Housing Association Property?

P4ula

Hi,

I hope I am posting in the right place.

The circumstances are I currently rent a flat privately through an Agency. Over the past few years with landlords selling properties or changing plans with the properties I had rented once the guaranteed 6 month periods finished I have had to move 3 times in the last 4 years and I really just need some security of where I live. I do work but no way could I afford to buy (or even save the deposit). I was on the council housing list for many years but never got anything offered as I was deemed not in priority. However I would like a small council house/flat/bungalow etc due to the security of not having to move every so often at a landlords whim.

Since last year the Council in my area has joined up with other councils and housing associations to start the Choice Based Letting system. More out of diminishing hope than anything else I have bid on a few flats etc but not been offered anything.

However today I have just come in from work to find a message on the answerphone (and received an e-mail) from a local housing association to say I have been offered a brand new flat in a brand new complex. I have passed the complex often whilst it was being built and it looks great.(Infact I thought they were all for purchase as they look that good). It is close to where I work and near my family. The rent is also cheaper than I am now paying. It is only for people over 40 so shouldn't have problem young noisy neighbours etc.

However although I am pleased, I am worried that it is a housing association flat and not a council one. Does this make any difference?. For example do I have the same degree of tennancy security? I don't want to move in only to be given notice to move or anything (I have always been a model tenant whilst renting privately and never once missed the rent or caused any problems etc). I really just want some stability in my life and not be moved on or around again.

I really do not know much about housing associations and with it being a Friday evening I cannot ring them. Their website isn't exactly helpful on this subject either.

Should I hold out for a council owned property with its security or do I have as much security with a housing association? (If so what is, if anything the difference?)

Many thanks
Paula

lighting_up_the_chalice

There are one or two minor differences between council and HA, but they mainly concern right to buy so shouldn't be a concern. Security of tenure is pretty much the same. You will certainly be better off than you currently are in private rented accommodation.

P4ula

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

There are one or two minor differences between council and HA, but they mainly concern right to buy so shouldn't be a concern. Security of tenure is pretty much the same. You will certainly be better off than you currently are in private rented accommodation.

Thank you for the speedy reply lighting up.

No, I don't think I would be in a position to buy it, just to rent it. I am really pleased though if I have the sane sort of degree of tenancy protection with the housing association as I would with the council.

I cannot wait for Monday now to get in touch with them.

Thank you again
Paula

McKneff

Grab it with both hands, and good luck.

biznas123

Yes, housing association properties and council properties are the same in terms of tenancies. Only real difference (as mentioned above) is the right to buy, although some HA do have right to buy on some of their properties, or right to acquire (and you are also eligible for a discount when buying the property you rent).

Also, the great thing about living in social housing (either owned by a council or a housing association) is that you can exchange your property with someone else who also lives in social housing. There are loads of home swapping websites out there that have social tenants who wish to swap their properties with others due to location or property size. Search for mutual exchange.

Hope this helps and all the best.

suki1964

What I loved about having a HA flat, was that the HA was small enough that your housing officer actually knew you by name. Also they were very much into tenant/ residence associations so you had a say about service charges etc etc

kelpie35

I have lived in a HA home for over 17 years and have never ever had any problems.

Also they do any repairs very quickly.

Good luck in your new home.

Shelldean

As others have pointed you have similar rights to a council tenant.

But having been a HA tenant for 18yrs, in my opinion you dont always get your repairs quicker, and my current HA officer only knows my name as I've made a formal complaint against a neighbour and I keep chasing him to resolve it. Our HA officer has changed many many times as we are tenants to a very large HA.
Our orginal tenancy was with a small HA and yes they knew our names, but they was taken over by a large HA which in turn merged with another large HA.

But overall there has been NO major problems renting from the HA, Kitchen has been replaced twice since we moved in and the bathroom once, so not all bad news.

I'd say go for it!!! as if you dont like it and you've been in the property a yr ( i think) you can apply for mutual exchanges, via homeswapper etc. The only conditions attached to this exchange (for our HA) is no rent arrears and you're not over or undercrowding the property you're moving to.

keyser666

Also dont set your heart on it what they tend to do now is pick the top 3 eligible on the list and let all 3 view the property and see if the prospective 3 are willing to accept the property. If say all 3 do then they will give it to the most eligible by priority or length of time on the list. I would assume you are all in the same group so length of time will probably what it is decided on. Councils and HA's like a quick turnaround so as not to lose the income, so they dont want say the first person on the list to view it this week and say no and then contact the next person and they cant view for 5-7 days and say no and before you know it it is 3 weeks down the line.

One thing is for sure though you are pretty much at the top of the list for this category so if you dont get it one wont be too far behind.

P4ula

Thank you to all who have replied.

Knowing I will have tenancy security means a lot to me and thus I am very excited about the offer.

I have to contact the Housing Association on Monday morning to arrange a viewing. From what I have found out after speaking with a friend who works for the council, this new complex has 20 flats of which 14 are for sale with six for rental through the Housing Association.

Having looked on the internet at the ones for sale they do look very very nice, so I am hoping I do get one. They are ideally located for me, closer to work and my family - infact within walking distance of where I work.

I will let you all know how I get on, but thank you once again.

Paula

keyser666

P4ula wrote: »

Thank you to all who have replied.

Knowing I will have tenancy security means a lot to me and thus I am very excited about the offer.

I have to contact the Housing Association on Monday morning to arrange a viewing. From what I have found out after speaking with a friend who works for the council, this new complex has 20 flats of which 14 are for sale with six for rental through the Housing Association.

Having looked on the internet at the ones for sale they do look very very nice, so I am hoping I do get one. They are ideally located for me, closer to work and my family - infact within walking distance of where I work.

I will let you all know how I get on, but thank you once again.

Paula

I forgot to add last night but as you said it is new build and a new construction and as your last post says there are 6 of them, your chances are significaantly higher then as they will have probably 12-15 to view them so in essence you would have 50/50 rather than bigger odds.

Let us know how you get on. Also keep bidding in the meantime for this week incase there is something else you would like incase this doesnt come through