Non biased advice needed

gwynlas

Whilst your mum is thinking of ,moving by mutual consent she is in a very good position to choose what will suit her best both now and in the future. Does she want ground floor with garden? Top floor with no one above? Low rise with stairs or higher rise with lift?bungalow if possible? Whilst one bed might ,be cheaper and easier to maintain a lot of people do not like storage heating but other benefits of move might negate this. Also if she ends up on benefits then will have to pay bedroon tax. At the moment she could give lodger largest bedroom as bedsit with use of kitchen and bathrooom so she doesn't share lounge, this might also work if she went to a two bed house or flat.

Morglin

Why doesn't she look around for a 2 bed exchange first?

An extra room is always handy for guests etc.,

Lin

[Deleted User]

Hi,

poptart wrote: »

She's a housing association resident, currently living in a three bedroom three storey townhouse with gas central heating.

She's found a lovely one bedroom house to swap with, however it has night storage heating.

whatever type of heating, it must be cheaper to heat a one bedroom house than a three bedroom three storey.

securityguy

"whatever type of heating, it must be cheaper to heat a one bedroom house than a three bedroom three storey."

This. You could trade a three storey house with the most efficient heating in the world for a one bedroom house with the least efficient, and you'd still be in profit.

Storage heaters need to be operated carefully. Unfortunately, they have got a bad reputation from people unwilling to operate them properly.

Savvy_Sue

So, we've established that once you've learned how to drive night storage heaters they are not so bad.

Which leaves the size issues.

Is it worth considering looking for a two-bed option? Will the HA allow such a swap? I don't know how 'the rules' work with swaps, whether you get more flexibility if you can find someone to swap with or whether they enforce the bedroom limitations as they would if she was on the waiting list for a move.

cheepskate_2

I assume she stays on her own, thus a 1 bed property....Is she likely to have more children in the future to warrant extra bedrooms?

I assume as she is on her own in a 3 bed, then she also [ays the bedroom tax?

poptart_2

Thank you for everyones reply, there's alot to consider.

The reason the heating would be such an issue is due to comfort, efficiency and expense. Although she'd have more available money, her standard of living could be lower. I will tell her to look into how to use the heaters efficiently.

In terms of moving to a two bedroom place instead, she's had a look at alot of two bed properties and the rent is, unfortunately, higher than what she is paying now.

I think she will end up moving anyway, she's finding it hard as this house has been our family home for the last 13 years and it's a beautiful property.

On a similar note does anyone else find it ridiculous in this day & age that a single person who has always worked cannot afford to rent, let alone buy, a property without worrying about their basic costs of living?

poptart_2

cheepskate wrote: »

I assume she stays on her own, thus a 1 bed property....Is she likely to have more children in the future to warrant extra bedrooms?

I assume as she is on her own in a 3 bed, then she also [ays the bedroom tax?

I'm living with her for the moment, until I can afford to move out. She doesn't pay bedroom tax as she works full time so doesn't get rent rebate. God no, no more children - I must think of my inheritance :rotfl: she does have a granddaughter who stays sometimes.

joolsybools

Are you paying her some rent? Are you in an area where you could do Air B and B?

poptart_2

joolsybools wrote: »

Are you paying her some rent? Are you in an area where you could do Air B and B?

Yes I do pay rent, I'm just going to be moving out within the next year or so.

she's looked at renting out rooms etc but the house is too small, despite being a three bed, three storey. It doesn't allow for much privacy.

This might sound awful but she is going to start dating again soon, perhaps she should wait until she's found someone and just move them in? I know it's probably not the most politically correct idea and she would kill me if I even suggested this to her!