Would you give up a council house to go private?

niknaknoo1982

socrates wrote: »

Have you used this?

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

Thanks.I'll have a look now.
The one on my councils' site
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/AdviceBenefitsEmergencies/Benefits/Housing/LHACalc.htm

Says that we'd be entitled to 3 bedrooms.

mark5

goodluck with whatever you choose nnn!

gizmo111

If your OH is off work and the other bloke is struggling to get the house up together why not offer to help him with the painting and garden and get to choose the colours you want into the bargain.

niknaknoo1982

gizmo111 wrote: »

If your OH is off work and the other bloke is struggling to get the house up together why not offer to help him with the painting and garden and get to choose the colours you want into the bargain.

Lol i suggested that before, But we've not been able to get through to the guy on his mobile this past week and didn't want to just go round to his house and seem like we're crazy stalkers lol! I only know about what the council have said to him because we are friends with his nephew.
I've also been trying to rope his nephew in to help (his uncle and close friend would both get new house's) but he's busy doing up his own house and his gf just had a baby!

poppysarah

Never mind a swap. Get rehoused properly so you're dependent only on there being a house suitable for you.
Don't give up a council tenancy.

Robert_Sterling_3

The very best of luck to the OP.
You are between a rock and a hard place.

Merry_Gentry

You need to remember that with a private rental, if the LL decides he wants you out you will have to find a deposit (normally one month's rent plus one month's rent in advance), and moving costs. Doesn't sound too tough, but you can't get your deposit back until after you have moved out, so the first time you have to move you need to have this money backing you up. After that, once you have your deposit back you should be fine as you can just leave it in a savings account until you have to move again.

I can see how difficult your situation is, but as someone with 3 kids who is moving for the third time in a year because of a change in marital situation, and then a 6 month lease, I can tell you it is incredibly disruptive for the kids, difficult as heck sorting out the deposit, moving costs, etc and making sure we remain in their school area severely limits our choices of where we can go.

Are there no changes you could make to your council house to make it easier for you all to share? It just seems a real risky move to give up such security for a house that you say you can 'just' afford.

JMHO and I wish you luck

Wkdwill

To be honest I think I would hold out for the swap and keep on at the council to push your needs status up, as you say you would just afford it if your OH went back to work while you were in the private house, but what would happen if the rent went up or they wanted you out.

I know what you mean about the council issues though, we currently live in a 2 bed terraced and im 17 weeks pregnant with our second child, the council say we will have enough rooms for all four of us but what they haven't taken into consideration is the fact that although the master bedroom is a normal sized room the 2nd bedroom is only 10ft by 7ft, so when baby number 2 becomes too old to share with mum and dad I dont know how we will fit 2 children in a room that small and I am not comfortable with a 3 year old on a top bunk.

Good luck with whatever decision you make though.

niknaknoo1982

Wkdwill wrote: »

To be honest I think I would hold out for the swap and keep on at the council to push your needs status up, as you say you would just afford it if your OH went back to work while you were in the private house, but what would happen if the rent went up or they wanted you out.

I know what you mean about the council issues though, we currently live in a 2 bed terraced and im 17 weeks pregnant with our second child, the council say we will have enough rooms for all four of us but what they haven't taken into consideration is the fact that although the master bedroom is a normal sized room the 2nd bedroom is only 10ft by 7ft, so when baby number 2 becomes too old to share with mum and dad I dont know how we will fit 2 children in a room that small and I am not comfortable with a 3 year old on a top bunk.

Good luck with whatever decision you make though.

Thanks again everyone. Given me lots to think about that i didn't think of last night. I'm ever so tempted to go for the private because it has enough bedrooms, a dining room and a basement and even upstairs toilets (ensuite actually- and in this house all we have is a downstairs bathroom near the back door!) But the private house would only be useful short term really and when my OH starts his new job,we'd be just able to get by! (i'm a bargain hunting money saver so would just manage), Like some of you have said. I'd be in a pickle if he sells up.Would the council even reconsider me to be rehoused if i give up this house,go private and then end up in need of another?

The landlord hasn't even mentioned the deposits or anything yet, But he's going on about it every time my OH goes into the shop,Asking would we like to view. I mean he even knows OH is a smoker and doesnt seem phased by that,and most landlords seem to run a mile if you mention smoking, young kids AND being on benefits!! If it had been 4 months back, and there was no 'potential' swap i wouldnt even be asking advice i'd be straight in the private!

My 3 kids' room contains, a high sleeper bed for the eldest with a toddler bed underneath, a wardrobe, 2 small sets of drawers and my 15 month old son's cot is under the window. There are no toys' in their room they wont fit. Most of the toys are either in a little room we have upstairs (ex toilet room but for some reason has no loo in due to council removing it) Toys are all stacked up because there is nowhere else to keep them and the rest are in the living room! There's no other way i can change this place around to accomodate the new baby. We barely have anything compared to when we moved in 5 years ago because i couldnt fit half my stuff in, and only had 1 child when we got this house!! Our kitchen is really small and we only have a sofa chair sideboard and toy box in the lounge (and a big pile of toys!).

I'm going to try again today to see if the guy about the swap has got any thing sorted at his end, and even offer for my OH to help if he needs it, If he'll answer his mobile which is the only number he has!! If we start knocking on his door i'm afraid he will think we are too eager and that could put him off. I've been totally honest that i only want to move because of space issues.If we could convert this house i would do because its a lovely street and the neighbours are fab but it's not always easy for people to beleive that, who would honestly say they were getting hassle to someone who potentially wants a swap?

Thanks again everyone for all the advice and suggestions. :T

babyella

although you cannot refuse a mutual exchange on the basis of the house and garden being a mess, i'm pretty sure you can grant permission on the basis that the work is undertaken first before the move goes ahead. if you want to speed things up and are prepared to do the work yourself you could ask the council if they will let you take responsibility for getting it all done after you move in? although they might not agree to this as they are probably worried that if the other person goes ahead and swaps he will just then trash your house! are you both with the same council or are 2 landlords involved? i would try and stay with the council if possible as, like others have pointed out, you have much more security. good luck!