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Original poster

Council/social housing

26 replies

pixie12 · 15/08/2024 00:53

So I've just come to ask for advice to anyone who's living in a council/social house or on the waiting list. I have been registered for 1 year 3 months and I bid weekly however always come shortlisting and ranked "over 20" on band 3, has anyone had any luck with social housing? I know there's a big housing crisis right now and it seems impossible to get any housing, would I be in a better position looking for private?

OP posts:
Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 00:54

pixie12 · 15/08/2024 00:53

So I've just come to ask for advice to anyone who's living in a council/social house or on the waiting list. I have been registered for 1 year 3 months and I bid weekly however always come shortlisting and ranked "over 20" on band 3, has anyone had any luck with social housing? I know there's a big housing crisis right now and it seems impossible to get any housing, would I be in a better position looking for private?

Forgot to add I have an 8 month old baby in a small overcrowded 2 bedroom house

OP posts:
viques · 15/08/2024 01:02

Is it just you and the baby in the house, because two bedrooms is fine for you and a baby, or you, a partner and a baby.

GodspeedJune · 15/08/2024 01:06

I have worked in social housing. There is such a shortage that it’s commonplace to be on the waiting list for several years. Some councils do have a policy where if you find private rental accommodation they will pay for the first months rent or the deposit.

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AugustAlready · 15/08/2024 01:06

Who else is living there?

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 01:07

IDK. I used to work for a while on a council lettings dept. But that was 20 odd years ago. When bidding first came in.

IDK how much I has changed, but usually your place improves with time. That's how it used to work anyway.

Are you living at your parents' home with a baby?

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 15/08/2024 01:09

who else lives in the property for it to be overcrowded ?

where i live, it used to be around 15 months before a parent and one child got offered their first property, however there are so many people on the waiting list that it is now much longer.

did your banding change when you had the baby ?

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 01:13

Don't private rent if you have a shot at social renting. Especially if you're single and money is right. Social renting will give your child nearly as much security as owning.

Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 02:13

viques · 15/08/2024 01:02

Is it just you and the baby in the house, because two bedrooms is fine for you and a baby, or you, a partner and a baby.

I live with parents too sorry I forgot to mention that too

OP posts:
Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 02:13

AugustAlready · 15/08/2024 01:06

Who else is living there?

Parents too sorry forgot to mention!

OP posts:
Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 02:14

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 01:07

IDK. I used to work for a while on a council lettings dept. But that was 20 odd years ago. When bidding first came in.

IDK how much I has changed, but usually your place improves with time. That's how it used to work anyway.

Are you living at your parents' home with a baby?

Yes living with parents still

OP posts:
Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 02:15

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 15/08/2024 01:09

who else lives in the property for it to be overcrowded ?

where i live, it used to be around 15 months before a parent and one child got offered their first property, however there are so many people on the waiting list that it is now much longer.

did your banding change when you had the baby ?

I live with parents, I was banding 4 whilst pregnant and then went to banding 3 but I don't know if that's a good banding?

OP posts:
Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 02:16

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 01:13

Don't private rent if you have a shot at social renting. Especially if you're single and money is right. Social renting will give your child nearly as much security as owning.

Thank you for the advice! It is only me and her and we're in a small 2 bedroom house with my parents and the room we are in is tiny! I just don't really know how social housing works lol

OP posts:
Fathomless · 15/08/2024 02:36

LiterallyOnFire · 15/08/2024 01:13

Don't private rent if you have a shot at social renting. Especially if you're single and money is right. Social renting will give your child nearly as much security as owning.

I agree with this. Sit tight because you have a genuine chance of getting social housing. It's secure whereas private renting is not and you could be getting moved around. Social housing gives you and baby security and stability for far cheaper than private rentals. It will all be worth it. friends of mine waited just over 5 years for a council place and are happily settled now.

LostittoBostik · 15/08/2024 02:40

How long can you stay with your family? If you can wait it out it would definitely be worth it. You'll stay a higher banding while you're over crowded. But it could take a few years, due to the shortage of accommodation

Fathomless · 15/08/2024 02:41

I just don't really know how social housing works lol

Social housing are homes that belong to the council. People who are eligible and get one have lifetime secure tenancies for much less than private rentals. They're yours for life as long as you pay the rent.

LostittoBostik · 15/08/2024 03:04

Fathomless · 15/08/2024 02:41

I just don't really know how social housing works lol

Social housing are homes that belong to the council. People who are eligible and get one have lifetime secure tenancies for much less than private rentals. They're yours for life as long as you pay the rent.

