Housing Advice

0002

Hi

my situation is very bad + looks like getting worse!

I need help / advice regarding housing

• failed business (after 7 years...)
• homeless
• wife
• 2 elderley dogs
• about to register for benefits / job seekers allowance

I went to see an OR at the local Insolvency Service a few days ago to ask for forms to file for Bankruptcy (advised by CCCS in May that Bankruptcy was only option)

The OR advised us (me + wife) to sort out some accommodation / housing before filing! Current situation is that we have been 'living' in a touring caravan since March (this is on HP finance), after leaving 'rented property' due to 'rent arrears' + not being able to afford Council tax!

We have tried for a few days to get soem rented housing sorted out, telling prospective letting agents that we are likely to be claiming housing benefit!

Response has not been good, I never realised there was such 'prejudice' against people on benefits (we are not on benefits yet, but will be very soon)

• cant afford deposit (relative will help)
• landlords dont want 'DSS'
• landlords dont want 'pets'
• letting application runs a 'credit check' (no CCJ's but credit rating will be very poor due to defaults on loans / credit cards etc)

How can I get accommodation / housing with landlords / letting agents like this?

Any help / advice appreciated.

HELP needed

0002

Sadly this is no joke, I'm in a real fix!

Any advice / help appreciated!

Thanks

Richard_S

0002 wrote: »

Hi

my situation is very bad + looks like getting worse!

I need help / advice regarding housing

• failed business (after 7 years...)
• homeless
• wife
• 2 elderley dogs
• about to register for benefits / job seekers allowance

I went to see an OR at the local Insolvency Service a few days ago to ask for forms to file for Bankruptcy (advised by CCCS in May that Bankruptcy was only option)

The OR advised us (me + wife) to sort out some accommodation / housing before filing! Current situation is that we have been 'living' in a touring caravan since March (this is on HP finance), after leaving 'rented property' due to 'rent arrears' + not being able to afford Council tax!

We have tried for a few days to get soem rented housing sorted out, telling prospective letting agents that we are likely to be claiming housing benefit!

Response has not been good, I never realised there was such 'prejudice' against people on benefits (we are not on benefits yet, but will be very soon)

• cant afford deposit (relative will help)
• landlords dont want 'DSS'
• landlords dont want 'pets'
• letting application runs a 'credit check' (no CCJ's but credit rating will be very poor due to defaults on loans / credit cards etc)

How can I get accommodation / housing with landlords / letting agents like this?

Any help / advice appreciated.

HELP needed

Hi 0002,

Have you tried your Local Authority Housing department? They are under an obligation to provide accomodation for people who are genuinely homeless. As for private landlords, you probably stand more chance looking through the classified section of your local paper; many private landlords who don't use agencies will rely on their "instincts" rather than using credit reference agencies.

We managed to secure rented accimodation while we were both recently bankrupt. It was an arduous task and we contacted every local agency untilwe found one who would allow us to write to the landlord and explain why we would be good tennants.

I don't know where you live but farmers frequently have reasonably priced property that they're looking to let on a long term basis.

Regards

Richard

CCCS_Emily

Hello 0002,

You could also contact Shelter http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/index.cfm

Let us know how you get on and good luck.

floyd3197

Hi

Sorry to hear about your predicament. I was homeless too with crippling debts. I stopped making payments in September 06 and it took until May 07 for me a get a CCJ from any of my creditors. I went bankrupt in June 07. I went to see the people at the homeless advice centre, they are quite rightly obligated to provide accomodation for homeless people. However it seems they only give homeless priority to homeless people with dependents. As my children were housed with their mum I had to fight to get anywhere. My application for homelessness started in May 06 and I eventually was given keys to a property in February 07. I was laid back about it all until I received a letter in January asking for information regarding the arrangement for me to have children weekends etc. All of this information they had back in May 06 as I had given them CSA letters etc. Housing advice centre insisted this came from a solicitor. At the end of my tether I wrote a strongly worded letter and received the offer of a property within a week. All I will say is good luck and fight every step of the way.

Best of luck.