Were looing to offer a house share for a single mother and her daughter

DaisyFlower

GEORGYPORGY wrote: »

she only gets £11.00 per week as it is.

Not exactly true, she may only get £11 IS a week but thats her choice - she could work full time rather than a few hours a week. She'll be getting full HB, CTB, CTC and CB - not exactly £11 a week is it? She's very much reliant on the state despite your comments that that she doesnt want to be provided for by the state.

Oldernotwiser is correct, if she doesnt want to raise her child on a council estate then why consider a move to an ex council house?

Oldernotwiser

GEORGYPORGY wrote: »

you have made the assumption that we have done nothing the house and that it remains in the original state it was when we first brought the place, this is indeed incorrect.
!

And have you managed to have it towed away from the council estate as well?

GEORGYPORGY

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

And have you managed to have it towed away from the council estate as well?

nope of course not and is there any need to be facetious?
however, this particular part of the world is all but 2 houses PRIVATELY OWNED.

TOBRUK

GEORGYPORGY wrote: »

That's my point, i dont know, and ive come here, to find out what i should be expected to know, not be made to feel like were trying to rob her for christ sake.

This was your answer to oldernotwiser's post:

So who pays her rent and council tax? What about CB and CTC?

You have said that you are filling out (HER) the HB form (for her) so these are things you would need to know before this form was filled in?!

On another note, how long do you think it will take (if she was to move in) before you get tired of having a toddler around the house - is it a 2 bedroom? You say you will provide A room for her and the child plus meals.

You may think you are helping her out, but I'm afraid in the long term you are not.

Badger_Lady

Everyone needs to calm down a
minute...

George, what is the goal here? If it's to give her a temporary home until she 'gets on her feet', what does 'getting on her feet' mean? Does it mean going back to full-time work and privately renting, does it mean getting allocated social housing, or does it mean finding a husband?

The other issue is of your income - you currently get rent for your spare room, which this friend cannot afford to pay herself. As discussed here, there is a high chance that the LHA won't cover it either... So you won't get any income from it.

These are the things to consider... If you have already done so, please let us know your conclusions. Because at the moment it sounds like a quick fix that will all go wrong, and we simply want to help you avoid that.

terryw

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The worrying thing is that the OP seems to be taking over from this young woman (filling her form in) and letting his prejudices spill over rather than try to give her objective advice. This could be from the best of motives but is definitely what is happening.

Although the OP may well be a caring person but he's posted nothing to suggest this (it's all been about money) and certainly nothing to suggest that he and his wife are prepared to be unpaid childmainders, which would be illegal anyway.

Finally, who in their right mind would want to be living with a couple of unrelated adults in a 2 bed house, when she and her child could have their own 2 bed property?

I don't know where to start here. I really do respect your views as we agree on so many points in this and other threads. However, the OP (with no disrespect implied or suggested) does not help his own case. The OP's tangent accusations against the local authority have no bearing on the problem. Allowing three paying lodgers people to share a bedroom will not endear him to MSE regulars.
However:

1. I can't really see any problem with the guy trying to assist the young mum in filling the form in. The HB forms really are a nightmare. I defy anyone to fill one correctly at a first attempt. The OP is not the best person to fill these forms in.......but this is why he has come to MSE for advice.

2. The Op certainly has suggested that he is a caring person. He is prepared to let the room to the mum despite the fact that he can let it to three foreign persons at a far higher rate.

3. Other posters have suggested that the mum could have a council house (which she could well not afford to run). Would she not be better not living with the OP in a warm house with no worry of bills on her limited income? Alternatively, other posters have suggested that she lets the eviction procedure run its course and ends up in a hostel. I contend that the mum would be better served by living with her godparents than a hostel. Or am I wrong?

Perhaps we can agree to disagree.

TOBRUK

The other issue is of your income - you currently get rent for your spare room, which this friend cannot afford to pay herself. As discussed here, there is a high chance that the LHA won't cover it either... So you won't get any income from it.

