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Original poster

Council house, housing

140 replies

Mammystore118 · 30/12/2018 18:07

Hi I’m just wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction or any advice. I live in a 2 bedroom house and it’s very small I’m wanting to move for multiple reasons. My area isn’t the best and we’ve had trouble in the area with people causing trouble and theiving etc... I know you can get that anywhere but I’ve never felt secure or safe in my home I’ve lived here for 3 year and every night I’m a nervous wreck and I shouldn’t have to feel like this. I should feel comfortable and secure in my house which I never have in this house. My partner works shift work which includes nightshift so I’m on my own majority of the time with my little boy. I don’t want my little boy to be around this area as the kids around here swear, fight and cause trouble to people’s houses again... I know this can happen anywhere but rather be away from this area. I could go into detail but would be an essay. Anyway me and my partner both work. So we claim no benefits or anything at all and pay full rent and taxes etc... but I want to move closer to my family but I really want a 3 bedroom house. I wouldn’t mind paying bedroom tax. Is this possible? With me only needing a two bedroom I would like a 3 for more space and if we were to have more children in the future I wouldn’t want to keep moving my child about in different houses because I see that as unsettled so I’d like to stay in the house I next get and buy it eventually. We don’t have the money at the minute to put a deposit for a mortgage so this isn’t an option just yet. Is it possible to get a 3 bed? Or any advice it will be very appreciated.
Any ideas how we could go from a 2 bed to a 3?
Tia

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 30/12/2018 18:10

You're unlikely to get a 3 bed house with only 1 child when larger families are on a waiting list for a bigger house.

Dimsumlosesum · 30/12/2018 18:12

What, a 3 bed council house?? Waiting list can be up to 10 years...you're in a stable position, there are many, many much more needier people. I can't see them awarding you a house any time soon.

Original poster

Mammystore118 · 30/12/2018 18:17

A family member said we could say me and my partner are co parenting

OP posts:

thebaronetofcockburn · 30/12/2018 18:18

but I really want a 3 bedroom house. I wouldn’t mind paying bedroom tax. Is this possible?

No because an HA/council won't allow you to over-occupy from the get go and they won't approve a swap with you over-occupying, either. You can try to swap for a 2-bed in another area and see how you get on. Or you save for a deposit on a private rental.

Bombardier25966 · 30/12/2018 18:18

A family member said we could say me and my partner are co parenting

You are coparenting, as a couple.

Are you saying you want to get a bigger council house by committing fraud?

KonaMum · 30/12/2018 18:18

Well that would be fraud.

00100001 · 30/12/2018 18:19

no chance!

Try for swap or another 2 bed, but you'll be waaaaaaaay down and basically haven't got a hope.

Look at it form the council's pov - hmm we have a 3 bed property available, lets see who asked for one...

Applicant 1: two parents, 2 kids living in a bedsit - wants a 3 bedroom as one sone and one daughter
Applicant 2: single dad, 3 kids, living in a 2 bed house - wants 3 bedrooms, as daughter is turning 14, the younger 2 are boys and needs own room.
Applicant 3: an adult feeling domestic violence, 3 kids 2 boys, 1 girl, living in a shelter - wants house because they have nowhere to live. Applicant 4: 2 adults, one child living in a 2 bedroom house - wants a 3 bedroom because they might have another child one day and want to be closer to family...

you wouldn't get a look in

00100001 · 30/12/2018 18:20

oh, you;re Applicant 4, OP

BentNeckLady · 30/12/2018 18:20

Are you registered on Homeswapper?

thebaronetofcockburn · 30/12/2018 18:21

A family member said we could say me and my partner are co parenting

Eh? So that means you still qualify for a 2-bed, it won't qualify you for a 3-bed. And fraud is fraud and believe me, you can be kicked out for it. In a lot of areas, too, even relationship breakdown no longer works for homelessness. The days of plentiful council/HA homes are in nice areas have been gone for many a year.

You both work, you can easily save up for a deposit on a private rental house like everyone else.

MyDcAreMarvel · 30/12/2018 18:21

The bedroom tax is a reduction in housing benefit which you aren’t claiming. Your post makes no sense.

