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

Sorry formerbabe but you are wrong, if my parents had bought a property instead of going into social housing then they would have paid off their mortgage years ago. So actually they HAVE paid for their homes ten times over and more than covered the maintainance costs.

I do hear wht you are saying Myles but i don't think getting pensioners to downsize is the answer - where are they all going to go? I would be more than happy for my mother to go into warden assisted accomodation or even downsize but you know what? There isn't any available in this area. So downsize for her would mean one bed flat.

There wouldn't be that problem of the maintainance costs if it wasn't such a lucrative business, contractors fall over themselves for SH contracts provide substantial "perks" its money for old rope. They pay underqualified workers a pittance of pay to get the work done quickly to a pretty poor standard and charge more than a premium job. So that argument for selling off the council properties falls a bit flat - there are people out there making substantial profits out of people falling on hard times.

You have a bad attitude op. You weren't shafted by your landlord, he wanted to sell his house, he was well within his rights.

You have a home, ok, so it isn't ideal, but you do have somewhere to call your home. You have to make the most of it & stop being so angry at everyone (inc people here).

My sister was in your position several yrs ago & because she thought she was entitled to a council house (because why shouldn't she be - sarcasm) she made their landlord evict her after her tenancy agreement ran out. They were placed, for several months, in a bedsit. 2 adults & a toddler & a baby in one room, shared bathroom (which was vile, I refused to sue it while I was visiting) shared kitchen (again, vile). People yelling, swearing, fighting al hours. So yeah, you probably are lucky to get a flat straight away.

be grateful of small mercies.

That is the case for everyone in rented accommodation. You are paying rent to live in the property, not to own it.

No one adds up the rent paid over time and then gives you the property...in either housing sector.

I think you have been led a merry dance yes but.........
I would be thinking about my children and private renting if you think the situation you live in is deplorable. I live in the south east also and have to private rent. Its very expensive [over £1,000] but for that I get the peace of mind that my oldest [mentally ill and aspergers] and the two younger boys have room to grow and a garden etc.
We have moved three times in three years {not really down to landlords but accomodating DS1] and yes it is unsettling to have to do it but I cannot afford to buy so this is the hand we have been dealt.
I would MUCH rather private rent then put my son through living in a box- in fact its a no brainer.
Its sad you are ill but so I am. Its not top trumps. This is life. No one has the right to a forever house unless they own it themselves. You cant afford it so you will have to private rent or be stuck there. I know what I would chose.
I dont have a problem with council house renters, benefit claimers [I get tax credits and HB etc] but I do have a problem with people who are not proactive. What is your DH doing to help? I assume there is no Berlin Wall around the town you live? Look into rentals that are further out. You have options you are just choosing not to explore them. And I would never do that to the detriment of my children.........

OP - have you considered shared ownership? All new build projects have to have a certain amount of shared ownership properties available (and you can sometimes get older properties on s/o basis as I did). Worth looking into through local housebuilders or RSLs.

I used to pay £400+ in monthly rent (private) and now pay much less than that for 50% rent and 50% mortgage - plus, I own half the property so when I sell (which I will do soon because I've another dc on the way and it's only 2 bed), then I'll have a deposit for the next house (will definitely do s/o again). Might be worth looking into?

So, a game plan: look to swap, apply to any HAs in the area, and look at private lets (some agencies, like Fair Lets) specialise in those on partial LHA.

The council haven't caused this situation op. You have. Yabu.

Can you harness some of this energy to find a solution yourself? Because right now you sound very motivated. Some other posters have come up with several suggestions. I think you should write them all down and see how much support you have got. You can always come back and ask for more guidance - MN is collectively very wise.

The poverty trap sucks. Rules changing sucks. But shit happens, and sometimes you just have to deal with it. I know it's easier to deal with shit when there is a time limit on it, and without that time limit it can be overwhelming. But YOU can change it. I'm sorry about your past. But the housing situation isn't a result of it, and it's not a personal attack on you.

Has your DS' situation changed since you were last assessed for housing? Can you document and prove that the living situation has been detrimental for him? That might bump you up the priority list. Can you get legal advice? Is there a sure start center that could help in some way? There is help out there, but it won't come to you.

You've definitely had some bad luck. If your 4DC were on the scene before this started, does that mean that they are all in school? Could you look for part time work? Again, I know it's easier said than done.

How has OP been 'shafted' by the landlord wanting his own house back?!

I'm assuming he gave proper notice and didn't kick you out in the middle of the night.

I loathe the attitude that some people in social housing have and think they are entitled more which better than those who aren't getting help can afford when privately funding themselves. The social housing in my area is bigger and better maintained than those trying to buy or those renting privately can afford and still these people think they deserve more.

I agree joysmum.

We are in social housing. I love my house, and We would never be able to afford a house like this privately, we would be lucky to afford a flat tbh.

We have had to floor the house and decorate it throughout but we have been happy to do so because we genuinely feel so happy and grateful for this house!

But I know others who have complained about having to floor their SH property, or have expected it to be decorated for them! Even though many HA (including ours) provide you with all the paint and tools to do so!

Jesus, in some countries if you can't afford to buy/rent a house privately, you are lucky to have a shack to live in.

. Yes, I am extremely angry

yes you are. now what are you going to do differently?

What Joysmum said. The woman in the flat below me has a large (700sqft) 2bed flat for her and her 2 boys ( 10 and 14) for which she pays around £400pm rent ( open market would be £1400). I listened to her complain for 6 months that the flat wasn't big enough until finally she was moved to a 3 bed house ( if you please ) in our inner London borough. Although I desperately want a second child there's no way we can afford a 3 bed place as private tenants.

The OP has been given some great advice on this thread, but, sadly, is too angry to see that.

Plenty of families live on second floor flats without outside space

This. I'm sure plenty of people want a garden too. I live in London, I'm sure lots of people don't have gardens.

Have you looked into shared ownership?

Except the LL aren't "bastards" - you are renting from them. Presumably they served you the correct notice? And no-one forced you to do the improvements - that is the risk you take if you spend an awful lot on a property you don't own

You're very rude.

I think proportioning blame is pointless. OP your family is your and your DH responsibility.

focus on them not your ex LL

OP I agree,some right idiots on this thread

flipping eck!

Wow, how rude are you?! I hope you're nicer to the guys at the council!

You sound like a real charmer, fecking. So surprised the council aren't bending over themselves backwards to find you your dream home...

A 3 bedroomed council house is hardly a fucking dream home.