Housing Interview

Lady_S

I have a housing interview with my Boyfriend on Tuesday at the local council. He is homeless and at the moment stopping at his mothers on a short term basis. I live at home with my mum and always have done.

Does anyone have any tips on what we should or shouldn't say as I have never done anything like this before.

Thanks.

stellagypsy

It is a real minefield, I am not an expert but I do dip in and out of this in the course of my work and I will try and help you if I can, but I need more info.

I assume you are looking for accommodation together as a couple. Do you have any children / are you pregnant? Are there any circumstances that have contributed to his homelessness? Why is your BF on his mum's couch? Could he move in with you and your mum?

Does your local authority have a "waiting list" system with points for allocating properties or a "choice based" lettings system? (they work differently, I can advise you without knowing this but it would help if you could let me know which it is).

Stella

Fran

Also knowing if either, neither or both of you are on any benefits would be useful.

Lady_S

Neither of us are on benefits. He is on the couch because he left his ex wife last september and since then has been spending 6/8 weeks at one place until he has had to move on to the next. They are in the process of selling their joint home at the moment, but he hasn't got access to live in it.

He has two children and would have weekend access if he had somewhere for them to stay. It has a strong hint of residency if he had somewhere for them to reside.

does this help?

I don't want to cheat the system, just want to know the ins and outs of what I should ask/shouldn't ask

Penny-Pincher!!

Hey Lady S

I dont really know what advice to offer.

I would probably start by telling them you are very grateful that they have given you an interview and for any advice/help offered. Explain your situation especially about being homeless and OH would like a stable home, so that he can see his children. Be honest and open, but express your concerns about the way your living at the moment.

If they cant directly offer you a suitable property, then normally they are able to give name and numbers of local reputable landlords that dont charge a deposit(or a small amount).

We were basically made homeless nearly 5 years ago and our local homeless team were fantastic and we had a HA property in 4 weeks. We moved nearly 2.5 years ago to a lovely 2 bed semi in quiet small cul de sac 6 miles from central london (this was due to medical reasons) and have never been happier. Our rent is £88 a week inc water rates-normal rent for the same property private would be £225+ a week :eek: I understand we have been very lucky, but our experiance from the start has been very positive. I wish you the same

I hope something works out for you. Good Luck!

Penny-Pincher!!

stellagypsy

I hate to say this but as a single man in employment with no medical problems, I strongly suspect he would get no help at all under homeles legisation - they would direct him to the local hostels (eg salvation army, etc) where he could self-refer if he wanted to do this (btw there is a charge for staying in the hostels). Re the children, does he have a Court order confirming the weekend access? If he does he should take it to the interview as this might help, but I don't feel he will get anything offered.

We have choice based lettings system where I work and the homeless advisor would suggest he access the property list and apply for those he was interested in - under this scheme, he could get a "hard to let" property (there might be a few that he could look at, possibly even a 2-bed if he was not too fussy about the area). However, if your Housing dept still works off points, they will point him up and he will go on the waiting list, but he will have no realistic chance of getting anywhere.

Like I say, I am no expert and I hope I am wrong, but that is what I think will be the outcome based on the information you have provided.

HTH, Stella xx