Help with decorating and moving costs?

shazada

I have no idea if I'm posting in the correct area, if I'm not please direct me to the best area. Thank you.

I am on a low income, I have a partner and 2 children (16 boy 10 girl) and we live in a 2 bed housing association house. My main questions are about doing a mutual exchange, help with moving and renovating the house before we leave.

I am registered on my local councils home bid scheme (4 years), but its basically the same as it was before. You need points and you have to bid on properties that you are eligable for. Nothing suitable has come up or we are way down the list.

I have recently heard about the mutual exchange/home swap scheme. I need to know more about how it works, I did ring my housing association but I was told to just register. I found this unhelpful and limiting.

We are on a low income, we recieve HB, CTaxB, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. I do not have any money to redecorate or money for the actual move.

I was wondering if there are any schemes or grants that I can apply for to help me and my family move. The house is very cluttered and dated. I did take 6 big primark bags fulls of toys, bags, belts and ornaments to a local charity today.

I have started to de-clutter, threw out a lot of rubbish and need to plan for redecorating. I'm ashamed to say that I let my house get cluttered and in a poor state, I suffer with depression. Is there any help I can get?

Thank you

TBagpuss

I don't think there will be any 'state' help. On a practical level, decluttering is hard, but you can do it bit by bit - set yourself an achievable target such as filling on bin bag every day / every 2 days so you get it done in manageable chunks. (and don't do it alone - your partner and son are definitely old enough to help, and even your daughter can sort through her own toys and games and decide what she wants to keep.

Redecorating - are you a member of your local freecycle group? You may be able to get free paint or decorating equipment.

There is also this organisation (http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk/ - if they have a group in your area this may be a way of getting low cost paint to redecorate, and which has useful links.

in terms of moving, the first step is to continue with your decluttering - the less stuff you have, the cheaper it will be to move. Hiring a van (if you or your partner have driving licences) will be much cheaper than employing a removal company. Would it be possible for you to start putting aside a small amount each week towards the moving costs - even a few pounds a week would add up.

Painting a room is not difficult - this is something your son could do if you got the paint, either by himself, or with help from you or his dad. It should also be possible for you, your partner or son to do any other minor jobs like filling holes in plaster.

You could check with your local social services department whether there are any local groups or organisations which might offer help.

Do you have family or friends whom you could invirte round for a 'decorating party'? You provide snacks and drinks, and eveyione pitches in to help paint?

shazada

Thank you, for all that information. I will be getting help from friends and family. Its just the funding issue that has me worried. I'm going to be lookin into the community repaint website and see what they say. I am also a member of he local freecycle.

Thank you again, you've been a great help. :-)

keyser666

Some peoples circumstances dictate that they will remove regardless so dont be overly concerned. There are 100s of facebook groups for exchanging and also https://www.homeswapper.co.uk and also https://www.houseexchange.org.uk/‎ these will notify you if someone likes the look of your location and are provisionally interested

t0rt0ise

I found an exchange with www.homeswapper.co.uk

You don't get any help with removal costs or redecorating. You have to accept the state of the place you are moving to. The Housing Association or council will check the place for electrical faults and renew any switches, sockets and light fittings that need renewing before you move in but nothing else is done.

Be warned that you really do have to work hard at finding a swap. It took me a lot of effort and time searching the homeswapper website and contacting so many people. Many don't answer so you have to keep at it. It was worth it in the end for me.