How can I get a bigger house off the council?

[Dreamzcancometrue]

Hi all,

In 2016 after a brief stint staying in a hostel I started to bid for a property and successfully got a studio flat. I moved into the flat in May 2017 as a single woman. It was fine then and lived there happily until March 2019 when I gave birth to my lovely daughter and there being not enough space in the bedroom area for a large cot, I have a dbl bed which takes up most of my bedroom space . The living room and bedroom area are seperated by a big wall there aren't any doors just two entry points on either side of the walls.. Its frustrating. So Im in need of a bigger property atleast 2 bed. I live in the Southwark borough of London and I know council flats are in high demand here then any other borough. Moving out the borough is not an option for me as I have mental health issues and family support is paramount for mine and my baby's wellbeing.

Sorry im so shit at writing these type of things. If you've managed to follow up until now, basically what I'm asking is due to my mental health issues and the fact that me and my daughter are in a property that no longer suits my situation. Would the council help us?

My support worker, perinatal consultant and health visitor and GP have been advised to write me a supporting letter to back up my council housing application but not sure what else I could do?

I really would like to be re-housed so my daughter can have her own room. I can't afford to privately rent and I'm not working atm it will take me a while to get back into work.

Any suggestions would be beneficial. Thanks for reading.

*a way

Can the people suggesting the OP could put a bed in the living room & similar suggestions bear in mind that sh'es talking about a STUDIO flat, therefore her bed is already in the living room - there's just the one room for everything (sleeping, kitchen, living room) plus a bath of (more likely shower) room. Even a single bedroom would be a good upgrade for her!

Only one or two though Lola maybe it is beginning to sink in that Social Housing isn't poor housing?
Because surely no one would admit to that these days.

Try the homeswap website for social housing, There may well be someone looking to downsize. www.homeswapper.co.uk/
Other than that it is a case of waiting.

In the meantime could you look on facebook marketplace for someone selling those bunk beds that are a double on the bottom and a single on the top?

Homeswapper is a good idea. I'm in a 3 bed at the moment but having to pay bedroom tax after adult child moved out. My youngest is 10, but fast forwarding 10 years or so to when hopefully she is on her own 2 feet with a place of her own I would be looking to downsize.

Get yourself on the list now, the sooner the better. Time will fly by with your little one. I was sharing with mine until she was 7 in the winter as although she had her own bedroom there was no heating, double glazing so it was warmer!

Be thankful that although it's not perfect you have somewhere pretty stable to bring your child up and you haven't got the uncertainty of private renting.

In my local authority, letters from social care around overcrowding are a massive help in pushing you up in to top banding.

Good luck OP.

Speak to the housing team now and get put on a list. You may not get something immediately but a studio will be considered too small once your child is older and they will have a duty to put you higher on the priority list. Having a property to swap may mean you get moved sooner as there will be people on the list waiting for the studio.

Other options include looking for a swap on your housing providers homeswap listings.

Apply to Housing Associations and best of luck to you, OP.

Hi OP, the only thing I can’t see mentioned yet and not sure if you’ve covered is a medical assessment. Your local authority should have a medical assessment team, where they take into account any letters from medical professionals, and sometimes also send someone like an occupational therapist to your property to assess its suitability in light of your health needs. These can be physical or mental health needs. With all of this evidence together, if they determine that you do require a larger property on health grounds then they may increase your points and may increase your banding so that you are more likely to be successful in bidding for a larger property. Ask your council about applying for a medical assessment/reassessment for housing if you haven’t already.

However, due to the incredibly high demand in London boroughs which so outstrips housing supply, I know of a number of families who have been assessed in need of a larger/different property on medical grounds, and overcrowding, they have an increased banding as well as more points, but they are still waiting years. If your borough has a higher supply of 1 bed or 2 bed properties then that may help slightly, compared with families looking for larger properties, but it could still be a long wait even with increased priority and points. Look into it and get as much evidence as you can, but also be prepared that it might still take a long time unfortunately even if you are awarded more.

As others have said, if it is possible to make some changes to your property (eg a smaller bed for you, a bed or sofa bed in what you call the living room area, for example), that will probably give you the quickest short term ‘solution’/improvement until you can move into a larger property.

