Originally Posted by
rickysmiths
It is about time the Council and Housing Associations could get tough after all these houses do not belong to the tenants they are just that and as their needs change they should be moved appropriately. /QUOTE]
I agree.
A friend of mine has been separated from her husband for nearly 8 years. Her 2 children have now left home, and she's in a 3 bed HA property.
The rules changed, so when her children left home she had to pay for the two rooms she no longer needs, and she couldn't afford the extra, so she wants to do a swop with one of the neighbours who desperately needs a 3 bed and she can then downsize.
They approached the HA, they agreed they could swop, once my friends hubby signed off on the lease.
She was under the impression he'd already signed off on the lease when he left! She got the forms, got him to sign them, and hand delivered them to the office.
She had to do that so she could claim housing benefit at the time.
The HA say they haven't got them on file......
Her ex husband disappeared with his new lady about 7 years ago. The kids have not seen or heard from him in that time. No one knows where he is (he fell out with his family years before), he was very solitary, had one friend she knows of, that he fell out with shortly before they split up, and he left his job at the same time.
She can't get him to sign again, the HA claim they can't remove him without his permission, she can't afford to stay but can't afford to leave either (she has rent arrears, plus would need a months deposit and a months rent in advance on a private property)
She can't issue divorce proceedings because she hasn't got the money, and doesn't know where he is to serve him, and it's all just a mess.
She had to declare bankruptcy last year and is constantly borrowing money from her family to pay the rent on a house she can't legally leave :-(
The cab can't help her, she needs a solicitor, she can't afford it, and there's no guarantee they'd be able to find him either
Absolutely ridiculous, when common sense should prevail. Let her do the swop, with him on the same lease and if he ever shows his face (doubtful) looking to be rehomed, he can sign off on the joint tenancy then!