Housing Succession

Jasonh2015

Hi, I lived with my dad in a Housing association property and he past away in March, I informed the HA around March 15th and had no reply apart from “thank you for contacting us, we’ll reply in 3 working days” 

I emailed again on 8th April and had a reply on the 9th with a notice to quit and succession papers. I called them the following Monday and tried to pay the rent, and they had no record of anything that’s happened, so they wouldn’t take payment 

I had the succession papers delivered to their office by bike messenger on 11th April and have the name of the person who signed for them. 

They contact me around 8th May regarding one of my emails about making payment, the person said she’d get back to me, I asked for it by email because I was working. She emailed me saying another person would get back to me, still no contact from this other person or invoice for payment.

I’ve emailed them probably 12 times over 6 weeks to offer payment and asking for an update on the succession request.

One if their replies was comical, she asked who I was replying to the email thread I have used since my first email and their reference in the subject.

On my last email I sent it to 4 separate departments that have replied to an actual person explaining I’ve had zero contact past “we’ll get back to you” I asked if there was any potential GDPR issues considering they’ve not replied to my forms or the sensitive information they requested from me bills, P60, etc

there’s been no reply to my concerns explaining this is effecting me personally as I cannot move on, their sensitivity is nonexistent. 

One person replied from lettings last Thursday and said the succession request has been passed to the “tenancy fraud team” I asked why considering it seemed a strange name and she said “all succession requests are dealt with by that team” 

How long does succession usually take? I know they might be busy, but 6 weeks and no specific reply to anything and no letters about the rent not being paid, no nothing. 

They sent a letter addressed to my Dad explaining there’s no ball games allowed in the car park. I’m guessing their priorities are else where! 

I’ve CC’d my uncle who’s the executor of the estate in every email, there’s no fraud I’ve been living here for 15 odd years and offered them rent multiple times.

Any questions or suggestions would be appreciated 🤓

theartfullodger

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Do you have a copy of dad's tenancy agreement?? If so does it specify succession is possible?? 

What sort of tenancy is it?? Which country ?? (Laws vary.)

What is housing association's succession policy please??

Has anybody been paying the rent since decease??  (? You have proof & records??). Understand you offered). 

Are you on the council (yes council) housing waiting list (sometimes called register)

Assuming England, see this for background. Humbly suggest worth a careful read, and read of tenancy agreement.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/can_you_inherit_a_council_tenancy#:~:text=Only one person can take,council or a court chooses.

Good luck

marcia_

 Arranging succession takes forever and with very little communication from the HA until they want a document from you. My sister is currently going through this since march and getting very frustrated and the rent hasn't been paid since my dad passed because they wont accept payment as its not her tenancy yet 

Jasonh2015

marcia_ said:

 Arranging succession takes forever and with very little communication from the HA until they want a document from you. My sister is currently going through this since march and getting very frustrated and the rent hasn't been paid since my dad passed because they wont accept payment as its not her tenancy yet 

That’s interesting to know, thank you. Perhaps that’s what this HA is doing. I think I’ll just email them once a week now for an update if they will accept payment. Even if they don’t reply, I’ve got a record of it. They said the rent needs to be paid, but they don’t want to collect it 🤷‍♂️ very strange! 

marcia_

Jasonh2015 said:

marcia_ said:

 Arranging succession takes forever and with very little communication from the HA until they want a document from you. My sister is currently going through this since march and getting very frustrated and the rent hasn't been paid since my dad passed because they wont accept payment as its not her tenancy yet 

That’s interesting to know, thank you. Perhaps that’s what this HA is doing. I think I’ll just email them once a week now for an update if they will accept payment. Even if they don’t reply, I’ve got a record of it. They said the rent needs to be paid, but they don’t want to collect it 🤷‍♂️ very strange! 

 Yes email them weekly and keep pushing them . Ask if there are any documents you can provide to help them make their decision. 

 Put the rent money to one side because they will want it sooner or later. 

GibbsRule_No3.

I’d have a few questions.
A)Will you be under occupying the property if your father is not there?
B)Do you know if the rent will be the same as when you lived with your father, or were they taking it on his money, less you as a dependent?

A friend of mine continually living with her parents, never anywhere else, wanted to be added to the property with her mother after her father passed away but they said no, advised her to make sure she had her name on a utility bill so that when her mother does eventually pass away they may have to find her somewhere to live but she won’t be able to remain in the house, even if she paid the rent in full.

marcia_

GibbsRule_No3. said:

I’d have a few questions.
A)Will you be under occupying the property if your father is not there?
B)Do you know if the rent will be the same as when you lived with your father, or were they taking it on his money, less you as a dependent?

A friend of mine continually living with her parents, never anywhere else, wanted to be added to the property with her mother after her father passed away but they said no, advised her to make sure she had her name on a utility bill so that when her mother does eventually pass away they may have to find her somewhere to live but she won’t be able to remain in the house, even if she paid the rent in full.

 That usually happens when the council house has already been succeeded before. For instance from father to mother when father died. Then nobody can succeed mum.

KxMx

You can also succeed a tenancy but not be entitled to the actual property, if you will be under occupying. 

HampshireH

The executor should have provided a copy of the death certificate for starters .

You don't mention if this has happened or not but if it hasn't mail will still be sent 

Tenancies only have one statutory succession. Was this always your dad's sole tenancy? Never been in joint names before?

If there has then this could be the problem but it all sounds like very poor practice. It shouldn't take long at all to do a succession if eligible and the correct documents have been provided

Go down the complaints process. Stage 1 stage 2 then ombudsman if you aren't happy with the outcome 

Bedbug1936

Hi am new to this site could someone please tell me which forum to go to about universal credit thank you inadvance

marcia_

Bedbug1936 said:

Hi am new to this site could someone please tell me which forum to go to about universal credit thank you inadvance

Post here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/benefits-tax-credits