On Local Rent Allowance - can't afford house and can't afford to move!! HELP PLEASE!

starbella2004

Thank you. Well I spoke to the council today. It wasn't the best or most uplifting conversation I'd ever had! Because of my arrears on my current property and the amount of debt I'm in, I'm extremely unlikely to be eligible for the rent deposit guarantee scheme. I can register though and be put on a waiting list for social housing. All incredibly depressing. I cannot believe I used to be successful and rich and now I'm 44 and it's all come to this.

viktory

starbella2004 wrote: »

I cannot believe I used to be successful and rich and now I'm 44 and it's all come to this.

Should have saved some money when you were rich, shouldn't you? Why did you not downsize two years ago when you started struggling?

Sorry, but this is all leaving a nasty taste in my mouth, for reasons I can't quantify. Too much simply doesn't ring true - like the ex having it on his toes with £40k in his pocket.

missmontana

Oh reign it in Viktory, there's no need for that. You don't know her whole situation.

The lady has come here for help not nasty critical comments like that.:mad:

starbella2004

Thank you Miss Montana for your support. Not a terribly helpful comment from Viktory.

daska

If you're used to going through rough patches and expect things to pick up, as they usually do, then it's very easy to miss the point of no return where you can't afford to stay and you can't afford to leave.

And savings don't last forever - in my case 3 years - thankfully I was able to turn to someone to be my guarantor when I needed to move.

OP, a lot of people have been where you are and survived, somehow! There isn't a cut and dried solution. Just keep your eyes, ears and mind open to all possibilities.

viktory

missmontana wrote: »

Oh reign it in Viktory, there's no need for that. You don't know her whole situation.

The lady has come here for help not nasty critical comments like that.:mad:

Do you mean rein it in???

*Shrugs* Honestly none of this rings true to me. I half expect the OP to start asking for money....

Anyway, I'll leave you all to it.

Jowo_2

Run your situation past Shelter - see if they have a drop in office locally, just for a double check on how the local council should be treating your case.

Local councils are notorious for doing the minimum they can get away with to meet their legal obligations towards the homeless, and sometimes not even that, probably due to the demand on their services and training issues.

Crisis undertook a mystery shopping exercise with people presenting themselves as homeless to a number of London boroughs and many of them didn't even get past the receptionist to submit a homelessness application, many told to submit further information to stall them. One housing officer even gave a false name.

Verbatim

Not what you want to hear but if there are arrears outstanding any landlord will want to offset the initial deposit against them.

perhaps the best way forward would be to find a p/t job, more than the 6 hours you do currently, which would allow you to pay for some childcare for your son. Or even a f/t job? Once you were back on your feet you'd then be able to move on your own terms.

Is it still possible to bring a case for support in the magistrates court, anyone? If the ex has a large sum of money and refuses to support his kids I think he has a legal obligation??? Or has the CSA coming in changed all that?

missmontana

viktory wrote: »

Do you mean rein it in???

*Shrugs* Honestly none of this rings true to me. I half expect the OP to start asking for money....

Anyway, I'll leave you all to it.

Good idea Vik.

starbella2004

Daska - you are SO right. I'm 100% responsible for having let this situation get so bad, thinking and hoping (with hard work I might hasten to add) that my companies would improve again as the recession so say starts to wane and that I'd be ok again. Trouble is they haven't, the bills continue to flood in and my situation just keeps getting worse. And you know what, you're right, keeping my eyes, ears and mind open to opportunities and solutions is exactly why I came here in the first place. I have to add to this that Viktory is clearly not a very nice person I'm afraid to say. Everyone on here has been more than helpful in everything they've said with clearly a genuine desire to want to help. I appreciate that beyond words and if he doesn't believe me, well that's his problem. As for dissing someone's comments by picking up on a typo - best he goes and bothers someone who cares. I'm incredibly grateful to Miss Montana for her support and help and everyone else who've replied to my posts. This is a very real situation for me but I can assure you I would never ask anyone for money!!!

Lastly - Verbatim - omg, you've made me think. I have recently been applying for full time jobs and kept getting no replies! So took the 6 hour job. But you're so right, I need to focus all my efforts I think on getting back into full time work. My son will be going to primary school full time next Feb so childcare would be reduced considerably then but I need to get a job to try to get another tenancy in a cheaper house and start standing on my own two feet again. I HATE relying on benefits and gov assistance so you have clarified what I need to do. Thank you.