Having problems downsizing.

oliveoil99

Dunroamin wrote: »

The age limit for PC is set at the age limit for a woman to claim her state pension so it's well over 60 now and rising.

On an earlier thread the OP was very negative about any suggestion of her working.

Merry Christmas I was waiting for you to come along I knew you wouldn't be able to resist even though I'm trying to save the tax-payer money by going into cheaper accommodation it will still never be enough for some.

oliveoil99

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

What about Thornton then? A 1 bed flat there went to a non priority bidder on the list since June this year.

Or Shipley? 1 bed flat, non priority bidder, on the list less than 18 months.

Or Little Horton? 1 bed flat, non priority bidder, on the list for just 2 years.

Or Keighley? 1 bed flat, non priority bidder, on the list for just 2 years.

And so on, and so on. I'm only looking at the flats that were allocated to non-priority applicants. As soon as you factor ANY priority in, even more are allocated. Hardly a social housing desert, is it?

I log in every Wednesday you can only bid on 2 properties a week, usually about 18 come up for me to bid on, I see lots of empty properties about that never come on the bidding site.

oliveoil99

esmy wrote: »

Oliveoil, I remembered your previous thread and that you live in Bradford.
Just had a quick look on Rightmove and several 1 bed properties state they will accept DSS, all over the city. You can do a search within the rent you can afford (I just looked at £350 and under). Might not be in the areas you'd like to be but worth a look.

Would you have a deposit to come back from your current landlord and can he give you a reference? Could you son/daughter be a guarantor for your rent?

Yes my deposit is in a rent deposit scheme and I'm sure a reference will be no problem or a guarantor.

pmlindyloo

oliveoil99 wrote: »

Yes my deposit is in a rent deposit scheme and I'm sure a reference will be no problem or a guarantor.

Have you contacted any of the one bed places to find out if they will accept a guarantor?

Often they say no DSS accepted but would accept a guarantor if you asked.

I do think this would be a better option than a house share.

Your age might even be a bonus for some landlords

Have you also tried your local housing authority as regards landlords who accept people on HB? They may have a list of landlords who are more willing to accept people on HB.

After the holidays you might need to do a lot of footwork trailing round letting agents and visiting your local authority housing offices.

Good luck!

lighting_up_the_chalice

oliveoil99 wrote: »

I log in every Wednesday you can only bid on 2 properties a week, usually about 18 come up for me to bid on, I see lots of empty properties about that never come on the bidding site.

You should be re-checking your bids every Monday, the last day of the cycle. By then, most will have put there bids on and, as a result, you will get a more accurate idea of which properties offer the best chance of an offer. Many of the 1 bed flats I've looked at (and I only looked at Oct/Nov) got as few as 1 bid, so you clearly aren't using your bids in the most productive way.

This advice is also given on their website:

"hint: the time you bid on a property during the cycle has no effect on your final bid position, so don't rush in at the beginning of the cycle when its likely our helpline and website will be very busy with enquiries. Please take your time to assess what choices of properties are available and remember that it may be better to place your bids towards the end of the cycle when you will have a better idea of your bidding position."

SandraScarlett

SandraScarlett wrote: »

I am probably talking nonsense, but are you not able to get Pension Credit at 60? And I would write requesting a pension forecast, I used to do this annually before I retired. And lastly, could you not look for a part-time job for a few hours a week, which may not pay the earth, but would enable you to live in an area and accommodation that you love.

xx

Dunroamin wrote: »

The age limit for PC is set at the age limit for a woman to claim her state pension so it's well over 60 now and rising.

On an earlier thread the OP was very negative about any suggestion of her working.

oliveoil99 wrote: »

Merry Christmas I was waiting for you to come along I knew you wouldn't be able to resist even though I'm trying to save the tax-payer money by going into cheaper accommodation it will still never be enough for some.

Forgive me if I'm wrong (sorry, I was wrong about the Pension Credit age), but surely you would be saving yourself money by going from a 2 bed property to something smaller, and not the taxpayer?

And what's so wrong about doing a few hours work a week? I'm 65 and I hope to start work in Feb, in a cafe, 3 days a week, 2 hours each time, clearing the tables and serving during the lunch period. It's NMW, plus lunch, and as my State Retirement Pension and Private Pension are well below my free pay allowance, I won't pay tax. :j

This will fit in whilst DH is at his Alzheimers Club, and give me £40 a week extra. :T And I'll be meeting people.

xx

oliveoil99

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you contacted any of the one bed places to find out if they will accept a guarantor?

Often they say no DSS accepted but would accept a guarantor if you asked.

I do think this would be a better option than a house share.

Your age might even be a bonus for some landlords

Have you also tried your local housing authority as regards landlords who accept people on HB? They may have a list of landlords who are more willing to accept people on HB.

After the holidays you might need to do a lot of footwork trailing round letting agents and visiting your local authority housing offices.

Good luck!

Thank-you for your information, seems more and more landlords are getting even more nervous of accepting housing benefits either through bad experiences or the fact that PR HB claimants get the money paid direct to them and not the landlord at the end of the day they want tenants that pay their rent on time look after the property and don't cause any problems and alot of landlords seem to think only full time workers can fullfill these obligation.

esmy

Just a few of the 1 beds accepting DSS that I found on Rightmove yesterday - there were several more;

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36825109.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36825112.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36819589.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36954847.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-25101564.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-24979089.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-36598840.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-40011665.html

oliveoil99

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm wrong (sorry, I was wrong about the Pension Credit age), but surely you would be saving yourself money by going from a 2 bed property to something smaller, and not the taxpayer?

And what's so wrong about doing a few hours work a week? I'm 65 and I hope to start work in Feb, in a cafe, 3 days a week, 2 hours each time, clearing the tables and serving during the lunch period. It's NMW, plus lunch, and as my State Retirement Pension and Private Pension are well below my free pay allowance, I won't pay tax. :j

This will fit in whilst DH is at his Alzheimers Club, and give me £40 a week extra. :T And I'll be meeting people.

xx

It would be less HB £53 and something pence compaired to £68 I get now and yes a saving for me as a cheaper place to run although I don't use heating plenty of clothes and a blanket is enough for me.

kelpie35

Have you tried looking in local paper or Gumtree there are often people looking for a lodger as they either need the money to help with mortgage or someone enjoys the company of another person in their home.

I do hope you manage to get some place soon as it must be a worry for you.