Council Mutual Exchange , Bedroom Tax & what is allowed??

mrs_motivated

Mutual Exchange is a Stautory right for secure tenants, Landlords can only refuse using on2 of the reasons contained in the Housing Acts. One of which is if the property is substantially bigger than needed by the person wanting to move in.

In many councils (even with the introduction of underoccupancy charge) they will still allow a mutual exchange to go ahead with one extra bedroom, providing you are not currently in the right size home ie a 1 bed, so if you are in a 3 bed and going to a 1 bed or a 2 bed for a 2 bed, the majority of LA's will allow this. Although this is less likely if you live in London, but common in Midlands, North etc.

Check your LA's mutual exchange policy, they may allow it.

FBaby

Your reasons for wanting a two bedroom wouldn't stack up. The fact that you want to help your daughter and your belief that it will mean all will be better off about it doesn't mean you have to have a room for him. If your daughter needs a regular break, how about she comes to you and you go to her to look after your grandchild.

nannytone_2

just a possible solution.....
you say to go to your daughters to look after the boy doesnt give her a break...
but what if she stays at your place while you look after him?

Dunroamin

cazzap06 wrote: »

Yes but I already have more than 1 bedroom in a HUGE property that I would love a larger family to occupy

I am looking for a small 2 bedroom place even if the 2nd bedroom is tiny

I personally feel I do need a 2 bedroom place as caring for my Grandson at my daughters place does not give her a break and as a single Mum with a disabled child she certainly NEEDS a break from time to time

I am not going to be forced to move to a one bedroom place - That would be absolutely fine if I did not want to care for my Grandson and support my daughter , but it is just not an option for me as I am not going to have him sleep on the sofa and he needs his own place of familiarity with his special toys and a calm , restful place to sleep in and a bedtime routine is important to him

I might sound selfish but I don't care as I am doing this out of love for my family and even though I don't agree with the bedroom tax am paying it already so he has his haven at Nannys house as my families happiness means the utmost to me even if you would kick me out of the housing office for it!

( NICE by the way ... My motivation is for a special needs child , not so that I have a spare room for my own use or to use as an office or gym or something lol )

If this is the attitude I get from the housing offices then I think I'll be STAYING PUT!!!!!

But I have a feeling some councils still DO allow it ie to have one extra room if you pay the bedroom tax , so am still hoping my preferred area does and if not I will have to find a borough who does

To me this IS based on need , not greed , as am not being greedy in my opinion just wanting a room for my special needs Grandchild to stay over to give his Mum a break plus to spend time with him as I adore him

There is no love and care for families in these new rules! :(:(

The caring , sharing government rules with no compassion for families!!! :mad::mad:

Why can't you go to stay at her place and look after him and let her have a break in your 1 bed?

Dunroamin

Well, that's three of us on the same wave length!

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

until a month ado, i lived in a 2 bed property. i luckily managed to downsize.
at almost exactly the same time, my eldest grandson (8) said ' nanny, i dont want to sleep with you anymore'
thats fine.
the choice is either he or i will sleep on the sofa.
why isnt this an option for you OP?

Because my Grandson has special needs which is a whole different ball game!

If he did not have special needs I probably would not look after him as often as I do or have him for long periods of time over the school holidays etc - I haven't even had my 1 year old Granddaughter overnight yet , but am waiting for that day! lol

I am very close to him and vice versa plus like I said my daughter does need the extra support being on her own with him and she is a young Mum and I love to give her a break

So for staying over for weeks it is not just impractical but he does need his special haven at bedtime ie his own bed with familiar things around him and a sense of security and routine and he NEEDS routine and would also be nice for him to have all his special needs toys in his room as well as soothing lighting which he likes and which settles and calms him

It's worth it , he's worth it and I would do anything for him including fight somehow for a 2 bedroom place and of course pay the bedroom tax which is not a tax lol but what is wrong with wanting to settle your Grandchild into bed at night and read them a bedtime story and also him knowing that when he comes over that is HIS room , his space , his place just for him ( and my Granddaughter and future Grandchildren too! )

I understand it is not a right but a desire but a very strong desire that I will make sure happens somehow! x

nannytone_2

having special needs.... then surely it is best for him to be in his own environment?
as i have said.... your daughter could stay at your home when you look after him

[Deleted User]

Why not have my daughter come here and me go there to look after him??? ... Because it is my home

Because it is a home for my extended family too , a haven for the Grandchildren and yes , especially my Grandson

And I do have him regularly not just 'time to time'

I understand that if I came freshly to the council right now they would ONLY offer me a 1 bedroom place but I have been in this place with more than enough space and there is an option there of having the extra room if I pay the bedroom tax

I know rules are rules and if they say no then it's a no , but then I will just find a borough with different rules to be honest as I want the family home and family life that I want and it sounds like I am not ALLOWED to want those things ie a simple box room , but I DO and I cannot deny it and my motives are not greed but love and I just want a family home & sometimes when my daughter needs a break she comes and stays over with me too but her friends are in her area and sometimes she needs full time off

There is not a hellofalot of compassion on here and I know I have no right to a spare room but I will fight for a spare room as that is my dream and I am of course hoping it becomes a reality

It used to be a simple dream I thought , but now not so simple obviously , but just because others are doing it ie moving to a 1 bedroom & having guests on the settee it doesn't mean I HAVE to do it as well ... Just wanted to know what my options were and looks like of course I will have to investigate the boroughs rules before I even LOOK at properties in that area , so at least I will know which boroughs are a no no if I do some research first , so thanks for that , no point in falling in love witha property or setting my heart on an area if I can't have it

The swapping of properties to have a break idea is not something I would even consider!!

nannytone_2

i dont want to sound unkind ....

but that is a CHICE and not a need.

there are hubdreds of thousands affected by the so called bedroom tax.
and only a few hunfred have the option to move to a 1 bed in their desired location.

to put obstacles in the way seems silly.

i and others have given you an alternative... but that isnt your CHOICE.

thats finbe. stay where you are and pay the difference.

you cant complain that the system isnt working if you arent willing to work with it

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

having special needs.... then surely it is best for him to be in his own environment?
as i have said.... your daughter could stay at your home when you look after him

He LOVES coming to Nanny's house , he runs in the door and doesn't look back when Mummy leaves him , so no , he thrives here too as well as at home and loves visiting and I want it to be a familiar enviroment to him too , as long as it is the same place he is visiting regularly he is not necessarily better off ALWAYS at home

Children love visiting their Grandparents , so why shouldn't he have that right too , it will not hinder his life or his progress but enhance it as long as it is consistent