Renting problems.....as well as some advice on council houses needed

heybigsaver_2

I've been renting a 4 bed house for 5 years and all was well until recently when our landlord put the rent up. The problem is, we can't afford to pay the extra money as things are tight.

We've been on the council house list for 3 years and have 89 points (Does that mean anything to anyone?) are we close to getting a house? Any tips on how to speed it up??

Anyway, I've been looking at other houses (3 beds) but was shocked at how much the estate agent fees are...before we even move in I'd have to pay over £1000....and repay certain fees every 6 months, not only this- there is a good chance after 6 months we will be moved on which isn't practical (moving vans etc!!).

So what can I do?? Its a complete nightmare at the moment! I can't afford to live here/rent with a new landlord/or buy a house.

Any tips?

ailuro2

In a 4 bed house I assume you have kids- if money is so tight, can you get any help with the payment of your rent?

heybigsaver_2

No children any more...only two of us living here but we need three bedrooms for all the stuff we have!

Hoopylass

I dont mean to sound harsh here but there is no need for you to be in a 4 bedroomed house if you cant afford it. Why dont you clear out some of your stuff, sell it on ebay or a car boot sale and look for a smaller, cheaper more affordable house.

ginger_nuts

first off I would tell the landlord you cant afford the rent increase .
They may settle for what you had been paying rather than looking for new tenants .

ailuro2

If you have three bedrooms full of stuff you need to find e-bay.:rolleyes:

Unless of course you use all the stuff regularly??

lynzpower

The council, even if you were likely to get a property, would give you one according to your needs, as a couple, I very much doubt that you would be given anything bigger than a one bedroomed property. Likewise if you were getting help with housing benefit, the rent assessment board would be making an assessment on the size of the property that they would pay out for based on the amount of people, again, id be surprised if they advocated anything over a one bedroom flat.

You have 2 choices, pay up for something big, or get rid of some of your stuff. You never know you might make a grand from all the stuff in the spare rooms!

Lots of landlords who use Loot etc dont charge the same fees as EAs incidentally, that could be an avenue

seven-day-weekend

I'm no expert, but I think as to what you can get with Council house points varies depending on needs/availability. In my LA there are some properties that you can get for zero or very few points because they are in a really rough area and no-one wants to live there. At the other end of the scale, near where I come from, you need 85 points for a flat in a tower block.

You are not going to be top priority for council housing if you are a couple living in a three- or four-bedroom house, you are more than adequately housed. Also, they will not give you something that big, it will be one- or at the very most, two-bedroom.

heybigsaver_2

ailuro2 wrote:

If you have three bedrooms full of stuff you need to find e-bay.:rolleyes:

Unless of course you use all the stuff regularly??

We are selling on ebay! I'll just make this clear...this is basically my mums query.....but it was easier writing it as mine, otherwise it would be 'we're' and 'my mum..'

My brother and sister lived with us until recently, and we still have an awful lot of their stuff until they get settled in their new houses.

heybigsaver_2

lynzpower wrote:

The council, even if you were likely to get a property, would give you one according to your needs, as a couple, I very much doubt that you would be given anything bigger than a one bedroomed property. Likewise if you were getting help with housing benefit, the rent assessment board would be making an assessment on the size of the property that they would pay out for based on the amount of people, again, id be surprised if they advocated anything over a one bedroom flat.

You have 2 choices, pay up for something big, or get rid of some of your stuff. You never know you might make a grand from all the stuff in the spare rooms!

Lots of landlords who use Loot etc dont charge the same fees as EAs incidentally, that could be an avenue

We're not a couple my mum and I live here, and we need the three bedroom for foster caring, which the council are accepting.

angeluk69_2

sorry but are fostering at the moment or on a waiting list.