Any Advice on Affordable Housing?

Elle00

This is a sensitive issue because from what I can tell, I am not in the minority here.

For those of you that don't know, Tax credits that top up low incomes to the national minimum requirement do not take into account housing costs. And housing benefit step in only to bring you up to the poverty line the same as you would be on IS. You also have to remember that HB do not calculate entitlements based on individual circumstances. So a prime example are my petrol costs to get to work making me financially worse off than being on IS.

So far I have been allocated moderate medical points for my health condition (don't want to give details) but they are worthless.

I have been in contact with my local MP who has taken the matter up with the head of housing but all grounds were considered insufficient to change me from band D to band C (band D = housed when all of band C are which would likely never happen in any of the surrounding counties). The council cannot legally turn people out of hostels unless rules are broken and they would run out of hostels if they did not keep housing the occupants ahead of everyone else who has no permanent affordable accommodation. It's down to resources basically and fairness doesn't come into it.

I have had my Health Visitor out (thanks to PoppysCorner) and she has written to state she is concerned for my son's safety due to hazzards in his nursery (it's designed as a study/storage room and has dangerous windows, heater and boiler cupboard which horrified my HV). I did consider switching rooms just last week but his nursery isn't big enough for an adult bed. His toddler bed would not fit in my room even if we shared the proper bedroom! I've had the tape measure out.

So what next? Don't get me wrong, and I am grateful we have a roof over our head. But there are worrying safety issues, there is no long-term security to where we live and if it's possible to live somewhere I can actually afford without running into debt (as it looks like I will in the coming year) then surely I should strive to find a solution?! I do fully appreciate a lot of people are in the same boat but I try to remain hopeful that where there's an iron will, there's possibly a way to go with it!

I note I could move to somewhere for around £600pm in the area (pay £650pm here) but it has to be remembered that moving would cost around £400 for a removal firm plus up to £650 for any repairs as part of the deposit guarantee (of which DS has caused one or two including a chunk out of the nursery wall - it's some kind of crumbly plaster stuff!). Oh, and my landlord wants the carpets replaced throughout because DS had constant reflux as a diddy thing when we moved in and I signed to agree this (again, stupidity and desperation - legally binding, let's be realistic). I don't see it would be worth moving to a slightly lower priced private rental considering the huge outlay to do so? Although that said, there is my son's safety to consider equally so I'm in two minds.

I live in North Herts, work in a rural location South of Cambridge.if anyone wants to google pricing in the area to make suggestions.

I think it's obvious I'm willing to work to help myself but I just don't see where to go next? Sitting and waiting is not going to bring a house to me, the council have made this crystal clear. So I need to go to the house!!!

LilMissEmmylou

im not much help with the housing situation as i know the area can have really high pricing (i used to live in wycombe), however with regards to your son, would you think of co-sleeping in order to get him out of that room? I wouldnt normally say to somebody to do that as i know it can create a rod for your own back, but for safety sake would it be doable? Surely your house not being fit for the pair of you to live in should put you higher up the list. What if you wait until the contract is up and claim to be homeless? would that work?
re. the new carpets for reflux, id contest that myself. There is no way reflux could create the need for new carpets. My little girl was sick eeeeverywhere so i know it can be bad, but it can be cleaned out with a carpet cleaner, so id be inclined to tell him to get stuffed!

go talk to your local CAB re the housing situation, see what they can come up with to help you good luck x

Elle00

LilMissEmmylou wrote: »

im not much help with the housing situation as i know the area can have really high pricing (i used to live in wycombe), however with regards to your son, would you think of co-sleeping in order to get him out of that room? I wouldnt normally say to somebody to do that as i know it can create a rod for your own back, but for safety sake would it be doable? Surely your house not being fit for the pair of you to live in should put you higher up the list. What if you wait until the contract is up and claim to be homeless? would that work?
re. the new carpets for reflux, id contest that myself. There is no way reflux could create the need for new carpets. My little girl was sick eeeeverywhere so i know it can be bad, but it can be cleaned out with a carpet cleaner, so id be inclined to tell him to get stuffed!

go talk to your local CAB re the housing situation, see what they can come up with to help you good luck x

Thanks for your post, much appreciated.

