What can i do? Overcrowded??

DKLS

michaelkav36 wrote: »

do you have to pay rent in a council flat?

No of course you don't have to pay, also as a bonus on the day you move in, you will receive a voucher for a 50" plasma and a range cooker so you dont feel left out, but if your cheeky they will also supply ultrafast broadband and satellite TV.

SingleSue

Don't forget the never ending supply of Jeremy Kyle and lager/ciggies. :rotfl:

N.B This is a joke, I am in social housing and taking the pee!

michaelkav36

Jowo wrote: »

Are you joking? Do you actually believe that no rent is payable by tenants in social housing? How did you end up assuming that?

I don't know anything about how social housing works. How do people with no jobs who live in them pay the rent then (not saying all council tenants are jobless btw)? If rent is paid, why cant a larger house be found privately, and rented which will be large enough for all of them, like lots of other people do?

SingleSue

michaelkav36 wrote: »

I don't know anything about how social housing works. How do people with no jobs who live in them pay the rent then (not saying all council tenants are jobless btw)? If rent is paid, why cant a larger house be found privately, and rented which will be large enough for all of them, like lots of other people do?

If they have no jobs, then housing benefit/LHA is paid to cover the rent.

For private rent, it tends to be an awful lot more in rent than social housing...which is why social housing is so attractive financially for the lower income earners.

ninky_2

my OH grew up with four brothers, his two parents and a grandmother all living on one room. whilst i appreciate it is cramped i don't think this situation sounds too bad. could you and your husband sleep in the sitting room and let your son have your room?

whilst i understand you would like a better situation you must be able to see that in a time of limited resources it is only fair to concentrate on housing those who are on the waiting list than rehousing those who already have a roof over their heads?

i have friends (who work) who have had to stay in their 1bed (private) flat after the birth of the baby as not being on benefits they would stand no chance of any help - yet the cost of a bigger place was too much for them.

SingleSue

Took the words out of my mouth Ninky, had prepared this great big post suggesting putting a put u up in the front room/lounge and giving general advice on dealing with autistic children in the household (with examples) and then pressed the wrong blooming button!

poppysarah

pinkshoes wrote: »

In Oxford City, I'm told there's 8000 council houses, and 5000 on the waiting list, which is growing daily.

In Oldham it's over 11,000 people on the list.

And First choice (the council housing bit) currently provide services to over 12,858 council tenants and leaseholders in Oldham.

So there's almost as many on the list as in council housing.

Why do people want a council house?
because it's cheaper and secure tenancies.

So why doesn't the govt just make all tenancies secure and cheaper?
It wouldn't need to build any more council homes then.

jackieb

I know someone who had 7 children in a 2 bedroomed council house. The 4 boys shared a room with 2 bunk beds in it. The girls shared another of the bedrooms. Parents had a bed settee. Not ideal, but they coped.

epsilondraconis

jackieb wrote: »

I know someone who had 7 children in a 2 bedroomed council house. The 4 boys shared a room with 2 bunk beds in it. The girls shared another of the bedrooms. Parents had a bed settee. Not ideal, but they coped.

It sounds like an episode of the Waltons.

kissjenn

I like to think of us as being on the decent side of the LL debate. Our tenants have moved within our little portfolio trading up in a couple of cases and geographically in another.

We have a family who are about to become 2 children, any minute now, and they are in a good sized 2 bed flat. They want a bigger house due to overcrowding, the older child is 2 but they believe the children are entitled to a room each and the LHA allowances are generous enough to let them have that. I don't have one so they are going to badger the council and look at other landlords. Another couple who have had 2 babies (not twins) since moving in 23 months ago, stopped paying the rent for 3 months to try and force an eviction so they would be housed by the council. They have a 5 year old as well and are in a 2 bed house with front and back gardens. Local housing association have now given them a house and
we're trying to claw back the arrears!

To OP I'd say camp inside the Council buildings because those that shout get on this side of Scotland. If you are a recipient of HB do some research into LHA, you may be very surprised at how much you're allowed. Over here for a 3 bed house it's £850 per month. The 3 bed houses on the market range from £600 to £700 per month. If you get one under £850 you can keep the saving up to £65 per month (£15 per week). Landlords almost always work on Short Assured Tenancies which only guarantee you two months notice after the initial 6 month period. However, empty houses and nuisance tenants cost us dearly. Paying rent on time and talking to your landlord pretty much guarantees you a let for as long you want it.