Social Housing - is there a limit to the savings you can have?

Trying_to_be_good

Sorry if it's an obvious answer, I've searched on direct.gov and the council website, plus a forum search here and found nothing.

Is there a limit of how much you can have as savings for you to be entitled to social housing (as a new tenant, not an existing one)? I'm trying to find out for someone else, and would think there is a limit but can't find out either way.

Many thanks.

geoffky

no...none at all.. so if you won 30k on the lottery you would have to move out...no you would not.....but you can only have 16k to get housing benefit..

robin_banks

try getting a tenancy.

kunekune

As robinbanks says, the big problem is getting one in the first place. Social housing is almost impossible to get for ordinary people. The rules about savings tend to apply to whether you can get any social security benefits once you are there.

lil'H

high savings reduce your points or banding within some regions, so yes it can effect it.

Also perhaps there is a moral limit, if your savings are high enough to be worried perhaps you aren't in that higher need for social housing?

Trying_to_be_good

Thanks, all - this is about someone with £100k in the bank who is thinking of applying for social housing. I agree on the moral argument...

lil'H

100k in the bank means they won't get anywhere, and they are ridiculous for even thinking they might in my opinion!

tanith

Usually those that apply for social housing don't have to 'think' about it they generally don't have an alternative... thats the whole point those that have 100K in the bank don't need and shouldn't qualify for social housing. IMO

As others have said even someone in need would be on a list of thousands and the wait would be very loooooooooooong

squinty

There is no definitive area. It is up to the individual organisation there is no one rule for this.

Local authorities must give 'reasonable preference' to certain groups - ie people who are homless, people in unsatisfactory accommodation, people who need to move on medical or social grounds and people who need to move to a particular area and it would cause hardship if they could not move.

It is however up to the authority as to how they consider these factors. Other factors may be considered, but must not outwiegh those listed.

These rules are contained within the Code of Guidance on Allocation of Accommodation.

Whilst it is true that many organisations do give addtional preference to people with low income - others take no account of this.

It may also depend on where you live, and what type of accommodation you are looking at. If a landlord have areas of property types that are more difficult to let they will probably let it than leave it empty.

Your best option may be to look at the website of the housing providers in the area where you live.

stolt

100k in the bank and they want to social housing, why? sorry to be rude but i think thats out of order to be honest and i cant believe they actually thought they would get social housing if they had that sort of money sitting in a bank account.
I'm assuming that they have lost their house then if they are only just thinking of applying for social housing?

Trying_to_be_good

stolt wrote: »

100k in the bank and they want to social housing, why? sorry to be rude but i think thats out of order to be honest and i cant believe they actually thought they would get social housing if they had that sort of money sitting in a bank account.
I'm assuming that they have lost their house then if they are only just thinking of applying for social housing?

I agree. The situation is complex, with no right to stay in the property currently occupied. Therefore they will be homeless. And it seems there may be nothing to force them to use the 'savings' from a previous house sale (>12 months ago) to either purchase or rent a home privately, as they will be in a priority group for social housing. Therefore I think the system is barking mad.