Getting a council house! is it possible anymore?

mrs_deadline

poppysarah wrote: »

What the OP and other people who'd like a cheaper rent should do is complain to their MPs about the high levels of rents in the private sector.
The council housing waiting lists are piled high with people who would love a lower rent and security of tenure. It's appalling that these people are so ignored by politicians.

What she said!

Well over 2 million council houses have been sold off since the right-to-buy came in, and the money pocketed by the government rather than used for building more. The number of households on the waiting list is 1.6 million now and will hit 2 million households or 5 million people in another year (LGA)

That's a lot of voters. Just a suggestion, start emailing your MPs on the first of every month, just to remind them you're still waiting for affordable rent and a secure tenancy.

xellieqx

The irritation [of pieces like this] is that people spend too much time listening to gossip and hearsay about things that other people have said about situations that pertain to social housing.
I've just finished working for a social housing company in Cheshire, and peoples attitudes, both tenants and potential tenants, were such a bugbear of mine (so much so, I had to quit). Everyone knows someone 'who's only got one kid but she got a three bedroom house', or 'has only been on the list a month and she's already been given a house'. It doesn't matter how much you try to explain to people that there will be a reason for this, and properties aren't just offered out willy-nilly to anyone the company fancies. It's difficult to try and tell people that they should concern themselves with their own situations, rather than any tittle tattle that they've heard.

To the OP - at the moment, the only way you could be considered for a council property is if you submitted an income and expenditure form showing that you can't afford to live, or are struggling to live in the property that you're in at the moment. This, at most, will give you minimal priority, probably on a social level, but to be honest you're going to be considered adequately housed. There's no point lying in your application, because you will be found out. Your council will have access to so many resources to cross reference your information - if you're found to be 'bending the truth' you could forfeit your place on the list.

Lastly, and most importantly, as appealing as reduced rent may be, there's every possibility that your quality of life will deteriorate rapidly if that is the kind of environment you live in. I'm not stereotyping or pigeon-holing, I'm speaking from experience, being the person that people had to come to to complain about their neighbours. Frequent complaints, on a daily basis, included; drug use / selling, alcoholism, verbal abuse and harassment / intimidation, physical attacks, misuse of 'communal' areas (fly tipping, fires, graffiti, things of that ilk), ad infinitum. I'm not denying that things like this happen everywhere, but the volume of neighbour complaints received were phenomenal, and most of them pretty upsetting. Of course the council are there to take complaints, and they will try and sort them as quickly as possible for you (despite what some may think), but it's only going to be a matter of time before someone else is moved in and your troubles potentially begin again.

Just things to think about.

xellieqx

Chris2685 wrote: »

Unless you're a single mother or an asylum seeker, you're unlikely to get a home given to you.

You can't apply for housing in Britain if you're seeking asylum

flea72

ShelfStacker wrote: »

How are genuine people being penalised for going out to work, precisely? I hear this bandyed around a lot and it makes no sense; yes, working people get taxed, but they also have a higher income, can afford more luxury items and have less of a social stigma than people on benefits. So please, how are genuine people being penalised? I work, I pay taxes, I pay bills, I'm in debt, I don't feel "penalised". If you feel "penalised" because of the existence of government handouts, that's a problem for you and your personal pride, nobody else.

Just because you work, doesnt mean you have a higher income than someone on benefits, and perhaps you dont feel penalised, because you earn more than you think someone on benefits gets. i know of very few people who work for the fun of it, if you could get the same money, for sitting at home doing nothing then you would

The OP is saying they have £50 a month to live on after paying household bills. would you work for £50 a month profit, as thats effectively what the OP is doing. if they were on benefits, all their household expense would be covered, and then some.

So you wouldnt feel penalised, if you earnt £13k and had to pay for presciptions, rent, council tax, school meals, travelling to work, work clothing, etc. But Joe Bloggs gets £13k in benefits, and gets all the above free or subsidised. so effectively, they have £13k and you have £600 a year spare to be 'frivalous' with?

Wheres the personal pride, in working for something that you could get for free, seems more like stupidity, and thats where the benefits system is wrong, and why the OP feels penalised. They work, but their life is no better than someone on benefits, infact financially, its probably worse

Flea

SingleSue

We went into housing association housing as an emergency in late 1994, we had originally gone on the list in early 1987 (no children then) and our names stayed there with no upward movement ( we had actually forgotten our names were on the list as our circumstances had improved in the meantime) until everything went completely wrong in our lives and after many months of contact with the council and local housing association, they came to the rescue the day before we were due to end up on the streets.

In the time we (now I) have been tenants of the HA, we have got back on our feet become more comfortable and then back to square one again due to the marriage breaking up and myself having to give up work due to 2 childrens disabilities....and now it's pretty much breadline.

