Anyone in housing, please advise?

[citylover]

I really feel like I am backed into a corner with my housing situation. I am probably clutching at straws but someone in housing might know better.

Since DH and I split I have been privately renting using the equity to subsidise the rent. Not much of that left now and I accept I am really going to have to tighten my belt (along with the rest of the UK I know).

The equity would never have been enough to buy a property and my credit history (partially thought being associated in the past with exH) is also not good. There would have been considerably more equity but he talked me into getting a secured loan on the property then within a year defaulted on that and the mortgage!!

I put myself on the Local Authority list as you
hve to be on this to have any chance of any social housing or shared ownership schemes (not that I am sure I would qualify for the latter or whether they are even
desirable). I am in the lowest priority band and will probably stay there unless my circumstances change.

We need to stay in the area as DS1 is starting secondary school locally in Sept and this is the area they know and are familiar with. As a single parent I need the support of people I know so moving is not an option.

So it looks as though the future is privately renting for ever!! I was reminded how precarious this can be when my landlord phoned last night to renew again for the next six months or a year. I know that renting is more common in mainland Europe but wonder if it is as unstable.

I try to remain optimistic and philosophical about this but underneath I know I would have more peace of mind if my living situation was more stable.

My income is too high to claim hb but so is the rent!! It takes up half of my net income.

Just wanted to rant really. I have probably made bad choices (including exH) but it seems I am in a really difficult situation. And the government just seems to be squeezing everything.

I read something at the weekend about social housing being only available for those on a really low income. Perhaps some think this is fair but I really don't.

Suppose I am lucky I have my sanity which I would not have had if I had carried on with exH. And ironically we had no security with him at the end as he just dipped his head in the sand and stopped paying the mortgage.(the way our finances worked he paid the mortgage and I paid other expenses)

[lalalonglegs]

As a single parent, why are you low priority? I would also question whether you are unable to claim any benefits and why isn't your ex using some of his equity to support you and dc?

[citylover]

I don't think the fact that I am a single parent affects housing decisions. I think it is based on my current housing situation which is deemed adequate ie not overcrowded. In fact I think our local authority encourages private renting.

In our agreement ex gave me 80% of the equity. He has since gone on to take out an IVA so does not have anything. He does pay 20% of net income in maintenance though.

Luckily for him his new DP is well off.

[citylover]

God it's so annoying there is a three bed ha property on the list this week but due to no. of beds and banding I cannot bid for it.

The rent is £115 per week!!!

I just can't see how I can change from private rental. I phoned the LA yesterday but they said that the only way I can move up a band is by change of circs - eg health, eviction, pregancy (bit old to have another LOL)but time spent on the list means nothing!

I do like our house - it's tiny but with a garden in a lovely quiet area but it's just sooo expensive. And all I can see are rents in this area going up and up.

All my life I have fallen in the middle of everything. No change there then!!

If it was just me I wouldn't be so worried but just don't want the DCs to feel as stable as possible.

It doesn't help that they will soon see their father move to a large house with new DP. Obviously she is funding it but they don't really see that.

[citylover]

sorry I mean I do want the DCs to feel as stable as possible.