I think my MIL is going to ask to move in.

scottishchick27

Well, she's been. She's not going to be moving in with us, she's going to stay where she is but is going to tell the council that she is staying here so she gets housed quicker. I'm not happy with this idea but it's better than her moving in here. I'm not going to lie if the council phones me but will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm not going to get myself into trouble for anyone.
The council here does give houses to people who have already sold a council property. I think it's ridiculous to be honest, there is hardly enough council housing here as it is without people buying theirs then selling it, only to get another council house. One of the many things I have to keep to myself so as not to cause a row with my OH.
Thanks to everyone for their advice. xx

sleepystar1975

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Just a quick update as she's supposed to be coming round soon and my OH is still not home from work so haven't had a chance to chat to him about it. He came home last night in a mood so I didn't think it was the right time to discuss it. My mum (who is mother in laws friend) had a chat with her today to try and convince her not to ask to come to ours so hopefully that'll work. My MIL doesn't know that my mum has told me what her plans are. I had to prise the information out of her last night, she is absolutely devastated that MIL has put us in this position.

If all else fails, do what folk do on halloween night, shut the curtains, switch of the lights and pretend you're not home:)

Seriously though, if she doesn't turn up tonight, she may still be planning on it. If you get a chance tomorrow, I would go up to the local council office and ask where your MIL would stand, and ask for any appropriate paperwork and/or forms. Then if she does turn up with the request, you can say "no sorry, we really cannot accomodate you without disrupting DD's routine, however, I have got these forms/this info for you"

sleepystar1975

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Well, she's been. She's not going to be moving in with us, she's going to stay where she is but is going to tell the council that she is staying here so she gets housed quicker. I'm not happy with this idea but it's better than her moving in here. I'm not going to lie if the council phones me but will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm not going to get myself into trouble for anyone.
The council here does give houses to people who have already sold a council property. I think it's ridiculous to be honest, there is hardly enough council housing here as it is without people buying theirs then selling it, only to get another council house. One of the many things I have to keep to myself so as not to cause a row with my OH.
Thanks to everyone for their advice. xx

:oSorry, I must've posted as you were.

Glad she hasn't asked the question. But is there a chance they will come round to check to see if she's staying with you?
I know when I wanted to move out of my parents and into a C-house when I was in my teens, they came round and "interviewed" me at my parents house, as it was the address I was registered at.

(I then decided not to go, as my application had been approved for the WRNS, and I couldn't see the point in taking a C-house for a few months, then move out again, when someone who needed a house more permanently could do with it!)

Spendless

hmmmm and what about if the council check the electorol roll? I've no idea if they do for council houses, I know ours do for school places. Fair enough if they do, they'd not spot her straight away cos you only submit your details once a year, but how long is she likely to wait for a place to come up?

*Louise*

Our council goes and interviews people as well, to check their situation is what they say it is, they are so used to people telling lies in order to get a house quicker.

Savvy_Sue

sueeve wrote: »

I believe that anyone who has ever owned a house does not get a council house or housing association accommodation.

Actually not true, and it led me to a more hopeful thought. She's in her late 50s, so even if she's fit and well she could apply for sheltered accommodation schemes, for which there is sometimes less demand. And she could still get a job, I have a friend who is older than that, still working, and not long moved into one of these: they have declined the daily call from the warden but know that they are set for life, even if they lose mobility.

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Well, she's been. She's not going to be moving in with us, she's going to stay where she is but is going to tell the council that she is staying here so she gets housed quicker.

I'm not sure that would help. Please try to dissuade her from this, there are too many ways she could be found out.

mandi

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Well, she's been. She's not going to be moving in with us, she's going to stay where she is but is going to tell the council that she is staying here so she gets housed quicker.

This is defenately the wrong decision .

Under no circumstances should she tell the council she is living with you . Your making a mistake I'm afraid

shellsuit

What are you going to do once the council turn up at your house to do an assessment to look at how much space you have and how much space the MIL is taking up.

It won't work, unless you are prepared to lie for her and if you're not, you better tell her ASAP.

Tropez

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Well, she's been. She's not going to be moving in with us, she's going to stay where she is but is going to tell the council that she is staying here so she gets housed quicker. I'm not happy with this idea but it's better than her moving in here. I'm not going to lie if the council phones me but will have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm not going to get myself into trouble for anyone.

I would really dissuade her from doing this as there can be legal repercussions for everyone involved.

Speaking from experience, a pain in the hole relative of ours informed the council (and everyone else, doctors surgery, dentist, welfare office etc.) that he was living with me - without my knowledge or consent - and the amount of grief I had to go through to convince the authorities that I was not aware of his claims, that I had not spoken to him about this, that he had never lived here etc. was extremely stressful. Being questioned by the police, as what he had done had amounted to fraud, is an experience that I certainly never want to go through again.

If she lies to the council about her current living arrangements it is housing fraud. If you know that she is lying to the council you are assisting her in committing that fraud. Councils do check details on applications for housing, including comparing the application against records such as the Electoral Roll and Housing Benefit claims. While it may seem unlikely, councils do prosecute in cases of housing fraud and the punishments include heavy fines, loss of rights to future council housing and certain benefits and in the worst cases imprisonment.

Do not jeopardise your own future for this person, no matter what relation she may be, and if you suspect that she has already informed the council that she is living with you then you really should contact the council and put it right; it isn't worth getting into trouble over.

According to a 2009 report by the Audit Commission, 50,000 council homes were unavailable to honest people due to fraudulent housing applications. As a result, this is quite the hot topic amongst the majority of authorities in the UK right now and the screening processes are more vigilant than ever.

I apologise if the manner of this post seems gruff, by the way. You strike me as a good person trying to make the best of a difficult situation and for that reason I would hate to see you make a mistake that could have disastrous consequences because of your MIL.

treetrunks

Out of interest how would you feel if it was your mum who was having problems with her partner and needed somewhere to stay? Personally i would leave the decision to my partner and trust him to do whats right by everyone, i would trust my partner to support me if the situations were reversed.