Mostly housing associations and actually lifetime tenancies are becoming more rare. However with a child you are more likely to be offered one

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 15/08/2024 09:41

Who has decided the 2 bedroom house is overcrowded ?
your parents / you / the local authority ?

you may find the property is not actually ' overcrowded ' but that your bedroom is just a bit cramped now you have all of baby's belongings in it.
It may be the house was built for 3 persons i.e. a double room and a single room ?

however some local authorities do not count a baby as a person until one year of age, and some local authorities will only count a one year old as a half person anyway.

but all of that aside, your banding would appear to be correct and it just takes time, often lots of time.

it could be worse, you could be sofa surfing at friends' homes or in a mother and baby unit.

does the website that advertises the properties have a ' results ' page ? if you have a good read of it you may get an idea of the waiting time.

Cornholioooo · 15/08/2024 09:55

Strictly speaking I don't think that is considered overcrowding. Unfortunately you won't be considered a priority so it'll probably be a 3-5 year wait depending on where in the country you are.

Original poster
pixie12 · 15/08/2024 10:10

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 15/08/2024 09:41

Who has decided the 2 bedroom house is overcrowded ?
your parents / you / the local authority ?

you may find the property is not actually ' overcrowded ' but that your bedroom is just a bit cramped now you have all of baby's belongings in it.
It may be the house was built for 3 persons i.e. a double room and a single room ?

however some local authorities do not count a baby as a person until one year of age, and some local authorities will only count a one year old as a half person anyway.

but all of that aside, your banding would appear to be correct and it just takes time, often lots of time.

it could be worse, you could be sofa surfing at friends' homes or in a mother and baby unit.

does the website that advertises the properties have a ' results ' page ? if you have a good read of it you may get an idea of the waiting time.

Hi sorry just seen this they've got us on the website "band 3, overcrowded needs additional room" I'm not too sure how the banding works and if band 3 is a good banding to be in?

OP posts:
Enterthewolves · 15/08/2024 10:23

I would imagine there are four bands, and you are second from bottom. The bidding website may show you which bands people were in and how long people were bidding for to get properties so you can see - ours does locally. You are unlikely to get anything quickly and in my city would be unlikely to get anything at all unless you were bidding on unpopular areas/high rise flats or there was an influx of properties. In my area two beds are very tricky to get and you may be better going for a one bed with a separate living room.

AugustAlready · 15/08/2024 20:46

Fathomless · 15/08/2024 02:41

I just don't really know how social housing works lol

Social housing are homes that belong to the council. People who are eligible and get one have lifetime secure tenancies for much less than private rentals. They're yours for life as long as you pay the rent.

@Fathomless

i think that must be very area dependant?!?!

where I live, the 'housing' isn't secure tenancy council houses now, it's all 'affordable' housing (ha ha) through the council, but not from the council. Usually it's properties in new build estates which you seem to get for 7 years, then it's reviewed. I'm not too clear on all the rules, but that's how friends & a couple of ex neighbours have explained it. It's a good bit (half maybe) of private remtal
prices but still not cheap (2 bed. Small house, tiny garden £1100)

AugustAlready · 15/08/2024 20:51

Enterthewolves · 15/08/2024 10:23

I would imagine there are four bands, and you are second from bottom. The bidding website may show you which bands people were in and how long people were bidding for to get properties so you can see - ours does locally. You are unlikely to get anything quickly and in my city would be unlikely to get anything at all unless you were bidding on unpopular areas/high rise flats or there was an influx of properties. In my area two beds are very tricky to get and you may be better going for a one bed with a separate living room.

@Enterthewolves

in my area, they wouldn't let my ex neighbour do that, she had to bid on properties that had enough bedrooms for them all, even though they had nothing available but the smaller ones (which were still bigger than what they were privately renting) were sitting empty.

Thisismynewname2024 · 15/08/2024 20:52

pixie12 · 15/08/2024 00:53

So I've just come to ask for advice to anyone who's living in a council/social house or on the waiting list. I have been registered for 1 year 3 months and I bid weekly however always come shortlisting and ranked "over 20" on band 3, has anyone had any luck with social housing? I know there's a big housing crisis right now and it seems impossible to get any housing, would I be in a better position looking for private?

Op it really depends what area you are in . For example London. Would be alot longer than say county Durham.

AugustAlready · 15/08/2024 20:56

@pixie12

maybe you'll go up to band 2 when your little girl turns one?!?!

how are thing going with your parents?

I wonder if you'd get bumped up if they 'kicked you out' & you were sofa surfing with your daughter?! Might depend which council you are with. It might help to say.

also do your parents own
it or is it council owned? It sounds a bit strange them saying you need an extra room? Almost like they're looking for 3bdrms life ALL of you?!?!

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 15/08/2024 21:05

down here it is
A - urgent i.e. domestic violence
B - homeless ( but prob in emergency or temp accommodation )
C - on the waiting list, will eventually be successful
D - very very very lucky to ever get an offer unless circumstances change, or the bid is on a very unpopular property

so where you are i guess 1=A 2=B etc.