Council Housing

[Sillysha31]

So I’ve been on the council house list for about a year and bidding regularly and I’m currently in band 3. I have a 6 month old and am living at my parents house currently. The idea was that I would stay living at my parents house until I went back to work for financial reasons. However, since having my daughter, my house has become classed as overcrowded as my siblings have come home too. I already have PPD and PPA but with the overcrowding we’re all getting on top of each other and arguing constantly and it’s really getting me down, I try not to leave our room if I can help it and I can just feel myself getting a lot worse and I know this isn’t good for my daughter but I don’t want her to be around arguing. Is there anything I can do to help myself get a council house quicker (I am also looking at private renting, but with the price of rent at the moment that’s nearly impossible) any advice would be greatly appreciated x

[Babyroobs]

Have you got your name on Housing association lists too ?

[Sillysha31]

I’ve never heard of this? I thought it was just social housing?

[Turmerictolly]

Most housing associations give their voids to the council to nominate but some do take direct applicants.

I'd look in to private renting but you'd need to check that you can still stay on the list and with the same priority if you do this.

[WhiteFire]

The bands mean different things in different areas, but you need to check that you are in the correct one for your area. For example in my area band 3 includes wanting to live independently, band 2 and 1 then includes over crowding.

Other than that keep your area of choice as wide as possible as well as property type.

[homeitisthen]

Can you go homeless ? My friend did throw a few years ago and managed to get a place after staying in hotels

[Bemyclementine]

Fir goodness sake, don't maje a homeless application if you are not actually homeless.

Look at your councils allocation policy. Some areas banding will increase if sharing a bedroom with a child over 6 months, but you will need to ask for a reassessment, it won't update automatically.

[KateJohns]

Are suggesting that your situation is more of an emergency than a homeless family that have been living in a single room emergency accomodation for over a year because you argue a bit with your family?

Really?

Band 3 is low priority. Behind homeless, disabled, at risk, emergency housed etc etc.

If your family are being cunts, sort them out, don't try and wangle yourself in front of people in actual need.

[Sugarplumfury]

Yes definitely see if you have any housing associations in your area. For ours you have to be on the council waiting list but you can check HAs availability you can apply for. Our council has A B C grading with A and B giving you more priority than C which is bottom of the rung. Is your 3 the same as our C grade? If you can get a letter from your GP and any other HCPs such as health visitor etc, involved in your care, that describes what your health is like and and how your current living situation is impacting it, that would be very helpful. You should be able to upload that to your council application and ask for a reassessment. It sounds really stressful and hard, so any supporting letters could help you bump your grade up.

[Badbudgeter]

It’s not uncommon in similar circumstances for your parents to write a letter stating you will have to leave by x date making you and your baby homeless. Council will find somewhere to put you ( emergency hostel probably) and eventually will find you a flat.

[WhatWouldKimDealDo]

If staying in the current house is affecting your mental health and potentially your ability to look after your baby, then you can absolutely present at the council and make a homeless application with the reason that the owner of the house is requesting you leave. If this is putting the whole family under strain, and affecting your mental health, exacerbating your post partum depression, its reasonable that you would want to move out. your family would need to state you cannot stay there. You'd then be placed in to temporary accommodation, band would likely increase. Yes there are families already "in one room for years with no accommodation" but that does not mean that you are not entitled to leave a situation that is affecting your ability to function as a parent and contributing to worsening mental health. Living in an over crowded house and being unable to leave your room with the baby does not sound like a good start for you or the baby.

[MaxwellCat]

Depends where you live. In my area of London being made homeless is no longer a quick fix that category is 5-8 years

[Sillysha31]

Thank you for all your messages, I shall look into the housing association and my councils policies. In my area we have 4 bands, with band 1&2 being priority. I’m definitely going to contact my doctor or HV about writing me a letter too. I appreciate all the help.

And to the person thinking I’m trying to jump in front of homeless people in the queue, I only want what’s best for my daughter, I don’t want her to be in a house full of arguing and hate, nor a mother that is getting so low from the negative impact of living here. I never stated that was my intention, and as for telling my family to stop being the way they are, well if I did that in THEIR house, then I would be homeless myself. I was just asking for some advice, not trying to jump ahead of anyone, especially not people that need it more than me x

[Bemyclementine]

@Sillysha31 just be aware that "being homeless" is not an easy route or a quick fix. We have families staying in travelodge for up to 6 weeks. So no cooking facilities or fridge. Then moving into hostels, which can be up to 2 yrs (and our area is nowhere near as bad as others for waiting times) then being offered a property that you don't want in an area you don't like. It's shit.

[justanothermanicmonday1]

Just wanted to send a message of encouragement/support.

We have 1 DC and expecting DC2 in a matter of weeks. We have been with my HA for 6 years and in a 1 bed. We have fought tooth & nail to with the housing, council, local MP & councillor. Finally after months and months of calls, emails, letters from my HV as she was worried for my mental health and how we would cope in a 1 bed after the birth of our second, we have finally been offered a 2 bedroom new build after years of bidding and waiting.

Register on every single housing association near you. Don't stay quiet. Make the noise and write to your local councillor (in a kind and professional manner)

Good luck!

[Sugarplumfury]

If your family are being cunts, sort them out, don't try and wangle yourself in front of people in actual need.

And the award for lack of empathy and unhelpfulness goes to KateJohns

Obviously it’s incredibly easy to stop family (or indeed anyone else) behaving poorly. Especially when one of the main contributing factor is likely to be overcrowding, a young baby who may be disturbing everyone’s sleep as well as all sorts of other stressors. And yes im sure despite being depressed and anxious and caring for a young baby will be feeling absolutely on top of her game and well able to calm any arguments and shouting going on around her and get everyone to adjust their behaviour at once.

Its not a race to the bottom. Or should everyone have to expect to live in a crap situation and not do anything to increase the likelihood of improving it, because they actually have a roof over their head?

[KateJohns]

Its not a race to the bottom.

You're right.
Unfortunately there's plenty of people willing to force other people closer to the bottom if it means they can get ahead.
Like faking being homeless.
Asking that parents write letters telling the council they're kicking their kids out.
Like playing up and over egging situations in the hopes it alters their banding.
etc.
All in the hopes they'll get housed quicker, which pushes all the others closer to the bottom..
More accurately,
'it's not a fair race to the bottom, others gladly trip others up and force them down'

[x2boys]

@Sillysha31

Thank you for all your messages, I shall look into the housing association and my councils policies. In my area we have 4 bands, with band 1&2 being priority. I’m definitely going to contact my doctor or HV about writing me a letter too. I appreciate all the help.

And to the person thinking I’m trying to jump in front of homeless people in the queue, I only want what’s best for my daughter, I don’t want her to be in a house full of arguing and hate, nor a mother that is getting so low from the negative impact of living here. I never stated that was my intention, and as for telling my family to stop being the way they are, well if I did that in THEIR house, then I would be homeless myself. I was just asking for some advice, not trying to jump ahead of anyone, especially not people that need it more than me x

The problem is everyone thinks their situation is exceptional. I'm not being unsympathetic I live an housing association house ,there will be t thousands of families of families living in less than desirable situations and some worse than yours
Of course you want what's best for your daughter everybody does but depending on the area you live in and the availability of homes ,it could unfortunately be a long wait .