We have never lied on the forms and would never lie.

As to the shopping budget, I am sure that could be worked on to free up some extra pennies, I currently spend £20 a week for me and my 3 (very fast) growing boys.


As a slight aside, maybe I am completely out of synch with others but I have in the past taken jobs which have meant the loss of family credit etc and actually left us worse off financially and I would do it again (if someone would give me a blooming chance!) money isn't everything, happiness and a feeling of self worth is much more important.

Hope that helps OP with your original question.

Jenn85

Grimbo_Green wrote: »

Hi
I have been a lurker on this site for a few months now and finally decided to sign up and post something myself. I hope I have put this is the correct category.

Sorry if this is long winded but I thought i'd give you some background info first.....
I am desperate to get a council house, as we are struggling to live at the moment. (aren't we all! :rolleyes:)
I am 27, live with my boyfriend and my 6 month old baby boy in privately rented accommodation.
I am currently on maternity leave but that will finish next month then I will return to my boring office job part time. My boyfriend works full time.
Between us we have a joint income of £21k.
That means we basically stand no chance of ever getting a council home!
We dont get many benefits as we are classed as high earners so we just get the basic child benefit and £19 per week child tax credit.
After all of our bills are paid each month we are left with £50 disposable income (that is to buy all of our clothes, xmas and birthday presents or whatever) £50 does not stretch far at all for 2 adults and a baby.

Im fed up with it, we work hard and get no reward from it. We dont have any luxuries (ie Sky, gym memberships ect) the only luxery we have is the internet.
Our bills are as low as we can get them and we spend £50 per week on groceries which includes nappies, wet wipes, formular milk (I make my own baby food)

A council house seems like the perfect answer to our problems because its a secure tenancy, you can decorate how you want, you dont need to pay for any major repairs and its so cheap each month. I'd much rather a council home than a mortgage anyday!

We currently pay £650 per month in rent for a 2 bed terrace which is average where I live (Somerset) however my boyfriend's brother was lucky enough to get a council house and they only pay £200 per month!

I'm just curious, those of you that are lucky enough to live in a council home:

how did you get it?

what were your circumstances at the time?

how long did you have to wait to get one?

when did you get it? ie a few years ago or 10-15 years ago when there were more about.

I would do anything it takes to get one, even if that means bending the truth a little. (sorry I know that's wrong but im not here to have a lesson on morals lol!)
We're fed up with just existing and want a bit more money to enjoy life more (and I am grateful for what we have and realise people are alot worse off)

It does seem the government nowadays like to reward people by handing out benefits and council houses just for screwing up their own lives (eg getting addicted to heroin or getting pregnant at 15). The people who do everything right, work hard but just dont earn much are forgotten about.
I think its wrong. :mad:

Many Thanks

Hey Grimbo Green

I can seriously understand your frustration alot of my friensds are in a similar situation, Council Rent is about half the ammount of private rent but you are not garenteed where you would live or what type of accomadation you will get either ie Flat or house, although if you are paying half the rent you really dont care.

Jenn85

Grimbo_Green wrote: »

Hi
I have been a lurker on this site for a few months now and finally decided to sign up and post something myself. I hope I have put this is the correct category.

Sorry if this is long winded but I thought i'd give you some background info first.....
I am desperate to get a council house, as we are struggling to live at the moment. (aren't we all! :rolleyes:)
I am 27, live with my boyfriend and my 6 month old baby boy in privately rented accommodation.
I am currently on maternity leave but that will finish next month then I will return to my boring office job part time. My boyfriend works full time.
Between us we have a joint income of £21k.
That means we basically stand no chance of ever getting a council home!
We dont get many benefits as we are classed as high earners so we just get the basic child benefit and £19 per week child tax credit.
After all of our bills are paid each month we are left with £50 disposable income (that is to buy all of our clothes, xmas and birthday presents or whatever) £50 does not stretch far at all for 2 adults and a baby.

Im fed up with it, we work hard and get no reward from it. We dont have any luxuries (ie Sky, gym memberships ect) the only luxery we have is the internet.
Our bills are as low as we can get them and we spend £50 per week on groceries which includes nappies, wet wipes, formular milk (I make my own baby food)

A council house seems like the perfect answer to our problems because its a secure tenancy, you can decorate how you want, you dont need to pay for any major repairs and its so cheap each month. I'd much rather a council home than a mortgage anyday!

We currently pay £650 per month in rent for a 2 bed terrace which is average where I live (Somerset) however my boyfriend's brother was lucky enough to get a council house and they only pay £200 per month!

I'm just curious, those of you that are lucky enough to live in a council home:

how did you get it?

what were your circumstances at the time?

how long did you have to wait to get one?

when did you get it? ie a few years ago or 10-15 years ago when there were more about.

