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

nannytone_2

Errata wrote: »

Given the scarcity of social housing, why would one borough be happy to allocate a property larger than their need to someone from another borough ?

it all depends on the area.
i have been lucky enough to move to one of only 2 one bed properties in my area.

there is a surplass of 2 beds. people can only expect to wait 3 months to get a property.

the issue is the lack of 1 bed properties

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

where i live... social housing is plentiful, so many people over occupy.
previously i lived in london in a 4 bed property.
they wouldnt allow you to move to another property that was too big. they allowed me to live in a 3 bed that was already allocated to me, but wouldnt allow me to move to a 2 bed because it was bigger than i needed.

i do understand the viewpoint of the OP.
she is giving up a bigger property.
but the chances are. she wont be allowed to MOVE to a property that is bigger than she requires ( due to the benefit changes)

she has a clear choice.
stay in her current property or move to a 1 bed.
neither suit her needs properly, but at least she has a choice

''They wouldn't allow me to move to a 2 bed because it was bigger than I needed'' but that is through the council ITSELF , NOT the mutual exchange scheme ... The council itself WON'T move me to a 2 bedroom but said they are happy for me to go ahead and look for a 2 bedroom swap ( I think they allow it , but I would prefer to move to another borough but will stay in this borough if necessary )

So there ARE more than 2 options ..... ie do a mutual exchange to a 2 bedroom house within a borough which allows a home swap with one extra bedroom ( as some do ) as long as I pay the bedroom tax , and that is the only option for me and not just 'clearly' 2 choices of staying put or moving to a 1 bedroom!

nannytone_2

cazzap06 wrote: »

''They wouldn't allow me to move to a 2 bed because it was bigger than I needed'' but that is through the council ITSELF , NOT the mutual exchange scheme ... The council itself WON'T move me to a 2 bedroom but said they are happy for me to go ahead and look for a 2 bedroom swap ( I think they allow it , but I would prefer to move to another borough but will stay in this borough if necessary )

So there ARE more than 2 options ..... ie do a mutual exchange to a 2 bedroom house within a borough which allows a home swap with one extra bedroom ( as some do ) as long as I pay the bedroom tax , and that is the only option for me and not just 'clearly' 2 choices of staying put or moving to a 1 bedroom!

i think they will block an exchange for the same reasons

[Deleted User]

JemmaM91 wrote: »

Tbh I feel your being a little bit too picky.

I live with my partner and 17 month old son permanently in a one bed flat. So I don't quite understand how you need a 2 bed for your grandson who stays over occasionally.

With a one bed all you need to do is put a wall divider in your front room and you'd have a 'bedroom' for when your grandson stayed over.

I understand that you've currently got a 3 bed property but assume that was when it was needed. People need to be less selfish with social housing and when they no longer require extra bedrooms then they should free up the property. This is why social housing is now so hard to get.

I've been told I'd be lucky to get a 2 bed before my son is 5.

A one bed wouldn't be the end of the world, especially as most have quite spacious rooms so you could easily divide living room or bedroom. Also if it was ground floor you'd also likely get a garden.

Yes I could get a room divider etc but am not going to do it , yes I am in a fortunate position even with having to pay the bedroom tax , but I am not being selfish with my property - I WANT to give it up to a bigger family - I simply want to be able to retain one bedroom and pay the bedroom tax for it and yes am fortunate enough to even HAVE that choice which probably won't be around for long by the looks of it

Have you tried looking for a mutual exchange - People are crying out for 1 bedroom places to downsize to to avoid having to pay the bedroom tax and pre April would have been a good time to swap with someone for a 2 bedroom!

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

i think they will block an exchange for the same reasons

NOPE - Some boroughs allow it - Like I said - My housing officer said they cannot move me to a 2 bedroom place but she was happy to encourage me to look for a mutual exchange for a 2 bedroom place

If it wasn't allowed she would have said that wasn't allowed too - I'm pretty sure she even said that was my only option

Dunroamin

nannytone wrote: »

it all depends on the area.
i have been lucky enough to move to one of only 2 one bed properties in my area.

there is a surplass of 2 beds. people can only expect to wait 3 months to get a property.

the issue is the lack of 1 bed properties

But you were looking for a property in the area in which you lived, not moving to a different borough.

[Deleted User]

Errata wrote: »

Given the scarcity of social housing, why would one borough be happy to allocate a property larger than their need to someone from another borough ?

Because an overcrowded family in their borough gets to move out to a more suitable property in another borough , and they are not LOSING a property by giving it to me , it will just be occupied by someone else who wants an extra bedroom and is willing to pay the bedroom tax for it..

It is a mutual exchange scheme which people are getting muddled up with the normal council allocation system!

JemmaM91

cazzap06 wrote: »

Yes I could get a room divider etc but am not going to do it , yes I am in a fortunate position even with having to pay the bedroom tax , but I am not being selfish with my property - I WANT to give it up to a bigger family - I simply want to be able to retain one bedroom and pay the bedroom tax for it and yes am fortunate enough to even HAVE that choice which probably won't be around for long by the looks of it

Have you tried looking for a mutual exchange - People are crying out for 1 bedroom places to downsize to to avoid having to pay the bedroom tax and pre April would have been a good time to swap with someone for a 2 bedroom!

Just re read my post. Sounds really mean the way I said it. I didn't mean that. I'm sorry.

Nope, I don't think i can mutually exchange as Ive only got a 5 year tenancy (thats what my borough do before a permanent one) I'm from a London borough and I think every sized property has people crying out, the population is just way too big compared to the housing available

[Deleted User]

Its crazy really coz everyone who was in a 2 bedroom and moved to a 1 bedroom still had the CHOICE to stay and pay the bedroom tax for it which is all I wanna do and give up tons of space AND an extra ensuite bathroom for it too!! x

Did everyone who downsized pre - April do it only for the good of others alone and thought ''Ahhhh , them poor people in overcrowded situations - I think I'll give up my home for them and move to a smaller place''? NO - Most moved because it was financially impossible to afford the bedroom tax - They weren't thinking of other families and motivated by the common good and all that - People were DESPERATE to move so as not to fall into arrears and of course to be able to afford to get by!!!

So why all the guilt trip for me who isn't downsizing or moving for financial reasons but the fact that it is JUST TOO BIG FOR ME - I WANT ANOTHER FAMILY TO HAVE IT , I REPEAT I want another family to have it even though it is STUNNING and all I want is the spare room to be able to have my Autistic Grandson stay over for weekends and school holidays - I wanted it to be win / win , not win / lose

THE PEOPLE SNAPPING UP THE BIGGER PROPERTY SHOULD BE THE ONES RUBBING THEIR HANDS TOGETHER ..... And I am willing to give up ALOT for just a small bedroom as well as pay the extra every single week for it even when it's empty because it's for HIM xxxxxxx

I'd do ANYTHING for him to be honest!

seven-day-weekend

Dunroamin wrote: »

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

Four.... I started to put it earlier and deleted it in case it upset the OP.