Housing/social housing concerns

[YourBlueGuide]

I’m a 25 year old first time mum. Possibility that I need to find housing by myself partners a little unreliable so I need to be prepared to be solo.

currently living in a house share, paying 600pcm to a private landlord, obviously cannot stay here when my baby arrives in February. My tenancy will be up in November so that’s when I need to move.

Ive already spoken to the council but are useless, for a flat in my area I’m looking at £900pcm on private renting. Now I cannot afford that by myself, and most private landlords do not take any kind of housing benefits.

does anyone have any experience? I don’t really want to wait until November and end up being classed as homeless in a b&b with a baby in February

also, I do not have a guarantor, and most landlords want you to earn over 27K a year which I don’t, I do work full time. I also do not have great credit history

Your options are to move to a cheaper area or in with family if you can't afford to rent and don't want to follow the councils process. Talk to shelter, but unless you are vulnerable in some other way and fit into some charity's criteria for supported living the. I'm not sure theres many other options.It sucks but it is what it is as you are in a bit of a perilous position.

Your best bet whilst you baby is tiny and won't remember anything nor need excessive room is to follow the councils policy, go into temporary accommodation until they can house you.

To be honest you're going to have to either find a landlord who will accept housing benefit or find someone to be a guarantor. Completely understand not wanting to be shoved in a b&b with a newborn. That's what happened to me and it was an awful experience. What area are you in? Is there no way you could try renting a 1 bed for the moment so you can at least avoid homeless accomodation?

You could be waiting years for a council/social housing property. The waits in many places are huge.

Your best bet would be moving further out and finding a small bedsit if you want to avoid being in a bnb/temporary accommodation. My cousin was in a bnb for 2 years, and it was not even an expensive or in demand area.

A friend of mine fled domestic violence with 2 small children and a 6 day old baby and was placed in a rough hostel in Merseyside. Baby’s now 18 months and they’re still there. I’m not sure what the solution is. I’m half torn in thinking it’s amazing that there is at least some sort of safety net in the uk for mothers with children (she would literally be on the streets in my country), but horrified at how long it’s going to take for her to improve her situation.

@Devilsmommy I’m in East Kent, and even a 1 bed which I could consider is still around £800pcm

@YourBlueGuide would it be possible to move to a cheaper area at all?

@Devilsmommy I mean yeah, I could absolutely it’s one of those things because if I moved cheaper I would probably have to venture far, and then I loose my family which are my hope of free childcare when I return to work, it’s such a hard situation

What have the council said about having a duty to house you since you are pregnant? Do you have to be a certain number of months pregnant for it to 'count' for homeless purposes?

Could you join the social housing waiting list but live with family in the mean time? My council do a scheme called 'homeless at home' which means you stay on the list if you are 'sofa surfing' with family rather than living in temp accommodation.