How do I get a council house?

[Breastfeedingworries]

Evening ladies, I’m in a huge pickle.
Apologies that’s it’s quite a long post. Trying to keep it brief as I can without the inevitable drip feed. 💧

(I understand this thread may twist and turn in a lot of directions but I’m tired and I’ll just gloss over the negatives and ignore so save your fingers vipers)

Me and my mum have a very up and down relationship. She does belittle my parenting and put me down a lot, but is also super helpful and supportive. The main issues are her not wanting me to grow up, or worrying I won’t manage. I’m 32!

I moved back home after a break up, I’d lived away for a year. (I never left for uni or anything) so I’m not experienced with bills or money management really.

I’ve got single mum friends who rent and struggle ect and I really want to get a housing Association or council house. (I know impossible right!)

I just want to turn my life around, main reason for wanting one is I’d love to be able to own one day.

My mum drinks a lot, every day, so that can lead to a lot of arguments and stress and I feel so unhappy a lot of the time. I love her, and my dad but I am feeling really depressed at the moment.
My mum and dad are also vulnerable and I feel so trapped here.
I’m lonely, I want to see my friends, I’ve had a lot of struggles in lockdown and I need freedom.

I don’t know how to ask the council, my mums said she’ll write to them kicking me out but I then worry I’d be on social services radar and there’s nothing wrong.

If I choose private renting iMll never be able to buy. I’ve got a deposit that I’ve got in inheritance.

One day I just want to be in my own two feet. Most days when not sorting my daughter I hide away in my room. Nothing is mine, I can’t have a Christmas tree. I’m just unhappy and don’t know where to begin.

Thanks for reading ladies.

Free nursery doesnt kick in till they are 2 (if you are on some benefits) or 3 otherwise.

Your best bet is to put in an application but ask for a medical form as well, complete this saying how your current housing situation is affecting your mental health, causing depression etc. See if your health visitor or GP will write a letter of support.

You won't get one soon. I'm band 4 and have been waiting since 2011 and still not even getting to top 10 bids.

If you want a decent council house you need to find someone who’s moving out of one and arrange to take over their tenancy. Council houses get passed between friends and family, you can jump the waiting list if you can find someone who’s moving out.

It sounds like the money offer is almost a red herring as it’s a hot and cold type offer. I really think you should bite the bullet now however scary and get that letter from your mum. Hopefully you won’t be in temp accommodation for long and you never know what might be available.
Then in the future If the money becomes a definite just deal with that option then.
You need to build a home and life for you and your DD and have independence.

@PucePanther

If you want a decent council house you need to find someone who’s moving out of one and arrange to take over their tenancy. Council houses get passed between friends and family, you can jump the waiting list if you can find someone who’s moving out.

Can you link to that please, as far as I know you cant just 'get' a council property by taking over someone's tenancy unless you are registered with the council or housing association, and I believe its normally done through the house swap system as for passing between family and friends, its not that easy, most councils and HAs will only allow one change of tenancy, it happened with my dad he wanted my niece to be on his tenancy agreement when my mum died, but mum dying changed his tenancy from a couple to a single occupation and that was the change of tenancy, no other was allowed. so yes a link to what you are saying please

If you have some money, shared equity is a possibility, I'm not an expert but this is a different allocation to social housing I think. Whether you can get a council house is very area dependent, on paper you can privately rent and claim uc

I didn't know you can sometimes pass on a council tenancy, but it's true...
www.gov.uk/council-housing/types-of-tenancy

It depends where you are and what is available. Years ago I was given a 2 bedroomed housing association house and had a choice of three (the other two were unsuitable). However, I was so lucky to have one in a city where there were lots of flats.

You need to apply and see what is available. I think its about bidding now? Maybe if you are being thrown out the council might pay your rent privately. However, you will need furniture and white goods as housing association/council properties are bare.

When we moved into our council house it was as joint tenants myself and Dh,it was made abundantly clear that there could only be one succession of tenancy ie if I died my Dh would be the sole tenant and vice versa ,it certainly can't pass down to other family members.

[quote Mooncupdotcom]I didn't know you can sometimes pass on a council tenancy, but it's true...
www.gov.uk/council-housing/types-of-tenancy[/quote]
WOW didnt know that either (my dads tenancy was pre 2012) however I would imagine it would depend on the council and not taken as a given right

All you can do is get yourself on the list. It might take a couple of years to be properly housed and you may have to go into a B&B in the meantime, but waiting on the list is the only way.

