Housing Association Houses

[Butterpie]

So, what goes on there then? We privately rent atm, and it is really starting to annoy me (and stress me out, which isn't good) that we could be chucked out with two months notice on the landlords whim. Also we can't decorate, do DIY, make a lawn or veg patch (we have that horrible gravel now), have a pet cat or basically treat our home as our home iyswim.

So, we're thinking a housing association house could be the way forward. Cheaper too.

We currently live in Washington, which comes under Sunderland's "GenToo" HA, so I will send off for a form for them (website isn't working) and I have filled out the form online for Gateshead as well.

Any tips or info from anyone who has done this before?
TIA

Do you have any new developments near you? There are often HA properties (if over a certain number of houses). I recently applied for housing and was sent weekly updates of HA properties available.

It is shit that you can be given 2 months notice at any time. This happened to us recently but we have decided to bite the bullet and buy the house (helps he is desperate to sell it for a good price!).

Butterpie do you mean to rent or in part ownership .I'm afraid if your talking about renting there is likely to be a long waiting list and less you have special circumstances your chances are likely to be very low

To rent. I'm hoping that, if we register now, we have more chance in the future if our lanlord does decide to chuck us out. Can't hurt anyway.

Yep depends what you need to .defintley register though at least your then on books . Problem is they probably have own people. Waiting I waited 4 years in my 2 bed Ha for something more suitable 4 dc one in a wheelchair but gave up in end moved and went private rented but am on waiting list where we are just in case

is it the bidding system?

you'll be allocated your points and depending on your need,you'll then be placed in a band

as someone said,dont hold your breath!! long waiting lists for priority first,moving downwards.

We let our old house privately to a tenant and have happily let her decorate etc and she is welcome to get a cat if she wants (we have 2)!!! She lets on a 12 month fixed term that she renews each year for her own peace of mind that we won't kick her out for the next full year (not that we have any plans to do that anyway, the house is a long-term/permanent investment as far as we're concerned).

Maybe you just need a better landlord? You can ask for a longer rental term if you want, although once the term goes over a certain period it has to be registered with the land registry and incurs a stamp duty charge, can't remember how long a fixed term needs to be for that to be an issue. don't know anything about housing association properties, but really would think you could get a more secure deal privately if you wanted that.

It's other things as well, for example we loved the house because it has a range cooker, gas fire in the front room, garage for storage. The range cooker took the landlord three months to mend, in which time we had no oven at all, the fire has been condemmed and has been broken for six months, apparently they don't have to mend it as we have central heating (but we don't tend to put that on and just have the fire on to take off the chill for half an hour or so), the garage door is broken, the stupid gravel takes more upkeep than a blimmin lawn but is rubbish for kids, the house is mostly open plan, including no door on the ensuite, the landlord keeps saying we haven't paid rent until we produce receipts, basically lovely house, rubbish landlord. But then at least the house is waterproof, unlike a previous one where the landlord basically told us to put buckets down when it rains.

I just want a house where I can feel secure. We pay our rent, we look after our houses, we want to stay somewhere, but we keep having to move.

O admit mine does not mind me decorating or redoing garden .my points right now are so low as I am in suitable accomindation size wise etc you will probably find the same.I tend not to worry bidding mind in my case not many 4/5 bed bungalows come up or 4 beds with 2 receptions and room for downstairs bathroom .in councils eyes far easier to help with the rent here thnk trouble come if landlord sells am on list just in case something does come up or they decide when new builds to build something