AIBU to call my local council housing department a bunch of fucking wankers - housing related!

[FeckingFrustrated]

Yes, I know they are just doing their jobs - tis the rules etc and I would never say it to their faces but wish I could I am so bloody angry and yes, this is a rant just to see if I am BU?

Council housed us in a 2nd floor flat far away from the area we lived in 2 years ago. Before that we were in temp accommodation for another 2 years due to being made homeless by private landlord wanting house back (nothing we did wrong). Private rent here (southeast) is between £1000-£1300 pcm for a 3 bed and most of the rentals that come up are ex-council houses that have been bought up. Council rent on a 3 bed is £450pcm . This is a 'new' town and the vast majority of housing is social just for a bit of background.

Due to me being made redundant just before the landlord shafted us, we went to the council for help (so 4 years ago now). Council housed us in a flat too small for us so we are overcrowded but said we had to take it and could then apply for a transfer. After we moved in they said we had to wait a year to apply for a transfer as they could not move us while we were on an introductory tenancy. So we wait out the year in a really hard living situation (4 DC, no outside space, complaints and swearing from neighbours about DC noise which is not excessive, nowhere outside to dry washing, 2 flights of steep concrete step to carry stuff up and down etc).

After the year, we apply to move and promptly told that we will have to wait between 3/4 years to for a transfer as we are 'adequately' housed, even though the council deliberately put us in an overcrowded situation!

Last month we were informed that because the council have changed it's allocation policy, we have been moved down a band and are not a 'priority' as we are only short of one bedroom and children in above ground flats are no longer an issue any more, so we will be waiting forever basically [anger]. I have a DS with SN who has been badly impacted by the lack of outside space and we cannot cope living like this any longer.

Our only option is to go back into private renting (and claiming housing benefit as it is too expensive) after wasting 4 years in an extremely stressful situation waiting for a suitable, affordable, secure home from the council, which the vast majority of people in this town have the luxury of. We have been holding on waiting and waiting for a house and have now been told that we are at the bottom of the queue again. I am so pissed off that I have wasted all these years for nothing and my DC have witnessed anti social behaviour and been cooped up like bloody chickens!

I have never so been depressed in my life as I have been for the last few years but we were holding out for a house we would not have to keep moving from, all for bloody nothing

I am struggling to understand why someone should be grateful to live in inadequate housing just because they are in SH?

I am also struggling to understand the snide remarks about benefits and "get a job" "why did you have another child?"
The fact is, private rent is stupidly expensive. Which means that people who get up every morning and go to work are still unable to afford the full rent, hence the need for HB top ups.

OP, I feel for you. We had 2 DCs aged 1&2 in a 2 bed, 3rd floor flat. It was a fucking nightmare tbh. I hated it.
We were not eligible for SH because there just wasn't any. We had a place to live and the waiting list was something like 8 years. So we have done the merry go round of private rents, it's horrible.

If the council have told you one thing, and then changed the rules, of course you are fuming. I don't care what anyone says, I don't believe there are people who would just shrug it off, and say oh well, never mind. I don't blame you for wanting to rant, I would do the exact same thing in your situation.

I guess it's unlikely that home swap is going to work.
There are ways around your situation, sadly these do seem to come back to private rent though.

I really hope things get better for you. And please, don't let anyone tell you that you should be grateful for living in an inadequate property. No one needs to be grateful for that.

Being in SH doesn't make you less of a person.

OP redshifters post indicates that you need proper advice, independent from the housing dept, so you can make the right decision on how to proceed.

I am struggling to understand why someone should be grateful to live in inadequate housing just because they are in SH?

I doubt anyone paying a mortgage on their overcrowded house would get sympathy on MN. I think loads of posters would tell them to be grateful for their circumstances.

so I don't think SH is relevant here.

No, I don't think that's the case. The OP has been told she is entitled, that she should be happy that the council have given her a home at all etc etc.

I don't understand why she should just accept an overcrowded home? Why it makes her entitled, to want the council to do what they said they were going to do?

the person with the mortgage would be told

• go benefits if you think they are better.
• move somewhere else
• I could only dream of owning a house

etc
etc

pretty much like his thread.

You do sound entitled.

I live in a 2 bed flat with 3 boys - only access is an outside metal fire escape set of stairs. No garden. No outside washing space. Always have to carry 2yr old up the stairs, and shopping bags and bin bags etc.

Never occurred to me to complain. Really. I'm bloody lucky to have this home. And it's my own.

You need a reality check.

