How to rent from Council

Den

beanielou wrote:

You could also try local housing assoc's in the area you want to live in

I think you must be legible for housing assoc's, saw it somewhere. Is it correct?

Den

boogiemaster wrote:

Also put an ad in the paper and you just might be lucky, good luck

Sorry, what do you mean by this?

boogiemaster

Put an ad in the newpaper saying you want a three bedroom house with the money you can afford to pay.
She might get lucky and get a call from someone that owns a big hosue and needs someone to help with the bills.

chugalug

Try shelter.org.uk or your local Shelter, CAB or law centre. You could be considered as overcrowded but this would depend on the size of your rooms and the ages of your children. As has already been said, as long as you have a roof over your head you won't be considered as priority for housing. That doesnt mean if you leave you would be!! You have to go through the formal process of eviction to be accepted as homeless - and you have to have not done anything to contribute to the eviction ie not paid your rent. You can go on the housing list, anybody can. It will just take a long time if you don't have priority. Anyone can apply to Housing Associations as well although a lot now nominate through the council waiting list. Also if you were to consider shared ownership (not available to everyone) then nominations for this go through the council housing list. As I said, best to get specialist advice so you can go through all your options. HTH

Scarlett1

Den have you thought about moving out of london and renting a 2/3 bedroom property or do you have family close by that you dont want to leave Its a little bit cheaper and you might get more for your money :T

Den

Scarlett1 wrote:

Den have you thought about moving out of london and renting a 2/3 bedroom property or do you have family close by that you dont want to leave Its a little bit cheaper and you might get more for your money :T

This is the only option we think about, but as you know it's all about a Job. There is only me who work and I don't drive. We keep this option open.

debnlee_2

its really hard work getting a council property we struggled for a number of years before we got our house in the end it got that i had know choice but to nag and nag i pested my local council for months before they would even consider us ,its all to do with a point system and we just hadnt got enough .try writing to your local mp ours helped us !!!! only thing is though i dont know but im persuming its the same with most councils it doesnt matter if your kids are of different sexes they can share a bedroom untill the oldest one is eleven , im just lucky ive got two girls.good luck any way im sorry to put the downer on things but i think your going to need it!!!

tee_pee_2

boogiemaster wrote:

You won’t get a three bedroom house if you’re on your own where I live you will get offered a bungalow.
In Halifax people with children seem to get council houses more quickly than someone on their own, the local council told me that good areas always have a big waiting list.
My cousin has been told it’s a five year waiting list to get a house on my estate, so I’m only going by what I’ve been told.
My housing officer was useless and I got a house through the back door route, my mom said to the housing officer you are useless and my son has got a house.
You won’t give someone that lives on their own a three bedroom house when someone with children needs it.
I also said you could be on the list for ten years, I said could be, I never said had to be, it depends on the area.
A lot of people have the right to buy and most people do buy their council homes, the council houses are becoming scarce.
I’m talking about where I live, if her area is the same as mine then she could have a long waiting list, also she live in London and I’ve seen programs on tv that tell people there is a massive waiting list for all the best areas.
Why do most employees treat council houses like they are something they stepped in, I talked to the workmen and most say they are just council houses so what’s the point in doing a good job?
The council have done jobs to my house that they would have never accepted if it was their house.
You could have said I was wrong instead of insulting me by saying I was talking out of my !!!!!!.

I NEVER FOR ONE MOMENT SAID YOU WERE TLAKING OUT OF YOUR !!!!!!. If you ahd read my post as it was written I said I am a housing officer so i am not tk=alking out of my !!!!!!. The implication had nothing to do with you.

I do not appreciate someone jumping down my throat for something I have not done. If you do not wish to hear other peoples opinions don't go on chat rooms.

I do not wish this to get into an argument so i will not post on here again. Den if you need any further help you can pm me.

Den

Dear all MSEs, Thank you for all replies!
I know what to expect and know that can find support here.


tee pee, thank you I will try to go next week to local authority and ask you in will have any questions.

stellagypsy

Den (and teepee)

I am a Housing Officer too, where we are we h ave been "privatised" and no longer have waiting lists or points, it is all on Internet and you have to express your interest in a property, the programme sorts all applicants in to the right order then we work our way through the list. It's called chioce based lettings and is the way the Govt wants all registered social landlords to go.

We have so few houses - right to buy has seen to that - we almost get applicants fighting in the car park when there is one up for grabs. I have a very rough area to cover and have 2 and 3 bed flats and maisonettes to let, which are OK inside but the neighbourhoods are pretty grim - try getting some one decent to take one of them!!!

Also boogoemaster, if you are in Halifax, they are no longer the Council there either, they are Pennine 2000. Also if a workman made that comment to yu, you sould report him. I know a couple of ours who go around slagging the properties off and it is not fair, these are people's homes and they have no right to say those things. Likewise if you had a repair done that was shoddy workmanship - if you don't report these things, the service can never improve.

HTH Stella

PS Den, you can PM me also if you can't get hold of teepee, I'll be glad to help if I can.