how bad can council emergency housing be?

tanith

If you would rather go into temp acc than hang on, get your in-laws to right a letter telling you to go and giving a date (of your choosing) when you have to be out which you can take to the council straight away, then they won't get a chance to talk your in-laws into letting you stay longer.

BitterAndTwisted

Direstraits: if they smell any possibility whatsoever that you won't really be chucked out on the street by your in-laws they will walk away. Nay, run.

Obviously you have to balance how tough it is now against just how horrible it might become for you and your kids.

Ah, Surrey/Hants. Perhaps their temp accomm isn't as horrible as in London.

direstraits2012

princeofpounds wrote: »

I'd go bankrupt rather than face down a decade I think, it would be faster!

Once accommodation is found the next step is to follow the financial advice of one of the charities. The council want us to talk to their contact at the local CAB - we are waiting for an appointment. Bankruptcy will be our only choice I suspect. Hubby will probably lose his job but we have to draw the line somewhere and start again so if he does we will just have to deal with it as best we can

direstraits2012

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Direstraits: if they smell any possibility whatsoever that you won't really be chucked out on the street by your in-laws they will walk away. Nay, run.

Obviously you have to balance how tough it is now against just how horrible it might become for you and your kids. Whereabouts in the country are you?

We are in Surrey. My gut feeling is that we should go into emergency accommodation but hubby is wavering.

direstraits2012

tanith wrote: »

If you would rather go into temp acc than hang on, get your in-laws to right a letter telling you to go and giving a date (of your choosing) when you have to be out which you can take to the council straight away, then they won't get a chance to talk your in-laws into letting you stay longer.

It's the fear of the unknown - my head is saying go into accommodation but my heart is saying what damage will it do to my children. They think it's all a big adventure living with nana and grandad at the moment. Wish I could turn back the clocks - I wouldn't have made so many financial mistakes My in-laws are happy to write a letter and/or make a phone call - it's just horrid knowing that we are all facing a very uncertain future.

BitterAndTwisted

Do not waver! There's no point right now. First, you don't know whether they will accept their responsibility to help you. Second, if you are offered some bedbug ridden hovel you will not be legally-bound to accept it. Scuttling off to continue sleeping on the floor could be a better option but you'll only know that when you've been accepted and seen what they've got.

Bankruptcy sometimes can seem to be the best option by drawing a line under it all (not that I'd know) but risking your husband losing his job could put you all in a worse position both in the short-term and the long-term than you are now. I realise it might feel like it couldn't but it is possible. No jobs for either of you and trying to exist purely on state benefits to raise your family. State benefits which are about to be capped or reduced.

MentalMinnie

I hope you don't think i'm prying, but do you mind if I ask how you got into £200k worth of debt, and where it went wrong? I really admire you for trying to stay upbeat about it, I'm guessing you've been to hell and back several times. x

LeeSouthEast

I haven't experienced it as an occupier, but I have been a visitor on a few occasions (both wanted and unwanted - professional hazard), and for the most part, they are shall we say ... basic but functional? They're warm. They're out of the rain. They're pretty secure for the most part. Often the neighbours leave a little to be desired... but the same can be said for just about any area if you're unlucky.

I shouldn't worry too much. As said much earlier in the thread, it's better than Cardboard City.

mazza111

As long as you have the inlaws providing the roof, you are deemed not to be homeless. A letter from them stating it's not working out and you have to leave should be sufficient for the council. You may have to rough it for a couple of weeks, but you can always make it into an adventure for the kids. "oh look kids, we're gonna live like we're on holiday for a little while in a hotel" etc. The B&B I was placed in was basic but clean. It will more than likely be worth it in the short term. Good luck

silvercar

Why aren't you finding a private let yourself?

At the moment you have a job. In the future you may not, so check what the LHA would be in your area. If you rent something within your LHA level, you will be able to afford the rent should you need to claim LHA if you lose your job.