I'm here again, moaning.

Lizzie-S

I am so sorry.

Just hoping for a bit of advice and some reassurance really (hopefully...)

I posted about a month ago to say that my husband and I have been offered a home with a housing association. When they rang, they said we could probably view it within a week, but as it needs a lot doing to it as the tenant has been there man decades, it may not be ready for a few weeks after that. They said they would be in touch within a few days to say when we could view it. We are still waiting to view.

I have rung them a few times for an update. They told me to ring them, as they have 1000s of properties, and it's more practical for me to ring them, than for them to try and remember to ring us.

About 3 weeks after the offer, my husband threw a fit because they had posted the wrong pic on the internet and it was another house up the road, and not the one he had thought.

I did post about that too, and an update on that is that he has now decided that it's foolish to refuse the house, and it could be ages before we get another one, and he decided to make peace with it.

Why I am posting now: we were offered it about a month ago, and we haven't even been able to view it yet. It's very frustrating, and we don't know what to do. My friend said 'stop ringing them and wait for them to contact you.' But then I am afraid that they will think we are losing interest.

Surely they should have an idea by now, when it should be ready. Like I said, I have rang and rang, week in, week out, and got nowhere. I am no closer to knowing when it will be ready to view and move into, than I was the day they phoned to offer us the property a month ago!

Can anyone advise?

Errata

Have you visited it and had a look through all the ground floor windows?
Have you talked to them face to face?
How bothered are you about waiting a while to move into a property where everything is new and for which you'll have a secure tenancy?
Why do you feel they'll think you'll lose interest when you have accepted in writing their written offer of the property?

Many people would give their firstborn to be in your shoes.

Lizzie-S

Hi Errata.

Yes we did visit the office when we took the form in to say yes to the property (from the offer letter,) and we went 2 weeks later too, to see if we could speak to someone: but you literally cannot get in to see anyone, unless you have an appointment. But if I tried to make one, they would say it's pointless as they cannot tell us anything. Also the head office is 30 miles away, so we can't keep going.

We have driven past the house, about 6 times, but every time there has been nobody there. It is obviously empty, but there are nets up and we can't see anything. Although we haven't been for 10 days now.

I am worried they will think we have lost interest, because I am a worrier and I stress a lot, and fear the worst. I cannot help it.

I know many would love to be in our shoes, and I am grateful, but I am just frustrated and a bit baffled as to why we cannot seem to get a straight answer, and wondered if such a wait to even view it is normal. And is it normal for a void period to be so long? I know I am being a fusspot, but I just can't help it. I am just stressing.

Lizzie-S

Just wanted to add: I have actually asked them for an estimated date for completion, and when our tenancy starts; as I thought with so much experience, they would have an idea; but they just say 'we won't know more until next week..,' and they're saying this every week....... Is this normal?

Errata

Workers may be delayed on other jobs, a straightforward job on the property may turn out to be far from that, it's the holiday season, they haven't got a crystal ball.

sammyjammy

You really need to take a back step, all you are going to achieve by bothering the people in the office is annoying them and stopping them doing real work. From what you've said the house is pretty much yours, it will likely be outside contractors doing the work. The wheels of government turn slowly and there is likely a lot of paperwork to do.

Instead of stressing why not get yourselves organised so your ready to move when you get the green light.

lighting_up_the_chalice

Next time you speak to the HA, get the persons email address. That way, you can communicate with the same person every time and you have a written record of your conversations.

Unfortunately, scheduling repairs with thousands of properties can be a very inexact science. However, they want the property let and earning rent as much as you want to occupy and pay rent, so there is some common ground. I don't know of any social housing providers who aren't under pressure to get their voids re-let ASAP.

Lizzie-S

Thanks guys. And I know I need to take a step back sammy I think I am just looking for some kind of reassurance that it's fairly normal for it to take this long from time to time, especially if the property has had the same tenant in for many decades. It's just so frustrating, not knowing when we can go and view. I mean, if it were to be totally unsuitable (though I cannot imagine why it would,) and we were to turn it down, then we would have lost 5 or 6 weeks bidding on other properties, and they would lose their tenant, and have to re-advertise and find another one.

Someone I spoke to earlier who worked in housing for 15 years (up to 2009,) said that it is unusual for the tenant to have not viewed it after 4 or 5 weeks, and to leave it so close to when it's actually ready, as they may turn it down for some reason, and the housing association will be left high and dry with no tenant.

I just would have thought they would have let us view straight away, and I find it unusual that we haven't been allowed to view it yet, but maybe it's because it was in such a bad way, that they were worried it may put us off.

I just keep waiting for something to go wrong, and for someone to contact us and say they made a mistake, and we aren't entitled to the house at all. I won't rest until we're in there.

Sorry for my rambling and ranting, and I am very grateful, and know how lucky we are... I am just anxious and worried and panicky.