Mortgage arrears and 'Field Agent' letter/visit

Bella_Smythe

I've asked about housing associations before but been told that in East Yorkshire you have to go through the council to get put on a Housing Association list?

luvchocolate

I think you can still apply to housing !!! though but more chance if on the council list.....worth knowing the East Riding will only put you on their list if you have a connection in the area.....work, school etc.

Bella_Smythe

i'll contact some Housing Associations then luvchocolate and see what they say. and ive lived in the East Riding most of my life, but thanks anyway xxxxx

lilybankrupt

In my area, all Housing Association property goes through the council too - I phoned every single one and the same answer - they don't have their own waiting lists but are part of the council's allocation process.

I don't know your exact situation Bella but as a single woman with no children and therefore not top priority I was told I'd be waiting at least a year, even if that meant sleeping rough.

I do now rent privately having been very lucky to find a landlord who was willing to take a chance - I found him via Gumtree having placed an ad setting out some of my circumstances and asking if anyone could help.

Bella_Smythe

Ive looked into the rehousing criteria and we definately fulfil all but one, the 'vulnerable' one, (or we will once we have a notice of eviction!)
As for if my health problems are 'enough', well I don't know how they will view them. But there is more going on than I really want to talk about on here. But thanks for the advice guys. I'm sure I will be back with another dumb question shortly. Whole thing is really scary but I have had answers to emails from Stepchange which has clarified the situation with my 'other' house so we more or less know the plan now. seems it will drag out longer than I would of liked but hey ho.
Bella

PippaGirl_2

Bella, in my area the only people to meet the health criteria to be high priority urgent for housing are those whose life is in danger if they aren't housed. No one else qualifiess. Homeless people don't qualify to be made more urgent than anyone waiting in the queue either, so few properties become vacant that if they housed all homeless people first, no one in the queue would ever get a place.

What the council do for those that are vulnerable and homeless, this is adults with physical or mental health needs, or families with children, is source them a private rental property that is below the LHA. The council rent the property from the property owner and you the tenant rent the property from the council under a normal shorthold tenancy as you would have had you used an agency. The bonus of the scheme is you do not need to pay a deposit and just pay rent in advance as normal and the council maintains the property while you live there. It's a good scheme and it means those people waiting patiently on LA/HA waiting lists get there turn fairly.

HTH

As to the field agent, I wouldn't sign anything and I wouldn't let one in my house either.