Advice on moving up the housing list

pulpfictionlover

Well im from Australia i waited 8yrs for my government house ,the wait list now is over 10yrs being a single mother of four children and waiting and waiting for my house im finally in it and will never leave it, good luck with your house hope it works in yr favour

lighting_up_the_chalice

alisara wrote: »

I have sat for many years on the Northern Ireland list, I work (always have) I have a child of 14 and have to live in private rental, and I do not remember what having a secure home is like. I also do not receive any HB although I do receive WFTC. Most of my money is spent on rent. I have zero points. I think I may get a home when I retire. I always envy those who get social housing and wonder why am I so different.

Just a rant, but I think you are so so lucky after 6 months even getting a call.

There are areas of the country where the wait for social housing can be measured in weeks rather than years.

alisara

I wish I knew where Chalice!

ess0two

bextas wrote: »

We can afford to have a child I would just prefer them to have their own room. We could afford to rent 2 bed just but why shouldn't we get a council house and a helping hand we've worked hard. I'm just looking for advice on how to word my letter to the council.
Thanks

Plenty of people work hard,imagine if they all had the same mindset.

davenport151

bextas wrote: »

We currently rent a 1 bedroom house at £650pm. We are expecting our first baby. We joined the council housing list 6 months ago and in an f banding so no priority. We both work full time however now I'm on maternity leave our income has dropped by £1,000pm. I wrote to the council and sent them proof we were having a baby and they've moved us to an E banding so low priority. In order to rent privately in this area and get a 2 bed house it would cost us around £750-£800pm. We cannot afford this. Even when I go back to work part time next year most of my wage will go on child are so it will just be my partners wage coming in of £1,250pm after tax. My question is how should I tackle this? I want to write to the council again and get moved up a band but I'm unsure how to word the letter. I bid every two weeks on properties but we are usually over 20 in the queue. A few we have been between 1 an 5 in getting a call but so far no luck. We have worked hard all our lives and never been on benefits so it would be great to have some help now that we need it. We can manage in our house till our baby is 6 months to a year but ten we really need to look at moving. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks

This. Then this...
We could afford to rent 2 bed just but why shouldn't we get a council house and a helping hand.

iluvmarmite

There are thousands of people in the same boat as you, some worse as they have children already, you are already in housing so not homeless and not in a hostel or B&B, I understand you feel frustrated but I don't think you should expect to be bumped up the list just because you feel you are owed something due to working for a long time.

You say you can afford a two bed place then it might be a good idea to do that as many many of those on the social housing list can barely afford a bed sit let alone a two bed house.

theartfullodger

bextas wrote: »

..........We joined the council housing list 6 months ago and in an f banding so no priority. .... wrote to the council and sent them proof we were having a baby and they've moved us to an E banding so low priority. .......

Have you read, very carefully, your council housing allocation policy??? I can't read it from here...
Each council has to have an aloocation policy: If, for example, yours gives priority to (say..) those who were once in prison & allocates extra points and you have not told them (no I'm not suggesting for a minute..) then do so... In other words there's not much point asking here as we don't have all the information. Go do some research!! You have responsibilities to those wee kids you appear strechted over...

We cannot afford this. ................

Sigh!!

.I want to write to the council again and get moved up a band but I'm unsure how to word the letter. I bid every two weeks on properties but we are usually over 20 in the queue. .....Any suggestions would be great.
.....

Go read the policy: Then (only then..) write a carefully worded letter to council, keep copy......


Give me strength......

J_i_m

I think it's more a question of getting your priorities right. Council housing should not be the automatic option especially when you're relatively far down the list.

Could your other half do overtime at work, does your maternity leave really hit your income that much.. Can you return to work full time afterwards, does the father have to be the breadwinner? All sorts of questions to see how you can maximise your joint income.

I'm sure this may not be what you want to hear.. But you may have to look at renting your house privately and it may need to be of a less desirable property and area, which of-course a council property may well be anyway.

harrup

Firstly, congratulations on becoming parents.

Secondly, whilst, sadly I can't offer any practical advice on how to move up the CH queue......years ago I had friends in a similar situation. Restricted income, restricted living space whilst raising a young family.

Their, or rather her, solution was to generate additional income which fitted in with being a new mum. That is to say she took in ironing jobs, typing jobs, was buying & selling stuff in jumble sales/ car boot sales/markets, some house cleaning, etc, etc. Anything she could do from home or with the baby. Her husband, equally, augmented his work hours by working 2 weekends from home ( computer repairs & gardening jobs)

For sure, it was a busy, tiring time BUT it permitted them to have a home with a second/third bedroom and to make ends meets more easily.

Would any of the above mentioned jobs-on-the-side be worth a consideration and a possibility?

TBH... Initially my hackles rose when reading " why have a kid if you can't afford it?". It sounds spectacularly unsupportive, elitist and inconsiderate. As if only well heeled people should enjoy having children or a family!

Nevertheless, there is an uncomfortable element of truth in it. The decision to have kids should be underpinned by whether this is financially feasible without immediately looking for govermental support. Which then either means you accept a limited space living arrangement
....or...you and your husband find a way to increase your income.

Wishing you good luck and a healthy baby!

bextas

Wow I was just after some advice not to be got at. Just trying to give my family a helping hand. We may never get a council house I and yes we will privately rent when the time comes to move. I see a lot of people not helping themselves and happily being unemployed on benefits getting properties my point I was trying to make was what can I do to give us a helping hand. For those who have offered great advice thank you for that.