*Realistically* would I qualify for social housing?

elsien

In the area where I work, the issue would be your single status, in that you can only apply for one bedroom places, and they are few and far between. So it's not that you wouldn't be eligible, but more that it could be a very long wait on a lower banding.
However you're not going to lose anything by putting your name down. Some areas have one portal for all social housing, so it might also get you onto the housing association list. And if for any reason things do change, you'll already have a head start.

Comstock

Thanks for all the replies so far

HappyMJ wrote: »

It would probably be longer on the waiting list.

If you're earning MW £6.70 per hour 37.5 hours per week and 52 weeks per year you would be earning £13,065 per year. Rental affordability calculations mean you should be earning 30 times the monthly rent so you could afford to rent a property at £435 per month.

I thought it was rent should be no more than 30% of gross earnings. That would leave me nearer 325 a month.

Anyone know? Is there any hard and fast rule?

chris_m

theartfullodger wrote: »

But with Dave's lot there's probably zero chance, or less, of you being offered anywhere....

To be realistic, unless the social housing stock is dramatically increased the chances would be about the same with Jerry's lot "should" they get in in five years time.

moneyistooshorttomention

PasturesNew wrote: »

You have to be in it to win it .... so you might as well put your name down no matter what you think your chances are. It's free to keep playing .... so get your name down and play the waiting game.

If two people are equally "in with a chance" then it might come down to choosing the one that's been on the list longest.

Agreed:T

Anyway - you don't want the relevant Council "underestimating demand" do you? Everyone who needs/wants a Council place should put their name down on the list - otherwise its all too easy for Councils/the Government nationally to pretend demand is a lot less than it really is.

Agreed that its as well to get yourself on the list too from the pov that maybe you will get offered a Housing Association place (if not a Council place). That's what happened for me - many years back as it was now. I had put myself on the Council waiting list and duly ignored all comments about not being either pregnant or a pensioner and insisted I was going on that list regardless. I found I got offered a Housing Association place. I took it - and the rest is history (ie I was able to use that as a stepping stone to move on from and buy a house of my own eventually).

HappyMJ

Comstock wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies so far



I thought it was rent should be no more than 30% of gross earnings. That would leave me nearer 325 a month.

Anyone know? Is there any hard and fast rule?

Higher salaries and more expensive locations and it can be up to 50%.

As long as you've got enough left to pay the bills then it's affordable.

Rent at £435 a month should leave you with £563 a month excluding any working tax credits you should be entitled to which should be enough to cover all your bills as long as you have no debts but in any case debt commitments aren't taken into account by a letting agent as rent is a priority bill paid before your unsecured debts.

If you've got child support to pay then that reduces your gross pay and you should calculate your affordability after that's been paid.

jaylee3

PasturesNew wrote: »

You have to be in it to win it .... so you might as well put your name down no matter what you think your chances are. It's free to keep playing .... so get your name down and play the waiting game.

If two people are equally "in with a chance" then it might come down to choosing the one that's been on the list longest.

Hi Comstock!

I agree with PN.

Put your name down as you have nothing to lose.

Go on the list and keep bidding.

You may be low priority, but you may bid one week, on something that nobody else bids on, and you will probably get it. In some local authorities and Housing Associations, they have hard to let areas that you may get housed in after a fairly short amount of time on the list.

I don't know what Derby's social housing situation is like, but I know in Worcestershire, a friend of mine was on the list for 2 years. She sold her house and paid off 50K debt after her marriage broke down, then she went into private let. Then she got lucky after 2 years. Another friend in her 20s, went on a list in North Wales as she was living with her folks, (she wanted a flat,) and she got lucky after 6 months!

So it depends on the area and what you want. And hard to let areas are not always awful; it can be a nice area that simply has no shops and no public transport; so not many people want it. I know someone who lives in a tiny village of only 100 properties (just 6 of them are social housing,) and she was only on the list for 4.5 months when she bid on her 2 bed house, but she was the only bidder and got the property!

So do go on the list Comstock, and good luck!

sniggings

defo go on the list, some areas have some properties as "first come first served" so the first one to bid gets it...yes some of those are not great areas but some are Ok.

I'm similar to you, was told I stood no chance, went on the list and got a few offers before the one I took. within 1year.

Working can in some areas get you higher up the list and also the local connection, I jumped a few places as people in front of me didn't have the connection so I won.

Remember too family and partners count for the local connection...consider moving too, if the wait is really going to be ages.

Mallotum_X

Have you checked whether you are entitled to any benefits? how much more would you need for a 1 bed flat/studio?

dekaspace

Interesting about signing up for figures side as I am a autistic person, even without that I am seen as vulnerable and used to have helpers, social workers told me to apply but admitted waiting lists were extreme.

I suffer from severe depression, get ESA and have been burgled once, identity theft multiple times due to stolen post etc and even with that it will be hard.

Maybe good for me to apply I assume.

LisaLou1982

Hi Comstock

As others have said there is nothing stopping you applying for housing through Derby Homes. Dont forget that there are also plenty of housing associations who may not advertise their properties through Home Finder with the Council.

Try contacting, Derwent Living, Guinness Trust, Places for People, Metropolitan, Friendship Care and Housing (FCH), Notts Community Housing (NCH) as all of these associations have property across Derbyshire and may be able to help