housing benefit reduction. a solution but the council is blocking it!

GlasweJen

I can't understand how nanny can be allocated this flat before bidding has started and also know so much about the person who was initially allocated it. If I was in the situation where someone was told personal information about who won a property and why I would be spitting bullets at the council.

ab.da54

The issue is, from the OP, the flat was not open to bidding until the week beginning 06/05.

Now, as the 6th was a bank holiday and council staff do not work bank holidays, the flat would not have gone onto the bidding system until the Tuesday and would close on the Sunday.

However, we are asked to believe that, on the 8th of May - two days after bidding opened and four days before bidding ends - nannytone was given the keys to her new flat. The story goes that the new tenant of the one bed was asked to take the two bed - without even looking at it - and the one bed was then given to the OP.

All this signed, sealed and done whilst the property was still up for bidding, giving someone else, who may have had higher priority than the young single employed man, no chance to even bid. Not only that, the man was given the property on the bank holiday Monday - a day when staff would not be working.

Of course, the housing association have done all this because they want nannytone to have the one bed. They have broken data protection to tell her that the winning bidder was a single employed man who has no prior tenancy with the HA and that he willingly accepted the two bed, after accepting the one bed, without viewing any of it and clean as you like, nannytone has the keys, has signed the agreement within two days, even though the property is still up for bidding.

The story changes once challenged and we are now led to believe that the previous tenant just abandoned the property, but hang on, when did the removal team go in to remove the furniture / items from the flat, which has now been abandoned, rather than the tenant simply giving up the property?

Why did everything happen so quickly - the legal side of reclaiming the property, etcetera. In order to reclaim the property after abandonment, the HA would have to go to court and that takes more than a day or so. When did all that happen and why, if the HA were so desperate to move nannytone, did she only find out about this on the 3rd of May?

nannytone has the keys, people have been in on her behalf and can start painting all whilst the property is still up for bidding. Amazing - and yet, despite how strange all this is, nannytone has no reason to lie and posters are asked not to look at the discrepancies, even though common sense says the series of events do not make sense.

I have to wonder what about repairs that may need doing, what about the council's legal obligations to ensure bidding is done fairly and everyone having an equal right to bid on the property?

We already know that, on the 3rd of May, the property was not open for bidding as it did not become vacant until the 4th - and this is according to the OP. She would have known if the property was already taking bids.

Does she now have the property?

It's possible, but not because of the biddig system - more likely the HA bypassed all of that and just gave her the property. Any other way does not make logical sense. A bidder would not be offered a property on the same day it became available to apply for.

The other option is that the poster is being untruthful. There are certainly parts of this which do not make sense, especially when you are aware of how the bidding system works.

Something doesn't sit right, whether or not nannytone has the flat. I don't think anyone can defend something which does not make sense and would love to hear how someone else finds that it does, given all the information supplied by nannytone.

fredandwilma

ab.da54 wrote: »

The issue is, from the OP, the flat was not open to bidding until the week beginning 06/05.

Now, as the 6th was a bank holiday and council staff do not work bank holidays, the flat would not have gone onto the bidding system until the Tuesday and would close on the Sunday.

However, we are asked to believe that, on the 8th of May - two days after bidding opened and four days before bidding ends - nannytone was given the keys to her new flat. The story goes that the new tenant of the one bed was asked to take the two bed - without even looking at it - and the one bed was then given to the OP.

All this signed, sealed and done whilst the property was still up for bidding, giving someone else, who may have had higher priority than the young single employed man, no chance to even bid. Not only that, the man was given the property on the bank holiday Monday - a day when staff would not be working.

Of course, the housing association have done all this because they want nannytone to have the one bed. They have broken data protection to tell her that the winning bidder was a single employed man who has no prior tenancy with the HA and that he willingly accepted the two bed, after accepting the one bed, without viewing any of it and clean as you like, nannytone has the keys, has signed the agreement within two days, even though the property is still up for bidding.

The story changes once challenged and we are now led to believe that the previous tenant just abandoned the property, but hang on, when did the removal team go in to remove the furniture / items from the flat, which has now been abandoned, rather than the tenant simply giving up the property?

Why did everything happen so quickly - the legal side of reclaiming the property, etcetera. In order to reclaim the property after abandonment, the HA would have to go to court and that takes more than a day or so. When did all that happen and why, if the HA were so desperate to move nannytone, did she only find out about this on the 3rd of May?

nannytone has the keys, people have been in on her behalf and can start painting all whilst the property is still up for bidding. Amazing - and yet, despite how strange all this is, nannytone has no reason to lie and posters are asked not to look at the discrepancies, even though common sense says the series of events do not make sense.

I have to wonder what about repairs that may need doing, what about the council's legal obligations to ensure bidding is done fairly and everyone having an equal right to bid on the property?

We already know that, on the 3rd of May, the property was not open for bidding as it did not become vacant until the 4th - and this is according to the OP. She would have known if the property was already taking bids.

Does she now have the property?

It's possible, but not because of the biddig system - more likely the HA bypassed all of that and just gave her the property. Any other way does not make logical sense. A bidder would not be offered a property on the same day it became available to apply for.

The other option is that the poster is being untruthful. There are certainly parts of this which do not make sense, especially when you are aware of how the bidding system works.

Something doesn't sit right, whether or not nannytone has the flat. I don't think anyone can defend something which does not make sense and would love to hear how someone else finds that it does, given all the information supplied by nannytone.