Badgerlady, the OP has already stated that they can't 'do it for nothing'

GEORGYPORGY wrote: »

OH, MY GOODNESS,
Quite frankly, this girl and her daughter currently need some help, myself and my lady are in a position to assist her, can we do it for nothing, no we cannot, we have outgoings like everyone else,

DX2

terryw wrote: »

3. Other posters have suggested that the mum could have a council house (which she could well not afford to run). Would she not be better not living with the OP in a warm house with no worry of bills on her limited income? Alternatively, other posters have suggested that she lets the eviction procedure run its course and ends up in a hostel. I contend that the mum would be better served by living with her godparents than a hostel. Or am I wrong?

Whether the girl in question goes for private rent or council rent she will be entitled to help, the OP is doing what he and wife thinks is for the best. However this will be of no help to the girl whatsoever the longer the girl stays with the godparents the more she is seen as not "needy" by the LA. Of course I am going on the assumption of council/LA housing situations here. How long will the girl and her child want to stay with the godparents? It's a lovely idea not doubt about that, but in the long run it may hinder her chances of getting a secure house.

terryw

blue_monkey wrote: »

Just when do they need a place of their own then terry? At what age will the child want some privacy or to be able to sleep at night? Fine while the child is 2 but at the age of 10, 12, 16?

What happens then?

Does she apply to the council and sit and wait because she will already have housing and is living with friends so no fear of being evicted, or does she apply now when she IS being made homeless and needs somewhere to live?

I know someone on the OP's friends situation, 3 of them living in one bedroom and house sharing, no danger of being evicted but they are not being housed as they are not homeless.

I'd say that the OP needs to act now and get this lady housed in council/HA accomodation else they could be living in that room for a VERY long time. It does not matter how long you have known someone - living together causes tensions for many, let alone for a long term friends and with their a child being involved.

If the OP and his wife EVER want this lady to leave they will not be able to as she will have no-where to go. If they tell her to stay where she is then she will get HER OWN house. What when the lovely little girl is a teenage one stomping around with no room of her own to go to? Who would not want that for her child and for their future. The little girl will be starting school soon and will have friends so surely it is better to get SECURE accomodation before she does.

Not enough thought has been given to this at all.

You certainly make some valid points. But:

1. Thinking about the child in ten years' time is bye the bye as the mum requires help now. Working the system by waiting for eviction in the hopes of getting a subsidized house could well condemn the mum and the child to a lifetime of poverty and on to the next generations. There are vast areas of cities full of single mums and their children with little hope for the future. Surely the mum has more chance living with the godparents where some support is available?

2. If the master plan of obtaining a council dwelling goes astray, then living in a hostel is a very poor start in the child's life.

3. In the event that the OP took the mum in and then asked them to leave then paradoxically the mum is in a better position than she is now. No bother with court orders and the LA then have an immediate statutory duty to provide accommodation.

missmontana

DX2 wrote: »

Whether the girl in question goes for private rent or council rent she will be entitled to help, the OP is doing what he and wife thinks is for the best. However this will be of no help to the girl whatsoever the longer the girl stays with the godparents the more she is seen as not "needy" by the LA. Of course I am going on the assumption of council/LA housing situations here. How long will the girl and her child want to stay with the godparents? It's a lovely idea not doubt about that, but in the long run it may hinder her chances of getting a secure house.

I totally agree with D2 and BlueMonkey.

I was in a very similar situation when I was pregnant with my son, my LL was trying (rather unsuccessfully) to evict me from his property. Because I was going to be made homeless and I was expecting, I was a priority.
I never had to stay in a B&B or a hostel, I was offered a 1 bed flat (because I hadn't actually had my child) with a HA in a nice area of town. She would be given a 2 bed. Having to share a room with a young child for any amount of time really isn't that great! They both need their own space.

There is no shame in being on benefits, obviously in her case it won't be forever. But if she gets a council or HA property then the rent will be lower, so if she returns to work this will help her in the long run should she choose to stay or want to save up and buy. She really needs to make the most of the help that is out there. Look into crisis loans/social fund, she'd be entitled to cold weather payments if she's worried about keeping the place warm. And what about child maintenance, does the child's father support her?

By all means support her in what ever way you can, go along to the council, help her sort out finances, applications etc. But moving her and her daughter in with you is really not the best idea by a long shot!