Moving away from rural area, into social housing

ripplyuk

I've recently been put on the waiting list for social housing. They class me as homeless due to the condition of my house and have given me priority need due to some long term health problems that are worsening with my housing situation. My landlord has a violent temper, especially when he's been drinking and things have escalated so I'm terrified here.

Problem is, I'm also a bit nervous about moving. I live in a very rural area, no close neighbours and I'm not a very social person. I'm very much the quiet type. I imagine if I'm ever lucky enough to get an offer of housing, it'll be in an estate surrounded by people, which I'm not used to. I'm always friendly to people but I'm just not the type to want neighbours calling in randomly for tea etc. I'm worried I'll be seen as odd because of this.

Also, I've kept rare breed hens for the last 12 years and obviously won't be able to take them with me. I'm not sure if I should start looking for a new home for them now or if I should wait. I know social housing waiting lists are long. In my area, there were over 270 applicants last year and only 150 got housed. Does anyone know how quickly I have to move in if I get a housing offer? Will they give me time to find a 'man and van' to move my furniture?

Any advice/support appreciated

fat-pudding

I've been in social housing in 3 places, 1 was in a large town and 2 have been rural (one very rural). I've never been on a big estate but depending on where you are it may be your only offer. Anyway, neighbours in social housing areas tend to be pretty friendly but I've never had my neighbours in my house (apart from moving in day in this house for some crazy reasons).

Anyhow, you may be able to take any hens you have, it depends on the place and the landlord, so don't worry about it until you have an offer.

Once you get an offer and accept they will give you a start date and you pay rent from that date. You don't have to move in on that date. We were classed as homeless as we were living with family but had nowhere permanent to go to. When we got our place we spent a week or two sorting out flooring, decorating and getting our stuff in before we actually moved in. Once you have the place and start paying rent they probably won't care unless you don't move in for 3 months at which point I think they can start a repossession process.

Good luck with your application, it may take a *very* long time.

missbiggles1

ripplyuk wrote: »

I've recently been put on the waiting list for social housing. They class me as homeless due to the condition of my house and have given me priority need due to some long term health problems that are worsening with my housing situation. My landlord has a violent temper, especially when he's been drinking and things have escalated so I'm terrified here.

Problem is, I'm also a bit nervous about moving. I live in a very rural area, no close neighbours and I'm not a very social person. I'm very much the quiet type. I imagine if I'm ever lucky enough to get an offer of housing, it'll be in an estate surrounded by people, which I'm not used to. I'm always friendly to people but I'm just not the type to want neighbours calling in randomly for tea etc. I'm worried I'll be seen as odd because of this.

Also, I've kept rare breed hens for the last 12 years and obviously won't be able to take them with me. I'm not sure if I should start looking for a new home for them now or if I should wait. I know social housing waiting lists are long. In my area, there were over 270 applicants last year and only 150 got housed. Does anyone know how quickly I have to move in if I get a housing offer? Will they give me time to find a 'man and van' to move my furniture?

Any advice/support appreciated

That's actually very good for social housing. You may well find that the council/HA can give you some idea of how long you might like to wait and you can check quite a lot of things online these days.

Are you single?

ripplyuk

Yes, I am single. I have a partner but we've never lived together. Because of my health issues, I have two carers and one often has to stay overnight. Because of this, they said I will be offered a two bed property.

When I was at the housing office, they said I had to pick two areas that I would like to live in. They won't just let you say 'anywhere'. They've told me the areas I've chosen are not high demand as they are 'very rural'. They don't seem rural to me at all since there's lots of houses all together but apparently most people want to live in big towns close to shops etc. I've asked them how long it is likely to be but they can't tell me.

I'm still paying rent for this house so if I get an offer I won't be able to afford to pay for both properties which would give me time to get the place furnished. I have some furniture but not basic stuff like fridge, carpet, curtains etc.

tomtontom

They should be able to tell you how many 2 bed houses they have in your areas of choice, and how many became available in the last (financial) year. That will give you some context for how long you might have to wait.

These things differ so much between areas, where I live rural properties almost never become available.

Ames

I had high priority and took a year to be offered somewhere, that was a choice based lettings system. I wasn't classed as homeless though, that might make it quicker for you.


When I signed my contract I was given the keys a couple of days later and expected to move within about a week - the speed was because I was already in SH though and they wanted the keys to the old place back asap. As you're in a private rent you should be able to get dual housing benefit for a month - check that though it might be tied to when you pay rent. (Assuming you're on benefits, if not then it's up to you how long you pay two lots of rent and take to move).


