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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think council housing is a last resort

149 replies

nailak · 08/05/2013 20:03

we have been given notice, everyone keeps saying go to council, but i don't want to deal with the uncertainty of being in temporary accommodation and not having a choice over where i live and so on, even though in the long run after a few years we would probably be better off once i am housed an am settled in a new area (which takes a couple of years to make friends). Am i being precious? Obviously we need like 3k for deposit and first months rent and we dont have that so need to find it etc, and if we have no choice then i will have to go down this route. But absolutely as a last resort. aibu?

OP posts:

CharlieUniformNovemberTango · 09/05/2013 16:34

Hi OP,

We are in Temporary accommodation and the whole process was a bit upsetting but we had no choice as no one would let to us due to housing benefit.

I would say though it is worth speaking to your council and asking if they have a housing options team. My LA worked with some private landlords who were willing to take HB tenants and you didn't need a deposit. It's worth getting in touch with them as they will often try anything to stop you getting to the point of being on their homeless list.

We spent 6 weeks in emergency housing and now will be here (nice 3 bed private flat) for 2 years before we get priority for bidding. We didn't get any choice about being here but the next time we move will be the house we pick and the thought of being in that house with the level of security we will get is worth being here for a couple of years tbh,

usualsuspect · 09/05/2013 16:43

Some people seem to be jealous of those in social housing these days.

So if I were you OP, I would do all I could to get a council house.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:21

sockreturningpixie

That is not the case in our LA, in our LA not only do you have to prove that you do not earn enough to rent privately, you have to go on the rent deposit scheme and actively search for other accommodation as there is a complete lack of social housing. Only those who are owed a duty of care under the homeless act are housed.
If there are people in a position to rent privately than they should do so.
In our LA they have introduced 5 year tenancies so that if your circumstances change and you are able to move from social to private then your tenancy ends.
I do not claim to be more deserving than anyone but social housing should be there for dire need, not 'I can't be arsed to pay for private'.
I am my daughters carer, I can't work because she has appointments, I have appointments with the school and I have to be on hand if she needs to come home. She is 5 and in reception.
I did not have a choice, yet there are those fully able to rent privately but cheaper rents mean they play the system and take up social housing that they don't actually need at the expense of others in dire need.
So yes social housing is supposed to be a last resort.

expatinscotland · 09/05/2013 17:24

'I do not claim to be more deserving than anyone but social housing should be there for dire need, not 'I can't be arsed to pay for private'.'

So they don't deserve to have a secure tenancy, but you do?

Bramshott · 09/05/2013 17:29

It might be a last resort these days . It shouldn't be, and that wasn't why it was built.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:30

expat
My tenancy isn't secure... Read my post... I have a 5 year tenancy

expatinscotland · 09/05/2013 17:31

And? So they don't deserve it but you do? LOL at the hordes of people going through the homeless process because they 'can't be arsed to pay private rental'.

usualsuspect · 09/05/2013 17:32

Council house envy is alive and well on MN then.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:34

While I have a dd with a disability and can not work (therefore can not afford private rent), at the present time my need for social housing is a need, not a want.

I don't want to be in council accommodation. I have no choice... It should be last resort, not about secure tenancies.

ophelia275 · 09/05/2013 17:35

Usualsuspect - I totally understand the jealousy. Social housing = secure, longterm tenancies, normally much better quality than private rentals because they are run by the council, not by some shitty landlord who just wants to make a profit and much lower rents. Social housing is like winning the lottery, especially in London!

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:36

That is not what I was saying expat read my post properly, stop jumping to conclusions or do one!

And actually yes... There were two couples that played the homeless card and got housed so not to pay private rents...

usualsuspect · 09/05/2013 17:40

Why wouldn't you choose a secure tenancy with a reasonable rent over a private let?

The state of private rental in this as country is not the fault of SH tenants.As much as people would . Like to blame them for everything.

AmberLeaf · 09/05/2013 17:40

You cant play the homeless card really, you have to be actually really homeless.

The thing you said about your LAs rent deposit scheme sounds a lot like the flannel that housing depts give people to discourage them from joining the list.

usualsuspect · 09/05/2013 17:41

Sorry about shit typing in that last post

AmberLeaf · 09/05/2013 17:42

rent deposit schemes are an option, but if there is a duty to house....there is a duty to house and financial circs don't necessarily come into it.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:43

Actually amber you can.

These two couples did very similar.
Moved in with their parents, got them to kick them out or had kids, went on the register while their partners they had 'split from' earnt up to 30k a year moved into the hostel, stayed there 4 nights a week... Got housed... Miraculously issues resolved partners move in to social housing rent reduction means more for holiday to Disneyland!

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:45

I don't understand what I am saying that is wrong here...

Is social housing supposed to be a free for all?

If that is the case disregard my post and all join the social housing lists..

expatinscotland · 09/05/2013 17:45

'While I have a dd with a disability and can not work (therefore can not afford private rent), at the present time my need for social housing is a need, not a want.

I don't want to be in council accommodation. I have no choice... It should be last resort, not about secure tenancies.'

But it's a want for everyone else? Bollocks. Why are you any less deserving or a long-term tenancy than someone else?

AmberLeaf · 09/05/2013 17:50

Moved in with their parents, got them to kick them out or had kids

So they didnt have a home then if their parents had kicked them out? having kids would mean they were overcrowded?

went on the register while their partners they had 'split from

LA housing isn't only for single parents!

earnt up to 30k a year

? lots of people in social housing work, in fact most do.

moved into the hostel, stayed there 4 nights a week

Have you ever lived in a hostel? particularly with children? I have, if I could kip at a friends house the odd night a week I would have, staying at someones house isnt the same as having somewhere to live.

Got housed... Miraculously issues resolved partners move in to social housing rent reduction means more for holiday to Disneyland!

You sound liked you've fallen for the misconception that LA housing is only for poor single parents!

usualsuspect · 09/05/2013 17:50

Anyone can apply for social housing.

So yes it is a free for all in a way.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:51

That's it, twist what I am saying expat lovely...

Not for everyone.... I didn't say everyone. Show me where I say I'm the only one in dire need.
All I'm saying is if it is not a dire need, then social housing is a last resort.

If I'm wrong... I apologise. But don't twist what I say.

AmberLeaf · 09/05/2013 17:52

Eligibility is about housing need.

expatinscotland · 09/05/2013 17:53

Yep, here we go again. My friend's hamster's pet sitter got a 4-bed detached council house in Primrose Hill after pretending to be homeless and they go to Lanzarote every weekend now. It should be ME who has that house! I deserve it more! Everyone else can just put up with private letting and moving every 4 months.

Dinkysmummy · 09/05/2013 17:54

Everyone keeps twisting what I am saying....

No it isn't for single parents but it is not for those who wouldn't meet the criteria if they told the truth and said they lived with their partners.

One of the mums said she had her dd to get social housing.

I'm going to get flamed whatever I say....

expatinscotland · 09/05/2013 17:55

Being homeless is a dire need. What Amber says.

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