I have considered sharing but can't fit the toddler bed in the space I have left in the room and because of his age, I just do not think I could get him to share my bed. I tried once before about four months ago when he kept crying in the night during a bout of bad teething (hey, single Mum, needed sleep okay?!) but he just would not settle and I turned to medised for the week (bad Mum).

At present, the biggest risk is not "in action" yet if you like so in a way I guess I'm taking a gamble that we might be okay for a few months longer. You see he can already swing the window if the flip-down latch is open so the worry is, when the latch is up to keep it shut at night or when unsupervised (loo or whatever) - it won't be long before he twigs how to stand on something to reach this latch and then get out of the window. I only open the window to air the room when I'm there to supervise, otherwise I keep it shut. How long till he works it out though? The windows are legal apparantly because it is groundfloor, the HV said someone else had had this situation she'd been out to. Unfortunately this legality does not take into consideration the fact that a 3ft fall onto concrete could kill a toddler or that an unsupervised concussed toddler roaming the streets at 6am could result in dire consequences. You can't supervise your child in your sleep unfortunately!

You never know, maybe the HV letter will make the council take the safety issues with more seriousness than when I raised them myself? I won't hold my breath but at least that is something ongoing that may have a result.

The tenancy is 6m rolling so nope to letting it expire! Good idea but I would have to give notice or stop paying rent and that would mean making myself homeless. If I did that, having already contested the housing situation, the council would definetely send my DS to social services and turn me away - I've got little doubt in my mind about that.

Again though, thanks for the reply 'cos you're on the right lines! I will reconsider all possibilities when I've exhausted all my options so who knows? It may well be that co-sleeping and re-arranging some furniture is the only option in the end.

EDIT: Oh just to add that I'm afraid the carpets really are ruined. My son has a milk called Nutramigen on prescription (hypoallergenic) and because it tastes foul, I started flavouring it with a tsp of strawberry crusha at 8m old because he wouldn't drink it having realised how awful it is compared to food. So it wasn't just milk puddles - it was STRAWBERRY milk puddles - everywhere! That said, you've done well to get even regular milk out.

pboae

What sort of windows are they? You can buy window locks for just about any type of window for a few quid. Not a long term solution, but it would keep him safer for now.

Elle00

pboae wrote: »

What sort of windows are they? You can buy window locks for just about any type of window for a few quid. Not a long term solution, but it would keep him safer for now.

I just don't see how a device could be fitted to stop anyone from being able to flip the latch down? I mean if it is possible then please help!!! But it doesn't seem to be likely and I'd expect the HV to have known if there was such a lock. If you do think this is possible then please do offer a link or even just a name for one if you're able.

The window is I guess what you'd call "old style" even though this is actually a relatively new build (hence the second room being intended as a study - has aerial and phone point etc - flats were aimed at young couples).

Anyways, the windows are all basically two tall panes with both sides opening all the way outwards in opposing directions. There is a latch in the middle for each individual window that you flip down and move about 2cm to the side to release the window. You then have a bar across the bottom of each window with holes along it that can be hooked onto a little knob to set the window open at a point. They don't catch on or anything and ride free in the wind, it's like a little bump you rest the holes in the bars on. Best way to described the latches thinking about is "flicky things". Sounds daft I know but they are hinged up and down with up being "technically" locked shut and down being free to flick to the side and swing open.

Unlike true "old style" versions of these windows, they're quite thick in depth, maybe 5" at a guess, because of course they are double glazed.

This is my best effort to describe them! Like I said, I just took HV's word for it that you can't childproof this kind because she said she'd had this with someone else not so long ago. I am more than happy if people have suggestions on a lock that would fit this kind of window. It doesn't solve the money side of things but this is certainly the bigger concern. It's a no to string between the two latches I'm afraid as I tried this method and found a good yank and the latches just swing to mid-way and the string slides off. I did try!

Savvy_Sue

Are there local Housing Associations? If so, are you on all their lists as well? With all areas ticked ... shared ownership schemes where you part buy might also be worth looking into.

pboae

You might not be able to lock the actual latches, but you may be able to fit them elsewhere on the frame. Are they wood or PVC frames? Any chance you could post a picture, I can't quite imagine it, sorry :-\