Housing Benefit under occupancy Help

mazza111

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Get a lodger? Move? I actually think you've had better arguments against this than most, an unusual local housing stock and demand plus really good reasons to stay put... however for large numbers of peopel whilst staying near dependent family and home connections would be lovely it's simply so unfeasible people find others expecting it a bit odd.

Hey don't get me wrong, I've already downsized because I do believe in freeing up bigger houses for those with families!! I done it! I just can't see in this area, where it will make any difference when it comes to 1/2 bedroom properties. Definite shortage of 1 bedroom places, a few 2 bedroom places laying empty.. But while that's happening, they're happy to pay a 1 bed private rent for someone who's unemployed, but it would be cheaper to let one of their own properties, even though it's too big to them. I have looked into neighbouring towns too. There just isn't a lot of one bedroom properties.

I do realise this won't be the case in many areas as I live in a "recovering" area. Well that's what they like to tell us anyway :rotfl:


And really, I've only moved back here in the last 15 years, I moved down south in the 80s to gain employment. I've downsized when I was able to (dd leaving home), I am hoping I won't need to do it again now that I'm not able to work, which could be forced when the ds leaves home. As I said, this doesn't affect me at the moment, but it could in the future, hence why I put the feelers out.


Maybe if there is suitable 1 bedroom flats available then fine, I'd probably be quite happy to downsize again. But until there are those flats available......

lighting_up_the_chalice

Heycock wrote: »

MAZZA111....HB/LHA provisions explicitly state no allowance for extra bedroom need for disability/carer unless the carer is from outside the family and stays over (I think) at least 3 nights a week. So screw the couple who can't share a room for sound medical reasons. They still get the one room rate. When this was pointed out to Ian Duncan Smith he responded that this was never the intention...Oooops! but he'd look at it again. He hasn't.
Many LAs are using the same rules for housing allocation but this is discretionary... I've managed to get on the permitted bidding group for 2 bed properties but I think it was pure charm that did it. IF we ever get the much wanted switch into Social housing we'll still only get the one room rate. But I accept that. We'd still be paying a lot less rent than we do now for a comparative property. My main motivation to get out of the private into social is for the security of tenure.

Bingo! At LAST!!!

The single, most valuable, and by far the most important reason, for wanting Social Housing is SECURITY OF TENURE.

If a SECURE tenant doesn't think that the SECURITY offered is worth the minimal shortfall some will be expected to contribute, they really are living in cloud cuckoo land.

barnaby-bear

john539 wrote: »

This only shows how desperate situation has become with shortage of housing & high cost.

I don't think punishing & victimising those in social housing who maybe in difficulty who are least able to pay & to move is way to go and will solve this problem in any way.

It's ideological claptrap pushed by government, which desperate people latch onto as something to blame contributing to problems in private market.

The private market is fckd, that's what clueless Tory government needs to tackle, not ideological persecution of social policies.

It's misleading nonsense that people latch onto.

I personally blame the introduction of ASTs, one of Gordon Brown's most charming policies to encourage workforce "mobility" removing tenure from the private rental market!

lighting_up_the_chalice

mazza111 wrote: »

Hey don't get me wrong, I've already downsized because I do believe in freeing up bigger houses for those with families!! I done it! I just can't see in this area, where it will make any difference when it comes to 1/2 bedroom properties. Definite shortage of 1 bedroom places, a few 2 bedroom places laying empty.. But while that's happening, they're happy to pay a 1 bed private rent for someone who's unemployed, but it would be cheaper to let one of their own properties, even though it's too big to them. I have looked into neighbouring towns too. There just isn't a lot of one bedroom properties.

I do realise this won't be the case in many areas as I live in a "recovering" area. Well that's what they like to tell us anyway :rotfl:


And really, I've only moved back here in the last 15 years, I moved down south in the 80s to gain employment. I've downsized when I was able to (dd leaving home), I am hoping I won't need to do it again now that I'm not able to work, which could be forced when the ds leaves home. As I said, this doesn't affect me at the moment, but it could in the future, hence why I put the feelers out.


Maybe if there is suitable 1 bedroom flats available then fine, I'd probably be quite happy to downsize again. But until there are those flats available......

