Can someone advise please? re housing association offer

redskyatnight_2

First of all well done Lizzie Secondly, I would be careful about going to peep through the windows (no offence to the poster above) because you are not supposed to view these properties offered by the H.A's whilst works are being carried out, (it probably says that on your offer letter.) Plus, if the neighbours see you, they may report you as a potential intruder or robber! And if it gets back to the HA, you could be in trouble.

It's not unusual at all for a HA to put an offer out and then for the prospective tenant to not even be able to view for a month, nor is it unusual for the property to not be ready for 2 months or more... especially as it appears it was someone who was elderly and was there almost 4 decades.

I would discourage you from badgering them though: I know you're excited and anxious, but ringing them every other day is not going to make things go any faster. Leave it another fortnight before ringing.

Also, are you aware that even if you have put in the slip from the offer letter to say you are accepting it; if you have not signed the tenancy yet, your application will still be active on the waiting list/bidline, and you are free to continue to bid on other properties; so if you think you don't want to wait a few months, or you see something a little bit better, then feel free to bid on it.

Tomm20

A void can take as a little as 3 days to turn around to several months depending what the surveyor comes across.

As a minimum, if the property was left in in an immaculate state, they would still need to carry out the gas and electric safety checks, change the locks and carry out some cleaning. They may also have to arrange for an EPC prior to letting if they do not currently hold one.

By the sounds of it, as others have stated, it looks like you may be having some additional works being carried out such as kitchen/bathroom, who knows?

I would have hoped that they would have communicated this information to you, our local HA does this and gives some degree of flexibility on the choice of kitchen/worktop and flooring colour from a specific range they install.

It will be well worth the wait, good luck with the move.

Better_Days

redskyatnight wrote: »

First of all well done Lizzie Secondly, I would be careful about going to peep through the windows (no offence to the poster above) because you are not supposed to view these properties offered by the H.A's whilst works are being carried out, (it probably says that on your offer letter.)

Ahh sorry, my nosiness getting the better of me Didn't intend to suggest a course of action that could cause problems.

Wicked_witch

I know it took my HA about 6 months to do work on our house after the last tenant left. They didn't offer it to us until it was finished though, I haven't heard of houses being offered while still needing work, but this was 9 years ago now and I suppose the housing crisis has worsened! Hopefully having a tenant waiting to move in will encourage them to move as fast as they can.

Lizzie-S

LOL don't worry better days: that did actually cross my mind to go have a peep, but as redsky said above: it does say on the letter that we mustn't visit the property.

And yes redsky, apparently I can still bid on others, as I haven't signed the tenancy agreement yet... I did actually hear from the bidding line people the other week, that you can still bid even when you're number one, and have had an offer.

Also, I spoke to one of my neighbours this morning, and she said she was number one several years ago, and she was offered a property, but they said it wouldn't be ready for 3 months! She was delighted to be offered a home, but was a bit miffed about the wait, and she did bid on several others in the meantime (with other housing associations registered with the council running the bidline.) She actually ended up just taking the original one she was offered, as she never came number one again.

At the moment, the HA aren't being very certain of timescales, which is a bit frustrating. I was hoping for a date for viewing, and hopefully a date - that is at least estimated - when I may be able to move in, but they said they can't say just yet. All I heard yesterday, is that it will be approx 3 weeks before they can give me date to even view it, and it may be 6-7 weeks or longer before they can give me a fairly accurate date for moving in.

I have rung 3 times this past week about various things, and can't seem to get hold of the woman who rang me to say she is offering me the property: she is always in a meeting or with a tenant. But I think it's because she is the Housing Manager. It's a bit frustrating that they are being vague, but most people I have spoken to, have said this is not unusual, and especially as the property has only just become vacant, and they probably haven't got all the contractors to give timescales and estimates yet.

They did tell me to phone in 2 weeks though, if they have not contacted me before then, if I want an update... I guess they have 1000s of properties, and have a lot to deal with, and the time passes very quickly to them; but to me, it's going slow, as I just want a date to move in!!! I don't want to be a nuisance though, so I will be patient.

Re; wicked witch's comments. I think all HA's now find the tenant first. From what I have heard anyway...

Thanks again all. xx

Matt1977

Good luck, Lizzie. The wait may be frustrating but given the length of time it had been tenanted, it will be worth it.

redskyatnight_2

I agree with the others Lizzie. Please be patient. All good things to those who wait. You have an offer letter: the property is yours now.

Don't keep ringing them, as it's not going to push the process forward any quicker. I know you're excited and anxious, but if you keep ringing them, when they have clearly said it's a major void and could be a number of weeks before you can view; you will risk become a pest. Although, if you haven't heard within say 2 weeks, then give them a buzz. I think enquiring about the progress every one and half to two weeks is not too unreasonable.

If it is a major void though, you could be looking at late June before you even get to view it. Just remember though, that while you are one (excited) person, waiting to view your new home, and desperate to move in; they are a working housing association, that has multiple 1000s of properties, and lots more going on with all sorts of issues like neighbour nuisance, ongoing repairs daily, getting new tenants, re-letting old properties and deadlines to let them, processing payments, chasing rent arrears and general admin stuff and all sorts, so they are not just dealing with your property, so don't take it to heart, if they appear to be 'not rushing' to get yours done, or to respond to you.

And it would be unlikely that the Housing Manager would be available to speak to very often, even if it was her that offered you the property in the first instance. When you're a tenant though, you will have a dedicated housing officer and a helpline for repairs, so don't worry. I would call them at the start of the week after next if I were you (if you have not heard from them before then.)

Lou67

Ditto what redskyatnight said Good luck Lizzie and I hope you are happy in your new home. Keep us updated x