsense. Council tax cannot be used to subsidise council housing, as a quick Google would show you. HA's obviously don't receive any council tax subsidy either as they are separate organisations. You're just showing your prejudice against people who live in social housing, thinking we are scroungers of some kind.

Notveryanything · 02/09/2023 12:20

I gave up a council tenancy to move areas. I really wish I hadn't (I wish I had hung on for a swap). I never managed to have a private tenancy for longer than 3 or 4 years. Landlords ended up selling or wanted property back for themselves.

Good luck whatever you decide.

HappiDaze · 02/09/2023 12:21

Tomeeornottomee · 02/09/2023 12:17

We did it 21 years ago. Gave up a 2 bed council flat in a really rough area. Police raiding the flat below at least once a month, fights in the block and on the street. Constant music from the dickhead on the bottom floor..and that was just our block of 6 flats. Our kids were 7 and 3 and the 7 year old had never been allowed to play out.. we would drive halfway across town to take them to parks outside of our area. We moved to a completely different town in the same county, rented a 2 bed house and when my 2 kids got a bit older, rented a 3 bed. We've been in the same house for 15 years now and love it. I genuinely believe that if we had stayed in the flat DH and I would have ended up divorcing because it was such a stressful place to live.
I was terrified of giving it up and having to move every couple of years. We got lucky with our house and landlord so you really need to consider it carefully. Whatever you decide, good luck.

Edited

Obviously if it's this bad OP then move but hopefully not