It’s very unfortunate that some tenants exchange homes and upon moving in, the home is in a very messy or neglected condition.
Before a move is allowed councils or housing associations are extremely thorough in checking the homes for exchanges. Normally any defects etc have to be corrected before moves go ahead. Isn’t basic cleanliness and hygiene also important?
What an upsetting experience a move can be for any family to move into a property where the basic standards of living has slipped.
Maybe landlords could consider this a major downfall in the whole procedure. Should cleanliness and basic hygiene be part of an inspection and also much nearer to the moving date?
Understandably if an exchange could not go through at shorter notice than at present, would that be more annoying than moving into a home that needed extensive cleaning for the health and safety of a family?[ad#Google 200×200 right]
Were there any signs when you viewed the property and did you still want to take the risk of exchanging with them?
It might be that the standards drop when an exchange is approved and going through to be completed. Over the many years we have helped make lots of exchanges and although most members end up happy in their new homes some have to overcome horror stories after moving.
We’ve addressed some of these situations above but how can things be improved. Should landlords be more active or do you think you could have done things differently during the setting up of your move that might have brought the potential problems to your attention before moving.
Have your say on our ExchangeForum blog.
You never know your social landlord might see some constructive information.
I don’t see how a council or HA can do them any closer to the moving date. Anyway, you have to sign a form to say you take the property “as seen”. If furniture, toys etc are in the way of holes in the walls etc there isn’t an awful lot you can do about it really.
My council offers money to people who have transferred – but only after the inspectors have been in after the move. They inspect the empty property and if left clean & tidy, the person who has moved gets over a £100. This doesn’t apply to exchanges but it could be adapted some how.
What if you are disabled though or a pensioner with no family to help? You can’t do everything.
it would be good if they could but i just dont think they have the time,when i moved in they left all ther rubish for us to remove but they had been told to move it!
If they cant inspect nearer day you move, the tenant who leaves all the rubbish and mess should get charged for removal of it which happened when we moved to weymouth..sadly most councils cant be bothered and say the old chestnut “you took it as seen”!!! Yes when it was tidy not when a bloody bomb went off and they just threw all their junk in the garden like when we moved in here!!! Better still on the day you both move a council officer from housing should be present which would save lots of hassle and grief for unlucky tenants moving into filth!!