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.

localoffer.southwark.gov.uk/housing/applying-for-a-council-home/

Get yourself registered and start bidding

You’re already housed but you can still bid once back in the system

Get yourself on home swappers and see what you can find

Where is the dad? Does he work? Can he help you get a bigger place. How about you get a job? It's so easy to just ask ask and ask from the system... try and help yourself.

Possibly different for different areas but here a baby doesn’t qualify for a room until it’s 1+

It's 5 in my area

furniture123.co.uk/p/oxford-captains-guest-bed-with-storage-in-dark-grey-oxf018

I wouldn’t get a single bed, as soon your baby will need a bed, getting two singles in a space saving way would be more economical

No council will give a 2-bed until the child is over 2 years old or so. Your DD is possibly 3 months old currently and should be in the same room as you until at least 6 months anyway, but essentially, a baby does not need its own room.

I’m sorry, but you are not going to get a bigger flat for years - like I’d plan for at least 5 years.

Your best bet would be doing a home exchange - ask your council how you’d go about doing that. Somebody may want to downsize to a small flat, so you may get lucky.

But really you need to make plans to be there for years to come, so maybe start thinking about switching to a single bed, or even bunk beds in a few years to give you more living space.

OP your in a council studio which suited you at the time. I doubt council thought it would suit you for ever
Npwbthingsvhabe changed contact council and get bs k on the list for being over crowded. Some councils say s baby needs a room others say not. But you have nothing to.loose in finding out. And as others have said look into swaps you never know.

You managed to get in the system for the studio flat so you must know a bit about how it works. Just tell them your situation has changed and go from there.

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!

Actually the OP said her living and bedroom space are separated by a wall with no doors

@AtSea1979 Well in that case I'm guessing it was pre-2013? Welfare reform/austerity has left people on benefits destitute. And there hasn't been a cost of living increase for years. I work in an area where we see the effects, and have to hand out food bank vouchers. Suggesting people save up for something as significant as a bond for a bigger flat is insensitive at best, insulting at worst

To pp advising getting a job...I am sure OP would be happy to help herself were it the case. I am sure she just loves being on some some indefinite list.

@lolaflores you'd be surprised how some people can milk the system!

milk the system

Give us some examples then please.

Mate...I lived in a council flat. Very few milked it in my experience. Some are crafter than others. I worked fucking hard and i take exception to the suggestion all council tenants are feckless, work shy ne'er do wells.
Shes doing her best in tough circumstances. I thought we lived in a society that wanted the best for all and spcial housing is an opportunity to give people some security to get a start

No harm in applying and seeing what happens

Move area- lots of places have no waiting lists you could prob get a 2 bed house with a garden in some areas further north

Good luck op

My SIL sister 19 yrs old had a child, council flat, on benefits and does not work despite not having anything wrong with her. 2 years later second child, different dad and when the second child was nearly 1, she gets a bigger flat, still doesnt work, all school meals free, school trips free. Every 3 weeks she has new nails, hair done etc.. she hasnt worked a day in her life, so don't tell me all people on benefits are hard up!

@lolaflores I absolutely agree with you that council housing should be for people who actually need it. Some people where both parents work cant afford 2 kids because of extortionate childcare and they dont get help, but people on benefits get more free childcare when they are at home doing nothing.. makes my blood boil!!
Genuine people who actually need it are then being on a waiting list for ever as scroungers know how to work the system!

I have friends with two babies living in a b&b waiting for a council flat in Southwark, they were told it's an 11 year wait if you aren't high priority for housing. They are high priority and still aren't expecting anything soon. To have council accommodation in London is lucky enough, if I were you I'd be making the most of what you've got for now, and have a look if there is a swapping option for finding a bigger place when you need it.

Ah you are talking a pile of shite Fedup

Where does it say the Op.doesn't work? Are people just making assumptions

OP says she doesnt work! She says it would take her a long time to get back into work.

OP congratulations on your baby! It must be hard having such limited space. It's good that you have professionals willing to back you up. Before they do however I would recommend that you go online and download your councils allocation policy. That will tell you what criteria you need to meet. Then the people writing letters can tailor their support to that. It will also help you in your own interactions with the council - use the exact words they use in their policy to demonstrate that you meet it.

Bid, bid, bid. You're a council tenant, you're eligible to do this. Get on the list and start bidding.

Register for homeswapper. There will be people out there looking to downsize hit by the bedroom tax. Yes it can be frustrating and dispiriting and there are pisstakers out there, but you may find someone.

Don't give up your tenancy and go private. You went through a lot to get it and you and your lo need security.

Get a sofa bed or even a futon if you can in the meantime. Some of them are surprisingly comfortable but they are a pain in the arse using them every day truth be told.

Good luck!

fedupbyit please step into the 21st century
Can I show you the foodbabnks?
The kids going hungry?
The people living on the largesse of the state are very few and far between and stories of this are grossly inflated.
You are regurgitating hackneyed prejudice
I really hope you are never in the same position through circumstances.

@TheQueef you are entitled to your opinion!!

fedup presumably the SIL sister is claiming benefits - in the case once the youngest child reaches a certain age there will be an expectation on her to start getting 'work ready" and then be applying for work - sanctions can be applied if the applicant is not complying with the claimant commitment - so she's not really living the life of Riley for ever more is she?

OP are you in temp accommodation or your settled offer? The local authority I work for (also in London) would consider your property adequate. Until the baby is 3 they can share with you. So I'd imagine you're not going to be moved for some time.