Council housing advice

seven-day-weekend

If it is not possible to re-organise the bedroom furniture, would it be possible for the two boys to have the larger bedroom, the girl to have the smaller and the parents to have a sofa-bed in the living room?

Having said that, I hope she gets somewhee soon.

(Sorry, just realised someone already suggested the sofa bed!).

moyilla

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

If it is not possible to re-organise the bedroom furniture, would it be possible for the two boys to have the larger bedroom, the girl to have the smaller and the parents to have a sofa-bed in the living room?

Having said that, I hope she gets somewhee soon.

(Sorry, just realised someone already suggested the sofa bed!).

Lol, yes that was me.

Great minds think alike

cattie

When I was younger, growing up with 4 siblings in a small 3 bedroom flat my parents had special 3 tier bunk beds made so us 3 girls would all fit into one room. We used these from a young age up untill we all married & left home. The 2 boys had standard bunk beds in their tiny box room.

Would something like this be an option for your friends family?

Running_Horse

JoJoB wrote: »

It really isn't fair is it?

Neither is the fact so much council housing has been sold off.

teeni

The quickest way to acheive a move is mutual exchange and l/a should have a list of other people who are looking to move this way.

Have to ask the l/a for permission but as long as they have no rent arrears ( at either tenancy)and the move would not cause an under over occupancy there should not be a problem.

Also may be worth contacting the public housing officer to see if you are overcrowded. Housing Act 2004 brought in new room size/person criteria which if you dont meet could give you a higher priortiy for transfer as you may be considered to be a category 1 hazard. Whilst this does not guarentee a move it does give a lot more priority.

Re the question do they have to move the family the answer is no. Housing act simply states that they have to make the effort to find appropriately sized accommodation. this obligation they meet by having a list for transfer and applicant being on it.

May be worth putting name down on all hosuing associations if they do not use a joint allocation list.

good luck

PasturesNew

How big are the two bedrooms?
If the parents are in the biggest one, then could they move into the smaller one so all 3 kids can share the bigger one?

Often people see the biggest bedroom as being some master suite for the adults. But bedrooms are really just a series of spaces, to be used as the space best fits.

PasturesNew

I had a friend who was 13 and still slept behind two wardrobes at the foot of her parents' bed. At weekends she was allowed to sleep in the touring caravan in the front garden.

keelyjrs

Hi
Sorry you have had some really unhelpful and judgemental comments from some on here, I find it really unpleasant when people ask for advice and get rubbishy responses. ... Anyway.. your friends situation.

It sounds like she has grounds for being moved due to overcrowding.

You don't have to be living on the street to be homeless. You may be sleeping on a friend's sofa, staying in a hostel, or living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation.


It would be advisable for her to talk to her GP about the low mood/depression she is experiencing and to ask him to write a letter to the council. She should ideally keep copies of all correspondence for her own records.

When I was made disabled I needed help with housing as I had to stop working and lost a lot of income. My husband and I have a baby and we were housed by the council. The people who helped us were shelter. http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/index.cfm I strongly advise you get yourself a caseworker with these guys, I can't praise them enough for the help they gave us.

All the best x

keelyjrs

Don't forget there is also the citizens advice x

astonsmummy

Has she updated her situation with the council, as in gien them proof of all the children etc.
There are lots of house exchange websites, you never know she might frind something, i got an exchange from a 2 bed split level maisonette on an estate to a 3 bed house, the house werent exactly nice insde but i really wanted to move area, i lived there for 6 months and swapped to a 2 bed because the house was too big for me and my son, so it can happen.