Considering going from a housing association accommodation to private rent?

jazzy

My wife and myself are retired and have been living in social housing accommodation for around forty years. There is so much trouble were we live we have just had enough. The housing association cannot assist us due to the lack of housing stock. Our main concern if renting privately is the lack of security, whats to say if we have a contract for six months the landlord then decides to sell and give notice to us, does this kind of thing happen?  Is there any advantage going through a letting agency and if so does this offer more security for long term contracts?  We are too old to keep moving around so any advice would be very much appreciated.

greatcrested

jazzy said:

.... whats to say if we have a contract for six months the landlord then decides to sell and give notice to us, does this kind of thing happen?

Is there any advantage going through a letting agency and if so does this offer more security for long term contracts? 

Yes it happens.

No advantage and no more security.

comeandgo

Would it not be possible to try and swap properties in the housing association?  Or move to a housing association retirement flats?  You could be moving every few years private and still have no guarantee your neighbours aren't noisy.

Annisele

Our main concern if renting privately is the lack of security, whats to say if we have a contract for six months the landlord then decides to sell and give notice to us, does this kind of thing happen?  

Yes, it does. To give you a couple of anecdotes - I've been renting for 20 years, and that's only happened three times to me. But I have a colleague who's had to move eight times in six years because his landlords wanted their flats back.

Is there any advantage going through a letting agency and if so does this offer more security for long term contracts?  

Absolutely not. My experience has been that letting agencies are _slightly_ less likely than private landlords to be entirely ignorant of the relevant law. But the two proper arguments I've had as a tenant - about a gas leak and the validity of an 'eviction notice' - have both been with lettings agents, and were resolved to my satisfaction as soon as the landlord got involved.

carefullycautious

If you are going to pay private rental prices you would be better off looking for retirement flats. You can stay there without the worry of being moved on
https://www.anchorhanover.org.uk/our-properties/properties-for-rent
http://www.girlings.co.uk/
These are just 2  ( I do not know personally what they are like so do your homework thoroughly)
Are you in a 2 bed? if so you may be able to move into a 1 bed with your HA to release an extra bedroom .We did this when we had to move away from a bad situation. We moved from a large 2 bed flat into sheltered 1 bed (due to age) 

luvchocolate

I agree with all the above replies. 
I moved from private rent at £450 a month with no security to over 55 housing association property £330 a month. 
Check all housing associations in your area..I believe you also need to be on the council list..we do in this area. 
Check if your association have over 55 properties. 
Good luck 

HampshireH

Sheltered housing Schemes for over 55s are often through a different housing register.

You are unlikely to ever get a swap but its easier to get a move.

Many are just complexes of bungalows (others are complexes of flats) often not staffed and so exactly like living in a normal bungalow/flat

Don't forget over 55s can be anti socisl too and so can private renters and home owners

jazzy

Thanks for all of your comments.
There are only two housing associations in my area. The other association has a much larger housing stock and appears to be a much better association looking after their tenants. Unfortunately if you already have an assured tenancy with another housing association (like I have) you cannot apply to be placed on their list.

HampshireH

jazzy said:

Thanks for all of your comments.
There are only two housing associations in my area. The other association has a much larger housing stock and appears to be a much better association looking after their tenants. Unfortunately if you already have an assured tenancy with another housing association (like I have) you cannot apply to be placed on their list.

Which are they? Surely this is dependant on circumstances.

jazzy

HampshireH said:

jazzy said:

Thanks for all of your comments.
There are only two housing associations in my area. The other association has a much larger housing stock and appears to be a much better association looking after their tenants. Unfortunately if you already have an assured tenancy with another housing association (like I have) you cannot apply to be placed on their list.

Which are they? Surely this is dependant on circumstances.

The other HA states "If you currently rent a home from another social landlord or a local council, unfortunately we won’t consider a housing application from you unless there are exceptional circumstances."

gwynlas

Do not under any circumstances give up your secure tenancy at your age.
i would say that that the fact that you have anti social behaviours happening around you would be grounds for exceptional circumstances.
Would it be possible to talk to your association to see if they hold any sway with the other? Does the other association have any specific retirement housing. You will not get anywhere without pushing a iot which might be against character but you need to move and this might mean identifying a place where you would like to live, noting where this is walking distance to shops GP etc and involving your local councillors and MP possibly adding in medical support if relevant. Do you or your wife suffer with  any disabilities mental health issues, social isolation fear of going out in the area? In the wider scheme of things you would not be depriving anyone else of a home as you would be releasing the one you currently live in.