how bad can council emergency housing be?

BitterAndTwisted

MentalMinnie wrote: »

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

I can't answer for the OP but I do think you're prying. It's all very simple: borrowing or spending money you can't repay. Perhaps to do with huge over-confidence about how the repayments can be met and not considering how a change of circumstances can impact on that or by spending tomorrow's wages today without a care. Or a combination of the two.

I don't feel this is the right part of the forum for discussing this.

BitterAndTwisted

silvercar wrote: »

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 claim LHA if you lose your job.

References. Credit-checks.

direstraits2012

Thanks for everyone's support. I'm crying now because someone upset me on another thread. I'm probably being too sensitive. I need a break from reality so think I'll go make the kids tea. Catch up again tomorrow when I feel less emotional.

bye for now.

Careful_with_that_Axe

I was in temporary Council accommodation for 6 months up until 2 months ago. My situation was slightly different as I am disabled, so needed a house which had adaptations such as a wet room etc. As a single person I ended up in a 3-bed semi-detached house that was old, in reasonable condition and was very clean. It was in a dreadful area, but it was in a cul de sac away from the main rat run, so I didn't experience any difficulties, just watched as various police cars and ambulances came and went nearby.

I was within 2 days of being made homeless when this place came available, so it really does go down to the wire and the Council were telling me all sorts of things such as my ending up in a B&B or a hostel miles away from my support system.

I may have been lucky in ending up somewhere reasonable, but there are decent places out there. This particular house was privately owned (ex local authority) and was leased to Council to use as temporary accommodation. I always felt sorry for the really nice neighbours who must have seen all sorts of people coming and living in the house for a few months and then moving on.

If there is a chance of getting temp accommodation, don't turn it down as the Council will than have met their statutory requirement to house you and you won't get help again from them in the future.

silvercar

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

References. Credit-checks.

SO that may limit choices, but most people manage to find something.

Lets be honest, a lot of people are renting due to bad credit issues, if every landlord rejected those with bad credit there would be more homeless people.

BitterAndTwisted

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. This family are now down to one salary because they have had to move so far from where they were before. This has obviously made things even more difficult than they were. Now, if only the in-laws could be prevailed upon to make a gift or loan, if they are able adn willing, there might be a chance of finding a rental.

I cannot conceive of the hell it must be having the lenders harassing their debtor and finding every penny of spare cash is going towards what's owed. Once they are on a DMP things will be an awful lot more peaceful.

julie03

we have been in temporary housing in west london, we were put into two rooms 2 adults 2 children and we had to sleep seperatly as we didnt like leaving the kids in a seperate locked room. we had our own kitchen but had to provide all the stuff and bedding and things and overall it wasnt too bad, only one mouse!

we had to private rent and we found one in loot who was skeptical because we were on benefits at the time but we met up and are still here 5 years later. we were living with my MIL and she told the housing officer she wasnt prepared to put us up anymore, as there were alot of arguments

carefullycautious

Your inlaws need to write a letter stating they are evicting you the council then becomes responsible for finding you alternative accommodation.

It will be tough in the short term but at least you will still have jobs to go to


Disregard above as I have just read the full story Of what has happened. Did not realise you had also been evicted for rent arrears.

Hump

I haven't read your other posts on any other thread but this is what is supposed to happen:

You contact your council and tell them that you have lost your previous accommodation and that you are staying temporarily with the in-laws.

Key here is that the stay with the relatives is temporary.

The council should start talking to you about rehousing, probably everything 'short' of making a homelessness claim.

At some stage your in-laws get fed up and issue you with a letter saying that you have to leave in, say 10-14 days.

You go back to the council and insist on making a homelessness claim.

Their first consideration is likely to be whether you need 'temporary' or 'emergency' accommodation - they hate providing this and might wriggle. Fortunately the courts have now decided that if you and the council agree you may be treated as being 'homeless at home'. This would mean that they formally look into your homelessness and make a 'homelessness' decision whilst you remain where you are. If they decide they accept the 'main homelessness duty' to you you could stay where you are until they help you sort out a new home. Result - you need never darken the door of a hostel or B&B. Now for the important part - assuming they persuade the in-laws to keep you whilst they investigate, and assuming they accept the 'main duty' to you - then if at any stage the situation breaks down with the in-laws then you can go back to them then and ask/ insist on their quality 'temporary' or 'emergency' accommodation.

Now you haven't said here whether the council are 1. avoiding your claim (which seems unlikely as they have been talking about 'temporary' accommodation) 2. investigating your claim or 3. made their decision. Advice on 'temporary' accommodation and being 'homeless at home' can vary slightly depending on whether it's 2. or 3. (- feel free to PM if airing your wares is too scary here)

paddygirl

First of all socail housing is a priviledge, not a right.

If you are colluding with your in-laws to get emergency accomodation this will soon be discovered. Why anyone wants this type of housing is beyond me. Its expensive,unsettling for people, especially children, and you often end up in a hostel type situation.

Due to the demand for social housing other options have to be explored, and people need to be pro-active in resolving their own issues. Also, your LA will not consider your parents address as settled accomodation. If you lost your last address due to arrears and being irresponsible with your financies, its likely you will be deemed intentionally homeless,which means there will be no duty to provide you with anything but advice and assistance.

You cannot insist on quality anything these days. Emergency and temporary accomodation is just that-its suitable for the short term taking into account the general housing issues in the area.

LA's can now discharge their duty to you by offereing you private rented. But like I say,its unlikely you will be assisted to be honest, if you didnt act in good faith, when aware of a relevant fact, when you were evicted for arrears.