Private renting help/ advice

[CaramelShortcakes]

I’m really desperate to move, I only moved to this area to be close to family as they promised all kinds of help and support when I split with my ex but never bothered, there’s been a big family rift and now I no longer speak to most of them (not over this) so this place now holds a lot of bad memories and I hate the thought of bumping into them when I’m out and about and I also hate the fact they could turn up at my door at any time. The trouble is I’m in social housing so moving isn’t possible, only through a mutual exchange but I live in a rough area and really as I said only moved down here for the support I was promised. Mutual exchange could take years I’ve seen the same people on swapping sites for years trying to move (im talking at least 5 years) I’m really desperate to move away from the bad memories here, would it be stupid to give up my house so I can move away and go into private renting? I know people are going to say I should give up my place if I can afford to private rent that isn’t the case I just can’t face living room here any longer and not sure what else to do I can’t wait Years for a mutual exchange that will probably never happen. I just really can’t face living here for another 5+ years or forever as it seems I’m stuck here now and feeling very depressed here and private renting seems the only way out.

Never give up social housing to move into private rented.

Sorry to hear you're in this situation. I have no experience of social housing, but I wonder if some swaps are faster than others? For example, could you pick an area that isn't popular where there might be others desperate to get out for other reasons? The risk is that you find yourself in a worse position, of course.

Other than that, given that you were previously on good terms with your family, maybe there is some hope that the rift will heal in time?

Not with one particular person no there’s no going back there. My mum I’m fine with but she’s the one who promised lots of help and never bothered and we barely speak but I won’t be speaking to the other family member again under any circumstances (what happened was very bad) swaps usually take years wherever you live sadly.

However bad the situation is there, it'll be an awful lot worse if you move into private rented and end up being evicted for whatever reason, or for no reason at all. You could end up in temp accommodation (hotel, hostel etc) for months on end. Stay put and make the best of it.

I should add haven’t spoken to this person in 3 years this is not a temporary situation. It’s affecting me badly and I can’t risk them trying to get to me through my children which I’m sure they will even my mum said they will when they are old enough.

Bumping for any more advice? Has anyone gone from council to private and not regretted it?

A big factor would be your income and job and how that works out with moving areas and into private rented. Will you be able to get a job and earn enough to cover the private rent plus costs of moving, potential costs of having to move again if they sell up and want you out, and have a buffer for rent increases? Only you know the sums and the costs in the area you want to live. If you can make those sums stack up, you can make it work. If you can't and if you're at risk of not being able to afford private rent, you have to stay in social housing and take your chances with the swaps.