Possibility of a council house? No idea how to start.

lottiexcore

I'm posting this on behalf of my mum. I'm 21, on long term Incapacity Benefits and low-rate DLA. My sister is 18 and has a 9 month old baby. Since my sister's boyfriend moved in we've had a seven person household and funds are stretched pretty tight, so we're looking for me, my sister, her boyfriend and her baby to move out. We can't afford to do this without some help, but as is there's no way things can carry on as they are, my mum's heavily in debt now and each month it's getting worse.

So I was wondering if we had a case for getting a council house? We'd be able to take the pressure off my mum and also have some room to ourselves (things are pretty cramped considering this is a three bed house!).

We really have no idea how to start things though, who to contact, who could help, any resources we could find, and I was just wondering if anyone had any experience, any tips and tricks they could share? I'm utterly overwhelmed by the whole thing. :eek:

Thanks x

Wee_Willy_Harris

Your council would be the first port of call. If they still control their own social housing stock, it's simply a matter of completing an application. If not, they will be able to point you in the right direction. Also speak to the "housing advice" section, they may be able to assist with securing private rented. Are your sister and her boyfiend working?

Jowo_2

The Shelter website and Direct Gov websites have good sections on how to apply for social housing, with the local council and housing associations, how it is allocated, how priority is determined. etc. So too, will your local council website who may even have statistics on the stock they hold and waiting list for it, if they operate choice based letting, for example, where people bid for vacant properties and those with the most points gets it.

Get your mum to post her details (statement of account) on the Debt Free wanabee board where they'll help her get on top of her finances.

roosterpotatoes

Please bear in mind though that because you are housed now you may be put in a lower priority banding system, usually from A to D with A being homeless/ in dire need of housing and D being no urgent need. In our area the houses are put in the local newspaper every fortnight and people who are registered can bid (show an interest) on a property of their choice and whoever is the highest banding on the list who also bids on the same property will get the property.

Please though dont make yourself intentionally homeless eg if you are renting from a private landlord give in your notice and apply for social housing as this is frowned upon and will get you nowhere

Just as an example, our HA has a ruling where a three bedroomed house can accommodate up to 7 people before they will consider moving you to a bigger property, kids cant go in upper floor flats etc

Hope that helps and good luck

bestpud

Who are the other two people?

There is your mum (and partner?) in one room?

You in another?

Your sister, partner and baby in the third?

There must be at least one other person?

Does the house have a separate dining room and how big are the bedrooms?

Also, as already asked, does your sister's partner work?

Oh, and is it a council property?

[Deleted User]

As roosterpotatoes says you will be placed in a banding but you should note that even people who are placed in band A who are homeless can often still wait years for council/public housing depending on the area and the amount of people to be rehoused with them and they would be left homeless or in a hostel until then.
That means people placed in bands lower than that wait several years longer than that!

lottiexcore

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

Your council would be the first port of call. If they still control their own social housing stock, it's simply a matter of completing an application. If not, they will be able to point you in the right direction. Also speak to the "housing advice" section, they may be able to assist with securing private rented. Are your sister and her boyfiend working?

Ok, that's great thanks. No my sister isn't working as she is looking after the baby and her boyfriend is at college and about to do uni.

lottiexcore

bestpud wrote: »

Who are the other two people?

There is your mum (and partner?) in one room?

You in another?

Your sister, partner and baby in the third?

There must be at least one other person?

Does the house have a separate dining room and how big are the bedrooms?

Also, as already asked, does your sister's partner work?

Oh, and is it a council property?

Hi, there's my mum and dad in one room, my dad is older and retired, my mum works part-time. My sister and partner in one room, baby in another. There's me in another room, not really a bedroom as such but we have made it into one. My 16 year old brother, going to start college, in another, a downstairs room, also converted into a bedroom.
We have a very small dining room, my room is small and baby's room is small. My sister doesn't work as looks after the baby, her partner is at college and doesn't work, I am unable to work because of my illness.
Thanks for your help.

Hammyman

Good luck. In my county the typical waiting period is about 10 years. Technically you might not be seen as overcrowded. My house is two bedrooms, one 14ftx12ft, the other 11ftx7ft. Downstairs has a living room and a kitchen. Legally we can put 5 people in this before it is seen as overcrowded.

Wee_Willy_Harris

lottiexcore wrote: »

Ok, that's great thanks. No my sister isn't working as she is looking after the baby and her boyfriend is at college and about to do uni.

And she claims her benefits as part of a couple with the boyfriend? Or is it better that he remains "officially" at home, but stays at yours?

[Deleted User]

So how come moeny is such a problem?as i work it out your dad has a pension,your mum a wage,your sister and partner ctc and cb plus other benefits(?),your brother will be getting EMA and could also get part-time work,you get IB and DLA,ok space maybe at a premium but money shouldnt be??