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

OP, I would do everything you can to avoid private renting.

YANBU for wanting an adequate home. YABU for thinking it's the council's fault. They have no money or homes to give you.

Sorry you're having a hard time. There are lots of others in the same position, some in social housing, some in private rented or with a mortgage. All sucks.

Well yes, lots of frothing and swearing on this thread already....

I may be able to help op. There's a way to get the council to take note and to act. Her situation might be one of those cases. But doesn't look like op is coming back tonight

Exactly RedLondonBus. There's a criteria which has been drawn up by the council to try and house those with the most need first. And I'm guessing as demand has grown over the last few years thanks to our crappy economy that the council have had to get even stricter with their policy.

Yes it is moving the goalposts but for understandable reasons.

I don't see how pointing out that someone else with higher needs will have to lose out so OP can get her house makes me have council house envy.

YADNBU - I've been through this -

First go see a solicitor and see if there is a legal angle - Councils are good at bending the rules to suit themselves so get some legal advice.

Second - contact your local MP - I hope you vote? There are some fantastic MP's working hard at local level for their constituents - My MP is brilliant and housing is her thing so find out your MP and email them - see what they can do.

I had to apply to the council 8 years ago when my lovely happy life fell apart - DH killed in a car crash, redundancy then finally eviction. I had a newborn and a toddler and they placed me miles away from my family and friends, then offered me a flat miles away from my new job - Travelling time would have been 3 hours a day - I took them to court and then they miraculously found a flat in my area, back with my family and support and 2 mins walk from my job!!

Don't give up - keep fighting - are you in a permanent flat? can you apply for a swap?

Good luck!

why should she be given housing if she is able to afford to rent privately? it shouldnt be given out because you have waited for ages, but because you are in need of it. not because you prefer it to private renting!

I am in two bed flat, with two children, one with sen.... But, it is half my two bed flat... makes a big difference to how it feels.

sorry that things keep changing op. the unfairness of being told you can have something, then them changing the rules is heartbeaking. a lot easier to deal with if you know what is happening from the start. the insecurity and the powerlessness of it all is very draining.

its grim - i feel for you. However (see - i didnt use a but.... there is a desperate shortage of affordable social housing - council houses really are a thing of the past sadly - social housing is now often run by private housing associations.

we used to live in rented accommodation - my dh was made redundant the same month i had my first child. we ended up moving in with his parents (a whole other fresh hell....) we applied for social housing back then. we were all sleeping in one room. our belongings were in the garage. we never had enough points (back then it was a points system). in the end, after a year we rented privately - and got moved from pillar to post 11 times when LL wanted to sell their houses etc.

sick of being moved on, we bought a house in 1993. we couldnt afford it. we borrowed a deposit. we shopped at nettos. it was crap - but at least it gave us security.
i realise that its not so easy now to buy - i guess we were lucky. but back then i would have envied you actually getting any kind of council property - especially for 450 a month.

im sorry you feel so bad about it, but try to hang on to the fact you are paying so much less than you would otherwise - i guess thats the compromise. if you cant live with that, and if private rented is an option, i guess you to relook at that. Can you do anything to make the space you have feel bigger? room dividers for the kids rooms? my house is tiny - but i cant afford to move, so we have really tried to use whatever space is available wisely. could you look at built in furniture? space saving furniture? do you have an ikea near by?

So you think she should privately rent,claim housing benefit and your tax money will then pay a private LLs mortgage?

Happy to spend your tax on that

Yanbu

Get a plan organised so you have something to work towards, look forward to. Try for a swap. Maybe have a look to see if you could buy in the future, especially if you are saving £500+ a month compared to a private rental.

It doesn't sound like you will ever be given better housing so you need to try and make the changes yourself.

Where does the op say they can afford private rental? She doesn't. To go private will mean housing benefit because it is too expensive for them.
Going private is not always an easy option. Money spent just to do credit checks, never mind finding the deposit, and for what the landlord to say nope, not giving it you, you claim housing benefit.

These threads are vile, it shows a side of mnet that I really don't like.

OP that is a shit situation you are in - i really hope that you get to move on soon x

opti op could use the councils rent assist scheme whereby they are given the deposit and a list of landlords who are reputable

Think they will apply for HB whichever housing route they take

Actually Vicar (waves) has hit on something - about SH being often run by housing associations - is there any way you could apply to housing associations? their definition of adequate housing may well differ from the councils?

Sorry OP but you need to get a bloody grip and stop feeling so entitled! I live in a standard and small 2 bed flat. Mortgaged. Single parent to a small boy. No outside space. Been here 3 years and have only the basics. No wardrobes, not even lampshades for ceiling etc!

I work FT. 1300 to childcare. Remainder of salary on bills. Im at zero before I've even bought food and have to really hustle to survive. Wont be forever but times are bloody hard. Once my boy is at school we will have more cash to spend and have fun. Im hoping to progress at work and in my career etc.

You should count yourself lucky. There are plenty of people really suffering at the mo. That's life. Sick if people just expecting things to be honest.

Of *

Oh dear.... Council housing IS housing association. They all work as one these days. Bidding systems operate using all the local housing stock

I should add that im all for SH for folks that need it. Simply dislike people constantly moaning that places arent good enough or they constantly expect more. Drives me nuts!

Why "Oh dear"? It was just an idea, you know, trying to be helpful instead of making nasty comments about how the OP is "entitled"

'So you think she should privately rent,claim housing benefit and your tax money will then pay a private LLs mortgage?'

Happy to spend your tax on that

Yeah, but it's a way to get a house, because she doesn't want a flat. And a house that large in the SE, at least 4 bed if the child with SN requires own room and the others are different genders over 10?! C'mon, usual, you know those are hen's teeth in a lot of places.

It's a game plan to get a house if you can't find a swap.

I'm sorry op. Its not easy. For you and many others. Things are changing and not for the good. You are going to start having to look at other options. The SE aint cheap.

I see OP has decided to assume none of us have a difficult life or past and we are just posting from our ivory towers. Excuse me while I go sew up the holes in my last pair of trousers because I can't afford to clothe myself if I want to eat or feed my child. And that council rent sure looks good to me and my pile of debt from having to cover the difference in rent and housing benefit on private rental prices. At least I can work though eh? That must help? Oh no, wait, too ill. Fucks sake. You aren't the only one struggling, OP.

You aren't the only one struggling, OP.

Of course she's not. But does that mean she's not allowed to have a rant about the situation?