Then you have the same choices as everybody else. If there are no 1 beds, you will have to afford a 2 bed. If you cannot afford a 2 bed, you will have to move to where there ARE 1 beds.

Sorry, but it really is that simple.

lighting_up_the_chalice

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I personally blame the introduction of ASTs, one of Gordon Brown's most charming policies to encourage workforce "mobility" removing tenure from the private rental market!

AST's are a wonderful product perfectly suited to many who rent. What needs to change is the provision of Section 21 of the 88 HA. Repealing that one section would have a massive effect on the housing market as a whole.

barnaby-bear

mazza111 wrote: »

Hey don't get me wrong, I've already downsized because I do believe in freeing up bigger houses for those with families!! I done it! I just can't see in this area, where it will make any difference when it comes to 1/2 bedroom properties. Definite shortage of 1 bedroom places, a few 2 bedroom places laying empty.. But while that's happening, they're happy to pay a 1 bed private rent for someone who's unemployed, but it would be cheaper to let one of their own properties, even though it's too big to them. I have looked into neighbouring towns too. There just isn't a lot of one bedroom properties.

I do realise this won't be the case in many areas as I live in a "recovering" area. Well that's what they like to tell us anyway :rotfl:


And really, I've only moved back here in the last 15 years, I moved down south in the 80s to gain employment. I've downsized when I was able to (dd leaving home), I am hoping I won't need to do it again now that I'm not able to work, which could be forced when the ds leaves home. As I said, this doesn't affect me at the moment, but it could in the future, hence why I put the feelers out.


Maybe if there is suitable 1 bedroom flats available then fine, I'd probably be quite happy to downsize again. But until there are those flats available......

Yes and I think you've had some very articulate and valid arguments, although they don't seem that relevent to the south-east and london and average sentiment here... I also think you've demonstrated that you are prepared to adapt and see the wider arguments; the OP on the other hand seems so phased by what are normal life changes (to the point of worrying they might die) that it worries me what the system can do to people. I think on average it's a reasonable policy - I don't think the pensioner exception has much logic....

john539

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I personally blame the introduction of ASTs, one of Gordon Brown's most charming policies to encourage workforce "mobility" removing tenure from the private rental market!

Shorthold Tenancies were around before Labour came to power 1997.

lighting_up_the_chalice

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I personally blame the introduction of ASTs, one of Gordon Brown's most charming policies to encourage workforce "mobility" removing tenure from the private rental market!

Oh, the 1988 Housing Act, which created the AST, was introduced under Thatcher, not Brown.

barnaby-bear

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

AST's are a wonderful product perfectly suited to many who rent. What needs to change is the provision of Section 21 of the 88 HA. Repealing that one section would have a massive effect on the housing market as a whole.

It's mixed, tried to rent in Germany and yes security of tenure but 3 months rent agent fee - 3 months rent up front - very few landlords willing to accept less than 3 year contract - PLUS the fittings like the kitchen are the tenants responsibility so £3k to the previous tenant or they take the kitchen :eek: once in you have security but are well stuck... people quote continental renting as good tenure and yes it is but expensive up front (once in rent rises controlled) and you are locked in ! The AST is flexible but after 6 moves in 4 years and trying to find anything in the same school/work area - on 2 months notice it's tough and there is always an overlap plus you can't really expect repairs - however after 9 years on the social waiting list (starting 7 years from the top) we are now 12 years from the top for the local area :-D we have actually bought out of area and commute 120 miles a day but still eligible thankfully to move back to home... in 12 years!

nannytone_2

northerntwo1 wrote: »

nannytone why would she move again? I shared a room with my sibling and when we got to an age I slept on the sofa.

Your friend won't be forced to move to a larger house, it will be her choice and by then her children will be older and so I would hope she would have found a job.

Why does she not work?

the rules now state ... mixed sex under 9 can share.
same sex under 16 can share
over 16 they get their own room.

why would she make them share when they can have a room each?

my mum shared a room with her brother and sister until they were 23. 21 and 19. just because people did it , doesnt make it desireable. after all we used to burn witches!

she doesnt work because she is disabled, and although she would like to get to work, at the moment she is only managing alone with the chilldren with considerable help from family and friends