Council move, not entitled to HB and running up huge debts!

Graham29

Pinkruth wrote: »

I am currently in the situation of trying to move closer to my family in Wolverhampton away from an abusive husband who has threatened my 14 year old physically and has also assulted me in the past. In total I have 3 children 2, 8 and 14. I have tried to get a council house and can't, so have no alternative other then to rent privately at a cost of £600 a month. Now fortunately I qualify for HB which is a help, but will still have to find an additional £50 towards my rent.

I have no intention of staying on benefit, but even so it will still be a massive struggle financially. I understand you are angry and upset about your situation, but there are people who are far worse off then you. Spending £400 a month on dogs is wrong and you must see that people who are struggling to manage would find it wrong, especially when you feel you have been served an injustisce by not being eligable for HB. Too right you shouldn't be with your income.

I didn't ask for my husbands abuse and neither did my son. Its the reason I have to move, but why should you have more rights to a council house then me?? You could comfortably afford to rent privately and still have a good life or be 'well off'. To be grumbling about living where you are living when you have options open to is unfair. You could afford to move, remove your dogs from the kennels and give your children a proper home other then living where your living. Im sorry to say but I think your thinking about the long term rent payments rather then the happiness of your family.

£400 a month that you spend on dogs would make a massive difference to me as would a council house, but I don't have that luxery.

Step back and look at it realistically.

I apologise if this comes across insulting in any way, its not my intention, I just think you don't realise how lucky you are.

The OP spending £400 per month on dogs isn't what's "wrong," the OP earns a good wage, probably through working hard. I feel (as somebody who gets £0.00 in benefits) that expecting more from the public purse is cheeky, but her situation is infortunate and I can undertand that she is cross that she has had to move, when this other man gets to stay put. I don't feel they should receive more money though and will just have to cut back in other ways.

Pinkruth

Graham29 wrote: »

The OP spending £400 per month on dogs isn't what's "wrong," the OP earns a good wage, probably through working hard. I feel (as somebody who gets £0.00 in benefits) that expecting more from the public purse is cheeky, but her situation is infortunate and I can undertand that she is cross that she has had to move, when this other man gets to stay put. I don't feel they should receive more money though and will just have to cut back in other ways.

I see your point, and on reflection maybe the word 'wrong' is the incorrect termonolgy. As you rightly say she works hard and should be able to spend her money as she please. Ive worked hard as a retail manager my entire life and the only reason I have to make a claim is due to my current situation.

I fully sympathise with her situation and feel it is morallly wrong that she has had to put her family through this, I would feel the same. I think a majority of people who have replied to this thread feel a little bemused at why somebody with what is still classed as a decent disposable income feels they need benefit to pay for their living arrangements.

Maybe the whole situation speaks volumes about the nanny state we live in. Seems to protect the wrong people.

Blobby8_2

Pinkruth wrote: »

Thankyou for your reply. I am on Wolverhampton's choice letting system, but due to being out of city for more than 6 months and also being suitably housed in a 3 bed at the moment, I'm not a priority. I have strong local connection in Wolves and was born and raised, but it doesnt have any sway.

I am prepared to go private. I would never put my children through homelessness scenario. We've all been through enough so Im trying to make this as painfree as possible for them. Changing schools and leaving friends is hard enough.

I have support from school support workers and the police. As isolated as I feel right now, I know I only have to pick up the phone and someone will be here. Its only for a couple of weeks and then it will be over.

Thank you again.

http://www.findaproperty.com/displayprop.aspx?edid=00&salerent=1&pid=6595016

viktory

I actually feel sorry for the OP and her family. Had she posted this as a general moan on another board I think she would have got much more sympathy. Unfortunately the title of the OP and the location has inflamed many on here - and I fully understand why. The OP earns a good wage and has previously been enjoying a very good lifestyle thanks to good old social housing. However, the circumstances that have forced the move are terrible and personally, if I were forced out of my home under the same circumstances I would be livid. The OP and her family have lost their home, belongings and sense of security. They have been seriously put out - because of someone else's anti social behaviour.

Putting aside the issue of HB for a moment (no, I don't think the family should be entitled to it), there have been a few nasty posts where it has been suggested that the OP get rid of her dog. Why on earth should she? I have two dogs, one cat and two rabbits and they are members of my family. I certainly would not just 'get rid of them'. It is wrong that her family have had to move (and actually I wouldn't have moved, the anti social tenant might have had a nasty accident though). I can also understand why the OP won't go down the route of private renting. She had a secure tenancy, why exchange that for one that is very insecure? I think a bit more support and understanding for what the family are going through is in order.

shellsuit

viktory wrote: »

I actually feel sorry for the OP and her family. Had she posted this as a general moan on another board I think she would have got much more sympathy. Unfortunately the title of the OP and the location has inflamed many on here - and I fully understand why. The OP earns a good wage and has previously been enjoying a very good lifestyle thanks to good old social housing. However, the circumstances that have forced the move are terrible and personally, if I were forced out of my home under the same circumstances I would be livid. The OP and her family have lost their home, belongings and sense of security. They have been seriously put out - because of someone else's anti social behaviour.

Putting aside the issue of HB for a moment (no, I don't think the family should be entitled to it), there have been a few nasty posts where it has been suggested that the OP get rid of her dog. Why on earth should she? I have two dogs, one cat and two rabbits and they are members of my family. I certainly would not just 'get rid of them'. It is wrong that her family have had to move (and actually I wouldn't have moved, the anti social tenant might have had a nasty accident though). I can also understand why the OP won't go down the route of private renting. She had a secure tenancy, why exchange that for one that is very insecure? I think a bit more support and understanding for what the family are going through is in order.

I wish I could thank your post 10 times viktory :T

viktory

shellsuit wrote: »

I wish I could thank your post 10 times viktory :T

So do I, shell

AimeesMum_2

Thanks for all the posts. I honestly just feel like our family have had to lose too much already to get rid of our dog. I found another kennel today who have accepted £300 for the month as long as it's for a minimum of two months.

I honestly didn't mean I expect to get housing benefit - more that the council should not be treating us as a normal homeless case and should be more lenient towards the rent. They say the additional costs are for the furniture (we have our own, albeit in storage), support for homelessness (which we don't need) and for someone to be on call to check on us should something occur at or in the property. Our support worker told me that the council charges so much for the house because people who work are rarely ever homeless - it's all very well to say we earn a lot...thankfully we do and can cover the charges but it leaves us significantly less money to get by.

I would happily go to a private let but my partner won't budge - he says that they should have to rehouse us as they put us in this situation. We went to our old property today to sign forms and hand back the keys and I was heartbroken at what they have done to the house and also we have now been informed that we are facing a massive bill due to things we done to the property that we shouldn't have (changed the doors, laid laminate) It was all ripped up and they had painted the walls a horrible blue colour. I loved that house and it just really summed up the situation.

Thanks again for all the replies. xxx

Gleeful

Perhaps next time you get a council home you check what you can and cannot do to avoid another massive bill in the future?

djbum_syd

If your partner insists on not budging, go and rent somewhere by yourself with the kids and let him deal with the massive rental payments, he'll soon budge when he's paying it alone.

Gandalfthegrey

Hopefully you wont be in this situation much longer, good luck