MSE Parents Club Part 13

SusanC_2

aless02 wrote: »

Except that DH is terrified of Housing Benefit - he thinks our landlord might want to kick us out?? I pointed out that by then we'll have been tenants for 7 months and have proved our reliability. Has anyone transferred onto HB and had problems? I think because we're a family, it's a bit different and people are mentally more forgiving. Just curious - I think he's scarred from his job, though, having dealt with DSS tenants and the landlords who loathe them.

None of my landlords have ever known I was getting HB. The first place I was unemployed when I signed the tenancy. The estate agent said they needed an employers reference to be sure they would get the rent money so I asked if I could just pay twelve months in advance and they said that was fine. (I applied for HB after I'd moved in and got it for about two weeks as I then got a job.) Next two places I didn't qualify for HB when I moved in but did later on for a few weeks. When we got married, with OH being self employed and having a low income, we just paid six months in advance and then applied for HB after we had the property. I don't know whether they would be correct or not but I think that when people say "No DSS", it's because the assumption is that people on HB are more likely to be problem tenants. Unless there's something about it in your contract, there is no reason for you tell them that your financial circumstances have changed.

SusanC_2

Sarah_Joanne wrote: »

And finally, we get slugs in from somewhere _pale_ Every morning DH looks to see if there are any still in and throws them out and I clean and disinfect everything. Bloody pain in the ar5e. And gross. I keep all my baking stuff in the dining room so that's all out of the way but slug trails across work surfaces is not nice. Don't know where they're coming from but if we had the units ripped out any hols could be sealed up before new ones went in.

_pale_ I would have thought that the landlord would be obliged to deal with something like that as it's a bit of a health hazard.

got-it-spend-it

SugarSpun wrote: »

I love my daughter I love my daughter I love my daughter

Yes, the one who just upended her dirty nappy bin on the carpet and opened a couple of carefully sealed packages of poop.

:mad:

I'm sorry but :rotfl:.

SusanC wrote: »

Alice has these finger puppets from IKEA. She uses them as "food" with her cooking equipment. I guess they're more realistic than dice and magnetic letters.


:rotfl: Glad I've been useful.

Have you seen these ?

Mazcabs wrote: »

Just been in my local Sainsburys near work and they had a huge stack of 9pack boxes of Pampers by the front door. Couldnt see a sign but IIRC last year they went for about £7 a box....will keep an eye out...also just seen a post on the Shopping thread about Pampers AF economy packs are 2 for £10....

Last year they were £5 for a box of 9.I remember because I worked next door to a Sainsburys and bought tons while I was pregnant!

Sarah_Joanne

SusanC wrote: »

_pale_ I would have thought that the landlord would be obliged to deal with something like that as it's a bit of a health hazard.

You'd think so wouldn't you? Going to see what they say when they call back. How would I find out if this is something that that have to deal with, CAB?

musogirl295

Hi everyone! Hope you're all ok. Haven't posted in ages but I have been lurking and keeping an eye on you all!

Holly is 11 weeks today and she just seems so grown up now. Really starting to enjoy being a mummy now she's a bit more interesting and robust! I found the 1st 6 weeks quite difficult and she felt so fragile.

She's holding her head up really well for long periods now and making really cute noises. She has the most gorgeous smile and she's starting to play the piano! She sits on your lap and pushes the keys down with her fists while listening really intently.

At the piano:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6767780&l=e4e18e970d&id=501273988

In her cute raincoat:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6735960&l=9a4caa3f32&id=501273988

Feeling a bit downhearted today. We really want to buy a bigger house, we currently have a very small 2 bed, so we had a valuation done today. It turns out things haven't improved as much as we'd thought and we're still in about 20k negative equity and stand no chance of getting the mortgage we need. I know we're lucky that we've got jobs and can afford a good lifestyle but I can't help but be really frustrated that we can't move on up.:(

SugarSpun

What a beautiful smile, musogirl

I'm glad it's starting to get a bit easier for you. I felt a bit that way too - I loved my tiny newborn, but she's been getting progressively more and more fun. Except today considering her nappy-unpacking - still :mad:

gymfiend

Hello :wave:

Susan how exciting, hope it's the news you're hoping for.

Som Thalie looks so cute (& tiny!), do you know how tall she is?

SJ my kitchen is from Ikea, I know a guy who fits quite cheaply too if you want it - all in it cost us about £1500 which I think is ok (p.s. I've just text you - wasn't being rude, I've just got a replacement phone cos mine broke!) The slugs sound utterly grim!

SS I was hoping the poo playing would stop, Guy likes to stick his hand in when you change him :eek:

Sorry for my absence, I've been totally worn out with a baby who a/ refuses to go to bed at night and b/ wakes up anything from 4 to 6 times a night :eek: Not sure how we've regressed from sleeping through to this but I'm totally repeating what MFD once said to myself 'he'll be a different baby in 6 weeks'!! My parents have him today whilst I pack up the house & wait in for his new car seat - ordered this one and am hopeful he'll be less screamy in it than in his current one!

Gratuitous pic of my little night owl

gymfiend

Eek sorry that's massive, not sure how to resize!

aless02

Susan - this is what I said. He seems to think it's in the law somewhere that we have to tell LL, but I'm actually pretty sure it's not. Also, he said the council write to LL to inform them, but I tried researching around the internet and can't find anything that says this. He's only dealt with London councils before so maybe they are more inclined to do that sort of thing. I'm pretty sure he's wrong actually, but since he's the property professional I have to have physical proof to prove it. Personally, I think it's worth it to have a better quality of life and get a free £4.5k than trying to juggle work and childcare and coming out worse off! He's just jaded from having worked with DSS tenants in the past, but even he's said himself that when it's a family with young kids, everyone tends to view them differently. Anyway, it's no definite yet but I like to think long term, especially when we can TTC again.

eta: the only thing I can find is some tenancy agreements may specify you need to tell them if getting HB, but otherwise there's no requirement.

My_Fathers_Daughter

Aless - see here


Edit - sorry, wrong link - just a sec!


Try this one - page 38 is where you have to give permission for the HB team to contact your landlord - you can withhold this permission if you want to.