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LHA at what point does a baby count towards needing more bedrooms

24

Comments

  • ur right about the EU, I'll be voting for the only party who wants out of EU proper.
  • viktory
    viktory Posts: 7,635 Forumite
    Fran wrote: »
    perhaps your best option would be to ask the council to move you as they are the ones that sold the house putting you in a situation where you can't "peacefully enjoy" (or whatever phrase they use) your place.

    :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Of course, just toddle along to the local council office and select your new home. They have plenty.

    I think the OP should give this family a break. Sounds like that have quite enough on their plate to be honest, without having to worry about their neighbours complaints.

    Council housing is in desperate shortage. In my local borough, there are approximately 8000 people on the register with 3000 in temporary accomodation and for the year 06/07 only 900 properties came up for letting. Of those 500 went to families in temporary accomodation. Plus, of the 900 only a handful were 2 or 3 bed houses - the lion's share were studio and 1 bed flats, mostly in high rise blocks on estates - and no one wants them!

    Therefore, if your borough is the same as mine, this family are highly unlikely to be moved anytime soon by the council. The only way they will move is to privately rent a bigger home.
  • A friend of mines lives in a 4 in a block, top flat.

    Her oldest son is 15yrs

    Second son is 3yrs

    and third son is almost one year old.

    She has one room and the 14yr old boy shares with the 3yr old. the 14 year old, I would imagine it would be difficult having, friends or privacy in his room.

    She has been told once the youngest child is one year old, they will offer her a larger place to live.
    bam bam bammy Shore by The Revellers...do do de de do.
  • bestpud
    bestpud Posts: 11,048 Forumite
    The only way she will become a priority (and she will almost certainly have to be a priority to get a family home) is for the LL to evict her.

    But you don't even know that she wants to move...
  • LHA local housing allowance is only theoretical! ie if a couple with 2 children want to rent a 10 bed mansion-they can do but their housing benefit claim would only be based on 2 bedroom rate-as they actually only need 2 bedrooms (they would have to pay the rest of the rent themselves). they could rent a 1 bed flat - but would still get the 2 bedroom rate as they 'theoretically' need 2 bedrooms (they could get up to £15 housing benefit money to keep themselves if they rent a property that is cheaper than the councils 2 bedroom rate). if the property is a council house then its unlikely LHA would apply anyway as this is only for privately rented properties. however the council may have their own rules with regarding moving people to a larger property depending on the number of people living there.
  • emlou2009
    emlou2009 Posts: 4,016 Forumite
    i've just had a look on that shelter link, thank you for posting it but i couldnt work out where we would come on that, i'm pregnant and me and my partner privately rent a one bed/one reception property, would we be classed as overcrowded when the baby arrives?
    Mummy to
    DS (born March 2009)

    DD (born January 2012)
  • I remember reading a .gov site not so long ago, and pending the LHA scheme resulting, they would be considering moving ALL current HB tenants to the LHA regardless of any new tenancies or a break in benefits etc !

    Quite scary and a frightening thought! Every single benefit claiming person on LHA. IMHO I reckon there's only a small 30% percent of those who are decent.

    Those comfy, can't teach an old dog new tricks folks will be in for a shock! and no doubt there will be shed loads of tenants exchanging houses. Which should be positive.

    Who knows.
    bam bam bammy Shore by The Revellers...do do de de do.
  • hhhmmm I'm not sure on that one emlou. But see my previous post.

    They may be of the matter, that until the child is one year old, there's no need. Otherwise, why keep 3 boys in one room, and my friend in the other ?

    Or maybe it's the 14 year old, that will be entitled to the room. all she told me was, that she'd be offered something when baby is one year old.
    emlou2009 wrote: »
    i've just had a look on that shelter link, thank you for posting it but i couldnt work out where we would come on that, i'm pregnant and me and my partner privately rent a one bed/one reception property, would we be classed as overcrowded when the baby arrives?
    bam bam bammy Shore by The Revellers...do do de de do.
  • emlou2009
    emlou2009 Posts: 4,016 Forumite
    its about time they did that, the amount of single people round here living in massive houses and paying next to nothing is ridiculous when there are people that really need the help! we applied to the list for council housing when we first found out about the baby and got on it but they put us quite low down and told us to expect nothing, despite at the time we were living in a 2 bedroomed house with another couple and another man as well, the landlord decided to start renting out one of the two reception rooms - 5 adults living in a two bedroomed house sharing a kitchen bathroom lounge and garden! the councils advice was to stay put and reapply when the baby was born which we could not do but we just cant afford to rent a 2 bedroom place around here. i really hope they will reclass us as overcrowded, i dont know what we're going to do otherwise! made me wish we were 16 or not born in the uk...:lipsrseal
    Mummy to
    DS (born March 2009)

    DD (born January 2012)
  • robin_banks
    robin_banks Posts: 15,778 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    emlou2009 wrote: »
    i've just had a look on that shelter link, thank you for posting it but i couldnt work out where we would come on that, i'm pregnant and me and my partner privately rent a one bed/one reception property, would we be classed as overcrowded when the baby arrives?

    In a word no, I'm in a 1- bed council property with a 21 month old boy, and we have no chance of getting a 2 bed property, when we found out Mrs Banks was 'dans le club avec numero deux' we'd still not be overcrowded when no 2 arrives. The council might offer help with a dividing wall, but no 2 bed proeprty is available.
    "An arrogant and self-righteous Guardian reading tvv@t".

    !!!!!! is all that about?
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