getting moved

1echidna

princesgirl, I don't think people here, myself included, have sufficient knowledge of how you can persuade the housing people to move you to better accommodation other than to say that it might not be possible. Do you know any local voluntary organisations that work with people like yourself (Gingerbread perhaps) and will look on your problem positively to achieve the change you need and with detailed local knowledge of housing personell etc.

Morglin

princesgirl wrote: »

hi all i am new 2 this site, in fact only find it 2day and already hocked, but on reading ur posts notice how helpful u guys can be. so i hope u can help me.
i live in a 2 bedroom house, i am a single mother of 3 kids, i am currently on benefits. now my problem is trying to get moved into a 3 bedroom house. my kids r 2 boys and 1 girl and they r all sharing the same bedroom. the boys r 11 and 8, my little girl is 3. i have been told that they should not be in the same room cause of there ages, but trying to get moved just seems impossible, housing dont seem 2 do nothing.
Any ideals plzz

Assmuming you are in council/HA accommodation, then you can apply for a transfer to a bigger home, go on the list and (usually) bid for the properties advertised monthly, although this may take a while.

Or, you could try for an exchange:

http://www.homeswapper.co.uk/

You could also place ads in the local paper/newagents, (advertising your place and asking if anyone wants an exchange).

I'm not sure about the rules of overcrowding/the ages of children they apply for, but SHELTER will know the answer:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/

Lin

crowdedhouse

Hi

I had to reply to let you know that you are not alone. My son is 8 and daughter is 3. I also have a 12 week old baby. We have been trying to get rehoused for nearly a year with no luck. We have been told that to be priority we need to be either homeless or in need of an extra two bedrooms not just one. My partner and I saw this as a time to vacate the house and buy a property using mychoice but we've had no luck there. We have now put in a right to buy to see if we can get the house that meets our mortgage limit and oneday extend the property to 3 bed.

I believe that young people have been really stuck with house prices reaching such high levels. I do know councils are trying to build more housing but the need for it is greater since house prices and rent are too high.

housebuyer_abc

crowdedhouse wrote: »

Hi

... I do know councils are trying to build more housing but the need for it is greater since house prices and rent are too high.

So firstly houses prices and rent are not too high, they are driven by the market. If something rents or something is bought then evidently it wasn't priced too high as it got bought.

However...

I do believe that everyone has a right to decent housing, where it comes from (buying, private let, housing assoc) is irrelevant. I also agree that children of different sexes shouldn't be sharing after 10.

kissjenn

Hi Princesgirl,

Have you spoken to the Council about Local Housing Allowance and see what you'd be entitled to. Given the ages of the children here you would get around £647.53 per month maximum in the Plymouth area. You can then approach the private sector landlords knowing the amount you can spend. Check the rates at the your local Council or www.direct.gov.uk Often Councils are delighted to help because it frees up a Council House for someone who the Private Sector won't touch and gets people out of short term accomodation.

If you get a rent cheaper than your area amount you can claim an additional £15pw towards housing costs which doesn't impact any other benefit to the best of my knowledge.

So if you found a 3 bed flat at £500 you could claim £565 per month and put the other £65 to you increased heating bills for example (it's you money which you get to spend how you wish).

Downside is if you move out of Council Housing you lose an indefinite tenancy and any future right-to-buy. If you're prepared to forego these then the Private Sector and LHA might a sensible option which lets YOU solve the problem and not wait for a Council House to be magicked up from somewhere.

Hope that's of some practical help.

Turin_Turambar

kissjenn wrote: »

Hi Princesgirl,

Have you spoken to the Council about Local Housing Allowance and see what you'd be entitled to. Given the ages of the children here you would get around £647.53 per month maximum in the Plymouth area. You can then approach the private sector landlords knowing the amount you can spend. Check the rates at the your local Council or www.direct.gov.uk Often Councils are delighted to help because it frees up a Council House for someone who the Private Sector won't touch and gets people out of short term accomodation.

If you get a rent cheaper than your area amount you can claim an additional £15pw towards housing costs which doesn't impact any other benefit to the best of my knowledge.

I was just thinking this myself and wondering why no-one hadn't mentioned it