To wonder if social services become involved if you're made homeless?

The thread is seven years old so you're better off starting a new one if you have concerns or you could seek advice with an organisation like Shelter? People's answers might be out of date (also, people can be wrong. Sometimes it's helpful to get professional advice.)

Hi all, interesting answers, I just want to point out that everyone is saying yes or no to "my area" can we all say what the area is? I'm after an answer for West Midlands, thanks, I wish you all a good future, these are very hard times to be experiencing.

We don't have any housing ourselves, we do work alongside the housing dep to ensure children have a bed to sleep in on a night. We have a duty of care which ethos is to keep children safe. How can our DOC be met without a home? We do help as much as possible- but the ultimatum is up to the housing xxx

Zombie Thread - from 2015

I'm in temporary accommodation, single parent, no contact from SS at all.

I was in this exact situation last year, LL wanted to sell, we couldnt raise the money required and rents are ridiculous in this area. £1300+ for a small 3 bed. Anyway we applied for the council list and were housed with a housing association the DAY before our court notice expired. Social services were definatly not involved at all, I think they only do if you are found "intentionally" homeless

Hello :)
I'm a social worker with a local council so may be able to help😀 The only time we would intervene is if you have no friends or family that you could stay with as we intervene when parents are not giving children basics (food, drink, house, bed , suitable home etc.) or when there is any neglect. If you do not have friends or family, an allocated social worker should be put in place to help you find either a house (through local housing) or temporary housing. If this can not be done, an emergency court order can be taken to 'remove' children for a certain time until a suitable home can be found. I say 'remove' as it is likely for a very short period unless there are complications within the case. If you need any help I would recommend contacting your social workers team leader or talking to your allocated social worker. Also, a family solicitor may also be useful! Good luck with house hunting and remember your SW will be trying to do good on your behalf! Best of luck xxx

I really feel for you OP, we rented for 7 years with children and had no chance of buying a house . Our landlord threatened to sell the house every time we reported anything and his wife did 3 monthly inspections and criticised everything . She also turned up when we were out and let herself in to measure up! Try ed to royally screw us over on our deposit which we argued with DPS and won! I never felt like it was our home , and with some help, a new job, cutting back a lot and cheap house prices round here we managed to buy . It's only now I can see how ill it was making me being so insecure in rental,dh and I argued a lot and I felt anxious all the time about the 2 months notice. I'd never felt content and felt sick every time the door bell went in case it was landlord or his wife!it's no way to live, especially with children. If there is no chance of buying do everything you can to get a council/ha property With secure tenancy. I really hope whoever gets into government makes some changes to the rental market for families. It really is awful and unless youve lived with that insecurity you cant understand. I am eternally great full to family for helping us get out of it and hope you find somewhere to make a home. good luck x

You have children so you'll be in priority housing need based on Housing Act & Childrens' Act. So you will be rehoused but probably remain a good while in temporary accommodation before you are rehoused permanently, thats something you'll have to put up with.

Oh thats not good is it, sounds like they have a much bigger problem than our council, i would have thought you could go on a general list and build up waiting time for the future. So as long as you get a 12mnth tenancy problem solved but its not for you, your still going to have to keep moving if LL decide's to increases the rent or have new tenants every 12 months.

Yes i was confused about that, its very differernt from my council, mentioned things merging etc so i think the drop in service would be really helpful to you. Good luck

If you go to the drop in center they will be able to get you set up and on all the lists you need to be on, thats probably the best way to do it so you know you have done it right

heres the homechoice link

www.midsussex.gov.uk/homemove

This is what i got my house through, it must be national, its called homechoice and it works on a bidding system, to join you have to be on the local housing register. You join, create a log in then bid on properties. Obviously this will take probably years on the normal list but go on and bid for properties so you are actively looking for housing, i was on this but on the priority list. Normal housing on ours works on waiting time. Even if you just join and but some bids in now and again to keep it active you will start saving up waiting time. Its better to be on it then even if you don;t need housed now if you do in say 3 yrs time you will be a lot further up the list

Here is the application form, you cam do it online

www.horsham.gov.uk/housing/housing-register

You can go on the council list even if you are in adequate accomodation so get yourself on the normal list and all the HA list's as well, at least that way if something does happen your already there on the list gaining waiting time

IDK if you have seen this

Horsham District Council's Housing Options Drop In Service takes place at the Council offices at North Point, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RL between 9.00 am and 11.30 am, Tuesday to Friday. - See more at: www.horsham.gov.uk/housing/preventing-homelessness#sthash.7INIjUor.dpuf

make an appointment and lay all your cards on the table about the high rents and the constants moves, tell them you think your LL may be going to sell and ask what options you have

The local housing allowance defines the maximum a particular property size is worth locally, for HB purposes. If a rent rose above that you would need to find the difference yourselves and you would only be eligible for the 2 bed rate. Tbh your best bet is to investigate schemes such as loan deposits or rent guarantees do that you are prepared just in case. Charities such as YMCA offer some as well as councils. It would probably mean private rental or possibly ha though.