Social Housing - Any point applying as a single male?

Looper86

oniongirl said:

Deffo look in to house shares. I don't understand why you haven't, this is normally the natural progression when you're in your early 20s. If you're in full time employment and not a total miscreant there will definitely be a room available for you in a house share somewhere. Some will have bills included. I paid £500/month for all bills included bright double room with space enough for desk, armchair and wardrobe, and direct access to the gorgeous garden in a houseshare in very north north London (Borehamwood), in a house of professionals all working 9 - 5. I mean... granted, my room was under the living room. And I had to get up at 6 to get in to work on time and they didn't go to bed til 2am.... BUT it was worth it to get out of my parents' house. 

This may sound a little strange but I reside in an area of North Yorkshire that’s predominantly made up of small “affluent” villages, house share are simply not that common (a house-share around here would generally just be two friends that decide to go 1/2’s on a private rent rather than in a traditional sense of a landlord letting out multiple rooms in a single property).

elsien

I have to agree, I think some of the comments have taken an unneccssary and unhelpful turn. The one that you have quoted from Bonniepurple  is just one huge assumption and in my opinion unwarranted.
You have asked your question and had it answered. If you feel there's nothing else to take away then stop replying and the thread will drop back down the forum.
I will add though that having English and Maths would stand you in good stead both in getting other jobs and in career progression. If you get to the stage of doing NVQ (just as an example) then the English test is one of the first things they do. You could consider posting a more specific query on the employment board, if posting on here hasn't put you off completely.
It is possible to move up the ladder from minimum wage jobs  - you have to start somewhere so getting the basics may as well be the starting point. 

Looper86

AdrianC said:

Looper86 said:

I still think your comments have an abrupt bluntness to them

If you want a hug, ask your mum... <grin>, for the avoidance of doubt.

As far as getting back into education what routes would be available to me, and beyond that a lot of minimum-wage job requirements stipulate English/Maths GCSE’s, so it this going to be a fruitful endeavour or will the educational investment only position me in a similar place to where I am currently?

How can it possibly be anything but an advantage? You have something like a third of a century in the world of work ahead of you. I presume you do not want to spend all that time on the lowest possible tier?

Obviously, we have no idea of what your current job is. But would promotion be available to you with qualifications?
And if your job ended... then what? You've already said that even many MW jobs are not open to you because of your lack of qualifications...

I suspect, though, that you'll get far better answers on those wider questions over here ->

Haha, she would only oblige as I’m “Mum’s little solider” lol!

I would only deem it advantageous if it adds value, if a year/two of studying is still only going to give me what I’ve already got then I would be dubious arounds the process. No ideally I wouldn’t want to remain on a minimum wage job and one day it would be gratifying to have grown and developed myself into a career.

I currently work in a slaughterhouse, nothing to do with the actual slaughter element of course, I’m employed by the facilities management team and my daily activities can be anything from replacing a lightbulb, fixing a door handle, to unblocking a drain or even picking up the cleaning duties when we are short staffed (it’s a very varied although mainly unskilled type of work). There aren’t really any direct lines of progression from this (or at least nothing obviously visible ).

I think that might be the best direction for me to take as they might have more specific advice around training and personal development opportunities that will be available to some of my age/situation, thanks,

FTB_Help

Looper86 said:

oniongirl said:

Deffo look in to house shares. I don't understand why you haven't, this is normally the natural progression when you're in your early 20s. If you're in full time employment and not a total miscreant there will definitely be a room available for you in a house share somewhere. Some will have bills included. I paid £500/month for all bills included bright double room with space enough for desk, armchair and wardrobe, and direct access to the gorgeous garden in a houseshare in very north north London (Borehamwood), in a house of professionals all working 9 - 5. I mean... granted, my room was under the living room. And I had to get up at 6 to get in to work on time and they didn't go to bed til 2am.... BUT it was worth it to get out of my parents' house. 

This may sound a little strange but I reside in an area of North Yorkshire that’s predominantly made up of small “affluent” villages, house share are simply not that common (a house-share around here would generally just be two friends that decide to go 1/2’s on a private rent rather than in a traditional sense of a landlord letting out multiple rooms in a single property).

