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

Wee_Willy_Harris

iamana1ias wrote: »

Far easier to just give her parents some money though!

How will she move if she can't leave the house?

I'm sure the support of her sister will help. Perhaps that's why they wish to move together?

sulkisu

lottiexcore wrote: »

I only posted a simple question, I didn't realise it would get so personal.Apart from some really nice, helpful replies I wish I hadn't asked now.

OP in your first post, not only do you describe the housing problem but you also say that your parents are heavily in debt and it is only getting worst. Your subsequent posts give some clue as to why this is the case. I don't think that suggesting or pointing out that your benefits are supposed to cover your living costs and therefore you should be giving a large proportion of this to your parents, is being cruel or mean. Likewise, neither is suggesting that your sisters boyfriend should be financially supporting himsef, if not his girlfriend and baby, even if that means leaving college or having his family support him.


I spent two years working in social housing, so I do have some experience of it. While you may be considered for a three-bedroom property with your sister, it is really your sister, boyfriend and baby who are in housing need, whereas you are adequately housed. In most LA's the waiting list for one-bedroom and two-bedroom properties are the shortest (or at least where there is the most movement). Therefore it is possible that being housed separately will result in your being rehoused quicker than if you hold out for a house that you can all live in together. Your LA should be able to give you an indication of waiting times.

sulkisu

lottiexcore wrote: »

As for my sister, she is not claiming job seekers as she doesn't feel it right to as she is staying home to look after the baby. She is perfectly entitled to claim it as lots of other people do.

Then really she should, because in the absence of her boyfriend working, the burden of supporting your sister, her boyfriend and the baby falls on your parents shoulders.

As you and your sister are at home, can't you take over the housework?

Jowo_2

OP - get your household to check their benefit entitlements on the 'Entitled To' website.

Wee_Willy_Harris

sulkisu wrote: »

In most LA's the waiting list for one-bedroom and two-bedroom properties are the shortest (or at least where there is the most movement).

Not necessarily. I gree that due to the need to make best use of housing stock, many LA's will only consider a family with one child for a 2 bed property. Unfortunately, having a child is also one of the main triggers for requiring larger accommodation or leaving the family home. As a result, there is high demand for 2 bed properties. Of course, once in a 2 bed the urgency to move when the second child is born isn't so urgent and is also unlikely to justify priority on the waiting list, so move-on can be quite slow. But it does vary from area to area. A lot of the northern towns, for instance, still have plenty of the pre war townhouses and converted back to backs. These are predominantly 2 beds now that the bathrooms have been moved indoors.

sulkisu

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

Not necessarily. I gree that due to the need to make best use of housing stock, many LA's will only consider a family with one child for a 2 bed property. Unfortunately, having a child is also one of the main triggers for requiring larger accommodation or leaving the family home. As a result, there is high demand for 2 bed properties. Of course, once in a 2 bed the urgency to move when the second child is born isn't so urgent and is also unlikely to justify priority on the waiting list, so move-on can be quite slow. But it does vary from area to area. A lot of the northern towns, for instance, still have plenty of the pre war townhouses and converted back to backs. These are predominantly 2 beds now that the bathrooms have been moved indoors.

Which is why I suggested that OP speak to her LA about 'the length of waiting lists for different property sizes. Again, speaking from experience, we had many people who were severely overcrowded, waiting excessively long times for a particular sized property, when a smaller one would have sufficed. Mainly because once they were told that they were 'entitled' to a particular number of bedrooms, they refused to consider anything else. I am not saying that OP is doing this, I am just suggesting that she keeps an open mind.

Wee_Willy_Harris

sulkisu wrote: »

Which is why I suggested that OP speak to her LA about 'the length of waiting lists for different property sizes. Again, speaking from experience, we had many people who were severely overcrowded, waiting excessively long times for a particular sized property, when a smaller one would have sufficed. Mainly because once they were told that they were 'entitled' to a particular number of bedrooms, they refused to consider anything else. I am not saying that OP is doing this, I am just suggesting that she keeps an open mind.

I appreciate where you are coming from, but this family dynamic would qualify for a 3 bed property. It is likely that a 2 bed would still leave them overcrowded (granted, to a lesser extent) which the LA would probably not allow.

sulkisu

The two-bedroom property would be for OP's sister, boyfriend and baby. OP would remain in the parental home, so they would not be overcrowded. It is just something for her to consider if, for example the LA said that they could be offered a two-bedroom home within a relatively short time but would have to wait considerably longer for a three-bed. They could of course choose to wait, but at least they would know that there was an alternative.
OP might also want to investigate the range of supported housing options for herself, which might help her to gain her independence in a constructive way.

Juicyloo

It's about time the benefits system was completely overhauled- go on Cameron

Let them pay for the sprogs they squeeze out, let parents pay for their children, let everyone be responsible. Let fit adults actually work when they have no other roles!

Hell what a concept that would be!

Wee_Willy_Harris

Juicyloo wrote: »

It's about time the benefits system was completely overhauled- go on Cameron

Let them pay for the sprogs they squeeze out, let parents pay for their children, let everyone be responsible. Let fit adults actually work when they have no other roles!

Hell what a concept that would be!

LOL.... From the poster who brought you...........

Juicyloo wrote: »

I am a 45 yr old 'lady'-lol and was married for 23 years before my high-earning husband upped and left me and our daughter-now 16. I had been a stay at home mum for all that time- married at 21- 2 kids 22 and 16

Juicyloo wrote: »

I have received a letter from DWP today stating that they may have made a mistake in stopping my income support when my youngest child turned 16 last June.

Juicyloo wrote: »

So was getting CB, CTC, and maintenance to cover bills but not food, petrol, and anything else- amounts 70 per week left for those things- which is possible cos I've proved it with difficulty. Could have claimed CTB if on IS

Juicyloo wrote: »

They are basically saying that I can backdate my claim, but what about council tax and mortgage interest (about 100 per week for both) and all the other things I may have been entitled to if I were on IS such as courses which would have at least got me out the house.

Juicyloo wrote: »

Have been to Jobcentre for JSA IS - done the IB medical

Turkeys voting for Christmas????