I would do anything it takes to get one, even if that means bending the truth a little. (sorry I know that's wrong but im not here to have a lesson on morals lol!)
We're fed up with just existing and want a bit more money to enjoy life more (and I am grateful for what we have and realise people are alot worse off)

It does seem the government nowadays like to reward people by handing out benefits and council houses just for screwing up their own lives (eg getting addicted to heroin or getting pregnant at 15). The people who do everything right, work hard but just dont earn much are forgotten about.
I think its wrong. :mad:

Many Thanks

Hey Grimbo Green

I can seriously understand your frustration alot of my friensds are in a similar situation, Council Rent is about half the ammount of private rent but you are not garenteed where you would live or what type of accomadation you will get either ie Flat or house, although if you are paying half the rent you really dont care.

Welshwoofs

Grimbo_Green wrote: »

Also my point about single people living in 3 bed houses: I DID NOT SAY TO CHUCK THEM ONTO THE STREETS! They get offered other accomodation and plenty of notice. This sounds fair to me.

All i'm saying is if YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM THEN JOIN 'EM in other words - tell a few porkies to get a house.
Ive lived my whole life doing the right thing, working hard and it has gotten me nowhere, so what other choice is there??

I read this far before I got to the stage where I wanted to bury you alive...

Ok.. so here's my advice...

1. Don't have children you can't afford to pay for yourself. It's not manditory to spawn you know, the world is quite overcrowded as it is.
2. Get off your butt and work full time instead of going back part time. You wanted the baby, you work out a way of pulling your weight in society and have your heart's desire at the same time.
3. £50 a week for groceries is very, very bad budgeting. If you care to take a look down at my signature you'll see I've spent £38 on groceries for the month and that's for 2 adults. It doesn't take much more to care for a 6-month old if you do such things as... shock, horror... use terry towelling nappies instead of expensive disposables.
4. Never suggest that a 70-year old should give up a home they've been in for years so you and your b/f with your poor family planning and unwillingness to work full time can jump in her shoes.
5. Try making use of the numerous night courses and discounted education programs to get some more skills and get a better paid job.

I was brought up by my Mother alone who worked full time during the day and cleaned at night. We lived in a tiny cottage with no bathroom and an outside loo - we bathed in a tub in the kitchen. We had no TV, our clothes were second hand and what we ate came from the garden or the road... yes, she picked up fresh roadkill. Not once... ever... did that woman ask for a single penny for the state because in her mind, her child was her responsibility and not everybody else's.

...and no, this wasn't something in the last century.. this was the late 1970s.

In short - don't expect other people to bail you out when it looks very much to me that you're doing precious little to help your own situation :mad:

leyla-aurelia

I understand your frustration, there are 4 of us, including 2 expensive teenagers:eek:, living on a similar amount to you, paying a similar private rent. I don't even think about 'money-left-over':rolleyes: . I'd love to have a council house, but to be honest, feel that in today's climate our need really isn't as great as many others'.

I'd far rather be struggling along with my DH and kids with a high rent, than be a young single parent (no criticism of single parents, I just think it must be blddy hard), with a council place. Many of those in council houses today have walked a very hard road to get there (hostels, B&B, etc), I wouldn't wish it on anyone, and I'm sure few parents would want their kids to go through it, if they had any choice at all!!

It's not how things used to be, but then neither are many other things in life. This is not a criticism of you Grimbo Green, on many levels it isn't 'fair', but it's the reality today.

I don't know your circumstances, r.e. debts, etc. but have you looked at what your situation would be if you didn't go back to work until your baby's older. You might be able to claim housing benefit, extra tax credits, etc. It could be that you'd be better off. I can't claim housing benefit because we're saving for a house deposit, so have 'assets' above the limit, (we'd be entitled to a good chunk of our rent in HB otherwise :mad: ) you might be entitled to HB though! Have you checked?

Leyla xx

Jenn85

I am getting increasingly annoyed with people saying that everyone on benefits or single mums are scroungers this is not the case I am a single mother who went back to work FULL time when my DD was 6months old the 12 months ago i got very sick and almost died so subsequently i am living of incapasity benefit (unfortunately still seriously ill), I DO NOT get everything paid for i still have to pay more than a Third of my rent and council tax leaving me with barely anything, the only reason we are all in debt (me included) is that we attempted to live beyond our means, people who work are in debt but so are people on benefits its not the life of luxury that everyone makes it out too be, its tough i was so much better off when i worked so before anyone comments on Single mothers or people on benefits sit back and have a think, I do agree though sometimes the benefits system is abused and there are lots of people on benefits that could be working and don't, but please don't not say the type of things it is very very offensive!!