any opinion on this situation would be welcome

moneybags_3

The council may be able to provide me with temporary accommodation until I get myself sorted with somewhere to live. The accommodation will cost £140 per week and I think that it will be a self-contained flat. I will have to pay other bills but I will have my privacy - no pets allowed. My second choice is staying with friends where I will have less privacy and I will be under more pressure to find somewhere to live, of course I will be paying rent etc., Which sounds the better option?

carefullycautious

Hi, have read your predicament and it is good that the LA have responded. Can you tell us a bit more about what exactly was said to you.

If you feel you are not getting adequate help have you approached your local MP who may be better placed to assist you with applying for social housing. I would have thought that your medical history and age would allow you to at least be assessed, would your GP write on your behalf?

Or is it a case of having made yourself voluntarily homeless?

I would go into temporary housing and try to see if you can be assessed for long term sheltered accomodation as once you are on their radar you will be better placed to have help via a housing/lettings officer. What is the waiting list like for your area

G_M

Without fully understanding your circumstances I don't see how advice can be given:
* location of properties
* location of your workplace
* cost of rent at friends (+ contributions to shared expenses, utilitiies) Vs utilities etc at councilplace
* length of tie-in & notice rqd at each
* relationship with friends
* set up with friends (own room? sleeping on sofa?)
* personal circumstances (medical issues etc)
etc
etc

moneybags_3

I will approach my local MP but they are not available until 6 Jan where I live - same as CAB or any of the advice organisations. The accommodation was not offered by the Housing Authority as such, the HA put me in touch with an organisation which may provide temporary accommodation until I get myself sorted. They obviously work together to help people who find themselves homeless. This has all happened because of dealing with a solicitor. I think I would have a bedsit type room for which I have to pay full costs (that is fair enough). The max stay there (if I get it is 2 years) I am retired from employment and receive no benefits as I have an occupational pension which is above benefit level. I think that I would rather pay the extra and go here than live with friends who have family living with them. I am so used to living alone and think I might find it difficult fitting in with a family.

cootuk

I would also consider whether you would be comfortable around other residents in the emergency accommodation. Some of them might not be the most enjoyable of neighbours.

moneybags_3

Yes that thought did occur to me but I would attempt to keep myself to myself although that might not be easy. Someone suggested I try bed and breakfast. I would be trying very hard to get suitable accommodation asap.

Bluebonnie

One thing at a time.

You don't yet know whether contracts have been exchanged on the Sale of your house. A decent solicitor would wait until EVERYTHING was in place, including the apparent boundary dispute on your purchase, before exchanging contracts.

Therefore, you need to check on Thursday when solicitor is open, to find out what the situation is.

Annisele

I know you're worrying about this, but I do think it's extremely unlikely that contracts have been exchanged for the sale of your house.

If the solicitor has exchanged on your sale but not your purchase, and if you didn't instruct him to do that, then he's made an extremely serious professional error. Solicitors are human so I accept they do make mistakes - but that would be a very unlikely one!

moneybags_3

Thank you for all your answers. I will be straight down with the solicitor on Thursday. I will let you know the outcome.


Have a happy New Year everyone