Council Housing Tenancy Help Please

power445

Hi,

I need some help regarding the council house i currently rent, it's a joint tenancy with my mother and myself, been here 10 years, my mum wants to move out and I asked to get her name took off and me take over sole tenancy, but they say it's a 2 bedroom family home, and if I removed my mother off tenancy I would be forced to move to 1 bedroom flat.

I asked if I moved my girlfriend in would this be ok, they say no as not in need of 2 bedroom house, I explained what if i wanted to start a family. They said currently you wouldn't need the property.

I said what if i moved someone else in, they said only if I have medical proof they need housing which seems ridiculous.

Other option is to move my brother back in and that would be ok I think, I also asked about the right to buy scheme, they said it would have to be bought with my mothers name on not just solely mine.

Does anyone know if it could be bought with my brother and myself on tenancy?

Also are they correct in saying I have no rights to keep it by myself or moving my girlfriend in?

Any help be appreciated.

marliepanda

Yes they are correct. You would be under occupying a social housing property.

You don't need 2 rooms.
You and your girlfriend do not need 2 rooms.

Starting a family just to retain a council house is a ridiculous reason to start a family.

tazwhoever

Succession normally only happens once. The property was given to you and mother. I don't think you can add or minus people from the council property.

You can buy the property with your brother but you can't add his name to the tenancy.

Yes, the council are right as you don't have any children yet.

power445

But if I move my brother back in, I keep the place.

Will I have the right to buy option with the discount adding my brothers name and removing my mothers? This is important as I wanted to buy the place but I can't buy it alone even though been here 10yrs?, it has to have my mother or I'm hoping switching my brothers name will also allow s to buy it instead of with my mother.

Is this correct.

power445

tazwhoever wrote: »

Succession normally only happens once. The property was given to you and mother. I don't think you can add or minus people from the council property.

You can buy the property with your brother but you can't add his name to the tenancy.

Yes, the council are right as you don't have any children yet.

My brother was originally put down as living here, and the woman confirmed he could be added back on the tenancy so not sure what you're saying is correct.

How can my brother buy the property if he is not on the tenancy, he would have to be on it surely?.

sammyjammy

If your mother moves out neither of you can buy the property.

Ames

And if your mother helps you buy it she won't get another council place or be eligible for housing benefit.

nannytone_2

that isn't totally correct.
the mother can be removed from the tenancy ( 1 change)
the problem would be the brother being added because that would be a second change and not allowed.

my ex and i had a joint tenancy. when we split he was removed.
i then couldn't add anyone else to the tenancy

i could have bought it if i had wished, but i couldn't add another tenant ... just someone living in the property under my tenancy

Cheeky_Monkey

marliepanda wrote: »

Yes they are correct. You would be under occupying a social housing property.

You don't need 2 rooms.
You and your girlfriend do not need 2 rooms.

Starting a family just to retain a council house is a ridiculous reason to start a family.

But in this case, one that would be very profitable

McKneff

is everyone on benefits.....

Bedroom tax..... I hate that phrase....... only comes into effect if you are on benefits

power445

The lady on the phone never said I couldn't add my brother back to the tenancy, he was previously on it for 7 years, and only been off it for over a year now. As far as i'm aware a family member is classed as family, so how can they say you can not move a brother,mother or sister back into the family home?

My mother wants to move out, so I need to know the best option to keeping this place and buying it seems the most obvious.

Problem is, can I buy it alone?, I.E I apply to buy it as joint tenancy but only I choose to have it in my name, is this a option? I get I can only buy it under the current tenancy, but surely you can choose if all the people on the tenancy want to buy it?