Homeless and helpless?!?!

raininghere

My first time i think posting on here, so please be gentle with me.

I need help and am not sure where to start. I am in a relationship that is over. I need to move out. thing is he will not kick me out! I can not claim benefits as he is in work, I lost my job not long back. (i didnt have enough n.i. for contributions based benefit)

I have figured if i can find a bedsit i can apply for jobseekers allowance at the same time. as well as housing benefit. thing is, most places require a deposit dont they? I am not aware of any help given locally. what can i do?

I feel so lost and alone, i feel i have no way out. please help. I think the deposit is the only thing holding me back. have i forgotten anything? I have no dependants.

I hope i have posted this in the right part of the forum.

chelleybelley

hi im not sure if this relates to every council but our local one will pay the initial deposit but u have to pay them back a small amount of ur jsa per month. if u look at entitledto it should give u a rough idea of what help u can get have u thought of looking for a room in a shared house if ur worried about the deposit??

Oldernotwiser

It is possible to claim means tested JSA if you're living separately but in the same accommodation as an ex partner.

Fran

If you contact Shelter they will know the availability of accommodation in your area and if you can get any help with the deposit.

raininghere

Thanks for all your replies.

oldernotwiser, i dont think i could get away with that as its a one bedroom house, and so we have not choice but to share a bed. the living room is not adequate for sleeping in, its barely enough to sit in. So i think they would doubt our status.

i found a website that advertised private rooms to rent, but none would accept dss, and all required a deposit, albeit some were smaller amounts.

thanks fran will see what advise shelter can offer, i always thought they only helped abuse cases, i didnt think to look there.

Jowo_2

Does he own or rent the property and if so, is the ownership or tenancy in his sole name?

Shelter has a section on homelessness, as well as one on relationship breakdowns. Crisis is also another charity that helps with homelessness advice.

What do you mean when you say that he won't kick you out - do you mean that he's flexible about when you leave and isn't putting you under pressure? Or do you mean he's aware the local council may not help you if you leave the property of your own volition, so he's trying to frustrate your homelessness application to them by making it appear you are making yourself intentionally homeless.?

If its the latter, then contact Womens Aid since this qualifies as domestic abuse and they are experts in providing advice on your rights. Domestic abuse isn't only about physical violence - if an ex is trying to control you, including economically or emotionally, this also counts.

raininghere

thanks again.

jowo. we rent the property together in joint names. and he wont kick me out because he is reluctant to accept the relationship is over. not willing to work at the relationship, but not willing to walk away. pure apathy, (but that's not really for here)

Oldernotwiser

raininghere wrote: »

thanks again.

jowo. we rent the property together in joint names. and he wont kick me out because he is reluctant to accept the relationship is over. not willing to work at the relationship, but not willing to walk away. pure apathy, (but that's not really for here)

Then why don't you kick HIM out?

Jowo_2

when does the fixed term of the contract expire or is it a periodic tenancy (i.e. the last contract expired and hasn't been renewed)?
do you currently receive any housing benefit towards it? did you contribute any money towards the deposit?

do you realise that in a joint tenancy, you remain jointly and severally liable for the rent and your non-occupation is irrelevant to your obligation to pay? If the rent goes into arrears, the landlord is free to chase this up with you. it's not up to them who owes what portion of the rent, either tenant or both tenant can elect to pay, the tenancy operates like there is a single tenant, its up to the tenants to sort out who pays what share.

you should look at the Shelter website to understand how to end a joint tenancy. a landlord or other joint tenant does not have to accept a change to a current tenancy contract where it remains valid, though if both consent or you legitimately end it, there should be no problem transferring it into his sole name.

raininghere

I would never kick him out of his home, i am aware of the responsibilities tied into the joint tenancy. there is no animosity between us, and the landlord would be fine about amending the terms to the remaining tenant. My boyfriend would not try to create financial or any other difficulties in the split.

Its purely a case of if i want to get out of our relationship i need the money and resources to do so, again its that apathy, he wont help, but he wont deliberately hinder.

From what i have found on various sites and resources, things have to get nasty between us before i can get any help. break ups are hard enough as it is, yet authorities seem to favour the hostile break up rather than the amicable.

so my problem really is trying to obtain a deposit, and by the looks of it, rent in advance before i can actually leave. it looks like i wont be able to take all of my things with me when i go, so i might have to look at selling these items to fund it, though still not sure i will raise enough to cover.

Oldernotwiser

raininghere wrote: »

I would never kick him out of his home, i am aware of the responsibilities tied into the joint tenancy. there is no animosity between us, and the landlord would be fine about amending the terms to the remaining tenant. My boyfriend would not try to create financial or any other difficulties in the split.
.

But it's YOUR home just as much as his and he'll find it much easier to rent somewhere else because he's working.

However, if the split is as amicable as you say it is,explain your problem and I'm sure he'll volunteer to move out or at least lend you the deposit as he'll be financially much better off when you go.

Whether your split is amicable or hostile the financial help available to you is the same and I can't see why you think there's any difference.