Once you get selected for a social housing home it means you qualify the criteria laid down and that you come from a low-income background. Being a social housing association tenant also means that your landlord will now be responsible for its maintenance and repairs. As a result, such homes are relatively affordable and secure for UK residents.
Social housing is provided by a local council or a housing association in the UK. So, they are the landlord of your social home, if you have been allotted one.
Two major advantages of having social housing are:
1-A social home is much more affordable than renting a private house
2-A social home provides a long-term tenancy usually
In other words, if you are a social renter, you get better rights and more authority over your home. You even get a chance to begin to grow your roots in the area.
Social Housing Vs Private Renting
As mentioned earlier, a social housing home is affordable. This is because the rent you pay as a social tenant is linked to your local income. In most areas of the UK, social homes are the most affordable option, provided you get allotted one after being on a waiting list.
Your social home rent will be significantly lower than a person who is renting a private home. Social housing rent is also limited by the government so that the families and communities who have got a chance to live there continue to live there.
Those who rent privately do not have as much protection from eviction as those persons who live in a social home. Social tenants have comparatively secure tenancies and rights than private tenants.
The other fact is that if you have a social home, then on average, your home is more likely to meet the ‘decent housing’ standard. You get better insulation in your home and it is more energy-efficient.
How to Handle Repair Problems in Your Council or Housing Association Home
The landlord of your social home is your local council or housing association. When you have repair problems, then they are the ones responsible for dealing with them. At your end, you need to be sure and clear what repairs are needed.
You should have photographic evidence of all the repair problems that are staring you in the face. Most social housing landlords fix repairs once they become aware of them. But there is also the fact that this doesn’t happen always. There are landlords who may listen and ignore your repair complaints.
Social landlords are supposed to follow rules laid down by the Regulator of Social Housing in the UK. They have to ensure that their tenant’s home meets the approved Decent Homes Standard.
If despite multiple complaints, no action on your home repair problems is being taken, then you have the option of taking legal action. What is important is that right from the first complaint you made to your landlord, every such action needs to be in black and white preferably.
Keep records of your complaints and evidence of repairs needed. Get in touch with a housing expert who can help you. These steps will keep your social home secure and safe for you and your family for years to come.
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