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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be gobsmacked at this ridiculousness!!!!

21 replies

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 13:44

I'm 29 weeks pregnant, and from a small country town where everyone's a local if that makes sense.

9 months ago myself and my partner moved to a nearby city in a different county for work etc but when we fell pregnant (unexpected but happy) we seriously thought about moving back to be closer to family. My partner than got laid off at his job and so he began working for his mum in our local hometown so that made our decision for us, and the fact our landlord couldn't renew our tenancy in the city.

So things moved very quickly and we had to move into my partners mums b&b room and obviously this is very temporary as it barely suitable for 2 adults, let alone a baby. And she is losing business while we are here.

Today I rang the council to discuss getting on the housing register, and was told my partner was ok as he works locally and has his mum as a local connection. (Even though they have only been local to the area about 2 years)

However I still needed proof of a local connection.

I went to school here, have lived in the town all my 25 years minus the last 9 months, my mum lived here untill 2 years ago, my aunty lives here, my grandad lives here, my uncle lives here, I was christened here yet none of those are strong enough proof of local connection.

My dad lives here but has been technically homeless for the last few years and just sofa surfing and so has no proof of address. (He has been finally placed in housing this week!)

How much more local can I get?!?

And not in a racist way (really I'm not at all!!) but how do foreigners prove a local connection?

OP posts:

DidoTheDodo · 12/08/2013 13:50

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is. If your partner is eligible for housing, surely you also qualify by dint of being with him?

BeaWheesht · 12/08/2013 13:55

We're you renting privately in the city then?

EMS23 · 12/08/2013 13:57

It sounds like they've misunderstood you. Get an appointment to go and see someone in the housing team (or homelessness if you intend to present as homeless) and go through your background info face to face.

Don't forget your MatB1 form as it will be important for getting your banding right on the waiting list.

How other people, foreign or otherwise, prove their local connection is neither here nor there.

Good luck.

Sirzy · 12/08/2013 13:58

I can fully understand them wanting to make sure that people aren't just coming into the area expecting housing.

littlewhitebag · 12/08/2013 13:58

They don't care about that. They just need proof. Actual concrete proof. Which at the moment you can't provide. They have a lot of people wanting houses so they can be a bit jobs worth about it.

sweetestcup · 12/08/2013 14:00

Do they think you and your DP are looking for separate housing maybe.

JacqueslePeacock · 12/08/2013 14:03

Can't you just provide your addresses from the last 25 years up to 9 months ago?

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:13

Nope apparently not, that's how ridiculous it is.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:19

We have an appointment tomorrow.
I also think they have misunderstood me, or the woman I spoke to has got her information mixed up.

Thankfully my dad has managed to dig out some statements with his temp address on so they should be able to except them. And surely they can see that they themselves have just housed him.

2 of my previous addresses when i was still living at home with my mum were council properties so they should be able to recognise that also.

I fully understand why they need people to have a local connection, I just don't understand why they won't accept any of my connections.

OP posts:

Mumsnut · 12/08/2013 14:21

School photos and certificates? Extract from christening register? Birth certificate? utulity bills with your old address?

Are they saying your connections aren't good enough, or just that they need PROOF of them?

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:21

*accept not except

OP posts:

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:22

That they are not good enough. I will still be bringing proof of all of it to the appointment but have been told not to expect them to accept any of it.

OP posts:

kinkyfuckery · 12/08/2013 14:25

What did they say you when asked them what sort of proof they are looking for/needing?

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:29

They said it had to be proof of address for either a parent, sibling or child.

OP posts:

MrsReacher85 · 12/08/2013 14:43

I used to work in housing law. Only one adult in a family like yours need to prove a local connection. If they've accepted your partner's connection then they have to accept you as part of the household.

If they try and say otherwise (and they probably will, many councils are terrible for getting it wrong/making it up as they go along) then phone shelter and they'll have the argument with them for you.

jacks365 · 12/08/2013 14:44

Because you moved away 9 months ago they are not obliged to help you unless you have a current connection ( previous address would be fine if it had been less than 6 months.) Current connection does not include aunts and uncles etc. It will make a difference as to how high up the waiting list you are placed. Councils have strict guidelines to follow and they can't house you ahead of someone who does still class as local.

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 14:52

Mrsreacher Thankyou!

OP posts:

LittleSporksBigSpork · 12/08/2013 14:59

To answer your last question, as an immigrant, the answer is the same as native-born people, if we are eligible. A few asylum seekers may get emergency housing where the government decides to place them, but otherwise it's the same rules.

My British in-laws pushed very hard at DH to try to get a council house when we were expecting DS1, because to them it was perfectly straight forward. They found it unbelievable that not only was it not straight forward, but my name (and pregnancy) weren't even allowed on the form because of the visa that I was on, even though we were married, he had to apply as a single man. Not surprisingly with the shortage, they are very strict on rules, proof, and other regulations.

Housing associations (the ones left not under the council control) can be more flexible in applications they accept. I wish we'd gone down that route sooner, instead of following in-laws instance of pushing the council on it.

Original poster

Lj8893 · 12/08/2013 15:08

Thankyou littlesporks that is interesting to hear.

I do believe the system is abused and twisted by some/for some though. Just not for you and me it would seem.

In a previous council property we had some new neighbours who had done an exchange from Scotland. Once they had exchanged it meant their son and his child could get on the housing register for the area as now they were living there he had a local connection.
I think that adds to the ridiculousness of it!

OP posts:

AnotherStitchInTime · 12/08/2013 16:07

What MrsReacher said, I was housed whilst pregnant under Homelessness Part VII of the Housing Act 1996 in the borough my DH came from.

MrsReacher85 · 13/08/2013 12:47

No problem at all. Feel free to pm me if you need anymore help.

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