Is this overcrowding? Living in living room? Social housing/council home

[Hannahandbaby]

hey guys. asking for my cousin.

her and her parents moved into a 2 bedroom flat when she was 17, she is now 27

in 2018, 8 years ago, her parents separated.

she ended up living and sleeping in the living room because her mother moved into the her bedroom

so her dad lives in one bedroom, mum in another and daughter in living room

Someone moving out was not an option because:

father shortly before divorce ended up disabled, her mother worked minimum wage. Both parents are now pensioners.

so due to low income/pension credit/benefits impossible to find a place to rent

also one moving out would make the daughter homeless as she and and her mum wouldn’t be able to afford the rent.

also landlord now keeps rent reasonable, they wouldn’t be able to afford other private rents

few years ago my friend ended up disabled too (same illness as father, i think inherited from father) and due to illness had to cut hours and her health condition is getting worse and worse everyday. She is really scared she might have to gave up work completely and scared of the future

The living room connects to the kitchen so her parents pass her by to use kitchen everyday/constantly.

her parents are also having constant fights. They hate each other. Screaming on top of lungs, yelling, insulting each other, swearing at each other. so the stress of all this is awful. I myself witnessed this a few times while on phone with her or visiting her.

i know legally, this isn’t really overcrowding, her living in the living room.

but should she try applying anyway? Is there any chance they’ll accept her on list?

she doesn’t care about waiting even decades, she just wants to get on the list. She is terrified about the future.

this is east London, Redbridge

She needs adult social care asessment and ask about semi supported living woth onsite shared carers

Wheelchair could live in the sitting room.

It’s not just wheelchair. There’s other adaptations in that room.

he also needs his wheelchair as soon as he gets out of bed he needs it next to him

Then why do you think “overcrowding” is a thing? Over crowding refers to social housing, where there are set standards around what residents qualify for, size wise.

it doesn’t mean the same thing in private rents

People who private rent can apply for social housing list if there is a need.

such as “overcrowding”

I am asking if she can apply for social housing to get on housing register

Can’t the parents grow up and either get along or ignore each other? Why are they having slagging matches all the time?

It screams dysfunction.

Your cousin, despite her disability, needs to have a plan for life. What does she want to achieve? Lots of disabled people can still work in some manner. She needs to be contacting her council, being proactive. It sounds like she’s done nothing to research what she’s entitled to - why?

As others have said, she needs to contact Housing, Citizens Advice or Shelter to start seeing what her options are. Unless she plans on living with her parents until they die? Then what?

You need to read the rules that apply for your local authority. No-one else can answer that.

Bear in mind that there's a very long wait for social housing, and more often than not they will actually help you to find housing in the private rented sector rather than social housing if at all possible.

She can get a lodger in for the spare room, and the income from that does not affect UC.

He has one room, with his adaptations/equipment. They share the other room.

I'm sure you'll come up with a reason why not, though!

However 2 divorced/separated adults who have chosen to have a bedroom each as not in a relationship with an adult child would not be classed as overcrowded as 3 separate adults do not have to live together and the 2 adults not in a relationship certainly would not.

once the male moves out there is one bedroom each.

There is no space for two beds in the other room, it’s a small like box room.

why are you being hostile?

The landlord does not want any lodgers or subletting

The UK Housing Act does not view it as overcrowding as:
a living room is acceptable as a bedroom
peiple separated are not considered when looking at overcrowding

I'm not being hostile. I just think this is s situation they can solve themselves, by either sharing rooms, renting a larger property in the PRS (with housing benefit if necessary) or renting separate PRS acommodation (with housing benefit if necessary). You have an answer to everything as to why social housing is the only thing suitable, despite it being highly unlikely that will be offered.

Most people would find it easier/better if they were offered social housing, but sadly there's not enough to go round, and in many areas, the waiting lists are running into decades.

bunkbeds in the single room ?

She needs to run the numbers properly for when her parents have left. If her disability is evidenced then the now vacant bedroom would potentially be exempt from the spare bedroom tax. And /or PIP will help pay the difference.

Have your parents got a joint application in to move to retirement housing? Because they'll be given a 1 bed and expected to share a bedroom? Or they have separate applications in, and one would move out, leaving ample room for you and the remaining parent?

I am only answering how it is.

You not liking my answers doesn’t mean I am making excuses.

she lived like this for 8 years you don’t think she would have done this sooner/came up with reasons if she just wanted a council home?

and the fact that you think you can just rent property let alone bigger property when three people are in benefits shows how out of touch you are. They were lucky they got this home and only because the landlord is a friends friend.

Incidentally, the renters right's bill (which comes into force tomorrow) makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against prospective tenants for claiming benefits, so she'll not be at all disadvantaged in finding accommodation in the private rented sector. That's good news, no? She won't need social housing, and can just rent privately and claim housing benefit, just like everyone else! The playing field has been levelled :)

Lmao you think they wont discriminate?

that’s hilarious

thats how out of touch you are

No dss signs was banned ages ago yet that still didn’t solve anything

They legally can't.

I like how you think she is just making stuff up to get social housing when she lived like this for 8 years. I and She would of done this ages ago if that’s what she wanted

It’s not quite as simple as “the law changes, so the problem disappears.” The bill does aim to outlaw a specific, overt form of discrimination—but that doesn’t automatically eliminate how the housing market behaves in practice.

1. A ban on explicit discrimination ≠ an end to indirect discrimination
Landlords may no longer be allowed to say “no DSS” (i.e. refusing tenants on benefits outright), but they can still use proxies:

• Minimum income requirements (e.g. “must earn 2.5–3× the rent”)
• Credit checks that disadvantage people with unstable income
• Requiring guarantors (often unavailable to people on benefits)

These criteria are technically neutral but disproportionately exclude benefit claimants.
2. Enforcement is the weak link
Even if discrimination is illegal, it relies on tenants:

• Recognising it
• Proving it
• Taking legal action

Most prospective tenants won’t challenge a rejected application—they’ll just move on. That makes the rule hard to enforce in real life.
3. Market dynamics still favour “low-risk” tenants
In high-demand areas, landlords often have multiple applicants. They may simply choose:

• Someone in full-time employment
• Someone with higher income or savings

They don’t need to state discrimination—just select the “safest” option. The outcome can still systematically disadvantage people on benefits.
4. Structural issues haven’t changed
The underlying pressures remain:

• Rents rising faster than benefits in many areas
• Local Housing Allowance caps limiting affordability
• Landlords concerned about delays in benefit payments (e.g. under Universal Credit)

If landlords perceive higher risk or lower returns, behaviour won’t change overnight.
5. Evidence from similar policies
Even after UK court rulings that “no DSS” policies were unlawful, research and tenant reports suggested:

• Listings became less explicit
• But barriers persisted in subtler ways

So the form of discrimination changed more than the outcome.

I would start by asking for care act assessments and carer assessments for all three of them to see what support they are entitled to.

From your updates it sounds like she might benefit from supported living / carers if eligible/ available.