Working abroad- council house

ruggedtoast

Young people have been so completely shafted for housing I think its understandable she doesnt want to lose the flat over a 6 month absence.

If she loses the flat and has to go it alone with private rental and housing benefit she can look forward to the next ten years living in a house of multiple occupancy or flatshare.


If she loses the flat and has to go it alone with private rental and her own salary for an averagely paid job for someone her age, she can look forward to the next ten years living in a house of multiple occupancy or flatshare.

Not much of a choice, getting a council flat is like hitting the jackpot these days.

ruggedtoast

CapJ wrote: »

I agree. OP you have to seize the opportunity however small and try to get yourself off the welfare trap of state dependency. I think the key point is having had a year, or even 6 months as a TA in that situation you will be far more of a survivor. It is a difficult opportunity but you will come out much better equipped to meet life's challenges.

I'm sorry but are you talking from experience here or just what you think other people think of international teaching experience?

What she will come out of it with is a CV that will prove radioactive to 93% of London recruitment agencies, except the ones that place ESL teachers in private language schools.

If you want a career in ESL that isnt such a problem but few people want to do this for more than a few years, especially in the UK where salaries are very low.

International experience is extremely useful for mid-level careers, and it will certainly help her if she wants to train to be an actual teacher, but this is not what she will be coming back to.

Loretta

How did this get so complicated? at the moment you are on HB because you are not working. Soon you will have a job,wherever it is
so you pay the rent out of your wages, what don't you understand?

CapJ

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I'm sorry but are you talking from experience here or just what you think other people think of international teaching experience?

What she will come out of it with is a CV that will prove radioactive to 93% of London recruitment agencies, except the ones that place ESL teachers in private language schools.

If you want a career in ESL that isnt such a problem but few people want to do this for more than a few years, especially in the UK where salaries are very low.

International experience is extremely useful for mid-level careers, and it will certainly help her if she wants to train to be an actual teacher, but this is not what she will be coming back to.

I am talking from experience. I also suggest you reread my post as you don't seem to have understood it.

CapJ

ruggedtoast wrote: »

What she will come out of it with is a CV that will prove radioactive to 93% of London recruitment agencies, except the ones that place ESL teachers in private language schools.
.

What's more if you are saying that finding a job for 6 months to 1 year working overseas would look worse on a CV than sitting around doing nothing for that time, then you are mistaken. CVs and cover letters are all about presentation and it is much easier to present this in a positive and relevant light than unemployment.

mattcanary

Falafely wrote: »

Surely the point of working abroad as a teaching assistant is to expand and improve your career options!?
And, if I'm not mistaken, council houses are for those out of work, vulnerable, at risk or in poverty. As a teaching assistant in the UK I can only assume you will be none of those, so why do you need it?

There is a horrific wait for council houses, probably because people are clinging onto something they're not actually entitled too anymore. Many people are in desperate need of housing, meanwhile you have the opportunity of a life time. Have a think about the people who will never see the other side of the UK let alone Dominican Republic, and then think if you (or your Sister) REALLY need that house.

Sorry to sound harsh. But. If you come back and are in need of housing, you simply join the queue again, although I'm not sure as to why you're so certain you'd need it, having worked for 6 months/1 year in a foreign country as a TA.

What a load of nonsense this is!
Council houses are not just for the unemployed or vulnerable. Before posting such drivel, get your facts straight!

OP, are you still an introductory tenant? If so, the problem is that the council visit you in your home periodically to see how you are gettig on. If you don't tell the council about working abroad for up to a year they will probably evict you for "abandoning" your home.

If you are by now a full secure tenant then the council may not bother about the situation (it may be different if you let the flat to someone else and they cause problems with your neighbours). Do you get on well with your neighbours? If you do, then you may want to tell them about your plans. Then they shouldn't get in touch with the council saying the flat is empty, what are you going to do about it?. If no-one tells the council, then they probably won;t even be aware that the flat is empty/ someone else is living there.

Miind you, if a leak develops wh/ilst you are away and you live in an upstairs flat, problems may occur. The council would then have to force access into ytour flat to repair the leak - otherwise the people living below you would get rather severe water-damage to their ceilings!

You can write to the council to obtain permission for you to leave your flat empty for a while. They do sometimes grant these requests. They won;t allow you to sublet to someone else - such as your sister, though

sugarwalsh

Why not pay the rent whilst you are away - you will have a job, and ask your sister to house sit. Not that complicated really. I, for one, would not like to give up on a council house. Where I grw up there was an 8 year waiting list.... When OP returns she is likely to need somewhere to live and having just got out of a hostel I should imagine is not too keen on returning to one.

Go, OP, learn, earn and get some experience. Come home and put it to good use.

MEgan

CapJ

sugarwalsh wrote: »

Why not pay the rent whilst you are away - you will have a job, and ask your sister to house sit. Not that complicated really. I, for one, would not like to give up on a council house. Where I grw up there was an 8 year waiting list.... When OP returns she is likely to need somewhere to live and having just got out of a hostel I should imagine is not too keen on returning to one.

Go, OP, learn, earn and get some experience. Come home and put it to good use.

MEgan

I'm not sure if the job will realistically fund the rent + cost of living abroad. And if it did, it certainly wouldn't leave much for OP.

BitterAndTwisted

The OP could choose to allow the sister to occupy the property while they're away to care-take/house-sit. If they're on a secure tenancy it's unlikely to be noticed that they're absent as long as the rent continues to be paid. The sister WILL NOT be able to claim HB/LHA while she lives there. The LA know who their tenants are because they cross-reference this sort of information. Her making a claim could lead to the OP being evicted while they're away. It's not a risk I'd be willing to take.