Applying for Council House - Tips / Advice

alien2012

Hi,

I have been working full time for about a year. I was a full time student before that. Sadly I still live at my parents’ house.

We (me & GF) want to move into a cheap accommodation. We can afford privately rented property but do not see any point in paying £500 per month just for a bedroom which we will use only 50% of the time (we will be at home only during night time 9pm to 7am due to work and other social commitments). Besides, I think I will qualify for council housing because of overcrowding and family disputes at my current home.

The only problem is our combined income; which is not a lot but in excess of £20k. So, I would appreciate if someone can:

1. Give me some general advice and tips
2. Let me know whether the council can reject our application saying that we can easily afford privately rented property.

Thanks

delain

They won't reject it on those grounds, but don't expect anything overnight. There's a 12 year waiting list here.

Jowo_2

As far as I know, income isn't taken into account when assessing applications for social housing but since its based on need, a healthy couple with no dependents currently in accommodation is probably going to be classed as low priority.

Here's a link to general advice on the allocations process.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Councilandhousingassociationhomes/index.htm

squinty

It is difficult to give general advice, as different local authorities has different rules. It is important that you understand the rules for your area.

This is especially true is your council has a Choice Based Letting (CBL) system - you need to know which band you are in, which properties you can bid for, and how people are prioritised in each band (this could be by time or need).

My only advice is to be relaistic. In most councils there are far more people looking for accommodation than there are properties available - the more areas you consider, and the more property types you consider, and if you will consider Housing Associations as well - the more opportunity you give the council to assist.

HOWMUCH

You will not be paying £500 per month for a home
When you get a place of your own you would have to pay council tax, water rates, gas and electric.
Have you thought about renting a room in a shared house? This way all the bills would be shared. Are you sure that you're out of the house 14hrs every day 7 days per week?

mufi

alien2012 wrote: »

We (me & GF) want to move into a cheap accommodation. We can afford privately rented property but do not see any point in paying £500 per month just for a bedroom which we will use only 50% of the time

Sorry, no offence intended, but I don't think social housing is a lifestyle choice, funded by the poor old taxpayer, and there for people who want cheap accommodation and don't see the point of paying rent privately, despite being able to afford to do so.

Stupidly, I always thought it was there, quite rightly, for those in need.

Wee_Willy_Harris

mufi wrote: »

Sorry, no offence intended, but I don't think social housing is a lifestyle choice, funded by the poor old taxpayer, and there for people who want cheap accommodation and don't see the point of paying rent privately, despite being able to afford to do so.

Stupidly, I always thought it was there, quite rightly, for those in need.

The OP has indicated a level of need.... "overcrowding and family disputes at my current home."

calleyw

alien2012 wrote: »

Hi,

Besides, I think I will qualify for council housing because of overcrowding and family disputes at my current home.

Why do you think you over crowded?

Who are sharing a room with?

"A property is statutory overcrowded under part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 when either the Room Standard or the Space Standard is contravened.


Room Standard
The room standard is contravened when the number of people sleeping in a dwelling and the number of rooms available as sleeping accommodation is such that two persons of opposite sexes who are not living together as man and wife are forced to sleep in the same room.
Children under the age of ten shall be left out of the account.
A room is available as sleeping accommodation if it is of a type normally used in the locality either as a bedroom, living room or other habitable room.
Space Standard
The space standard is contravened when the number of persons sleeping in a dwelling is in excess of the Permitted Number.

Permitted Number
The permitted number is the smaller of the number of persons obtained from the following 2 calculation methods:
Where a house consists of:

• 1 room * – 2 persons
• 2 rooms *– 3 persons
• 3 rooms *– 5 persons
• 4 rooms *– 7 ½ persons
• 5 rooms * or more –2 for each room

Or
Where the total for all rooms * is determined by reference to the following:

• 110 sq.ft. or more – 2 persons
• 90 or more but less than 110 sq. ft. – 1 ½ persons
• 70 or more but less than 90 sq. ft. – 1 person
• 50 or more but less than 70 sq. ft – ½ person

Rooms to be counted *:
1. A room is available as sleeping accommodation if it is of a type normally used in the locality either as a bedroom, living room or other habitable room.
2. Rooms under 50 sq ft are not counted.
3. Regulations regarding the measurements have been revoked, it would seem however sensible to use them as a guide: Exclude any floor space where the vertical height is less than 5ft. because of a sloping roof or ceiling. Include floor space in a bay window extension, covered by fitted cupboards or overhung by projecting chimney breasts. All measurements to be taken at floor level and to be taken to the back of all projecting skirtings. "




Yours


Calley

Wee_Willy_Harris

calleyw wrote: »

Why do you think you over crowded?

Who are sharing a room with?

"A property is statutory overcrowded under part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 when either the Room Standard or the Space Standard is contravened.


Room Standard
The room standard is contravened when the number of people sleeping in a dwelling and the number of rooms available as sleeping accommodation is such that two persons of opposite sexes who are not living together as man and wife are forced to sleep in the same room.
Children under the age of ten shall be left out of the account.
A room is available as sleeping accommodation if it is of a type normally used in the locality either as a bedroom, living room or other habitable room.
Space Standard
The space standard is contravened when the number of persons sleeping in a dwelling is in excess of the Permitted Number.

Permitted Number
The permitted number is the smaller of the number of persons obtained from the following 2 calculation methods:
Where a house consists of:

• 1 room * – 2 persons
• 2 rooms *– 3 persons
• 3 rooms *– 5 persons
• 4 rooms *– 7 ½ persons
• 5 rooms * or more –2 for each room

Or
Where the total for all rooms * is determined by reference to the following:

• 110 sq.ft. or more – 2 persons
• 90 or more but less than 110 sq. ft. – 1 ½ persons
• 70 or more but less than 90 sq. ft. – 1 person
• 50 or more but less than 70 sq. ft – ½ person

Rooms to be counted *:
1. A room is available as sleeping accommodation if it is of a type normally used in the locality either as a bedroom, living room or other habitable room.
2. Rooms under 50 sq ft are not counted.
3. Regulations regarding the measurements have been revoked, it would seem however sensible to use them as a guide: Exclude any floor space where the vertical height is less than 5ft. because of a sloping roof or ceiling. Include floor space in a bay window extension, covered by fitted cupboards or overhung by projecting chimney breasts. All measurements to be taken at floor level and to be taken to the back of all projecting skirtings. "




Yours


Calley

Section 10 is widely regarded as an extreme measure of overcrowding. Social Housing providers will have their own measure stated on the allocation or priority policy. They will be far more generous than section 10.

xelaine88x

You probably wouldn't be given high priority for a council house from the situation you have described. My bf and I were in a similar situation a couple of years ago - got placed on waiting list at number 174 for a council house in our area. Considering that they have an average of 17 new tenancies per year, we would have to wait at least 10 years. We decided on a private let!

PasturesNew

Back in about 1980 or so, I applied to go on the list.
By 1990 I was told it'd be about another 20 years before I got a room in a shared house.
If I were still there now, I wonder what the answer would be.

You are educated and just started working. There are two of you. If you can't afford to rent together, then what hope do the rest of us have?

Look at renting a studio, it'll be cheaper on rent and council tax.