council housing problem

lolly1982_2

hi people need some advice if poss, my partner and i are sharing a one bed second floor flat with three children (ages 7 to 6 weeks) We applied for housing transfer in march but because my partner had arrears (he is main tenant I am not on rent book) we were refused. Arrears were paid in full and we then had to wait six mnths before they would consider us, as account has to be in the clear. We re-applied on 10th November only to be refused again because I have old rent arrears from an old property I had with the council. Which we are paying off. Bear in mind I am not on his rent account and he is in the clear I am down as living with him but not a main tenant. My debt is not his but they wont consider housing us till cleared up.

Anyone know of any loopholes, is this right?

poppysarah

You want housing together. Until yourebts are sorted they won't.

Jowo_2

Are you applying as joint tenants for this transfer?

Shelter may be able to advise you if and how you can challenge your historic rent arrears' impact on your transfer.

blckbrd

Councils generally refuse to create a joint tenancy if arrears are owed - even if they are from a prior tenancy and are being paid off. So until you clear the debt you have no chance of being housed as a couple, unfortunately.

Once your debt is clear and you qualify for a transfer you're still only looking at a 2-bed allocation until the baby reaches one. Better than what you have but stiil very cramped.

beaniebabyuk

hi all, i desperatly need advice. I have been on urgent banding to be rehoused, my local council offerd me a house but then withdrew the offer because of rent arrears from a property i was in 10 years ago. They have now said that unless i repay the arrears in full they will not consider me for housing, even though i am due to be made homeless because my current private landlord is selling the property i am in. My query is, are the council within their right to claim these arrears from 10 years ago, even though this is the first ive heard about the arrears? please can ANYBODY help me??????

SuzieSue

beaniebabyuk wrote: »

hi all, i desperatly need advice. I have been on urgent banding to be rehoused, my local council offerd me a house but then withdrew the offer because of rent arrears from a property i was in 10 years ago. They have now said that unless i repay the arrears in full they will not consider me for housing, even though i am due to be made homeless because my current private landlord is selling the property i am in. My query is, are the council within their right to claim these arrears from 10 years ago, even though this is the first ive heard about the arrears? please can ANYBODY help me??????

You need to start your own thread, but if you weren't aware of the arrears it is quite possible that the Council have made a mistake. Perhaps they have confused you with somone else? You need to ask them for details of the arrears. If they don't help you, you need to see Shelter or Citizens Advice who can speak to the Council on your behalf.

lincroft1710

Just because the debt is over 6 years old doesn't mean you are absolved from the debt. All it means is that you cannot now be pursued through the courts and thus cannot have a CCJ against your name nor bailiffs instructed to seize your goods.

If you owe the money, then you should pay. Clearly at present, in the council's eyes, you are not considered a responsible tenant and this justifies them refusing to offer you permanent accommodation.

If this is a mistake then obviously this can be sorted out by discussing it with them.

elvis86

beaniebabyuk wrote: »

hi all, i desperatly need advice. I have been on urgent banding to be rehoused, my local council offerd me a house but then withdrew the offer because of rent arrears from a property i was in 10 years ago. They have now said that unless i repay the arrears in full they will not consider me for housing, even though i am due to be made homeless because my current private landlord is selling the property i am in. My query is, are the council within their right to claim these arrears from 10 years ago, even though this is the first ive heard about the arrears? please can ANYBODY help me??????

To clarify, are you denying that the arrears are yours? If so, and you're a conscientous tenant who has always paid your rent, then obviously you need to challenge that.

If not, and you left a council property owing rent, then you should really quit bleating as you did know about them. You just chose to ignore them for 10 years.:cool:

SuzieSue

beaniebabyuk wrote: »

hi all, i desperatly need advice. I have been on urgent banding to be rehoused, my local council offerd me a house but then withdrew the offer because of rent arrears from a property i was in 10 years ago. They have now said that unless i repay the arrears in full they will not consider me for housing, even though i am due to be made homeless because my current private landlord is selling the property i am in. My query is, are the council within their right to claim these arrears from 10 years ago, even though this is the first ive heard about the arrears? please can ANYBODY help me??????

This poster has started her own thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/51785993#Comment_51785993

Norma_Desmond

Errrm......why then have another child when you're already rather overcrowded?

ILW

Norma_Desmond wrote: »

Errrm......why then have another child when you're already rather overcrowded?

Possibly to get a bigger flat/house.