How do I get a council house?

[Breastfeedingworries]

Evening ladies, I’m in a huge pickle.
Apologies that’s it’s quite a long post. Trying to keep it brief as I can without the inevitable drip feed. 💧

(I understand this thread may twist and turn in a lot of directions but I’m tired and I’ll just gloss over the negatives and ignore so save your fingers vipers)

Me and my mum have a very up and down relationship. She does belittle my parenting and put me down a lot, but is also super helpful and supportive. The main issues are her not wanting me to grow up, or worrying I won’t manage. I’m 32!

I moved back home after a break up, I’d lived away for a year. (I never left for uni or anything) so I’m not experienced with bills or money management really.

I’ve got single mum friends who rent and struggle ect and I really want to get a housing Association or council house. (I know impossible right!)

I just want to turn my life around, main reason for wanting one is I’d love to be able to own one day.

My mum drinks a lot, every day, so that can lead to a lot of arguments and stress and I feel so unhappy a lot of the time. I love her, and my dad but I am feeling really depressed at the moment.
My mum and dad are also vulnerable and I feel so trapped here.
I’m lonely, I want to see my friends, I’ve had a lot of struggles in lockdown and I need freedom.

I don’t know how to ask the council, my mums said she’ll write to them kicking me out but I then worry I’d be on social services radar and there’s nothing wrong.

If I choose private renting iMll never be able to buy. I’ve got a deposit that I’ve got in inheritance.

One day I just want to be in my own two feet. Most days when not sorting my daughter I hide away in my room. Nothing is mine, I can’t have a Christmas tree. I’m just unhappy and don’t know where to begin.

Thanks for reading ladies.

[Bridecilla]

Depends where you are. My cousin's daughter got a 3 bed council house within 5 weeks of applying but we're in the northeast

[Breastfeedingworries]

It’s really busy so giving this a bump

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Can’t you just apply and take your chances? How many DC have you got?

[Breastfeedingworries]

I’ve got 1 dd she’s nearly 2. I did call before and they said I was band 4 living at home so the lowest priority.

[RunningFromInsanity]

It’s not impossible to get council housing.
How many children have you got and how old?
How many people live at the house currently and how many bedrooms are there?

You’ve got nothing to lose, so apply with your local council and get on the waiting list.

Can you get a small fake tree for your bedroom?

[RunningFromInsanity]

So with one young child you will be low down on the list but you need to at least get your name on it.

[Newuser991]

If you have a house deposit from inheritance and only one child, why aren't you working and buying your own home?

Apologies if you are working but you haven't said

[SpillingTheTea]

If you have a deposit surely you won't be eligible to go on the housing list? That's just taking a house you don't need because buying a council house is cheaper than actually buying a house. That doesn't seem fair does it?
Apologies if this is wrong but this is what I've got from your posts.

Here, council houses are like gold dust. They changed all the regulations for going on the list. In fact if someone's parent wrote them a letter stating they were kicking them out you'd go to a shelter type place that you can be in for years along with many other people.

[PenguinErector]

Social services aren't your enemy so if you end up on their radar because you and your daughter are in a less than ideal home situation it may not be a bad thing at all! They can help you access relevant support in your area and may even be able to fast track things for you.

I agree it depends where you live - here, if you are homeless (which you will be considered as if your mum evicts you) then you would be put into temporary accommodation then you would be offered a home when one becomes available (could be days, weeks, months or years) but you only get 3 offers and they may not always be in the exact area of your chpice but they do try to take schooling, employment and support networks into consideration.

First things first though. You need to get your name on the list by filling in an application form. Usually these can be found online through your council website.

[OrangeIsTheNewTwat]

It took us several months under threat of eviction by our LL who was selling up, including a stay in the homeless shelter (it's surprisingly expensive to stay in one if you aren't totally reliant on benefits) before we got a HA house. And we had less than 24 hours notice to vacate when we were offered a house.

You'd be better to save up & try to rent privately if possible. Lots of people can't buy. But there's no harm in asking your local housing officer, maybe demand is low where you are.

[PucePanther]

Apply to join the waiting list. Then wait. Possibly for years. If you’re actually homeless you get bumped to the top of the list, but as long as you have a roof over your head you aren’t top priority.

[Breastfeedingworries]

I was made redundant just before COVID restrictions, I worked in a shop, I can’t get a another job working with people as mum is vulnerable.

I don’t know how to increase my chances basically as people on band four can wait years.

Mortage advice is you lose 25 k of borrowing potential for every child. I’m not a high earned.

I want the security of a council house too, worried about being moved about. Would love the chance to one day just own a bit of it. So I was safe.

[Mylittlephonyy]

It massively depends on where you live. Demand is high in some areas. Others have housing associations listing on Rightmove because they can’t fill properties.

[Newuser991]

I'm sure most people want the security of council housing

Doesn't mean they can have it though

[Notcontent]

Could you try to get some qualifications and get a better paying job?

[Floralnomad]

Whilst you are not working , although having a vulnerable person in the house shouldn’t actually stop you working , why not take some online courses and get some better qualifications so you can aspire to a better job . That would be a much better use of your time .

[TheFormerPorpentinaScamander]

I don't think you can do anything to get higher up the list. Unless your mum makes you homeless. Even then you could end up in a B and B until a house comes up. I know that here you have to accept whatever you are offered if you are homeless.

[PucePanther]

I don’t know how to increase my chances basically
Not that I’m recommending this - but if your mum put you out you’d go to the top of the list. You’d spend some time in homeless accommodation, kids might end up in foster care for a while. But you’d be top of the list. However as long as you have a roof over your head you rightly won’t be prioritised above people who actually are in that situation.

[calamityjam]

@PucePanther
No her child would not go into foster care, they would put them both in temporary accommodation. Why would you think that?

[InTheMiddle23]

How much do you have in inheritance? Do they give council houses to those with savings?

[AIMD]

I think you just need to apply to your local authority housing and see what happens. If you save as much as possible, alongside waiting on the list then at least you’ll have a pot to buy with eventually if waiting on the list doesn’t work.

How much of a deposit have you actually got? If it’s large I would look at buying rather than going into a council house. I don’t think council (housing association) housing is as secure as it once was. Used to have a house for life but with bedroom tax etc that’s not the case.

[CorianderLord]

You want to get a council house so you can buy it? Bit harsh when there are genuinely homeless families and a scarcity of council properties

[AIMD]

Ps social care will not be involved just because you apply for housing saying you’re being kicked out.

[InTheMiddle23]

Buy, then rent a room out to one of your friends and share childcare.

[PucePanther]

Do they give council houses to those with savings?
Yes. But you have to pay rent out of your savings, you won’t get housing benefit.