Gaining social housing when working.

PippaGirl_2

As I said before samwich, most councils have a scheme where they lend deposits and rent in advance and it is paid back in an affordable way. Have you tried that?

My therapist is trying to switch me from a defeatest hopeless helpless woe is me attitude (common after DV where you have been powerless for years) to a solution focussed approach and I can see it works when I can do it.

samwich1979

PippaGirl wrote: »

As I said before samwich, most councils have a scheme where they lend deposits and rent in advance and it is paid back in an affordable way. Have you tried that?

My therapist is trying to switch me from a defeatest hopeless helpless woe is me attitude (common after DV where you have been powerless for years) to a solution focussed approach and I can see it works when I can do it.

I have tried this option before and they will only give the LHA 2 bedroom rate which is lower than what we need.

I just dont have the spare money to top these up, i have to pay for everything for my family and i cant juggle this and pay to move house, its just impossible.

Chrissiew

samwich1979 wrote: »

Just to let you know, where i live an employed person is in a higher priority band than someone who is unemployed.

I CAN live in a privately rented house but i CANT afford to move as the fees and deposit are too much for me to afford.

So no i dont have a choice at all really.

Well that's out of order because social housing is not means tested, it goes on priority

Pippin12

I've got a council flat but it was a proper mess when I got it. A drug dealer had lived in it before me and there were used needles scattered around. For ages I had drugs addicts calling round wanting to buy off the previous tenant. Added to this it was an empty shell and needed carpets, blinds, curtains, white goods etc. I had to gut the place and it took my entire life savings of £3000 to make it habitable.

samwich1979

Pippin12 wrote: »

I've got a council flat but it was a proper mess when I got it. A drug dealer had lived in it before me and there were used needles scattered around. For ages I had drugs addicts calling round wanting to buy off the previous tenant. Added to this it was an empty shell and needed carpets, blinds, curtains, white goods etc. I had to gut the place and it took my entire life savings of £3000 to make it habitable.

Id like to know why this happens because surely the council know that people who take these properties are not always that well off and may not be able to afford to fully renovate the place.

I know i couldnt but i just want a bit of security as there is none with private renting and a lot of landlords take advantage and treat people terribly.

samwich1979

Chrissiew wrote: »

Well that's out of order because social housing is not means tested, it goes on priority

Band A

Urgent priority


Health / Welfare (urgent)

Statutory homeless (unintentionally with priority need)

Regeneration

Overcrowded (two or more bedrooms)






Band B

High priority


Health / Welfare (high) including
1.Care leavers
2.People ready to move on from supported accommodation
3.Members of the Armed Forces within 3 months of discharge
4.Living in social housing where adaptations are no longer needed

Overcrowded (one bedroom)

Disrepair

Under occupation






Band C

Medium priority

1.Health / Welfare (medium) includingPeople whose relationship has broken down

Homeless (no priority need)

Homeless (intentional with priority need)

Living with family and friends or separated households




Band D

Low priority


No assessed need and in employment



Band E

No priority


No assessed need and not in employment






Band F

Reduced priority


Reduced preference status due to unacceptable behaviour; or

rent arrears


This is how the housing priority works in my LA.

Marisco

samwich1979 wrote: »

I have tried this option before and they will only give the LHA 2 bedroom rate which is lower than what we need.

I just dont have the spare money to top these up, i have to pay for everything for my family and i cant juggle this and pay to move house, its just impossible.

Then you have very few options!! You could either move area to a cheaper area, partner get a job or save for the "top up" you need for the LHA rate. With social housing round here, there is nothing in, no carpets, curtains, appliances etc, it's totally empty. But to have any chance of getting social housing you do have to be on the list! So that should be the first priority, sort of hurry up and wait!

princessdon

So would social housing wait for 4 months if they were tied into a lease with a landlord?

Do many private landlords allow month by month rental

How would it work if they never know if they will be sucessful or not?

samwich1979

princessdon wrote: »

So would social housing wait for 4 months if they were tied into a lease with a landlord?

Do many private landlords allow month by month rental

How would it work if they never know if they will be sucessful or not?

In our case we have just finished a 6 month AST and are now on a month by month rolling contract.

So we only have to give a months notice and we can leave so i cant see that being a problem for us.

I registered us on the housing list yesterday and have already put in a bid for 3 properties. I really didnt intend on waiting to do this as i know how hard it is to get anything.

Dunroamin

samwich1979 wrote: »

Id like to know why this happens because surely the council know that people who take these properties are not always that well off and may not be able to afford to fully renovate the place.
.

Buying floor coverings, blinds/curtains and white goods isn't renovating a place - it's what anyone renting an unfurnished property (whether social housing or private) has to provide.