council housing problem

[kryptic]

Not sure if this is the right catagory but dont know where else to put it.
A friend of mine lives in a two bedroom family council house. It has a drive and a large, private garden on a modern estate (strangers to the area actually think that its a private estate) Its a property that can house a family of 4... a couple and 2 kids. My mate is single and has been trying to 'downgrade' to a smaller property (a flat) since his son left home 15 months ago. Despite the fact that there is a serious shortage of family homes the council still havnt rehoused him in a flat which would be the sensible thing to do in order to vacate a family home. He has applied on a weekly basis for flats that have become empty but has been turned down. He has comlained to the council, pointing out that it is ridiculous to keep a singe man in a family home when there is a serious shortage of such properties but has just recieved the usual waffle that can be expected from bureaucratic pen pushers.
He sees it as been unfair to stay in a home that could be put to better use by a family
what should his next move be?
Many thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

[kryptic]

forgot to say,
surely the council must be accountable to someone for the way in which they allocate properties?

[hc4361]

Tell him to contact his local MP and the local newspaper.

[sandyRoe]

He's very altruistic. What would he do if the council offered him a flat in a tower block in a bad area?

[pink-kittens]

Tell him to use the transfer (sometimes known as the swap list) list which will be located in his local office. It will be full of people looking for bigger or smaller places. He will be able to come to a mutual agreement without having to put in a bid
PS: Where does he live? =)

[pink-kittens]

that wouldn't happen sandy if he is using the 'bid list' and as a transfer tenant he can refuse as many as he lies without losing his place on the list

There are also lots of other web sites that offer this kind of service not just the council. As long as there are no rent areas it's unlikely anyone would be refused

[pink-kittens]

likes* not lies

[kryptic]

hc4361, He has talked about contacting the local media to highlight the fact that the local council seem to have a policy of keeping single tenants in family accomodation. I will suggest the MP to him, sounds like the next step.
Sandy, not neccesarily altruistic, just fair. He knows what its like to have a family and no home. Plus he no longer has need of either a (very large) garden or a drive.
Pinky, being on the transfer list he is also automatically on the exchange list as well but no suitable offers yet. He needs to stay fairly local as he also looks after his elderly mother.
Despite putting in dozens of bids, the council just dont get it. If they move him out, they will be able to accomodate a family.

[redcrx]

can he not look at privately renting a property that suits his needs better, rather than waiting for something to come up with the council

[bednobs]

if he wants a specific area then he should just hand his notice in and rent privately - he can have exactly what he wants exactly where he wants then can't he?

[bednobs]

ps, although flats come up weekly (!?) the council may well have other priorities - people who need no stairs for medical reasons, single parents etc

[pink-kittens]

No, its different kryptic
He can look through the 'mutual exchange' book in his local office - it is not the same as making a bid via the web pages - I've done it myself =) (think I prolly used the wrong wording in my other posts)

Gl to him anyway

[kryptic]

Thanks for all answers guys.
Renting privately isnt an option at the moment though.
All the properties that he's bid on have all been high rise flats so no one with medical conditions or single parents have taken these (children under 15 are not allowed to live in them here).
just seems a funny way to run things, keeping single people in family homes when they are willing to downgrade to a smaller property.
Guess thats what you get when you have a Labour run council...
Thanks again folk.

[maclarencat]

Quite right Kryptic because if it had been left to the Consrvatives there would be no council housing left therefor no problem as he would have to rent privately. God bless Maggie Thatcher.

[JimmyCooper]

If it was a 3 bed property then they wouldnt let a single person stay there.

However, a 2 bed may not be suitable for a family of 4 if the children were a boy and a girl.

TBH if you have a council house in an okay area it is like winning the lottery so I would be happy with what I'd got

[bednobs]

why is renting privately not an option if you don't mind me asking? If he is on a low income, the rent will be paid by housing benefit anyway.

[kryptic]

// If it was a 3 bed property then they wouldnt let a single person stay there. //
They would and they do...thats why there is such a shortage of family homes where I live.

[kryptic]

bednobs, The majority of private lets wont take dss (he's unemployed at the moment) and require a deposit. Apart from that he's reluctent to give up the security of council housing.

[Jan1957]

Has he tried this site:-

http://www.homeswapper.co.uk/index.asp

[sandyRoe]

He has security of tenure with a council home. If he ever moved to a private landlord they could someday sell the property and he'd be out within months and homeless. He should stay where he is.

[kryptic]

ill pass it on jan thanks,
exactly sandy.