You may not like my response by why aren't you standing on your own two feet? Why does my tax need to give you a foot up to buy a house? I rented privately for 20 years before I could buy my own property and work my arse off for it. You seem like you want this handed to you? Sorry but your attitude really annoys me.

I havent been on the council list for years but judging by what people I know have said. Yes get your parents to write a letter giving you notice to move out. Unless you live in a place with loads of housing chances are on that day you would need to present yourself to the council as homeless.
From there you will be put in either a b&b or some kind of temporary housing. You could be there anything from a few days to a years.
Social services wont be involved they have enough to do as it is.
Good luck but dont expect anything to happen anytime soon.

@PucePanther

If you want a decent council house you need to find someone who’s moving out of one and arrange to take over their tenancy. Council houses get passed between friends and family, you can jump the waiting list if you can find someone who’s moving out.

I used to work in Social Housing and unless things have changed that's not how it works. It is possible to succeed to a tenancy but you have to have lived there for a certain period of time, usually at least a year (and be able to prove it with bills etc) and be a dependent or close relation.

In the L A where I worked you couldn't pass on a property more than once. So if a tenancy passed from husband to wife on his death (tenancies used to often be in the man's name only) and the wife subsequently died, the tenancy would not automatically pass to a resident adult child, even if they'd lived there their whole life.

I believe its normally done through the house swap system
Yeah, you get a crap council house then swap with someone who has a nice council house they’re planning to leave. Many people take cash backhanders for passing on desirable council houses in this way. They take the cash, swap houses, then leave the crap house. Or if it’s a family member who has a nice council house you move in with them for a year then take over their tenancy.

You may find that you have to wait until ‘eviction’ day before the council will be interested in housing you. We had to evict a lodger once and i thought giving a months notice would enable the council to sort somewhere for them to go to but the council werent interested until she turned up on their doorstep, suitcase in hand. She was then given a bedsit in temporary housing - no furniture, no anything.

OP where in the country are you and when does your DC turn 3?
If you're on a low income you could access some nursery hours from 2
Would you consider a stepped move out, for example looking to rent somewhere with another single parent and child? I know someone who did that and it meant they could help each other out with childcare-you could do this until you got a council house, or managed to secure employment that could pay private rent/mortgage

What were you doing from your teens until your had your DC in terms of living arrangements?

I think your best option is to get your mum to write the letter evicting you. I was in a similar position. Living with partners family for 18 months whilst on the council list and saving for shared ownership at the same time. Things went downhill last Christmas and due to my father in laws physical and mental health we just couldn't stay any more - we were severely overcrowded. My in laws evicted us and at the end of the 30 days we were expecting to go into temporary accommodation, but luckily were offered a flat instead. It's scary at first because you don't know what's going to happen, but it will be the best thing long term. We're now continuing to save to hopefully buy a house in the next few years. Good luck

@PucePanther

I believe its normally done through the house swap system Yeah, you get a crap council house then swap with someone who has a nice council house they’re planning to leave. Many people take cash backhanders for passing on desirable council houses in this way. They take the cash, swap houses, then leave the crap house. Or if it’s a family member who has a nice council house you move in with them for a year then take over their tenancy.

Yes but you answered the OP's post they don't have a council house to swap, so your point doesn't help them with their problem atm

If your mum evicted you youd end up in a shit b and b and top of the list. The lists are long though, so you could be living in a b and b with people who've just left prison, have drink and drug problems, mental health problems, general chaotic lifestyles...
You need to stand on your own two feet OP. I'm a single parent and rented privately since my dc were 2, full time job - belting childminder - tax credits. Have some pride and try hard and you'll get there

Hi all just going to update. Understand the twist and turns of this thread and I take on board the negative comments, at the moment I’m extremely low. Not usually a depressed person but I am at the moment so please be kind.

I’m also so thoughtless I left out frozen mince all day (spag bol) really excited to eat it as I’m on a shake diet, to then experience sickness so I’m feeling really unwell and stupid on top of a another massive row with my mum, called a fucking stupid useless bitch when I asked her to spell a word for the form I’d been sent. I’m dyslexic and really bad with forms.

On to the good news, spoke to a lovely lady from my local council and she sent me a homeless form, so I’ve filled that in and I’m waiting to hear back tomorrow when I get a call.

Does anyone know the usual next steps? She did say they had two travel lodges which I know off and both are thankfully in good areas. But she didn’t know if I’d have to go in them so I will find out tomorrow.

Thanks for all responses

I really hope it all works out for you

Thank you, just hoping tomorrow is a better day x

Glad things are progressing OP.

Thank you a lot. I’m nervous about the call today but glad I made the step x