Would you give up a council house to go private?

niknaknoo1982

Hi folks, I know this probably seems like a really stupid question but i'm really unsure what to do and my pregnant hormones arent making it any easier lol.
We live (all 5 of us, Me,OH, 2 daughters and a son) In a 2 bed council semi (pretty much a 2 up 2 down!) I'm also pregnant and due in July. The council arent any help due to stupid overcrowding laws saying that kids under 10 are only half a person - I'm at the bottom of the transfer waiting list as they claim we are adequately housed!!

We have been for several house swaps and something always goes wrong at last minute.either the council stop the swap because of complications with other tenants or they pull out *hardly suprising, why give up a large 3 bed to move to a crappy 2!*

Currently have another swap lined up, council have inspected our property and given us a few repairs we need to carry out before it can go ahead - which we have now completed, but the other tenant's house and garden is a real state and he needs to do loads before the council will give us the go ahead!

My partner lost his job a few months ago, and although has another lined up, he can't start until he gets his SIA security licence through which could take a few months for checks etc.

We're currently on Housing benefits and looked into private renting but been unable to find a landlord who will allow us to pay with H.B.... Until yesterday, my O.H was at the local shop and the guy behind the counter asked how our 'swap' was going and O.H told him its on hold and about the other tenant having a lot to do. The shop guy happens to mention he's a property developer, and has a suitable house and will accept DSS tenants, asked us would we consider! (the house sounds AMAZING!)

I really don't know what to do! do i hang on in for the 'swap' *which still could be denied or take a really long time* or should i give up my council house and get this private rented house? My baby is due in 19 weeks and my wedding is in May and was hoping to have the move sorted by then!

Any advice would be appreciated,
Thanks x

socrates

Thats a real 'devil and the deep blue sea' scenario.

Personally I would try and stay with the Council House.

I am sure you are aware how LHA works and room calculators if you decide to rent privately.

Interesting to see what other people think

Good luck either way!

julie03

if your council house is in a fairly good area then i would say no to private renting. private renting is ok but you don't have security of tenancy. what if this guy goes bust in 6 months and you get kicked out and the council then put you in a b & b and you end up in a s**t hole. i private rent and have 3 kids and every year i hope and pray the landlord doesnt want the house back or needs to sell. if your council house is in a really bad area then you don't have alot to lose
hope this helps

mark5

when your other half starts back to work will you lose hb and council tax benefit?
If so then how do the 2 houses compare for costs?

For me if the private house is better for your living needs then its a major plus so then it comes down to the financial side and if you can afford it.

*jobags*

The condition of the garden is not a ground for witholding consent to an assignment by exchange - check out Schedule 3 Housing Act 1985 It's fairly straightforward reading and gives the full Grounds for witholding consent (google it or maybe some kind person can post the link)

Are either of you Introductory Tenants?

Probably a smokescreen for some other breach of tenancy which they are unable to tell you about e.g. a possession order for arrears or ASB

I wouldn't give up a Council Tenancy - you have full Security of Tenure - via your Secure tenancy - the best you can hope for in the Private Sector is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy where after 6 months you only need to be given 2 months Notice for the landlord to be able to evict you

Have you asked your local councillor for advice and support - that's what they're there for and get an allowance for - use them

Good luck

Jo

Nigella_2

I would try best to stay put with the Council (better what you know) in favour of a move to another Council property.

Get support from your local Councillor / MP if you are getting too many hurdles / troubles from the council.

If you go private you lose the security of "Council Housing" like others have said!!

niknaknoo1982

julie03 wrote: »

if your council house is in a fairly good area then i would say no to private renting. private renting is ok but you don't have security of tenancy. what if this guy goes bust in 6 months and you get kicked out and the council then put you in a b & b and you end up in a s**t hole. i private rent and have 3 kids and every year i hope and pray the landlord doesnt want the house back or needs to sell. if your council house is in a really bad area then you don't have alot to lose
hope this helps

The estate and area i'm in does have a bad rep, but my street is lovely and not far in estate as we're just off the main road. Another issue with swaps is that not only are we only in a 2 bed house,but our only bathroom and loo is downstairs at the back of the house so that puts a lot of people off!