When you say you're terrified of your landlord, are you a tenant or a lodger? That could make a difference to dual housing benefit as the contract would be different.


If you're in a self contained property with a garden you might be able to keep your chickens - but be aware that urban foxes are a problem, and if you end up on a bad estate then they might not be safe from humans and their dogs. In some places there are specific restrictions on types of pet though. When I signed my initial contract it specified things like no anti social behaviour, no criminal activity, and no pigeon keeping. Yes really!


I understand what you mean about not being very social. I don't talk to neighbours much, I say hello if I pass someone in the street or if they walk past while I'm putting the washing out. I'm not one for cups of tea or long talks though. In my last place I think I was seen as a bit odd, but it didn't really cause any problems.


If you move into a flat you might find the noise from neighbours a bit of a culture shock - I can her my upstairs neighbour use the toilet, laugh at the tv, open his front door and go up the stairs...


I've been in inner city social housing for nearly 9 years now and as I said I moved recently. So if you've got any more questions I'm happy to help if I can.

Ames

Your latest post wasn't there when I wrote mine, sorry.


It's good that they've let you choose semi rural areas, although there might be a longer wait, I guess it depends on the area.


If you need white goods etc you could start looking on freecycle or freegle if your current place is big enough to store them until you move.


You don't need carpets and curtains etc. as soon as you move. I'm still uncarpeted since moving in October as I haven't been able to afford them yet. Instead of curtains one room still has a blanket pinned up (although that's mostly lazyiness in not wanting to put up a curtain pole knowing it'll have to come down again when I finally get to redecorate).

balletshoes

As far as the social aspect of moving from very rural to semi or town living goes, please don't worry about that.

I grew up on a farm, moved to a small town with my family when I was 16, and now live with my own family in a city. You can be as social or anti-social as you like - I get on great with my neighbours on both sides of my terraced house, but we don't spend any time in each others houses, its a chat in the garden when we're both coming in/going out of the house, or sometimes over the back garden fences in the good weather when we're both out enjoying the sunshine. Just because you live surrounded by other people and houses, doesn't mean you have to have people dropping in on you unnanounced. To be honest, that was far more the norm when I lived on the farm.

ripplyuk

The areas I've chosen seem to be the easiest around here to get an offer. I've found an online council report through Google and it seems that in one area, everyone on the list was housed last year, and in the other, about two thirds got an offer. But then again, it might be different this year.

I am a tenant but my landlord works here, right beside my house, so he's here a lot. I know it's going to be a big culture shock for me when I move but things are getting worse here. I was even too scared to tell the council about everything the landlord has done as I'm so frightened he'll find out. Also, the house is falling apart, water flooding over the electrics etc.

I've spent a fortune over the years getting this place nice. When I moved in, there was mushrooms growing out of the carpet. The landlord decided that the house was then worth more, and put the rent up. I've stayed because I love the area but he knows that and used it to his full advantage. The house now needs major repairs and he won't pay for it. He expected me to pay but I refused so he's told me to get out, and has become aggressive. I can't take any more from him. It's all been for nothing as now I'll be starting from scratch again. Freecycle seems to be non existent in my area. There is a website but there's never anything on it except wanted ads.

I didn't know that housing benefit could be paid for two properties for a short time. That would be so helpful to me. I'll ask about it, even if I could just get a week. I don't know what to do about the hens. It's the cockerel I'm thinking about. I don't want to disturb any neighbours and they aren't likely to appreciate him crowing at 3am in the summer.

I really appreciate all the replies. I feel better about the social side of things. It worried me because I kept thinking about what my granny used to say about living in the town, everyone keeping their doors open and people in and out of each other's houses. She loved it but I couldn't cope with that.

Ames

Oh heck no living in a town isn't like that any more! I'd hate that too, I have mental health problems and can't be around people for long.


Ebay or local charity shops might be worth looking for household things, sometimes they deliver. Or maybe if you start saving now you'll be able to buy some cheap stuff when you move - it's not likely to be for a few months anyway unless your area is very unusual or you're very lucky.

DKLS

ripplyuk wrote: »

I really appreciate all the replies. I feel better about the social side of things. It worried me because I kept thinking about what my granny used to say about living in the town, everyone keeping their doors open and people in and out of each other's houses. She loved it but I couldn't cope with that.

Your granny is a bit out of date so need to worry, of the last 3 houses I have lived in the city I have never even met my neighbours let alone speak to them. Nor would I ever have a neighbour in my house.