Advice req council flats

pocketstrings

Does anyone know what the savings limit is for applying for a council flat? Am seriously disabled, largely housebound and living with parent for last ten years. Got some savings, though not much. I'd welcome any advice. No brickbats, please, as pretty fragile as it is.

lighting_up_the_chalice

pocketstrings wrote: »

Does anyone know what the savings limit is for applying for a council flat? Am seriously disabled, largely housebound and living with parent for last ten years. Got some savings, though not much. I'd welcome any advice. No brickbats, please, as pretty fragile as it is.

There isn't one.

Torry_Quine

As far as I'm aware and will be corrected if wrong, council homes are allocated strictly on need.

McKneff

There is no limit to any savings you may have to enable you to apply.

Getting one inside the next 20 years is the problem.

lighting_up_the_chalice

McKneff wrote: »

There is no limit to any savings you may have to enable you to apply.

Getting one inside the next 20 years is the problem.

That very much depends on the area. In some parts of the country you could realistically expect to be waiting a matter of weeks, not years, for social housing.

skintandscared_2

Have you checked whether you would be entitled to housing benefit if you moved out? Added to your current benefits, it may then be enough for you to afford a private rental, if you have enough savings for a deposit?

Just one thing though. If you are severely disabled and largely housebound, could you manage living on your own?

pocketstrings

I don't know if I could manage to live alone (and thank you for asking), but I've been here ten years now and we don't really get on and it's a /very/ small place. I'm in my thirties now and think I'd prefer my own place if I can cope. But yes, it's quite possible I won't cope and iwll be incredibly isolated. Guess I can only try.

I think I'd definitely be entitled to housing benefit, and a friend who lives abroad has even said she'd rent me her place here, but I've been told I'll never be cured, never work again and ideally I'd love my own place (ie a council flat). I don't know what to do as I think I'd be given a lot of 'brownie points' in my current situation for a council flat, but obviously I guess it could still take years.

If I move out and rent privately I'd be in a home so I assume I'd (quite rightly) lose some of those points.

Also, I don't know if you are allowed to go on the list if you are already renting a place because then you'd be housed.

I don't know what to do.

lighting_up_the_chalice

pocketstrings wrote: »

I don't know what to do as I think I'd be given a lot of 'brownie points' in my current situation for a council flat

Most areas use priority bands now, rather than points. If you have CBL in your area, the qualifying factors should be published. Most are available online. Well worth a look.

pocketstrings wrote: »

but obviously I guess it could still take years.

Or much less, depending on where you live.

pocketstrings wrote: »

If I move out and rent privately I'd be in a home so I assume I'd (quite rightly) lose some of those points.

Maybe. Maybe not. It would depend on how suitable the home is to meet your needs. A wheelchair user on the 15th floor, for example, may well be considered to be in unsuitable housing for their needs.

pocketstrings wrote: »

Also, I don't know if you are allowed to go on the list if you are already renting a place because then you'd be housed.

Shouldn't be a problem.

pocketstrings

What is CBL? I tried googling it but came up with a lot of things that clearly weren't what you meant.

Also, if you do manage to get a council flat, do you have to buy a cooker, washing-machine and fridge yourself?

Errata

pocketstrings wrote: »

What is CBL? I tried googling it but came up with a lot of things that clearly weren't what you meant.

Also, if you do manage to get a council flat, do you have to buy a cooker, washing-machine and fridge yourself?

Yes of course, why wouldn't you? You will also have to buy floor coverings, furniture, pots, pans bedding etc.

Charityworker

I waited 10 years for social housing and I was in desperate need twice.