Can the people suggesting the OP could put a bed in the living room & similar suggestions bear in mind that sh'es talking about a STUDIO flat

I thought this too and then reread the OP which describes the flat as having two rooms with a wall in between so I think it is more an unusually designed 1 bed - not very clear.

Of course it's worth talking to the council but I don't think people have been unkind in pointing out that it is unlikely that the OP will be a high priority. "At least a 2 bed" also suggests unrealistic expectations when she lives in one of the most in demand housing areas in the country.

It makes sense to look at different furniture options- I know southwark freecycle is very active so worth looking at.

The OP will not be considered overcrowded in this situation so will not qualify for priority banding for this reason.

She MAY get a priority banding for medical needs but this will likely only be one band up. Even if she does get medical priority it will still be years as there will be thousands of others in higher need still in that banding. I am only trying to give realistic advice. It aint gonna happen anytime soon.

Just so you know you'll be very very unlikely to get a 2 bed. If you do get offered a property it will be a one bed as now both the bedroom and the livingroom are considered suitable as sleeping areas and they are enough for a single woman and a baby.

I know couples in a one bed with two kids that won't be moved for years, until the oldest isn't considered ok to share as they are different sexes.

When people say she chose to make her situation worse do you mean she should have terminated the pregnancy? That's apalling. I don't think anyone should have a free ride in life but we are lucky enough to live somewhere you get a leg up. If that's the attitude it smacks of only the rich can have children.
I became pregnant despite using two forms of contraception. Then the father decided he wasn't going to hang around. We were in a long term relationship. Not that it matters. My financial situation was dire but thanks to the leg up in the form of financial assistance I'm on my way to a good career. I didn't choose my shitty situation but I'm so grateful I could have my children.

If you get one can you get me one too?

I don’t think there’s much you can do until the baby is 1. Possibly different for different areas but here a baby doesn’t qualify for a room until it’s 1+.

I think all you can do is what others have suggested and get a single bed so you have room for a cot. Sit tight until you are entitled to a extra room (when baby turns one) but also remember that there are families sharing rooms in some parts of London ,you may have to wait a while to get a 2 bedroom.

I don’t really see homeswapper working in OPs case I’m afraid. No one is going to move into a studio. A person alone in a one bed will stay where they are, they won’t want to give up having a separate bedroom. If a single person is in a 2 bed wanting to downsize they will go into a 1 bed. No one wants studios.

There also may well not be room in the living area for a sofa bed that folds out, as living areas in studios tend to be tiny. So the best solution for now is either cosleeping or single bed and cot.

OP speak to your council about being taken on by a housing association. Council stock all across London is ridiculously low. Everyone I know in social housing in London is in a HA place as they have way more properties.

Can you draw a floor plan or some pictures op and we'll see if we can think of some better ways to use the space you've got?

It's going to take forever to get moved elsewhere but definitely start the process.

Maybe start another thread asking for ideas on how to use the space efficiently? You're getting all the unhelpful Daily Mail types here. You could post a rough diagram with some measurements- mumsnet loves a diagram!

One of those raised beds with the cot underneath is probably the best suggestion. Or you can get those trundle daybeds which you can dress up as a sofa during the day.

Is moving an option ?? I've a feeling 2 bed housing in that area will be as rare as rocking horse shit. Trying another area might be easier.

Also I understand you want to be close to family but some neighbouring boroughs to Southwark may be a better option and could potentially only be a bus ride or short train journey from where you are now. You have to balance up how much being a bit further away would impact on your MH against how much being in your current home would impact on your MH. I know for me I would find the living situation far more depressing than having to travel a bit to see people. Especially as you’re not working and presumably spend a lot of time at home.

Swap your double bed for a single. Baby goes in cot next to you in the space the double bed took up.

It's a really difficult situation OP, but legally you aren't considered over crowded- children don't count if they are under 1. Does the council consider your flat a 1 bed or a studio? If it's a studio you will be considered over-crowded once DD is 1, if it's a 1 bed then you will be considered adequately housed.

It's crap, but it's reality.

Apply by all means, get supporting letters from professionals,but be prepared for a long wait.

At the moment you wouldn't qualify for a 2bed so I'd focus on bidding for 1beds. Have you bid on any properties yet?

Friend and her dh and dc lived in a studio flat for a few years.

They had a bed settee.

Sometimes it is not about moving to bigger but using your space more