Social Housing - Any point applying as a single male?

tooldle

My brother was offered a council flat after waiting just over two years. He was in a private rental at the time and, needed a ground floor flat due to an impairment. His block is not suitable for children although he has a 2 bed flat and there are 3 bedders on some floors. Don’t give up. Are housing associations operating their own list in your area, or is it combined with council? I have friends who were housed quickly by HA’s who have specific provision for working people (families are dealt with elsewhere). 

wannabe_a_saver

Maybe you need to look at moving to a cheaper area to gain your independence?  Is it hard with rents and house prices so high but I'm sure your parents never planned to have you live with them forever and it might be nice for them to get their home back too! 

[Deleted User]

You have no chance mate unless it is an area which is low population. 

I have family in the late 20s who have been on it for years, can you save for a deposit at your parents for a few years and then move away to somewhere else?

theoretica

If you cannot afford rent by yourself would you be eligible for Universal Credit to help with private rent?  As you are under 35 this would be based on the rate for renting a single room in a shared house.

Morglin

If you’re a keyworker, some HA’s and councils offer rentals and various schemes.  Below is an example for Clarion HA (who are the largest countryside HA), but there are others. 

https://www.myclarionhousing.com/find-a-home/affordable-and-private-housing

FTB_Help

I think as you're an able bodied 30 something living with parents, others that are in real need (such as disabilities) will get prioritised over you and rightly so unfortunately.

I guess the good thing staying with parents is free/cheap rent? Maybe have a look at moving to a cheaper area if you're on minimum wage and want independence from family.

Where are you currently staying? There may be others on the forum that can give pointers on cheap flats in the area for rent

Pennylane

I would  say, don’t give up. you are as entitled as anybody else to apply for social housing, indeed many teachers and trade union officials and MPs live in social housing.  I can understand that you may not be able to afford private rental properties as most are several hundred £ a month more expensive, you often need guarantors, references and hefty deposits and rent up front.  If you are homeless, a street sleeper, a pregnant mother or someone fleeing an abusive relationship then you go to the top of the list.  I know a young couple who do not want children but if they DID have one they would have got a house ages ago.  As it is they have finally got one after 4 years, countless letters, phonecalls etc. That isn’t right because their need is just as great as a girl who gets herself pregnant in order to get a house. They can afford a housing association property but not a private rental and they certainly couldn’t afford to buy a property.  I also know a single male in his late 40s who has recently been allocated a HA brand new flat.  Don’t give up, keep bidding!

AdrianC

Pennylane said:

I would  say, don’t give up. you are as entitled as anybody else to apply for social housing, indeed many teachers and trade union officials and MPs live in social housing.  I can understand that you may not be able to afford private rental properties as most are several hundred £ a month more expensive, you often need guarantors, references and hefty deposits and rent up front.  If you are homeless, a street sleeper, a pregnant mother or someone fleeing an abusive relationship then you go to the top of the list.  I know a young couple who do not want children but if they DID have one they would have got a house ages ago.  As it is they have finally got one after 4 years, countless letters, phonecalls etc. That isn’t right because their need is just as great as a girl who gets herself pregnant in order to get a house. They can afford a housing association property but not a private rental and they certainly couldn’t afford to buy a property.  I also know a single male in his late 40s who has recently been allocated a HA brand new flat.  Don’t give up, keep bidding!

Lawdy, lawdy. Where to start...?

People's occupations are not relevant with allocation - and it's a safe bet that an MP, with a base salary north of £80k, would not be a high priority... A teacher's basic salary is £24k, £30k in London.

And, yes, trade union officials... Remember Bob Crow?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bob-crow-i-have-no-moral-duty-move-out-council-house-despite-receiving-six-figure-salary-rmt-boss-8964238.html
A great example of how social tenancies should be subject to review when the tenant's circumstances change to remove the need, IYAM.

A child alone is no guarantee of allocation - and the "girl who gets herself pregnant in order to get a house" is a massively outdated, inaccurate, offensive trope.

A couple both working full-time at minimum wage would have an annual household income of about £32,500 - £38k at London living wage, £3,200/mo. That's perfectly adequate to rent privately... Even in London, there are plenty of flats (not shared properties) to rent <£1k/mo. Sure, they won't be spacious, in lovely areas, or magazine-perfect. Hey-ho. Deposits legally cannot be more than one month's rent.

I rather suspect the "single 40s male" of your acquaintance had other factors increasing his priority.

Murphybear

AdrianC said:

Pennylane said:

I would  say, don’t give up. you are as entitled as anybody else to apply for social housing, indeed many teachers and trade union officials and MPs live in social housing.  I can understand that you may not be able to afford private rental properties as most are several hundred £ a month more expensive, you often need guarantors, references and hefty deposits and rent up front.  If you are homeless, a street sleeper, a pregnant mother or someone fleeing an abusive relationship then you go to the top of the list.  I know a young couple who do not want children but if they DID have one they would have got a house ages ago.  As it is they have finally got one after 4 years, countless letters, phonecalls etc. That isn’t right because their need is just as great as a girl who gets herself pregnant in order to get a house. They can afford a housing association property but not a private rental and they certainly couldn’t afford to buy a property.  I also know a single male in his late 40s who has recently been allocated a HA brand new flat.  Don’t give up, keep bidding!

Lawdy, lawdy. Where to start...?

People's occupations are not relevant with allocation - and it's a safe bet that an MP, with a base salary north of £80k, would not be a high priority... A teacher's basic salary is £24k, £30k in London.

And, yes, trade union officials... Remember Bob Crow?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bob-crow-i-have-no-moral-duty-move-out-council-house-despite-receiving-six-figure-salary-rmt-boss-8964238.html
A great example of how social tenancies should be subject to review when the tenant's circumstances change to remove the need, IYAM.

A child alone is no guarantee of allocation - and the "girl who gets herself pregnant in order to get a house" is a massively outdated, inaccurate, offensive trope.

A couple both working full-time at minimum wage would have an annual household income of about £32,500 - £38k at London living wage, £3,200/mo. That's perfectly adequate to rent privately... Even in London, there are plenty of flats (not shared properties) to rent <£1k/mo. Sure, they won't be spacious, in lovely areas, or magazine-perfect. Hey-ho. Deposits legally cannot be more than one month's rent.

I rather suspect the "single 40s male" of your acquaintance had other factors increasing his priority.

I believe the maximum deposit since 1st June 2019 is 5 weeks rent 

AdrianC

Murphybear said:

AdrianC said:
Deposits legally cannot be more than one month's rent.

I believe the maximum deposit since 1st June 2019 is 5 weeks rent 

You are correct. My apologies. A 15% difference, £150 on £1,000pcm rent.