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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Homeless with son. Should I live in a tent? Or on a beach somewhere?

219 replies

SwimmingClose · 19/02/2014 00:09

I live in the south of England.

I have one child.

I have a serious chronic illness.

I cannot afford to top-up my housing benefit any more. After one year, my savings are now gone.

I worked for 25 years. My parents worked all their lives.

I will be homeless.

Its seemingly impossible to find a Landlord, Social Housing, etc without a Guarantor. I cannot find anyone unless I have a rent 'Guarantor' (which I don't have).

Any thoughts? Just don't know what to do.

Feel weird about it all too. Not sure what to do. Should I live in a tent, etc? Feel very marginalised and strange situation, horrible really.

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnish · 19/02/2014 09:42

Wow, I wasn't expecting the thread to turn out like this when I left it.

Moth is right tents are rubbish, what you want is a nice safe bridge to stay under.

fideline · 19/02/2014 09:44

Well i'm glad other people can see these threads too. I was reading at 4am (due to insomnia) and began to think I was hallucinating whole threads Grin

snice · 19/02/2014 09:46

I wonder if the OP is somehow involved with 'LL in some way eg. family member/friend and that's why she is reluctant to take advice 're eviction?

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 09:48

I dont think op needs a bridge i actually think shes not hairy which is odd haha!!
You can get tents quite cheap at this time of year surely, will beva damn site cheaper than her "not expensive part of the country (but still need to top up 300)" Hmm Hmm Hmm

fideline · 19/02/2014 09:48

I think she just wanted to know how to knit her own cash, and was riled by the digression into real life

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 09:49

Did this op have a 500 quid top up from inlaws that recently stopped or am i thinking of someone else?

waltermittymissus · 19/02/2014 09:55

I think it's someone else Hickory but then, who can be sure.

Very strange goings on the last couple of days.

fideline · 19/02/2014 09:56

Hickory FFS!!!

The PIL thread was about someone who needed an extra 500 per month, couldn't afford her housing, had a child, wouldn't listen to advice, didn't want to answer questions and then got all cross and emotional. In Edinburgh.

By contrast, THIS thread was about someone who needed a mere 300 extra per month, couldn't afford her housing, had a child, wouldn't listen to advice, didn't want to answer questions and then got all cross and emotional. In the SOUTH!!

Clearly two entirely different scenarios

Really, your suspicious mind does you no credit.

fideline · 19/02/2014 09:58

confusing myself now Wink

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 09:59

Haha!! Grin

Bagofnutsnbolts · 19/02/2014 10:02

fideline don't forget the other thread PIL OP started! This has gone nuclear! Who needs expensive entertainment when there is mumsnet?!

Loopylouu · 19/02/2014 10:06

" damn site cheaper than her "not expensive part of the country (but still need to top up 300)"

I said this up the thread, but this is very common when receiving housing benefit and privately renting. I have never seen a flat/house in my area which isn't £200 to £300 more a month than the top rate of local housing allowance. Most people have to top up, regardless of moving to a cheaper area where the discrepancy would probably still be the same.

And that's IF you can find a LL or agent willing to rent to you if you claim HB.

Plateofcrumbs · 19/02/2014 10:06

OK if this actually is a genuine OP and they are still listening.

First port of call: speak to Shelter about your current situation (I know you've spoken to them before but worth doing so again as you don't sound like you completely understand your rights at the moment). Make sure you understand exactly what your rights are with your landlord and with the council.

Then, and only then, speak to the council. There are lots of good people working in council housing departments and lots of good councils BUT many are absolutely overburdened and will only help you when you are at the end of the line (hence the advice about waiting until you get evicted) - this is insane and shouldn't really happen but it does. This is why it is vitally important that you understand your rights, and the steps you need to go through to ensure you are eligible for help.

As others have said alas it is all too easy to do what you think is the right thing only to find you're cutting off your chances of help.

I understand perfectly well that people like you can end up completely trapped through no fault of their own. It's not fair.

If you don't do a single other thing, pick up the phone to Shelter and don't put the phone down until you feel you understand what to do next.

fideline · 19/02/2014 10:07

What worries me bag is there's no way to be sure Sad.

Seriously weird past 24 hours on MN....

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 10:07

What was the other one??
I was a bit eurgh yesterday hungover so didnt come on much, i have to say i am gutted i missed it all!!

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 10:09

Thats shocking Loopy...What do they expect people to live on?!

fideline · 19/02/2014 10:10

This the one you missed Hick?

falulahthecat · 19/02/2014 10:11

It takes a looong time to evict someone, you have at least 2 months, stressful months yes but you won't be turned out on your ear the day the lease is up if you haven't sorted yourself out yet.

As you sad - no rent arrears, you just can't afford a new home, so hopefully the council or shelter be able to find you somewhere, or sort something out. You are on capped benefits now because you are renting 'privately'. Once in a council house the cap comes off, I believe, and they just pay the amount of rent you can't afford (or all of it? I'm not sure if it varies and have only ever received a couple hundred a month 'top-up' in privately rented before so am not sure.

Have you been assessed for disability, as well as having a little one? I would say those are two very good criteria for being found housing, even if it's not the situation you wanted.

Get an appointment at your nearest Citizens advice Bureau, it's full of people volunteering there because they want to be, and they'll phone people etc. for you if you feel you can't.

fideline · 19/02/2014 10:13

£200-300 pcm top-up to LHA is now the norm?

Christ the whole bloody system must be collapsing and this is selfish but I'm glad i changed careers before this all got into full swing

Loopy that was a v clear summary. Let's hope if she is real, she reads.

fideline · 19/02/2014 10:14

Sorry- Plateofcrumbs it was actually your summary I was admiring.

Sillylass79 · 19/02/2014 10:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Loopylouu · 19/02/2014 10:23

It's absolutely crazy.

When I fist moved here after my divorce I had to claim full HB for a while.

I was able to claim for a two bed (I have a ds). The LHA rate for that is £1200 per month. Only there was no one who would rent to me. I had to rent a dangerous shit pit off the dodgiest LL ever and had to pay £400 a month top up. Thankfully ds dad paid maintenance, but that was it all gone.

LHA needs to reflect rental market value of an area or private lets need to be capped.

hickorychicken · 19/02/2014 10:23

Or maybe the OP has recieved good clear advice, ignored it and accused people of abusing her...

fideline · 19/02/2014 10:24

I don't actually think she's a troll, but I can see why people might think so.

Look people are either seeking opinions/advice in which case it would makes sense to listen and be receptive. Or they don't believe/value advice they get on MN, in which case why ask?

The best advice that has been given on any of these threads is to get RL pro advice. That is what PIL woman needs and it is what tent woman needs.

TheScience · 19/02/2014 10:25

The LHA is deliberately set a percentage lower than the average rent in a particular area - the idea is apparently that it will bring rents down Hmm but of course what it actually does is means people have to top up their HB out of JSA/DLA, or savings, or borrow from dodgy lenders, or go to food banks as they can't afford to eat and pay the rent, and eventually to be evicted.