Private Renting or Housing Association?

AngelEyes81

My sister called round today and asked me this question and I told her I didn't know what to say.......

She and her BF live with his family at the moment, it's tense and not enough room for the 5 that live there, arguments happen a lot etc and she's getting depression again through everything.

She and her BF are on Min wage, no savings, no kids, on no benefits.

The question is she wanted to know, would you try and apply to a local housing association or try and scrape the money together to rent privately.... though in the area she's in its about 500 pm and that's just rent not including bills, c.tax etc......

Wee_Willy_Harris

Housing Associations offer affordable rents and security of tenure. Private rents offer neither. But it depends on the area as to whether the prospect of a HA property is a realistic one. Based purely on the rent quoted, it may well be so.

AngelEyes81

Thank you. I was thinking about telling her to fill out the online regenda housing form, but wanted to check what others thought first without giving her bad advice or anything, I know the council waiting list is long so I thought housing associations might be ok. The rent isn't the highest around here (north west area) but for them it is high on min wage.

I know if they did apply they probably wouldn't be a 'urgent' case as no kids or anything, but even if it was next year they got offered (or placed and got a bid accepted on a house as regenda seem to do) they would be happy at least knowing it was coming moving out soon.

MegaMiniMouse

Is this for real? Nobody on here has the remotest chance of answering your question. Ask the people who know the answer...

Why would you, or your 'sister', accept the 'advice' of people on here, in preference to factual information from the organisations involved?

donny909

The chances are you would not be priority for any housing association waiting lists as you are 2 adults with no child. You could be looking at what, 12 month minimum after getting on a waiting list before you get anywere near the top for an offer. Plus a family with children or a single parent would always get a place before yourselfs. So even if getting on a waiting list there will always be someone with a higher priority above you, sorry but that a fact unless you have other issues health wise?.

I notice there was no mention of how come the 2 of them have come to be living the way they have?. Assumingly they had somewere each before or together?. What happened there as it could be an important factor in what members could best advise you on your options?.

Is there a reason why council housing has not been asked about as an option, any ccj's or repossetions against them that has caused them to be living the way they currently are?.

Wee_Willy_Harris

AngelEyes81 wrote: »

Thank you. I was thinking about telling her to fill out the online regenda housing form, but wanted to check what others thought first without giving her bad advice or anything, I know the council waiting list is long so I thought housing associations might be ok. The rent isn't the highest around here (north west area) but for them it is high on min wage.

I know if they did apply they probably wouldn't be a 'urgent' case as no kids or anything, but even if it was next year they got offered (or placed and got a bid accepted on a house as regenda seem to do) they would be happy at least knowing it was coming moving out soon.

Having had a quick look at the regendas CBL site for Cheshire (wasn't sure which area your sister wanted so looked at what I assune to be the most popular), the waiting list isn't that long. They work on a "star" system, 5 stars for highest need, down to 1 star for lowest need. It's possible that your sister might get some level of priority as a result of overcrowding or sharing facilities (http://www.cheshirehomechoice.org.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/32.aspx) but it would be prudent to speak to them direct. Recent lets indicate that a number of properties are being let to those with low/no need and waiting times don't appear to be that long. Most recent lets have been waiting considerably less than a year. Certainly well worth applying.

PasturesNew

Choice between the two: Housing Association.

But there's no choice at the moment is there. She needs to get out, get on the HA list and rent privately in the meantime.

Two of them working on minimum wage is about £1600/month takehome. LOADS of money. They could start with a studio flat - they'd have more personal space than they do now. Then see how that goes.

Wee_Willy_Harris

donny909 wrote: »

The chances are you would not be priority for any housing association waiting lists as you are 2 adults with no child. You could be looking at what, 12 month minimum after getting on a waiting list before you get anywere near the top for an offer. Plus a family with children or a single parent would always get a place before yourselfs. So even if getting on a waiting list there will always be someone with a higher priority above you, sorry but that a fact unless you have other issues health wise?.

Families with children are usually competing for family type accommodation. Those without children will be competing for single person/couple accommodation. So the OPs sister won't be in direct competition with families.

AngelEyes81

I wasn't posting on here expecting people to answer every question thank you very much MMM just wanted to see what others would say etc, this is a forum for asking these kinds of things you know lol!

As for everyone else thank you so much for replying! And thank you Wee Willy Harris for your thoughts on this plus that link about the stars, I couldn't find anything like that but very interesting to know.

They are in the situation they are now as they moved to be with each other so moved in with his parents and to pay off debts etc, they are gone now but she has suffered with depression a lot and so as he in the past as well, he had his house repossed some years ago.

Was just seeing what other's thought of this situation that's all, of course if they do go ahead with this they will get in contact with the right people.

These boards though are for people to ask questions so be nice when people do, it's a forum after all!

lindos90

When my mum was wanting to be rehoused to live near me I asked a very similar question here and was told that HA would be better as it offered her assured tennancy (ie you cant be given notice to move, unless you are a very bad tennant!) she needed this security and didnt want to take the risk of being given one months notice from a LL (she is 74!!)

HA are also larger organisations, with repairs teams, complaints preceedures etc, so if things go wrong you have a 'system' to work with, which is more difficult to navigate if you are dealing with a small lettings agent or LL directly.

However they could be on a waiting list for an unknown amount of time, especially if they are wanting a popular area, and the 'assured' element may not be such an issue for them as a young couple who would find it easier to move around.

They have nothing to loose though, by applying to as many HA as they can, getting on a few lists and keeping their fingers crossed, if the current situation is classed as overcrouding, they may get points for this, although the highest points are usually for people who are homeless or potentially homeless. (ie have a letter from LLgiving notice to vacate)

MegaMiniMouse

AngelEyes81 wrote: »

I wasn't posting on here expecting people to answer every question thank you very much MMM just wanted to see what others would say etc, this is a forum for asking these kinds of things you know lol!

As for everyone else thank you so much for replying! And thank you Wee Willy Harris for your thoughts on this plus that link about the stars, I couldn't find anything like that but very interesting to know.

They are in the situation they are now as they moved to be with each other so moved in with his parents and to pay off debts etc, they are gone now but she has suffered with depression a lot and so as he in the past as well, he had his house repossed some years ago.

Was just seeing what other's thought of this situation that's all, of course if they do go ahead with this they will get in contact with the right people.

These boards though are for people to ask questions so be nice when people do, it's a forum after all!

The quality of the advice which you will receive on a forum like this is extremely variable, and not to be trusted...

Find out what you can from people who 'know', and discuss it if you must on a forum like this - but don't just look for the bits you like the sound of - the truth is usually much less attractive...

MMM