Relocating to Wigan

nicki_2

I'm looking at relocating to Wigan from Liverpool for personal reasons I'm not going to go into here. I have a 7-year-old daughter and am currently on Income Support, housing/council tax benefits etc. This is my first time moving on my own & with a school aged child. Have I covered all the bases in the following list or is there anything else I need to do?

• Rental properties that I can afford based on current benefits.LHA website estimates of Housing benefit
  • Looked at private landlords/letting agents and its either guarantors or huge deposits of £1000 :eek:
  • Have application form for council housing already filled in, just need to get the 2 references I need for it.
• School place for my daughter (doing my best to get her into a good school based on DofES information)
  • If local school is CofE then I need to apply direct to the school
  • If local school is a community one then I apply for a transfer of school through the council (already have a print out of the form)
• Transferring Housing/council tax benefit claims from Liverpool to Wigan council
  • Housing benefit would switch to the new LHA scheme (already looked at the allowance so I have an idea of what I could, in theory afford)
  • Council Tax - from what I can gather I still get this 100% as I'm on Income Support
• Transferral of Income Support through job centre (from what I can gather that should be a pretty straight forward thing...in theory)
• I am starting a training course in September with a company based in Liverpool through the New Deal for Lone Parents, this company also has offices in Wigan and according to the Job centre in Wigan I should be able to transfer this course over as well - this is only based on the assumption I can find somewhere to live before March when my course ends
• When I get a job or if I start training outside of school hours I need childcare
  • I have a list of childminders, out of hours childcare etc all in Wigan with details of ages covered, costs etc.
• Then all the usual things I would move if I was moving within Liverpool
  • Utilities (including ending broadband, BT package as I can't just transfer them this time) Mobile company
  • Child Benefit / Tax Credits / CSA
  • Bank / building society / Credit Cards / NHS Medical Cards
  • Store Cards
  • Doctor / Dentist
  • DVLA
  • Online things like ebay/amazon/pigsback
• Costs involved
  • Reference costs (about £50 I think?)
  • Transport costs there and back for signing contracts/viewings etc
  • Moving of possessions
  • Putting money on meters if they're prepayment
  • Redirecting post - from £7.35 to £37.40 per surname (so 2 lots for me :rolleyes: )
  • Deposit
  • Cost of New Uniform for DD when she moves school
• "Repair" this house back to good condition to ensure deposit back
  • Touch up paintwork
  • Stick down any wallpaper that's come up (damp problems)
  • Deep clean
  • Remove marks on walls
  • Repairs

Is there anything else I need to think about and factor in?

helpinghands_3

If you need some kind of floating support to help and support you through this period and you are accepted in a local authority house you can access support through the local council for this service.

There are also other support agencies who could possible help, support and give guidance to you. If you ring the council they will give you the support agency names.

Sonofa

If someone says "Thas not from round ere" the locals have spotted your accent and you as an outsider.

At this point they may become suspicious and try to trick you. If they ask what time is it when there's a pie on't top o't townawl clock just answer summat t'weat and you'll be okay.

At this point you will have realised that I have nothing constructive to add to your post, but I genuinely wish you the best of luck with your move. You sound extremely well organised so I doubt much should go wrong.

almar_2

Oh I used to love going to Wigan Casino.

angelfire

Whereabouts in Wigan are you looking?

nicki_2

!!!!!! wrote: »

Whereabouts in Wigan are you looking?

If you look at a map of Wigan and put a clock on it (using Wigan North Western Station as the centre point) I'm looking from about 9 clockwise to about 4 (for the personal reasons I've mentioned I'm not moving to anywhere between 4 and 9) if that makes sense? I'm basically looking at WN5 though ATM as thats where most of the housing that available is based.

Natty082

oohhh Wigan Kebab.... yummy

confused!_13

Nikki#
Nothing to add except i live in wigan so if you want advice re best areas to live, which schools to send kids to etc drop me a pm.

There are some really nice areas, and some so rough i wouldnt want you to end up there!!!
:j WN3 has some good housing too, but wn3 covers a vast area. WN5, just be careful where in WN5 you end up goes from fab to bad in about 3 streets! iykwim??

helpinghands_3

Everywhere has bad areas, it doesnt mean that the people who live in these areas are bad people.

If you prepared to try Skelmersdale for housing WN8 you could get rehoused in that area aswell

mr.broderick

We live in orrell, very nice with top schools.

nicki_2

I like Orrell a lot, there just doesn't seem to be many if any housing association properties there DD is desperate to go to a particular secondary school there even though she's only 7 :rolleyes: Mind you, I'm desperate for her to go there as well and have been since she was about 4 :rotfl:

At the moment it seems that all the properties that I can apply for (as in not in the areas I'm discounting for personal reasons) seem to be Worsley Hall area and there's been a couple in Pemberton. My main problem is that I've only been on the list since August so it could be years before I'm high enough to actually get one