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Oh My God! Is this a joke?

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SimonFen
SimonFen Posts: 5 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
The council moved me into temporary accommodation at last (years of waiting, long story) but I wasn't expecting the tenancy to be so insecure. It's weekly! Weekly! Has anybody ever heard of this?
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  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
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    Yes, the clue's in the name "temporary".

    They do that when an emergency presents itself. If you had an emergency you were lucky to get help.
  • Finchy2018
    Finchy2018 Posts: 508 Forumite
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    If you have signed an AST they can't ask you to leave before 6 months has passed even if it's a weekly tenancy agreement
  • HampshireH
    HampshireH Posts: 4,480 Forumite
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    A lot of temporary accommodation is done on either a licence.

    Some is ASTs really depends on the type of accommodation I expect
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    Weekly teancies are not unusual.

    This may or may not be an AST. Please describe the accomodation and arrangement.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,323 Forumite
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    Its emergency accommodation. They want to be able to get tenants out quickly if they need to. I know you want longer term housing but it sounds like this is just a pit stop in the process. You will hopefully get there in the end.

    I do sympathise, I was in emergency accommodation myself but I did get permanent housing.

    If the council do their investigations and find they don't have a duty to house you, they aren't going to want to wait 6 months or a year before they can offer something that is in such short supply to someone else, which is why they rent such properties under licence rather than a full tenancy agreement.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 14,605 Forumite
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    Usually with temporary accommodation you can be evicted without court action. Usually a licence not a tenancy.

    The council should be "evaluating your homeless application" and then decide if you are entitled to be rehoused at all (if not, often as " intentionally homeless" you get evicted). If entitled you may wait months or years (shouldn't happen) then get offered a 12 month private let: possibly a long way away.

    Unlikely to get a council or housing association property.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,323 Forumite
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    edited 12 February 2018 at 6:31AM
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    Artful, it depends on the area. More and more boroughs do actively seek private rentals, but not all thank god. I was given social housing but was very aware my council's policy was going to change in the next year or so. It tends to happen more in 'expensive' boroughs.., and can involve a move to another area entirely which is the pits. However, as stated, it is becoming a more and more popular policy due to the well known shortage of social housing. I only heard about the proposed policy change through the Housing Officer for my emergency housing. He was undoubtedly putting the frighteners on me, but I have no doubt it is a move my council will make eventually (I live 12 miles outside London).

    What the OP needs to do is work hard to get all his ducks in a row to prove his need.., even now. I assembled Doctor reports, social workers, specialists etc. This all takes time as there are usually waiting lists if you don't already have these specialists lined up.

    If the OP has medical/mental health needs, get a care assessment urgently. Your council's website should detail how to do this. Again, depending on the council, this may increase your priority need if social workers will assess you as having priority needs (my council doesn't work like that, worst luck). Again there will be some sort of waiting list.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 14,605 Forumite
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    Good comments deanna: He should also read the "housing allocation policy" for THAT council: Then again, slowly: And make sure he's informed council, in writing, of all priority/points/whatever matters from THEIR allocation policy that apply to him & his relatives. Sadly councils sometimes "forget" things they are told verbally.
  • SimonFen
    SimonFen Posts: 5 Forumite
    edited 12 February 2018 at 3:14PM
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    Thanks Deanna. I have all kinds of medical reports etc. that I've given to the council over the years that did indeed prove my need for social housing but they only decided at the last minute just before I was due to be evicted to house me temporarily. But I was originally told I would be offered secure social housing. All their assessments on me have been done since I made my applications to the council years ago. As far as I know they've already accepted a duty to house me in social housing so that's why I'm so shock at being put into temporary. They're telling me that everybody has to go through temporary first.
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
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    There is a limited supply of social housing available. Even though you have been assessed as requiring assistance from the council there will be people higher up the list from you.

    Have you definitely been told that you will eventually be housed in social housing or just that the council will house you because they are not the same thing.
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