May be that's why you're finding the rent to be high, if you want to live in an affluent area, you'll need to be earning an affluent wage.

I would love to live in Islington London and im very well paid but there is no way i could afford to comfortably rent somewhere nice there

So private rent will leave you with around £500/£600 each month which to be honest isnt too far off for most people, my friend (in London) is on 35k so take home pay is around £2,300, rent is £1,500, leaving her with around £800 each month but with other high London expenses pretty much puts her in line with you, but she's been able to save for holidays, have nights out and have a decent deposit for hopfully buying next yr.

Pennylane

Jack_bauer24 said:

I moved into my 1 bed flat (Housing Association) in January 2012 and I was only on the waiting list for a few months, and I had no health conditions, I was and still a single male I am (34) now. But it depends where you live? I live in Burnley, Lancashire, North West England! I would never give my HA flat up for private, no chance. I have security in my flat and I am happy it's mine for as long as I like as I like my flat!  

Ooh you mustn’t say that on here Jack. 😉You will get accused of telling porkies or informed that the person involved must have something wrong with them.  I said earlier I know a single male in his 40s who got a property but it seems that can’t be right.

I am sure I read somewhere about certain councils who are providing homes for single people and I think that’s a good idea.  A single, childless person can be just as in need of housing as someone who gets pregnant in order to get a house.  

NinjaTune

How much have you saved as a deposit?  Would you qualify for something like this?  Discounted Home Scheme

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/47344248?search_identifier=317e4804d599b89fc90f7b73e7ce4133

If you are doing handyman roles in your current job then would you be able to do some freelance work at weekends/in the evening to boost your income?  All properly declared, of course

AdrianC

Looper86 said:
(I’ve never once said I “deserve” a property over someone who is disable so I’m at a loss as to why this has continuously been presented to me...??)

Simple fact of life: Social housing is in very, VERY short supply.
So applicants need to be prioritised...

Whether it should be in such short supply is another question. It's not one that you or I can easily change, so we need to live with it.

Can you and a friend not rent a 2-bed house (or two friends a 3-bed) jointly?

Looper86 said:

I would only deem it advantageous if it adds value, if a year/two of studying is still only going to give me what I’ve already got then I would be dubious arounds the process.

Think longer term!

Also... you have property maintenance skills.
Can you strengthen those skills? Perhaps focus on plumbing or electrics or carpentry?
Perhaps apply for jobs as caretaker of other types of property?
I have a friend who's responsible for the caretaking and maintenance of a school, earning a good chunk above MW.

SaintJudy

AdrianC said:

Also... you have property maintenance skills.
Can you strengthen those skills? Perhaps focus on plumbing or electrics or carpentry?
Perhaps apply for jobs as caretaker of other types of property?
I have a friend who's responsible for the caretaking and maintenance of a school, earning a good chunk above MW.

I've just had a plumber round today who I would hazard a guess as being mid 40's, he was telling me he worked for 20 years in payroll and packed it all in to retrain as a plumber, got a couple of different jobs working for other firms and has now set his own business up and he couldn't be happier so it's never too late!

davilown

@AdrianC
Can you come and speak to the daughter living in my house please?  I tend to say what I mean and apparently I'm too blunt - perhaps if you said it, it would have the desired effect?  The word entitled comes to mine - apparently if I pay for her new place she'll move out................... 

@Looper86
There is nothing wrong with you grasp of the English Language - a 1 year course in that and mathematics would enable you to enhance your potential career progression.  Then you can look at plumbing or electrician courses - real trades with real opportunities to develop your career (obviously there are other careers, you know best to what you ultimately want to achieve)

If you've been at your parents for some time you must have saved quite a sum so will be on your way to being able to move out.  It takes time, and you have to sacrifice all of the niceties we all think we deserve - no new mobile, no holidays (except for camping!), no new car etc.

PS, nobody is judging you here - what you may class as rude or harsh is actually individuals just being honest and not sugar coating it as friends and family might.

AdrianC

davilown said:

@AdrianC
Can you come and speak to the daughter living in my house please?  I tend to say what I mean and apparently I'm too blunt - perhaps if you said it, it would have the desired effect?  The word entitled comes to mine - apparently if I pay for her new place she'll move out...

I blame the parents.