How does getting a council house work (North Tyneside)

mejustme_3

Anybody help or shed a bit more light on it ?

I applied in Sept 2010 when I got made homeless, (I rented above a shop and it changed owners, new owners did not want to rent it out, so I was out... old owners never told me till day it changed hands to try and get as much rent as possible...) lucky it happened week before rent was due..

anyway, I know that was illegal etc but that was 6 months ago.. I am sort of homeless. Lucky my mate is letting me stay at there's most the time and another mate at weekends. I have got the money to private rent but my credit rating is shafted after I split with my wife and I am on a DMP. I checked what the council offer vs private rented in the same street and its £200 ish difference in rent.

I registered with local council (North Tyneside) and got graded a 4 (1 being highest) 4 being ASBO level...

Turns out I needed evidence when I split with wife I did not make over £100,000 from sale off house.... and that I had a daughter, and then I had proof off access...

Got this sorted so now I am a grade 3 (this took a while, got to love my ex and love of losing paper work...) with options on 2 bedrooms plus in a flat. I do not qualify for a house as I only have one kid.

When I bid on line, it tells you how many people are above you in the que on each property.

One week, I am 3rd in the list and others 26 ?!? (this was for a flat in the same complex, a week apart)

Any idea how the que idea works, I know I am not a grade 1 or 2 the higher priorities, but each grade can only bid on there grade and allocation. And then length of time.

Are people just sitting waiting for a specific flat in a specific area and then bidding ? I have been on the list 6 months now and the highest I made was 3rd.. and I bid on all areas I am offered.

Sorry if I rambled, but I am just trying to work the system out.... esp as I am on the system as homeless and sleeping on sofas...

Jowo_2

Whoever the social landlord is that operates this choice based letting will have guidelines on how it works.

The Shelter website has info on how you should be treated as homeless by the local council.

Are you disputing the priority banding you are placed in? Where is your daughter living?

mejustme_3

Not disputing, but just wondering how it worked as the website is not 100% clear.

My daughter stays with my ex.

djbum_syd

It goes by how long the person biding has been on the waiting list, what group/band they are in, and how many people have wanted that property advertised.

I bid every week on my local councils website and I can be number 2 one week and number 21 a week later.
If more people bid on the property who have been on the housing list longer than you or are in a higher group, then they are higher up in the queue so to speak. I hope that makes sense. :-/
I've been on my councils waiting list for 7 years and still have nothing. :-O
Hope you have some better luck than me!

Jowo_2

Technically, I think that someone who has no security of tenure past the next 28 days (such as a sofa surfer) can be classed as homeless and be in a high priority than others when it comes to social housing. Perhaps because the OP has no dependents living with them, they are not considered as high priority. Might be worth double checking the priority though I get the impression that single people without dependents or disabilities don't tend to leapfrog up past others that are considered more vulnerable.

What does the guidelines for the social housing allocation say about the priority for those classified as homeless and what is their definition?

theartfullodger

Nope it doesn't (necessarily) go by how long etc..(but usually does!). Each authority must have a set of rules for "allocation". As long as the policy is rational then that's the rules (there have been court cases to test this..)

The rules are here...
http://www.nthomefinder.co.uk/NovaWeb/Infrastructure/ViewLibraryDocument.aspx?ObjectID=409

and include things like

7. Factors Affecting an Applicant’s Priority
This section applies to applicants who have been accepted onto the scheme and
are entitled to ‘reasonable preference’ but whose priority will be affected because:
Of the behaviour of the applicant or a member of his/her household, which was
•
not serious enough to justify a decision to treat the applicant as ineligible.
(See section 7.1)
Within any priority need band, prior consideration will be given to applicants
•
who have a local connection with North Tyneside ahead of those who do not
have a local connection. (See section 7.2)
The applicant has sufficient means to satisfy his or her own housing needs.
•
(See section 7.3)
The applicant has intentionally worsened their housing circumstances without
•
good reason. For example, a household that has moved into overcrowded
accommodation, making their circumstances worse. (See section 7.4)
Applicants will be assessed in accordance with the provisions of the scheme.
However, where one of the above factors apply an applicant’s priority will be
reduced, this will be exercised by placing the application in one band lower than
that which would normally be indicated by their housing need, except for applicants
assessed within Band 4, who will remain in Band 4. This will not apply to applicants
accepted as having priority need homeless status.
Where an applicant has their priority reduced they will be notified in writing and may
request a review of the decision. (See section 11)

-- I know it's a 38 page document but if you need/want to understand it I think you need to read & analyse it.

See also more stuff here..
http://www.nthomefinder.co.uk/Data/ASPPages/1/294.aspx

If you can find a reason to move to a higher priority then do so & tell them.. Bit a single healthly bloke who works tends to get very little.,.. (not my rules, sorry).

Jowo_2

mejustme wrote: »

... I have got the money to private rent but my credit rating is shafted after I split with my wife and I am on a DMP. I checked what the council offer vs private rented in the same street and its £200 ish difference in rent.....

A bad credit rating doesn't rule you out of privately renting but I suspect you'd prefer a social housing property.

Some landlords will accept someone with a poor credit record if the tenant can offer a guarantor or pay 6 months rent in advance.

Some councils operate rent deposit guarantee schemes for private letting for those on low income and/or in housing need. You'd need to check their criteria to see if your employment income rules this option out.