Council House Bidding

Luckyme30

Hi everyone
I'm new to this forum and not sure it its right place to post.
I have signed up with LUTON council house bidding system for last 6 weeks. I was placed on Band 3 (which I will explain at the end). I am currently at the last 3rd of final lists. Given below:
Property 1 : 100/153
Property 2 : 177/278
Property 3 : 87/135
My specific question is: how long it takes to get to first 5 positions?
I'm not very hopeful if it keeps like this.
Please share your experience, opinion in this regards.
Thanks in advance.
.
(Band examples: Band1: homeless, Band 2: high priority or at risk if not moved, Band 3: Rented acc with needs eg number of bedrooms Band 4: Council tenants who want to move to another council home)

dumpallhere

Luckyme30 wrote: »

My specific question is: how long it takes to get to first 5 positions?

Too many variables for anyone to tell you with any accuracy IMO. e.g. - no. of vacancies coming up, housing stock, no. of applicants in queue etc.

Call Luton Borough Council’s Housing Solutions Team and they should be able to tell you the average waiting time for the various bands.

RupertTheCat

I watched that "How to Get a Council House" programme last week on Channel 4, which was set in Tower Hamlets - average waiting time there seemed to be between 5 - 12 years!

People did usually find out by ringing the appropriate Council department.

Luckyme30

Hi
Thanks for advice. Just spoke with them. They have given almost similar advice. It could take 15-30 months depending on my choice and 'flexibility' in terms of area, type of building (house vs flat) etc. I am still interested to hear everyone's experience.
All members who been there, done that or doing it could share their thoughts.
Thanks

lincroft1710

Does Marsh Farm still have a poor reputation?

Manchee

I used to volunteer at my local homeless shelter, from what I understood, people without children or disabilities were waiting in excess of 5 years. This was about 2 years ago now.

carefullycautious

It took myself and hubby 4 1/2 years to downsize from 2 bed flat to 1 via the bidding system in our home town. We wanted a bungalow and had to wait for suitable ones to become vacant ie ones for more able bodied which had steps. We were silver band.

Over this time we watched our numbers on the list get lower as we came up the list.

Hope this helps. I also watched the tv programme and in that area there was so much demand that the people were never going to get what they wanted. Thank god I don't live in London, it certainly made me grateful for what we have

We are in the midlands

System

We had "medical prority" and from start to finish to get a 2 bed bungalow took 18 months, we are in south yorkshire.

lindsaygalaxy

I've been on the list 7 years! Got harder when rules changed for a 2 or a 3 bed house, now most people around this county only qualify for a 2 bed rather than a 3. Now people just coming onto the list with very few points but legible for a 3 bed rather than a 2 get one much quicker as a lot less people to bid against.

witchy1066

carefullycautious wrote: »

It took myself and hubby 4 1/2 years to downsize from 2 bed flat to 1 via the bidding system in our home town. We wanted a bungalow and had to wait for suitable ones to become vacant ie ones for more able bodied which had steps. We were silver band.

Over this time we watched our numbers on the list get lower as we came up the list.

Hope this helps. I also watched the tv programme and in that area there was so much demand that the people were never going to get what they wanted. Thank god I don't live in London, it certainly made me grateful for what we have

We are in the midlands

how refreshing to hear someone being grateful ,
I am at the moment trying to negotiate for a couple in a similar situation but I doubt they would be grateful if I found them a wing in Buckingham Palace

OP it could be years, average in most areas of the country is around 3 years some areas being longer and some being less so it really is hard to say,
sorry

outofmoney

We have been on the list for 14 years and still being told it will be years or more like never.

We have 3 boys sharing a single room. One set of shorty bunks and a mattress on the floor. Apparently this is acceptable and doesn't push us up the list!