Applying for council house without my spouse

gadslon

Hi I live in council house with my wife and 2 sons. I have flat with 2 bedrooms. My older son is 17 younger 14 and couple years ago we decided to give bedrooms to boys(constant fighting and screaming) so we sleep in lounge on sofa bed. Last year when my son hit 16 I've tried apply for bigger place but council responded I can apply when he's 21. We decided to try in other council and after couple months recived email explaining that together we earn over the amount acceptable for house(522£! over). I've called and lady explained how it works-nothing she can do and to try neighbouring council as they have higher amount acceptance. Problem is I have no local connection (reason) to apply there. So my question is. Can I apply on my own(without my wife) and than add her? Is it legal?  I know several couples that did that and hence the question. 
Thank you and sorry for long post.

Bookworm105

what do you think will happen when the council asks who will be living there? Do you intend to misspeak?

Mark_d

As far as I'm concerned it's a luxury for kids to have their own rooms.  It was a shared bedroom in my family until I went off to university...and then into a private rented flat.

As a council tax payer I hope council houses are given to those in desperate need of housing - and not as a method to stop teenage boys from fighting.

GDB2222

I appreciate it's a bit of a problem for you, but I don't think you'll get much encouragement on this forum.

theartfullodger

Mark_d said:

As far as I'm concerned it's a luxury for kids to have their own rooms.  It was a shared bedroom in my family until I went off to university...and then into a private rented flat.

As a council tax payer I hope council houses are given to those in desperate need of housing - and not as a method to stop teenage boys from fighting.

There are laws on how many people depending on individual room sizes and ages (under 10 only counts as 1/2 a person) and different genders sharing.

Luxury is an entirety different matter.

There are also laws on how council property is allocated that you and anyone else is at liberty to read.

silvercar

Wherever you apply, I suspect your entitlement would be to only 2 bedrooms. The rent may be lower or higher elsewhere but the entitlement to a 2 bed property would be the same.

You already have 2 bedrooms, so the chances of getting a bigger property are limited; unless you find a private rental (less secure) and claim any housing benefit etc to top up the rent, if you are entitled. The problem is that you have now given your boys their own room, so the chances of them willingly sharing is more limited. Maybe the home circumstances will encourage your 17 year old to apply to university away from home.

gwynlas

Have you looked at a mutual exchange possibly with someone wishing to downsize?

Silvertabby

How big is the main bedroom?  Is it big enough to fit a temporary partition?