Original poster

Mammystore118 · 30/12/2018 18:22

Wewwww... hold on how would that be fraud? I pay full rent and tax? We both have jobs yet you get people that sit on the arses all day with 3 bedrooms etc... and are on BENEFITS!!

OP posts:

myrtleWilson · 30/12/2018 18:23

Hi OP
It would really depend on where you are/where you want to move to. Some areas will have properties including three bedroomed ones that are available to move into right away. This may be an indication of the desirability (or not) of the area but that is subjective in many ways and would depend on what you are comparing with. Under occupation where you are paying the rent not through HB/UC could be permissible in that situation too. But housing is context/location specific so you'll find it difficult to get bespoke advice on here. Have you looked at the CBL scheme for the area(s) you wish to move to - it should have details on "immediate lets" as a starting point.

Sparrowlegs248 · 30/12/2018 18:23

Of course you can have a 3 bed. Go to a letting agent, pay the money, rent a 3 bed.

myrtleWilson · 30/12/2018 18:24

oh am sorry I actually gave some helpful advice now I've seen you've decided to benefit bash.

Bombardier25966 · 30/12/2018 18:24

Falsely declaring a breakdown in relationship to get an extra bedroom is fraud.

Your benefits comments make you sound very unpleasant. Best to get that chip off your shoulder.

WhatsUpHun · 30/12/2018 18:25

If you are not claiming benefit, then why don't you just move?

Like others say, you won't get a 3 bed, but you could put in for a deep maybe?

Witchend · 30/12/2018 18:25

Put it this way.
I had a friend who had to be rehoused urgently with her 3dc, including 2 disabled due to witness protection issues. She moved in with her gran, making it 5 adults 3 children in a small 3 bed house counting as seriously overcrowded, while they were waiting for a 3 bed house to become available.

It took her over 9 months before she got a house-she wasn't fussy, any would do within quite a large area.

How long do you think it would take you?

thebaronetofcockburn · 30/12/2018 18:27

Wewwww... hold on how would that be fraud? I pay full rent and tax? We both have jobs yet you get people that sit on the arses all day with 3 bedrooms etc... and are on BENEFITS!!

Because you are not co-parenting, you're part of a couple. Do you really think the housing office is that stupid, that they'll believe that tale? They hear this and others every day and can smell bullshit a mile away.

Whoopdeeshit, you're not on benefits. So why do you expect the government to give you a 3-bed house in a nice area? Get a private let if you want that. Or put up and shut up. Or swap for another 2-bed if you can.

But the fraud thing, LOL if you think that will work! That's hilarious!

If you think being on benefits is so great, why not go for it? Quit your jobs and join 'em. But if you have a third kid you won't get extra benefits for it and well, you'll still be entitled to only a 2-bed with 2 kids under 10.

But hey, give it a go! UC is great from what I hear! A real life of Riley.

gamerchick · 30/12/2018 18:28

OP if you're not on benefits you won't pay bedroom tax.

The council won't let you under occupy from the off so you won't get a 3 bed, even a squeak at that would be in a worse area you're in now because no bugger wants them.

The only way to get a 3 bed atm is to get a private house. You could try an exchange if you're re already council but even then they might not let you. Don't think having another baby will get you an extra bedroom. It won't.

Moominfan · 30/12/2018 18:28

My mum was in a 3 bed council house, last of my siblings is off to uni in sept. The house was to big for her to maintain and not in the nicest of areas. After a lengthy process she swapped to a two bed. The lady in the two bed had one daughter. she was not entitled to a three bed if she was to bid but was entitled as it was a swap. Might vary between local authorities.

GhostSauce · 30/12/2018 18:28

Not a chance.

StartingGrid · 30/12/2018 18:29

thebaronetofcockburn · 30/12/2018 18:30

Falsely declaring a breakdown in relationship to get an extra bedroom is fraud.

And believe me, they know. They'll say well then you stay in the 2-bed and your partner gets a 1-bed elsewhere. They will not buy the co-parent story in a million years.

cheesywotnots · 30/12/2018 18:30

You might find a house swap. Why are you in council funded accommodation if you are both working, cant you privately rent or join a housing association scheme. If your DP is working shifts is he a public sector worker, they offer cheaper renting.

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