helping my dad get divorced

dooj

IM hoping someone can help me, my dad has been married for just over one year and has finally realised that he made a big mistake. He now want to move out and get a place of his own. How does he do this? He would need to find council housing, how does he get on the list. He is not working at the moment but is keen to work and he currently has no savings either. He cant really afford to get a divorce he just wants to get out of there as soon as possible. Im wanting to help him but dont really know where to start? I would really appreciaite any advice/help anyone one can give.

magentadreamer

I doubt a single male would get a council house/flat these days as there aren't that many around TBH. I think his best option is to look for private rented accomodation which isn't going to be easy since he's unemployed.

Dora_the_Explorer_5

I think probably his only chance of having accommodation provided for him would be a place in a homeless hostel. However, if he wants to work perhaps he could try looking for a job which provides accommodation.
Does he have any family members who would put him up for a short while?

tanith

Hi dooj,

Sorry to hear your Dad is going through a stressful time... I also think he would have difficulty getting any coucil accommodation... The only thing I can think of is The Citizens Advice Bureau they might be able to point him in the right direction.... The first thing I would do in his situation is to try and get a job and that would give him a base to strike out from... and would give his confidence a boost also....

The divorce side of things can wait till he sorts out his other prorities such as housing and job.... has he any relatives that could help him out temporarily? I would be more likely to help someone who was working than an unemployed person myself..... sounds selfish but true......

I bet he is glad he has a caring someone looking out for him,....

Good luck

tanith

dooj

its not that my dad has never worked he can get contract work and has worked in other parts of the country but to enable him to do that he will have to have a home surely. Why is it so difficult to get somewhere to live through the council? My dad will be 60 this year so isnt exactly looking for a long term career also his wife has spent all his money and is an alcoholic so he is keen to get out asap. I dont have room for him at my house and he doesnt really have anywhere else to go. Surely there must be somewhere he could go? Why arnt single men allowed council houses?

tanith

Dooj we don't seem to of been much help but really he should try the Citizens advice they will have lots of info on the subject....

I believe that even if he is not working he might get some help to pay rent on a private rental flat.. but he does need advice from people who know...

Sorry not much help

tanith

margaretclare

dooj wrote:

Why aren't single men allowed council houses?

Quite simply it's because there aren't the council houses available. That's it! So, to be considered for a council house, a person needs to be in a 'vulnerable group' - usually someone with children. It varies up and down the country, some places there are NO council houses at all. The 'right to buy' scheme which started in the 1980s has put many former council houses into the private sector.

However, what your Dad could do would be, because of his age, to see if he can get 'sheltered housing' under the Council. In some places there are more of these than people wanting them and they can be really nice, also, in some places they're available from age 50 or 55 onwards, depending on availability.

The CAB may just tell him the same things you've been told here. Or they may point him in the direction of the council's Housing Department, which you can find yourself from your local phone book.

I would suggest your Dad moves out and gets himself sorted out before attempting to get divorced - that's not a priority.

Aunty Margaret

taxi97w

I would suggest getting on the list of Housing Associations. Some of them don't take children or dogs, so your Dad will not be competing with the single mums etc. They take all sorts of people on, the most dire situations acquiring accommodation first. Most of them don't ask for a bond either.:)

Savvy_Sue

And some Housing Associations have a fair bit of accommodation for the over 50s, some even specialise in housing for the older age group, eg Sanctuary (I think) or Anchor.

Margargetclare's comment is right: unless you are classed as 'vulnerable' then the council does not have a duty to rehouse you, and single adults are not normally classed as 'vulnerable'.