The guy whose house i'm trying to swap to is on his own in a 3 bed,and really wants a fresh start and actually liked our house, we did warn him that he'd be denied the swap if he didnt sort his clutter and gardens, and the council have also told him to repaint the whole property!! now he's saying he's having a hard time doing that as he's got a bad back and he apparently damaged his shoulder when trying to do the garden! and that's whats worrying me. If he doesn't get sorted i'll be stuck here so maybe the private let is my only way to move asap? Keep trying to weigh up the pro's and con's for myself but my minds all over the place and i'm getting so agitated its getting me cry lol

socrates

niknaknoo1982 wrote: »

The estate and area i'm in does have a bad rep, but my street is lovely and not far in estate as we're just off the main road. Another issue with swaps is that not only are we only in a 2 bed house,but our only bathroom and loo is downstairs at the back of the house so that puts a lot of people off!

The guy whose house i'm trying to swap to is on his own in a 3 bed,and really wants a fresh start and actually liked our house, we did warn him that he'd be denied the swap if he didnt sort his clutter and gardens, and the council have also told him to repaint the whole property!! now he's saying he's having a hard time doing that as he's got a bad back and he apparently damaged his shoulder when trying to do the garden! and that's whats worrying me. If he doesn't get sorted i'll be stuck here so maybe the private let is my only way to move asap? Keep trying to weigh up the pro's and con's for myself but my minds all over the place and i'm getting so agitated its getting me cry lol

Incidentally I would also ask this question on the benefits board

*jobags*

All you have to do is sign an undertaking that you will clear the garden etc within a reasonable timeframe - I would say 6 months but as you'e 20 weeks pregnant then you could probably push for 9 or a year.

Under occupation is a Ground for witholding - he is a 1 bed need and you have 2.

If this is the real reason then I would suggest you challenge it via Shelter (Google them for their National advice line number) as under occupation by 1 bedroom is not serious under occupation - There is no real defined standard for under occupation but it's usually when somebody who has a 1 bed need (or 2 bed need) is trying to exchange into something which exceeds their needs by more then one bedroom

niknaknoo1982

Thanks for all the advice.
I have been in touch with several local councillors and the best advice they can offer is to find a suitable private rented house!!

I've carried out all the repairs and adjustments the council said i needed to do for the swap to go ahead, such as removing 2 glass panelled doors, and replacing with flat non panelled doors (aquired via freecycle 2 flimsy council style cardboard doors lol)

I was told we needed to remove a pond and fill it in, because of health and safety risks. We've done that - (later on in the day the inspector came!) The other problems with my house were only small, repairing light fittings etc and 2 cupboard doors which i'm having fixed by the council on Monday afternoon. I should now pass the inspection no problems. The issue is mainly with the other guy because his house and gardens are a real state and he's breaking tenancy agreement rules that state 'Tenants must keep the property and gardens in a clean and tidy condition,'
He said he doesnt owe any rent or anything so i don't know if there is anything else i'm not being told?
I've been in a similar situation before and after packing had the council tell me it can't go ahead! That's another reason i'm so worried!

Rent in our current house is 62 pw. The other council house i think is 67 a week but the private house is 500 a month. We could 'just' afford it, when OH starts work again but would have to miss out on any luxuries. While we are still on benefits the maximum LHA we could have paid for us is 456 per month according to a 'What am i entitled to calculator' on council's website. Leaving us only a few pounds a week to pay.

socrates

niknaknoo1982 wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice.
I have been in touch with several local councillors and the best advice they can offer is to find a suitable private rented house!!

I've carried out all the repairs and adjustments the council said i needed to do for the swap to go ahead, such as removing 2 glass panelled doors, and replacing with flat non panelled doors (aquired via freecycle 2 flimsy council style cardboard doors lol)

I was told we needed to remove a pond and fill it in, because of health and safety risks. We've done that - (later on in the day the inspector came!) The other problems with my house were only small, repairing light fittings etc and 2 cupboard doors which i'm having fixed by the council on Monday afternoon. I should now pass the inspection no problems. The issue is mainly with the other guy because his house and gardens are a real state and he's breaking tenancy agreement rules that state 'Tenants must keep the property and gardens in a clean and tidy condition,'
He said he doesnt owe any rent or anything so i don't know if there is anything else i'm not being told?
I've been in a similar situation before and after packing had the council tell me it can't go ahead! That's another reason i'm so worried!

Rent in our current house is 62 pw. The other council house i think is 67 a week but the private house is 500 a month. We could 'just' afford it, when OH starts work again but would have to miss out on any luxuries. While we are still on benefits the maximum LHA we could have paid for us is 456 per month according to a 'What am i entitled to calculator' on council's website. Leaving us only a few pounds a week to pay.

Have you used this?

https://lha-direct.therentservice.gov.uk/Secure/BedroomCalculator.aspx