Is this usual?

Murphybear

We have been offered a property in a Housing Association complex for the over 60s.

It was advertised on Rightmove through a letting agent and we were “interviewed” by the manager. He said they don’t need references or a credit check and they don’t take a deposit. (They are not the only ones, National Trust don’t require a deposit for their properties either).

Good news for us of course but I was wondering is this usual for HA or over 60s houses.

[Deleted User]

Social housing doesn't normally ask for deposits. If this is owned by a HA.., I'd be surprised if they did ask for a deposit, more than if they didn't. There are some that ask for rent a month in advance on signing (particularly if the property is classed as 'affordable housing' rather than 'social housing' but its not normal.

moneyistooshorttomention

I was never asked for a deposit back when I had HA housing many years back now. Of course things may have changed since - but the thought literally never crossed my mind as to whether I would be asked for a deposit and I wasn't.

I think I might have had to pay the rent a fortnight in advance - but memory is hazy on that one - as it was so many years ago.

I doubt the fact that it's specifically over 60's would make any difference to that.

Enjoy your new home.

Murphybear

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I was never asked for a deposit back when I had HA housing many years back now. Of course things may have changed since - but the thought literally never crossed my mind as to whether I would be asked for a deposit and I wasn't.

I think I might have had to pay the rent a fortnight in advance - but memory is hazy on that one - as it was so many years ago.

I doubt the fact that it's specifically over 60's would make any difference to that.

Enjoy your new home.

Thank you. It comes with a lovely communal lounge/kitchen that’s all toasty warm, perfect for bridge and scrabble (oh the joys of getting older:D)

Murphybear

We have now been in our new home for one week. It’s great, and when it snowed 3 nice men appeared and cleared all the snow from the paths and the car park and gritted it all.

Slithery

Brilliant.

Enjoy your retirement

moneyistooshorttomention

Murphybear wrote: »

We have now been in our new home for one week. It’s great, and when it snowed 3 nice men appeared and cleared all the snow from the paths and the car park and gritted it all.

That was my experience of HA accommodation when I had it. Again - it was quite some years back now and "who knows what cutbacks there have been since?". But I did find the ones I had to be good landlords/couldn't complain. You told them = they fixed it and there'd be their workman there at my door very promptly after I'd mentioned anything wrong with my own place personally.

Smodlet

MurphyBear, I am glad you are happy in your new home.

My experience of LA housing is the same as MITSTM's, the word "deposit" was never mentioned but that was a very long time ago. I think your experience of renting privately is causing you to question this. The rules used to be very different for LA housing; I am glad they still are and long may they continue to be.

Murphybear

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That was my experience of HA accommodation when I had it. Again - it was quite some years back now and "who knows what cutbacks there have been since?". But I did find the ones I had to be good landlords/couldn't complain. You told them = they fixed it and there'd be their workman there at my door very promptly after I'd mentioned anything wrong with my own place personally.

When we moved in one of the first things OH did (after making sure beds and big comfy leather chairs were in place:rotfl:) was check the communal tv aerial to get our Humax box working. There was a problem with it but 2 days later a nice man appeared to sort it out. It’s nice to be cosseted

moneyistooshorttomention

Murphybear wrote: »

When we moved in one of the first things OH did (after making sure beds and big comfy leather chairs were in place:rotfl:) was check the communal tv aerial to get our Humax box working. There was a problem with it but 2 days later a nice man appeared to sort it out. It!!!8217;s nice to be cosseted

Good to see that things havent changed in that respect for at least some HA places then:):T

I was wondering how things are these days as there is some HA accommodation in the town I'm now living in that is VERY different in this respect quite obviously. I'm guessing it might be down to having been Council accommodation until recently - ie it's one of those set-ups where Council accommodation has been transferred over (actually? ostensibly? - not sure) into HA hands. Now I'm shocked every time I take the slightest glance at some of those properties - ie because they are so badly-maintained/not sure they actually do have any maintenance work to speak of it hits you right in the eye at a quick glance.

Whereas - when I have home visits back to the West Country - I've seen the road where I had mine - and, if I thought it was pretty good whilst I was there, I was gobsmacked at how nice it now is (courtesy of major refurbishment work having been done on the estate). It DOES look not just maintained - but pretty stylish and a bit "luxury" nowadays.:T

So - not sure if the difference is down to the divide between HA properties that always have been HA properties v. those that used(?) to be Council ones or what.