Bidding for Social Housing (OAP) ?

StuieUK34

Hi all,


Anyone got 2 min's to help me understand housing, bit out of my depth !

Short story:
my mum is 66 , on a pension, and doesn't have a lot of savings (under 5k). She is now technically homeless due to a marriage breakdown (she is sofa surfing).


I need to help her get a place to live, but when I look on the various different social housing websites that cover an area (Gloucestershire) , it shows properties, with a weekly figure, and all state you have to Bid....
I just read a thread on here from 7 years ago which said "the bid was the same as registering your interest, and obtaining the property was based on needs".

Does this mean my mum doesn't goto the local council, she just registers on these housing websites and hopes for the best ?
She is wondering whether to use the last of her savings to rent privately, but would only be a matter of time before that's depleted.....
Unsure of what to do for her. The homeless scenario came about 8 days ago, she has been to a charity that deal with homeless for the young, but I guess there is only so much they can do if it is the council she has to deal with before the social housing can help ?


As said, am out of my depth, don't understand how all this works in terms of seeking assistance from housing....

sammyjammy

I can't comment for sure on the housing situation but my understanding is the same as yours, income dependant she may be entitled to housing benefit whether she goes for private or social housing, she could look at sheltered housing as well.


Her savings are at a level that they won't be taken into account for any means tested benefits including housing benefit. Is she claiming pension credit?

FabFifty

Is your mother registered on the local authority's housing waiting list? This should probably be your starting point. I believe social housing in Gloucestershire is allocated from the housing register (housing waiting list).
Provide as much information as possible to help Housing Officers assess her level of housing need and decide which 'band' she should be in. They'll tell her the number of bedrooms she is entitled to and what type of property she can bid for.
Then, yes, you 'bid' on properties that are advertised, which in reality means that you indicate that you are interested in a particular property (not 'bidding' as in auction bidding/paying a price).
She will need to review her application on a yearly basis.

Rosieandjim

Please don't be put off from applying. Can your mum go along to her local neighbourhood office to speak to a housing officer face to face. As she is over 60 she would be classed as vulnerable and may well be offered sheltered housing. She would have to bid online or an officer may be able to bid for her if she has no internet access. She will be put into a band. Gold Silver or bronze.


Our local authority has rehomed 2 woman I know who are over 55 within about three months, both these people were in full time work.

elsien

Does technically homeless due to marriage breakdown mean that she already owns (due to being on the deeds, or because it's a marital asset) a property, or is a named tenant in a rental property?
This could affect the options that she has.

Either way, her starting point to be to register with the local authority housing (it is often the same portal for council and housing associations) and make an appointment to see a housing officer.

StuieUK34

Cheers for the replies all
she went to the council office on Friday, but they don't have a housing dept as such, just a telephone on the wall....
She spoke to someone in that dept who wasn't very helpful, it was by chance someone was stood behind my mum who mentioned a charity to use...

I have told her to register on these social sites, and I believe she has a meeting with 'housing' this afternoon, not sure if that's council or a charity !
My mum is named on a tenancy agreement, but the ex is already onto the letting agent to have a new agreement made so my mum can be removed.
In short, this is a guy who used her savings, kept his, and through well planned manipulation, worked a way to make sure he is OK... battery doesn't always have to be physical...

I got the understanding now for the bid stuff, have read a little on CAB , so thank u all for the input

**home situation sorted, we got there with understanding how sheltered accom works - private style renting ***

Owain_Moneysaver

Many housing providers have moved to a bidding-based allocations system as this gives prospective tenants more choice of property to consider rather than being allocated the next available (and being penalised if they refuse it) and if a property is less popular it will still be allocated quickly, to someone with lower points.

If you don't actively bid you won't be considered.

https://www.homeseekerplus.co.uk/choice/help.aspx

TBagpuss

OK, it's really important that she doesn't sign anything to agree to come off the current lease or have it put into her ex's sole name - if she does, then she will be classed as having made her self 'intentionally homeless' which would mean she would be very low priority for rehousing.

If she wanted to stay in the family home she could apply for a court order to have the tenancy trnasferred to her , if not, her ex can do so, or if her ex gives the landlord notice to terminate the tenancy then that may be effecitve, but she shouldn't do anything to facilitate that, as it could disadvantage her.

if the ex was abusive in any way, make sure that that is documented as it may also be relevent.