Council Housing.

Fran

Savvy_Sue wrote:

I'm afraid the dogs, whatever their size, don't get you any points ... However the age and sex of the children are taken into account, but so are the number of 'living' rooms you currently have, AFAIK. So if you're in a 2 bed, 2 reception room house and the children are still under 12, then the argument will go that you can convert the dining room into a bedroom and eat in the lounge or kitchen.

Again you need to find out the rules for your local authority as they vary. In some authorities I think the age is 10 rather than 12, also you can find that housing associations have different rules within the same authority.

If you are on any housing association lists ring them and ask them where you stand as well as the council. See if you can get more info about how they work out the points.

Savvy_Sue

Fran wrote:

Again you need to find out the rules for your local authority as they vary. In some authorities I think the age is 10 rather than 12, also you can find that housing associations have different rules within the same authority.

If you are on any housing association lists ring them and ask them where you stand as well as the council. See if you can get more info about how they work out the points.

Yes, Fran's right there, the HA will have more information. However I still think you'll find you don't get extra points for pets, and you will also find that pets are not allowed in some tenancies. I know pingua's not likely to be considered for a 20th floor flat anyway, and of course some of the dogs mentioned may not be theirs, but when the forms ask questions about pets it's not to give any extra points, it's to make sure that they don't move a family with pets into an unsuitable property!

volks400

i have two kids who are 5 and 2 yrs respectively. i was told by my council when i got homeless, that i would be sent to a hostel or a b&b and then rehoused as i was evicted by the land lord as he himself wanted to move in the flat.i never wanted to go to a hostel or b&b. then someone suggested me to contact Shelter.their link is https://www.shelter.org.uk
u can find their office in your respective area.i went in to their office and one of their advisers took my details and stuff and told me that he would contact in a few days. next day i got a call from my local council that they are giving me a temp. accomodation as i have two small kids and they cant send me to a hostel or b&b.and the temp accomodation is excellent.the guy in Shelter told me that if im sent to a b&b or hostel then the council has to find me a home in 2 weeks.if they cant they will ask other councils too but they have to in any case. so i would advice anyone to atleast talk to visit Shelter and know what the rules are for housing. most of the rules are on their website.
hope it helps.

stellagypsy

We have a different system in my local authority (Yorkshire) - I work for the Housing dept but we have been privatised (ie no "council" housing as such any more in this area) and we do not use a points system any more but allocate properties via an internet choice-based lettings system - the applicant can log on anywhere and see all currenly available properties and apply on-line for the one(s) they want. The computer sorts the list out according to HOW LONG THE APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN WAITING and then the properties are allocated. This works on a 2 week cycle. More and more LA's are taking up this system (encouraged by the govt to do so) - maybe a neighbouring LA is doing this, we find more people in the OP's situation get a property quicker this way - if you want more info, please PM me off-board and I will explain it in more detail. This type of lettings system is highly regarded and has won all sorts of awards for innovation.

HTH, Stella

Fran

Stella,

If it's based on how long people have been waiting, is there still a way it deals with emergency rehousing and priorities? Does the housing department still allocate to Housing Associations?

dag_2

There is detailed housing allocation points system here which will give you an idea. It would be worth asking if your Local Authority has their scheme online or allow you to have a copy.

Unless I'm greatly mistaken, there are quite a few local authorities who have replaced points-based-allocation with choice-based-lettings.

Uptake of choice-based-lettings has happened earlier in the North and the Midlands than in London and the South East - but gradually, they're all coming round.

Stellagypsy's example is a two-week cycle - many local authorities do the same, but on a one-week cycle.

If it's based on how long people have been waiting, is there still a way it deals with emergency rehousing and priorities?

Unless I'm greatly mistaken, homelessness and emergency rehousing is dealt with separately from choice-based lettings - that is, they don't withdraw stock from the choice-based lettings scheme just because someone is homeless. Homeless people are still housed in hostels or temporary accommodation, if at all.

I therefore strongly recommend against hastening your homelessness. It really won't improve your chances of securing permanent accommodation under the choice-based lettings scheme.

Also - in the longer term, the new Local Housing Allowance might improve your chances of private sector renting.

I'm afraid the dogs, whatever their size, don't get you any points ...

True. Worse than that, the dogs might actually count against you.

I also recommend contacting Shelter.

stellagypsy

Dag has hit the nail on the head re homelessness under choice based lettings. Each case is assessed by the homelessness officers and if they support the case, they are awarded "priority" - this is a code input on their application to take them to the top of the bidding for the property of their choice and lasts for 6 weeks in the first instance when they have to do everything they can to secure them selves suitable accommodation. Note how the onus is placed on the individual to go and find someting rather than "us" finding them something. If they do not make enough effort or they refuse an offer of accommodation that is considered "reasonable" (bear in mind they have chosen it from the website themselves) their priority is wiithdrawn.

Sounds simple enough BUT if the property is popular (eg 3 bed house - which is what everyone wants) then after 40 people have expressed interest, all priority applicants for that property have their priotity cancelled and just line up with everyone else in order. (Our houses get in excess of 120 applicants every time - right to buy has reduced the stock till there is nothing left).

The stock is not removed from the public list. Much resentment was built up under the "points" system when good preprties were being withdrawn for exclusive allocation to homeless people and also the homeless route was becoming subject to abuse by those wanting to access these properties. This way makes it fairer for those who have been waiting a long time and those good tenants who want to transfer (eg to larger / smaller property). Also we cannot make judgements on an individual's choices - eg I rehoused a lady with 3 children in a 2-bed property yesterday. Personally I think it is too small but she wanted it and that is what we have to go by. She said it beat sleeping on her mum's sofa with the kids on lilo's. It doesn't work the other way, though - a single person could not get a 3 bed property, UNLESS it is a less popular maisonette or flat. We still use hostels and B&B's for what are considered emergencies (assessed by homeless team). The Council still retain the statutory duty to deal with homelessness but have no expertise so we are now contaracted by them to discharge this duty. Fewer homeles applications seem to come through since this system came in to being and since we ceased to be the council. Single people stand very little chance and young people are offered lots of assistance (counselling / mediation, etc) to encourage them to patch up their differences with their families and return home.

Dogs in flats or properties with communal entrances are a no-no.

We no longer nominate to Housing Associations (we are now one ourselves so we would be shooting ourselves in the foot!). All the other HA's in our district have come in on this system with us and allocate their properties via this now - they may have different selection criteria to us but they all do it this way now.

Stella

Phonix

right to buy has reduced the stock till there is nothing left).

Are there currently any council houses being built in the UK? If the demand is increasing even with decreasing housing stock throgh right to buy adjusted for, then I can't see how a "right to buy" initiative is justified unless the government is steadily increasing council housing stock to counter for it.

margaretclare

In this area (south-east Essex next to the North Sea!) there are hardly any council houses available. A Housing Officer recently said that only 38 3-bed properties became vacant in 2003/4, 28 became vacant in 2004/5. There are hostels, there are B&Bs (only for single people), and the hostels are apparently much nicer than everyone imagines, but they wouldn't allow even one dog, much less 5! The Housing Officers are trying new ways of solving problems - apparently £1,000 rent arrears has to be balanced against £1,400 which is what it costs to house a family in a hostel for a week.

The CAB in this area (the 3rd largest in England) is constantly being asked to find people a home, but can only liaise with the Council Homeless Officers, Shelter, the Women's Refuge, the Housing Associations and things like that, but they have no leverage apart from dealing with those.

Aunty Margaret

Phonix

I know I shouldn't mention this but how far up on the list are asylum seekers?

delete this reply if it's inappropriate but I'm genuinely curious.