I've won a bid on a council house - what happens next?

[WaitAMinnow]

I'd be so grateful for some advice on this, please do let me know if it's needs to be moved.

I won a bid on a HA property last night. I haven't had an email or notification to say that but my shortlist position is 1.

What happens next? Can someone else be offered it above me or will that only happen if I decline it (I won't - it's perfect for my DD and I).

How quickly do the council get in touch if I have won? Am I allowed to view the property and how long before I potentially get the keys?

I am so excited but nervous. My DD and I escaped DV last year and have been crashing with my parents. I earn ok but FT nursery fees mean that renting a house privately in the area where my support network are is just never going to happen and this house is less than 2 miles from my parents!

In our council are you are not entitled to a council house or even to be on the list and bid, if your income is over a certain amount. I think it's £36,000. You have to fill all forms forms in, they approve it etc and then you can bid. Then if you win they recheck all your financials and if and that's it.

Good luck op. I love my council house. Its a beautiful big 5 bedroom town house with a drive way, big rear garden and a roof terrace. Is taken me 5 years to get it exactly how I want it and I LOVE the feeling of security of being here in my own home for life.

Thank you everyone.

@myceliumama my neighbour seems to think it's £35k here. I earn a basic salary of £33k plus commission on top. When I signed up to the council housing, I had only just started the role so had no commission coming through. Now it's probably taking me over the £35k so if this is true, I'm likely out based on that.

It's so frustrating as I can't possibly afford FT nursery fees (£1200 pm) plus running a car, usual bills etc etc renting privately (circa £1500 pm for a 2 bed house in this area) on my current wage yet it seems because I'm working FT and earning decent money, I'm not eligible for any help! I thought working FT would be the best option for me but there really isn't much incentive to do this

Don't give up! Your neighbour may be incorrect.

Housing associations and councils have different criteria.
My HA just wanted to know if I could afford the rent and met the housing need criteria.

If the worst happens and you do need to find a private rent, you can apply for help with housing and childcare through universal credit

Holding thumbs for you OP.

Average salary in the U.K. is £28k so no you won't get help on £35k + for council housing but you might qualify for some help with nursery fees ... do you not get child maintenance?

It's worth looking at universal credit, putting all the numbers in and you might find you get some rent help too

No child maintenance. My ex has a successful business but on paper earns under £700 - CMS have told me the maximum they can get is £90 pm. I would much rather be without it.

I get tax free childcare which helps but doesn't help a huge amount!

Will look at UC options but again, I'm pretty sure I won't qualify because I earn "too much"

I just don't understand how I'm supposed to pay £1500 rent plus bills plus nursery plus run a car plus have anything left to eat on a basic salary of, after deductions, £2133. Yes, a little commission takes me over the £35k mark but not hugely! The system is so unfair. It will be easier next year once DD qualifies for free hours.

I left and went back to my ex because of finances before and whilst I would not do the same under any circumstances now, I've woken up feeling exhausted because DD has kept me awake fidgeting and wriggling all night. I'm so desperate for a decent nights sleep 😩

Are you sure you won’t get universal credit? Me and my husband earn more than that and qualify for help with nursery fees.

Hi there, check UC, I took my children to a refuge and got our house. I’m a full-time teacher and juggled it all. I’m sure that you’ll be fine xx Congratulations xx it’s the best thing ever xx despite what we went through, it’s been the best piece of security we’ve ever been given x

I have my fingers crossed for you. You’ve done a really tough thing for you and your daughter. You deserve this.

I've worked in Social Housing (Council and HA) for 15 years so know some things ☺️

In my experience given that you've been allocated a place on the waiting list means you're eligible for housing?? If you earn too much you wouldnt even be allowed to bid. What you earn should only affect your banding.

The fact they've asked you for ID and bank statements etc is a good sign. If you're first that's definitely a good thing, they just can't say for definite if it'll be yours or not just incase they get an urgent homeless/DV etc case that absolutely cannot wait. Hang tight, unfortunately there's a lot of (long and necessary) work involved behind the scenes that people don't see 😭 There's rules and policies that must be adhered to or the HA/Council get in a lot of trouble.

They WILL be in touch with you if you've been successful - fingers crossed for you, OP 😀🤞

I know zilch about Universal Credit or benefits. But surely it’d be worth a few minutes plugging your figures into an online calculator to see if you might be entitled to something? Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.

But commission is not guaranteed is it ? So you should make sure you emphasise that if it is queried.

When I applied for social housing I was told the rule is that if my income and savings enable me to provide for myself in the private rented market then my application would be declined. They said there was no fixed income figure as they treated each application individually. On that criteria you would be eligible.
I hope so much that you get this house. You are doing your absolute best to provide for yourself and your daughter. You deserve this.

Hi OP,
I hope you hear soon and get your house.

It would be worth putting your details into
www.entitledto.co.uk/
to see what you might be entitled to help from benefits.
I tried to put your details in (£1200 nursery, £1500 rent) but obviously had to guess a lot of details and it suggests you might be entitled to significant help. You might still be entitled to significant help on a social rent so don’t dismiss claiming.

Fingers crossed for you - I hope you get good news soon.

Any update OP

I got a call within a week op and arranged a viewing for the next day. Took a bit longer for keys as there was a bit of work needed doing on it before we moved in and it was over Christmas; think I viewed the week before Xmas and had keys by end of
jan. Congratulations xx

What happened in the end???

Yes it would be good to know what happened.

Hello sashh I red that you know about the council housing can I ask you some questions please

Ask away.

Is there anything that I could do "wrong" that would mean I wouldn't get the property?

No. But if someone has greater need than you, they will get it instead. In my area they look at bidders #1-3. It can take months before you're in even after they've allocated it to you. The place on my street went to the 27th bidder because by the time it was ready to rent (they prioritise tenants repairs over void property repair) all the previous bidders had already found something else. They also put property on your list of available to bid on which they've no intention of ever allowing you to rent. If they think you don't meet whatever their criteria is, they'll skip your bid. If they give you a property and say let's meet to get to know you, that's an assessment and you can fail it. So don't get excited about it until you've actually got it and keep bidding each week. Good luck! 🙂

Oh damn a zombie thread