Not an AIBU at all.

[ohhforFUCKsake]

Will try to cut a long story short with use of bullet points.

•house fire at private rented properly beginning of march.

•temp acc given, filthy state, dog feaces on balcony, no heating or hot water for first 10 days, elecs not finished off, major gas leak 2 weeks in, luckily meter was on £300 debt so couldnt use gas. meter condemed, changed. police called as i suspected a break in. turns out the window can be pulled open about 3 inches from the outside frame. catching total of 8 buses a day to get kids to and from school.

•recieved decision letter saying i made myself intentionally homeless and council will discharge duty. will ne served with eviction notice and have to leave. Apparently council have duty to house my children but not me, kids could be taken into social services.

Ive no where else to turn, spoke to solicitor, local mp- no joy. Have been trying private places but with a landlords ref such as mine am having no joy. dont know what to do next. no friends, no family. im utterly lost.

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

Oh my word. I'm not sure I entirely understand though. Are you still in the temporary flat? How have you made yourself homeless - through the original house fire?

It sounds appalling, the only other thing I can think of would be to go to your local Housing Association who may be able to do something with emergency accommodation - or the local church.

I can't believe no-one will help you. Whereabouts are you in the country?

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

I mean 'can't believe' as in I'm gobsmacked, not that I don't believe what you're say xx

[araiba]

why do they say you made yourself homeless?

did you set fire to your house on purpose? or quit the temp housing provided? something else?

[ohhforFUCKsake]

Forgot to say the decision has been made based on me not returning to the property after repairs. The advisor at the neighbourhood office said me not being able to afford rent was good enough reason to put in for homeless application. To make up the rent i would go without food myself and any clothes/ luxuries that i needed, for example washing hair with bars of soap instead of shampoo that kind of thing. Saw this as a chance to make things easier on us.

[ohhforFUCKsake]

oh i must say the fire was an accident, as much as i was struggling before id never do such a thing! The council have made the decision becaise i had the oppurtunity to return back to my home after the repairs. Ive never been in rent arrears, but struggled massivley.

[ohhforFUCKsake]

Im in birmingham.

[CrazyDuchess]

So you was given bad advice?? - have you been to CAB (or were they the ones that advised you?)

And I suspect then going back to privately rented accommodation is no longer possible??

Does your council offer a deposit scheme, or anything to help thos in privately rented accommodation??

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

OK, so what are your timelines? How long have you got before you have to leave?

How old are the children? I'm no expert but I've never heard of children being separated from their parents like this before. In fact could you ask for a SW to be assigned to you - they may actually be able to help get things sorted out.

[FayKorgasm]

Are you trying to get council housing? Are you still in tempory acc and refusing to go back to your house that went on fire?

[ohhforFUCKsake]

The council do offer a deposit scheme but its more the landlords ref thats the issue. I cant lie and say ive never lived at an adress i was at for 3 years.

I spoke to a solicitor yesterday and she said i do have the chance to appeal but prepare fir it to be rejected. I then asked what would happen if it does get rejected which is when she mentioned the council having a duty of care to my children but not to me. Thought it seemed awfully drastic so called temp acc teamp and they sheepishly confirmed what she had said was 'technically' true. I still think it sounds ubsurd but when i asked- where do i go from here if my appeal is rejected, they had no answers for me.

[ohhforFUCKsake]

im still in temp acc trying to get council housing. Its not possible for me to return, house is already let agreed.
My children are 8, 5 and 3.

[RebeccaWithTheGoodHair]

I'm going to butt out as I don't have enough knowledge of LA housing to offer any practical advice.

You have my best wishes although I know that is cold comfort at this moment in time.

[CrazyDuchess]

Yes it's technically true that their responsibility is for the children, but I doubt they would separate you from your children over housing.

So you don't think you'd get a decent reference from the last landlord?

I agree with an earlier poster about speaking to children's social services - they can really help with housing and ensuring you stay together.

[WreckingBallsInsideMyHead]

Why is the landlord reference a problem?

It probably is true that they only have duty of care to the children but unless you're a negligent parent (nothing you've said suggests that this is the case!) then the children's best interests would be staying with their mother