Which also means the property was offered to the young man, before he had chance to bid, before bidding started and closed, and well before the first person on any bidding list could have been offered the property? That's two people who have been offered a property before official bidding started?



Maybe a representative from Derby HA will be along to explain?



It just goes to show, you should be careful what you say on an open forum?


nannytone - Maybe starting this thread wasn't the best decision you ever made?


It seems to me, threads like this could have repercussions?

neverdespairgirl

Islington, my local LA, certainly gives priority to those who are under-occupying - they actually fork out cold, hard cash to help people move:



What can you do?

Islington Council is writing to all households affected by the change. We can help you, but you have to work with us. Don’t wait until you have lost benefits – take action now.

If you will be affected by the 'bedroom tax', you have a number of options:
Move into a smaller home

If you move into a smaller home you can avoid the ‘bedroom tax’. Your rent and bills might also be lower. You will also have a smaller space to manage with the potential to live in a new area, closer to family, friends or schools.
There are a couple of ways that you can downsize.

• Swap homes with someone who needs a bigger home, through a mutual exchange
  
  Special offer - Swap homes through a mutual exchange and receive £750 for each ‘spare’ room you make available, plus £400 towards moving costs and in some cases money towards renovations and decoration. Terms and conditions apply, please call 020 7527 4140 to find out more.
  

• Apply to transfer to a smaller home
  
  Special offer - From January to March 2013 under-occupiers will be given extra priority when bidding for properties via HomeConnections​. Plus receive £500 for each 'spare' room you make available and £400 towards moving costs. Terms and conditions apply, please call 020 7527 4140 to find out more.

On the bidding site, it states in rather poor English (their capitals):


PLEASE NOTE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE 2013 ALL PROPERTIES ADVERTISED, UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, PRIORITY WILL GO FIRST TO APPLICANTS DOWN SIZING.

neverdespairgirl

Camden, the neighbouring LA, are positively chucking money at people downsizing, from £1k up to £25k (downsizing from 6 beds, that last figure).

They are also full of advice and help to downsize, including properties that only downsizers can bid on:
We can help you to find a new home which suits you, either in Camden,
or elsewhere, through a wide range of varied housing choices.
Increased points priority

Camden tenants in homes larger than they need are automatically awarded
increased points to assist with finding a new home.
First choice for downsizers

A selection of desirable council homes, prioritised for under occupying
tenants only, on a regular basis.
Right swap

We can match you with tenants in desirable homes that are smaller than they need, and broker a discreet swap.
Seaside and country homes

If you are over 60 and want to leave London, you can apply for a home in
the countryside or by the sea. These are housing association properties all
over the country and usually have two bedrooms.

nannytone_2

lighting_up_the_chalice wrote: »

But even more would like to live in your world, where keys are handed over on the click of your fingers, no need to apply, no need to bid, no need to take any notice of a fair and transparent allocations policy, just push right in to the front of the queue and sod everyone else. As long as you're alright Jack!

Disgraceful.

i'm totally aware that you think i am lying. i know that im not, but thats irrelevant.
so may people are suffering extreme hardship because of this reform. i'm not anymore. but i still have a concious and will continue to protest on behalf of those that cant

nannytone_2

custardy wrote: »

you seem to be stuck in a me me me circle
the rules in place dont stop anyone having a 'spare' bedroom in a council house

so you dont look after yourself and your family first?
if i dont look after myself who will?

id love to be in a position where my finances were irrelevant. but i liuve in the 'real world' despite the fact that you consider that i dont. you really wouldnt like my world

custardy

nannytone wrote: »

so you dont look after yourself and your family first?
if i dont look after myself who will?

id love to be in a position where my finances were irrelevant. but i liuve in the 'real world' despite the fact that you consider that i dont. you really wouldnt like my world

You realise the post you quoted has nothing to do with the reply you posted?

lighting_up_the_chalice

nannytone wrote: »

i'm totally aware that you think i am lying. i know that im not, but thats irrelevant.
so may people are suffering extreme hardship because of this reform. i'm not anymore. but i still have a concious and will continue to protest on behalf of those that cant

And I'm sure those that you have shafted will be delighted by your moral support, while in all practical terms you ensure that their hardship continues. You can't have a conscience without a moral backbone, and you are devoid of that.

Disgraceful hypocrisy.

nannytone_2

bloolagoon wrote: »

Can someone explain how this works to me please as I have no understanding of this bidding system.

Nanny states 1 bedrooms are hugely in demand, mass waiting lists as lack of them and 2 bedrooms are easy to come by.

So a priority singleton was offered the 1 bed (bid on this?) when there were 2 beds he didnt have to wait for. Why could he not have been given a 2 bed if he wanted one and willing to pay, why did he have to be on a long list for the 1 bed.

Also if he refused it why did the next priority bidder not get the flat? Is it only the leader bidder that gets a look in, I assumed they'd then offer to number 2.

How can people who do not bid get rehoused?

Sorry for all the questions I would like to understand more to help others.

the council policy is now to not let people under occupy, so for a 2 bed place he would have been a low priority on any 2 beds that he placed a bid on. but i am housed by a HA. they receive nominations for a property from the council.
he bid on a property that he was suityable for, not necessarily a property that he coulc afford.
the HA have given him the choice, and he would prefer the 2 bed that i currently occupy