Giving up a Council Flat

Mrs_pbradley936

I know a young couple with 2 children that currently have a council flat in London but they want to move to be near family. The have had no luck with an exchange to the areas they want and are considering giving up the flat and renting privately. Would that be a good idea? Also they are presently getting housing benefit and is that easy to transfer? Also how would they go about it? Any help would be gratefully received.

A_Nice_Englishman

I know this isn't what you were asking, but have they applied direct to the council and housing associations in the area they want to live? If it's to be near family I would have thought they would stand a good chance of being allocated a flat (or a house, as they have children).

Mrs_pbradley936

Yes, they have been on a bidding system but have not had one offer in spite of making several bids. They have also been trying to exchange without any success.

lynzpower

Look into seeing how much they will get paid by the council for doing so.

Demand being what it is they should get a few hundred which is designed to cover removal men and the liike.

Mrs_pbradley936

lynzpower wrote: »

Look into seeing how much they will get paid by the council for doing so.

Demand being what it is they should get a few hundred which is designed to cover removal men and the liike.

Really lynz? The flat is not far from where you used to live in Bow. Do they offer incentives to move?

topmum

It is unlikely that they would receive a financial incentive to move. This tends to be given where a single person is living in a 4 bed house and the like. They would be best to make an appointment with the local council to discuss housing benefit they would receive if renting privately. Also they must be aware of the fact that by giving up a Council home, the Council may deem them to be intentionally homeless if they go back to the Council at a later stage to apply for a home. It is something they should check out with the council first.

cattie

topmum is right, where councils do offer cash incentives it is either only to tenants who are occupying a property bigger than they need, or occasionally some offer a cash incentive, which acts as a deposit if a tenant gives up the tenancy to buy a property of their own that the council gives approval of, thus freeing up a property that the council can house a family in from their waiting list.

A_Nice_Englishman

cattie wrote: »

topmum is right, where councils do offer cash incentives it is either only to tenants who are occupying a property bigger than they need, or occasionally some offer a cash incentive, which acts as a deposit if a tenant gives up the tenancy to buy a property of their own that the council gives approval of, thus freeing up a property that the council can house a family in from their waiting list.

Though in this particular case the tenants would be moving out of the area (and probanly into privately rented accommodation) so they would be freeing up a property.

Reevo2007

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

Really lynz? The flat is not far from where you used to live in Bow. Do they offer incentives to move?

Bow definately do a cash incentive scheme. I know that if you have got a 3 bedroom maisonette with a garden and want to give the keys up they give you £24,000

hazelbunny

http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/housing/data/lettings/data/moving-out.cfm

Some info on financial help with moving etc.

seven-day-weekend

They would need to approach the council where they are moving to re. council tax/housing benefit. Bear in mind the Council may not pay all the rent for a private tenancy.

If this was my son or daughter I personally would not encourage them to give up a secure tenancy for one where they could be chucked out every six months. Seems to me a bad idea.