I think OP wanted to stay in the temporary accommodation until she was sufficiently near the top of the list that she could have bid on a 4 bed house and got one. And thus she waited a year or two in the temporary accommodation despite damp etc to avoid the whole private renting difficulties.

But the council placed a bid on a flat for her and told her she had to accept it or she was off the housing list. Possibly because they wanted the temporary accommodation freed up?

Thus the council made the decision to put her in overcrowded accommodation. While not letting OP bid on less than a 4 bed as she is not allowed make herself overcrowded.

YANBU. It saddens me that the Tory rubbish is seeping into people's minds. That anyone who has council accommodation, however unsuitable, is lucky. That so few people seem to question the justice of sky high private rental prices that are uncontrolled and not affordable. That building affordable family homes has more-or-less been abandoned. That people who live in council houses are now seen as the enemy. That Norman Tebbit's 'on your bike' mentality is now mainstream. Being cooped up with a child with SN who needs outdoor space is bad for all of you (I know from personal experience). I wish you the best of luck finding something more suitable that takes some of the stress away from your family

What do you mean - Tory rubbish? SNP Govt up here - not enough social housing. Labour Govt for the previous 13 years - not enough social housing. If you honestly think that a Labour Govt would build thousands up thousands of social houses (and not sell them off) and cap the private rental market then you're deluded.

I can understand how frustrating the system must be but I would ask myself whether fighting it further is the best use of my energies or would it be better to give my time to looking properly into other options now. I wouldn't base my decisions on what other people have been allocated in the past though, as things seem to be changing a lot now.

Saintvera - true, things should be better. We should be able to offer all families a good sized house with a garden. But we can't. Those houses aren't built, or are populated by pensioners. So what can be done about it in the short term? Nothing.

As someone earlier said, living in a flat is normal in many cities and many countries. It's not 'disgusting'. It's not ideal. But it's a home.

SirChenjin, it is the Tory rubbish that started with Margaret Thatcher flogging off the council houses, abolishing fair rent control, feeding a private rental market that is costing us millions in Housing Benefit and denying the importance of communities by the 'on your bike' message. Labour who did almost nothing to reverse the situation. I am not deluded thank you

The OP has stated that she has a child with SN who requires outdoor space. Having lived in this situation, I can tell you that it is very different from bringing up mainstream children

What about people with children with SEN who live in their own owned flat and cannot afford a house with garden - should we be offering everyone with SEN children a council house with a garden? Where are we going to find these 3bed homes with gardens?

4 kids? Just...wow.

i think the acceptance of situations like these at the very least or the 'counting myself lucky' mentality is really really sad.

That acceptance will not force change.

What's with all the judging? How are comments like "4 kids, wow" helping anyone???

I was one of the people who said how lucky I am to have my SH house. I didn't mean that the OP is lucky, clearly she's in unsuitable accomodation. But I am lucky and extremely grateful!

Fecking, My husband's salary is £27k, we have a mortgage on a 2 bed council flat ( bought on the open market, not from the council). Believe me, I'm not writing to you from my ivory tower! As I said, a 3 bed council house is a 'f*ing dream' to me.like I said, many on low household incomes are ineligible for any assistance ( I didn't get a penny in maternity allowance either, but that's another thread!)

I actually sympathise with your situation, but make sure your clear about the difference between what you want and what you are assessed to need. I totally understand you wanting more than you've been given, but like someone else said, it's those that shout the loudest that the council hear. Do all the things that my fellow 'morons' on here have advised you to do. If you find out, say, that a doctor's or environmental health assessment makes you eligible for what you want than get yourself in that position. I don't know what my neighbour did, but she made the system work for her.

What will force change?

I don't (personally) know anyone with 4 children. It is a lot of children to have unless you are pretty well off & have lots of savings in case of job loss.

I said earlier that the one thing that you have that many would love is a life time tenancy. You also have the freedom to decorate how you like etc... I believe that is your right (btw)

Private renting is a nightmare ( as we all know) in terms of stability.

You will just have to look on the bright side for now. I've been where you are , and my advice (for your sanity) would be to concentrate on the good parts!

I don't think 4 children merits a "wow" does it?

Do you honestly not know/have heard of anyone with 4 DCs? Really?

captainbarnacle Fri 13-Dec-13 09:40:54

"What about people with children with SEN who live in their own owned flat and cannot afford a house with garden - should we be offering everyone with SEN children a council house with a garden? Where are we going to find these 3bed homes with gardens?"

we could build them.