Housing trouble

paul2012

They had 4 kids and lived in private rented the LL then sold the property and they had one months notice, there was no social housing available apart from the bedsit and they could find no other private rented that was affordable so they put up with what they had to

As for children can share a room and dont think anything of it I agree but Im sure you will also agree that 2 adults and 4 children in a bedsit is extremely tight...remember a bedsit is 1 room where the family had to cook, eat, sleep and play and a bathroom.

Fire_Fox

embob74 wrote: »

I think it's a bit unfair to tell the boys to leave because other people have come into the household and want their room!! More and more adult children are staying with parents until they are in their 20's (sometimes 30's) as they just cannot afford to move out. Private rents can be very expensive, not to mention the charges and deposits required.
I doubt the council has a property big enough for the whole household so it may have to be broken up. Are SS involved with the cousin and the MIL's mother? They could help to find assisted accommodation.

There is only one spare bedroom if you take the parent's presence as a given - that is only enough for one son or one vulnerable relative longer term. Maybe leaving home and being responsible for their own money would make the lads grow up, I know it did me at 17.

The lads are unemployed, so the council will pay their rent and they can get a paper bond from the council as stated early. There was a time when we took care of our own vulnerable relatives, and 18 plus year old lads went out to work and helped support the family. Sometimes they moved away when there was overcrowding. You are advocating the opposite.

Fire_Fox

paul2012 wrote: »

OP is not the only one in this situation, there are many living in worse conditions than this - I know of one local family who were living in a bedsit with their 4 kids for almost a year before they were offered suitable accommodation and that was only after the local news heard about it and the local MP stepped in.

They had 4 kids and lived in private rented the LL then sold the property and they had one months notice, there was no social housing available apart from the bedsit and they could find no other private rented that was affordable so they put up with what they had to

As for children can share a room and dont think anything of it I agree but Im sure you will also agree that 2 adults and 4 children in a bedsit is extremely tight...remember a bedsit is 1 room where the family had to cook, eat, sleep and play and a bathroom.

Sorry but I don't believe this, I suspect it's a media version of the truth. For a no fault eviction should have been served two months notice coinciding with a rent period so were illegally evicted, the council would have advised them of this as would many charities. Even when a landlord sells the two months applies.

I struggle to believe there was no private rented larger than a bedsit that could be afforded if they were claiming all the benefits they were entitled to, more likely they thought emergency housing was a quick way to get a proper sized council house without having to sit on the waiting list and bid.

rpc

Ames wrote: »

or 4 - had the kids before ending up in a position to be in a bedsit on the SH waiting list.

The question was

If you are overcrowded why would you have more children?

So I don't see how your answer is relevant.

I think those who have kids and then find themselves in need of support at a later date are in a totally different scenario to those who have kids knowing that they will need support immediately.

System

Assuming the adults re under 25 they might want to hurry up and find somewhere to live before the government cuts LHA/HB to under 25s...assuming that goes through we might see more people being forced to live with their parents. Also finding somewhere to rent privatley on benefits isn't easy, nearly every advert i've seen says "no dss"

peachyprice

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Also finding somewhere to rent privatley on benefits isn't easy, nearly every advert i've seen says "no dss"

Local LHA's should have a list available of 'benefit friendly' private landlords that they work with and will also be able to tell you which ones that will accept LHA bonds in lieu of a cash deposit.

Mankysteve

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

It IS an option. Just not an option that they are willing to consider, evidently!

not to mention the fact that council rent will be about the same.

System

peachyprice wrote: »

Local LHA's should have a list available of 'benefit friendly' private landlords that they work with and will also be able to tell you which ones that will accept LHA bonds in lieu of a cash deposit.

Ah interesting...trying to find a list myself and had no luck so far

kj*daisy

I wouldn't advise the boys move out as its likely there will be no HBen for under 25s then they will be stuck owing rent they can't pay.

embob74

Fire_Fox wrote: »

There is only one spare bedroom if you take the parent's presence as a given - that is only enough for one son or one vulnerable relative longer term. Maybe leaving home and being responsible for their own money would make the lads grow up, I know it did me at 17.
The lads are unemployed, so the council will pay their rent and they can get a paper bond from the council as stated early. There was a time when we took care of our own vulnerable relatives, and 18 plus year old lads went out to work and helped support the family. Sometimes they moved away when there was overcrowding. You are advocating the opposite.

Of course the family should support vulnerable members but it does seem unfair to kick the children out as soon as somebody else needs a room.....particularly as other housing help could have been sought for the other family members.
I also had my own place at 17 - I was given a council flat as they were in abundance unlike nowadays. I also had a job so I could pay all my bills and if I lost my job I could probably have walked into another one. Very few 17 year olds are able to get a full-time job and even if they did they would probably not earn enough to be approved for rental by a letting agent. And if they want to claim housing benefit then when the Universal Credit comes in this will probably be slashed.
Better the boys stay at home and try to get a job and build savings in order to be prepared for a permanent move out of the family home so they don't become the vulnerable ones turning up at the door because they are homeless.