Council would rather I put 2 children in to care!!

nearlyrich

I am one of six children we lived in a 3 bed house bunks and a single bed in each of the bigger rooms mum and dad in the box room and it just fit a double bed in with a sliding door.

It had one living room and we had a 13 year age span it didn't do us any harm we all survived did well at school, got good jobs etc...

It would be good if councils could afford to pay for extensions and every family could have the right size house but money is tight and we have to manage with what can be afforded.

Loz01

Can you not get some of those triple bunk beds for three? Should free up some floor space if you're stacking them upwards rather than adding extra beds. By 'them' I mean the kids lol.

busiscoming2

I assume you have a three bed house at the moment?

Council exchange seems the most obvious thing to do even though you are loathe to give up your 'family' home.

Could you not put two sets of bunks in one room and a triple in the third room?

duchy

Am I reading this right ?Your Mum gave up her home for you so your family could have a suitable home -but you are loathe to do the same for your stepchildren ?

We seem to be back to the discussion that when a home becomes unsuitable size wise should social housing tenants have the "right" to stay there regardless of need or simply do what the home owners and private renters do...which is move.

I honestly don't think you're going to get very far with this-an extension may be cheaper than putting kids into care but a home exchange with another family is substantially cheaper than either and a damn sight kinder to the children involved. How does your husband feel that the possibility of putting the kids in care is even considered simply because you feel attached to your home ? A house is just bricks -your memories don't reside there they live on inside you and will stay with you wherever you live !

nearlysorted

Loz01 wrote: »

Can you not get some of those triple bunk beds for three? Should free up some floor space if you're stacking them upwards rather than adding extra beds. By 'them' I mean the kids lol.

We have triple bunk beds plus a junior bed in the boys room.
Dd has the box room and dh and I have the small double room.
Our "family" bathroom is approx 4ft by 6ft, you can actually put the plug in the bath or wash your hands while sitting on he toilet.

I do understand that they are all of our children and dh and I work very long and hard hours to support them financially and emotionally ourselves and to not claim benefits.
I/we are not asking for praise etc... For looking after them all.
With regards to dh boy's, their mother only started to lose interest in them when she was made to look for work and was affected by the benefits cap, for the last 10 years we have paid for everything for them, as their mother was quite willing to let them miss out on school trips and the likes.
The 13 year old often comes over to us for tea during the week too, as his mum hasn't got any food in the house (again, I am not seeking any kind of praise) merely trying to paint a picture of what we could never have imagined happening.

We were more concerned with where the older boys study and do homework etc... They are currently studying for sats and options.
Then what about their space, when they go to bed hey have to have lights out and silence because the little ones are sleeping.

We are saving furiously for a 20ft by 10ft summer house wach we will have electricity put in to, but were hoping for something more permanent.

nearlysorted

ab.da54 wrote: »

Has a tenancy agreement been legally changed by the council or is your mother still on the agreement and classed as living at the address, please?

Yes we legally exchanged 8 years ago.
And yes you are right, I do not want to move out of our home. The area we live in, is one of the nicer estates, where I don't fear for my kids safety. We have family (on both sides) living close by and all of the children are now settled in their schools. Since living with us and getting extra help from us, school and extra tuition ss has gone from a reading/writing and mental age of a 6 year old to now nearly being at the right stages.

nearlysorted

ab.da54 wrote: »

Child tax credits?
Child benefits?
Working tax credit?

Up until ss came to live with us dh had a very well paid job, i work full time too, all we claimed was child benefit. Now he has had to change jobs so we have had to claim these, which is why we would not be able to afford a mortgage now.

nearlysorted

ab.da54 wrote: »

Is there scope for adding a partition wall in one of the bedrooms just to allow for some extra privacy for the boys?

Or perhaps having your daughter in your room, with a partition so that another room is generated for the boys?

It really isn't a big house. The big room is 12ft by 12ft which has the boys
The smaller double is 12ft by 9ft which dh and I share with one of the boys sets of drawers plus our drawers and the airing cupboard with boiler
Dd room is about 7ft by 8ft

We have a kitchen through front room and no dining room, we use a fold out table to ensure the children have a table to eat their dinner at.
But...... We have a huge/massive garden!

nearlysorted

ab.da54 wrote: »

That's not true now, is it?

I think you will find it is very true!
Dh went from a job of 34k plus bonuses to a 9k job! His was a mon to fri and I work shifts

geoffky

Councils do and will pay for extensions at private houses as they payed over 30k for my brother to have one as his lad is disabled and they built a wet room and bedroom extension...
Why should they not in a council house?