Council housing

Xbigman

I've had no dealings with the council for many years but now my unemployed daughter is going to be homeless (lease on the flat she shares is ending) and she needs to find somewhere new. I've told her to speak to the council housing dept but they have blown her off. Who or what should she be asking for?
Is there a housing officer or other job title she should be asking to see, or a specific form she needs to fill in? I've no idea how this works nowadays.





X

LL30

If your council is anything like mine, trying to declare yourself homeless is near on impossible (as well as humiliating) as they are trying to keep numbers down. A homelessness application is rough (excuse the pun), and I'd urge your daughter to do everything she can to not have to go through the process. If she has the means to stay anywhere, they will not accept her application. I'm not sure who I spoke to, I just rang up the council and told them I was going to be homeless, sorry not much help on that front! They do have bond schemes, which I wish I'd known about before. I was even encouraged to stay in the house I was in despite being served my notice and use my 'squatters rights'! It was a grim state of affairs.

Is there anyway she can raise the funds to find somewhere else? I was 25 weeks pregnant with a high risk pregnancy when it happened to me, despite the misconception that if you get pregnant you can 'have' a council house, it's simply not true. they wouldn't put me in a hostel due to health and safety issues, so their solution was to squat...I hope your daughter gets sorted x

nannytone_2

is she has no disabilites or children, then she has next to no chance of getting housed by the local authority.

she should be looking at a house share situation and claim LHA.

spikeripley

nannytone wrote: »

is she has no disabilities or children, then she has next to no chance of getting housed by the local authority.

she should be looking at a house share situation and claim LHA.

nannytone is right there are so many families/people all over the country that are classed as homeless living in B&Bs and hostels there is no way your daughter would be given a place. The rent on the average house is now more than a mortgage costs (but who can get a mortgage nowadays) I read in the paper and the homeless figures are increasing every week. Sad situation for a lot of people.

Lady_gaga

Can't you put her up till she's back on her feet?!?

sunnyone

Lady_gaga wrote: »

Can't you put her up till she's back on her feet?!?

Dont you dare go against the site rules and a offer common sense answer to a post.

karenx

She would of been served with notice so will have time to get herself sorted in another place or a friend of family member put her up

Xbigman

The council situation is pretty much as I thought.

As for living with me until she's back on her feet, its not a bad suggestion except she is nearly 24 and has never had a job. If she moves in with me it will be permanent, which ain't happening. Its time she grew up. I'm willing to help her move or maybe help out with some cash but thats the limit.

Thanks everyone.




X

Xbigman

OK, my daughter has admitted she is right in the poo, so she will be living with me. I'm planning to make life a lot less easy than she thought it would be. I can't charge her rent (local authority won't pay it as we're related) so there are some jobs I've got lined up for her to do, painting, gardening, carpet cleaning...

I'm going to charge her a share of the utility bills. I recall years ago if someone lived in shared accommodation that included bills the DHSS deducted £15 a week from income support. Does it still work that way, if so how much is the current deduction?
Thanks



X

Oldernotwiser

You'll need to charge her a sizable chunk of her JSA to cover utilities and food, which is what it's given for.

Good luck.

seasonalbiz

Xbigman wrote: »

...she is nearly 24 and has never had a job.

wow! is that because she's been in further education?