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

Wee_Willy_Harris

Hammyman wrote: »

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.

Legally, you may well be correct, but each LA has their own definition of overcrowding and very few go as far as the legislation does. It would be worth checking the LA website.

Oldernotwiser

Although I can see that things are crowded, I can't understand how your mother will be better off if the 3 of you move out. This would mean fewer people to split the bills and less money coming in to the household.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Although I can see that things are crowded, I can't understand how your mother will be better off if the 3 of you move out. This would mean fewer people to split the bills and less money coming in to the household.

I think the finances are only one issue. Having 3 generations (and a boyfriend) in a cramped house can't be easy. And teenagers/babies are quite expensive to run.

MrsE_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Although I can see that things are crowded, I can't understand how your mother will be better off if the 3 of you move out. This would mean fewer people to split the bills and less money coming in to the household.

Great minds;)

It will cost far far more to run two homes than one.

Wee_Willy_Harris

MrsE wrote: »

Great minds;)

It will cost far far more to run two homes than one.

But mum will only have to run the one, and without the rest of the family, I'd bet it was cheaper. The shock will come from the two daughters when the real cost of living hits home!

viktory

Don't get your hopes up at all re getting a council property. To be frank, you've probably got more chance of winning the lottery. Your sister has the best chance as she has a child, but even so...the wait can be up to 15 years for a three bed in my LA. And besides, they would only give her a one bedroom flat. Is there a reason you can't rent privately?

lottiexcore

woodbine wrote: »

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??

Money is tight as the utility bills are so high, the washing machine goes on at least 3 times every day as so many of us. Food and grocery bills are horrendous. My dad only has the state pension, mum only works part-time. My sister only gets child benefit and child tax credit, she doesn't claim job seekers as she wants to look after the baby, they only give you 15 weeks income support after birth of baby. Her partner doesn't claim, he gets EMA as he is at college. My brother isn't at college yet, still doing his GCSE's. So there isn't much money coming in to sustain 7 people.
Thanks.

Wee_Willy_Harris

viktory wrote: »

Don't get your hopes up at all re getting a council property. To be frank, you've probably got more chance of winning the lottery. Your sister has the best chance as she has a child, but even so...the wait can be up to 15 years in my LA. And besides, they would only give her a one bedroom flat. Is there a reason you can't rent privately?

That's a broad generalisation. Many local authorities have waiting lists for priorities of under a year. And many will not even allow a family with a young child to bid on single person accommodation or flats. Depending on where she lives, it's quite possible to be allocated a house within a few months.

viktory

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

That's a broad generalisation. Many local authorities have waiting lists for priorities of under a year. And many will not even allow a family with a young child to bid on single person accommodation or flats. Depending on where she lives, it's quite possible to be allocated a house within a few months.

I would lay money that they would not get anything anytime soon - and there are thousands of families living in one bed flats in my area.

I work for a LA and have close links with other LA's so I would actually suggest that my comments are less of a generalisation than you would suggest.

It is better that the OP be realistic about her chances of being housed by her council and looks at alternatives. Let us not forget the OP does not have a child and therefore no priority. Her sister might get housed but still...there will be a long wait. Of course, she should apply but as I say, be realistic.

lottiexcore wrote: »

Money is tight as the utility bills are so high, the washing machine goes on at least 3 times every day as so many of us. Food and grocery bills are horrendous. My dad only has the state pension, mum only works part-time. My sister only gets child benefit and child tax credit, she doesn't claim job seekers as she wants to look after the baby, they only give you 15 weeks income support after birth of baby. Her partner doesn't claim, he gets EMA as he is at college. My brother isn't at college yet, still doing his GCSE's. So there isn't much money coming in to sustain 7 people.
Thanks.

Is there no one that can get a full time job? Perhaps your sisters partner needs to forget college for now and concentrating on supporting his family?

Oldernotwiser

lottiexcore wrote: »

Money is tight as the utility bills are so high, the washing machine goes on at least 3 times every day as so many of us. Food and grocery bills are horrendous. My dad only has the state pension, mum only works part-time. My sister only gets child benefit and child tax credit, she doesn't claim job seekers as she wants to look after the baby, they only give you 15 weeks income support after birth of baby. Her partner doesn't claim, he gets EMA as he is at college. My brother isn't at college yet, still doing his GCSE's. So there isn't much money coming in to sustain 7 people.
Thanks.

There's a lot more money coming in than there will be when your sickness benefits and your sister's benefits disappear! Even allowing for the extra washing that gets done, at the moment the bills are split between 5 adults, rather than between 2 !