Eviction notice served

lorac3

Just a thought, is it worth applying to any nearby districts ie. other than Dacorum ? I remember watching the homeless prog on the beeb and one family had to go to the next district and the kids had to go to school on the bus. Not ideal but does any one know if it would help.

PigginSkint

Hi MOT

So sorry to hear the news - completely devastating and unbelievable! Don't know what else to say really except that I am thinking about you.

xxx

blue_monkey_2

Hi Silvercar,

You don't really get points for being homeless as such, the points you get are for being in temporary accomodation (here is is 60 points) but if we was to move into a caravan it would be 40 points plus 10 points for not having electricity, permanant water supply, etc.. and you can build the points that way. They give extra points if your housing is 'unsecure' so it goes more on what your 'current housing state' is. So, the example I was trying to say is that if there was a caravan on a site she could live in that and use this to bolster the points, and a roof is a roof for now. I have to be honest, i am looking into that now just incase this happens to us, there is a site nearby and I am going to start looking at the prices of a cheap caravan (my friend got one for £750) so this is worst case senarie if we get turned away. But, it would give us loads of points to enable us to be housed.

I hope that makes sense. As I said, this is why I could not understand why she had not got enough points when she got put into the one bed flat as she would have got points for the kids, them not having a room, being low income, depression (if their doctor allows it, seems so as they are stating she is depressed now and have said this at the appeal), for living in the area for 12 months, for the kids not having their own rooms due to their age, etc... this is why I wondered if she was on the list. If we was to be made homeless tomorrow for whatever reason we would not get 'extra points' as such but they would be awarded for our currect state (say we went o live in a caravan or B&B) then the points are awarded to get your further to the top. Being in homeless accomodation does not always mean you'll get the next house on the list as you are housed, someone else might be of more need, someone living in a caravan or tent for example, and this is why people can be in hostels for up to a year.

This is why I was confused on a situation and asked whether she was actually on the list as such. In Dacorum (St Albans I believe, hence the latin name) they have a bidding system so if MoT is not 'bidding' for the houses using the points she has available then she would never be offered anything. You don't get offered there you have to log onto the website and place your bids using your points (I beleive someone correct me on this), they will choose the 4 people who bid with the higest points. Everyone goes to view at the same time and if the first person refuses the 2nd gets next choice, if they refuse the 3rd gets offered.... etc.... and this is how it works. if Mot had been on the list she would have been aware of the bidding system (I saw this on the site above that I posted, I am rushing so no time to check the name) and she would have been able to bid, if she did not have enough points then she would not have got chosen, if she did then she would have got chosen to view and if she was the one with highest points she would get first refusal. Even if you have low points and want a house no one else wants then you will get offered it as there is no one else to bid against. Phew. Hope that makes sense, someone set me right if this is wrong. We don;t have this round here yet but I beleive it is coming and people beleive this is a fairer way of doing things as you can bid even if you do not have 'enough' points.

Right, got to run!!

blue_monkey_2

lorac3 wrote: »

Just a thought, is it worth applying to any nearby districts ie. other than Dacorum ? I remember watching the homeless prog on the beeb and one family had to go to the next district and the kids had to go to school on the bus. Not ideal but does any one know if it would help.

Just to add, then you lose your 'local' points and you lose a huge chunk of them! HTH

lorac3

blue_monkey wrote: »

Just to add, then you lose your 'local' points and you lose a huge chunk of them! HTH

Thanks for clearing that up, it's no good if you are gonna lose points. I see what you are saying about the caravan tho' it is all about points and we all know 'Points make prizes ' ( what was that off ? ) or in MOT's case a home.

floss2

Blue Monkey,

Please don't take offence, but hopefully this post will put your mind at rest.
I understand that you are concerned about asking previously asked questions, but everything has already been covered. May I suggest that when your own housing situation has become more stable, that you take time to read the 2,900 posts?

MoT has been on the housing list since she went to the Council last year. Her situation is more complicated than most other arrears evictions because of the reasons behind the rent arrears.

MoT does not have the resources (whether financial / mental / physical) to buy a caravan, from working in a Council's Homeless Office myself I know that B&B accomodation is scarce, and even if available Housing Benefit is not a quick process.

The experienced & knowledgable posters who work in homelessness / housing / housing advice have guided MoT to the best route & actions for her particular situation, to the extent of finding a respected & experienced housing law solicitor to take on her case.

BTW, Dacorum BC covers Hemel Hempstead / Tring / Berkhamstead.

Love Floss x

saffronflowers

Floss - you will have pm when I have written it!!!

SFx

debrag

God I hope something gets sorted, god know what goes through some peoples heads.

For people who know council housing stuff:

OH lives with his dad, sister & nephew. His dad has applied for a 1 bed flat (he's in his 80s) they currently live in a 5 bed house, they have lived there for years, 10 kids have lived there. Can the rest apply for a 3 bed property or would the council try to house them in a 1 bed flat & a 2 bed flat?

floss2

debrag wrote: »

For people who know council housing stuff:

OH lives with his dad, sister & nephew. His dad has applied for a 1 bed flat (he's in his 80s) they currently live in a 5 bed house. Can the rest apply for a 3 bed property or would the council try to house them in a 1 bed flat & a 2 bed flat?

Try the House Buying, Renting, Selling board - you'll get more help there.

Floss x

dancingfairy

:mad: :mad: :mad: I'm just so shocked and appaled by the decision. How they can say that MSE was your 'blog' and that you could cope I don't know. Remember you have fantastic twins, a great bloke, and loads of virtual friends on here. Stay strong. Remember that they say it's darkest just before the dawn. Hang on in there Mot.