To think that my sister should be able to find a HB friendly rental in Bournemouth

[grapelovingweirdo]

My sister left an abusive marriage with two children back in January. She works part time so that she can do the school run (her stbex works from early till late and can't do it).

She has found out that she is entitled to some housing benefit to help her pay the rent.

Trouble is, she can't find a landlord who will rent to her without a guarantor. She's currently on my sofa. My boyfriends daughter also decided to move in back in December so we have a houseful (small two bedroom flat).

Does anyone know of anyone who can help? The council won't help her as they see her as having somewhere to stay. Thing is, my sofa is not a good long term solution for anyone.

There's no one who can act as a guarantor. We are not in the position where we know anyone who can do this. I can't. I tried and i failed the credit check.

Children are with their dad at the moment. I feel like the system has thrown my sister away and left her to dangle. Even working full time in her minimum wage job would mean she needed help. She's not qualified for anything else, having been a full time mum since she was in her teens.

you need to write a letter to the council advising that from x date you can no longer offer your sister a bed. they also need to know how many people are living in your flat as i would assume they would class it as over crowded if she has to be on the sofa and therefore should then help her. Has she filled in the housing forms or just spoken to a call centre - i only ask cos when i left my EA stbexh the call centre told me to bog off but when i filled in all the forms i was accepted onto the housing list

HTH

I did write a letter. Only because she asked me too, not because I would ever turn her away.

The lady from the council phoned me and asked me if I was sure I couldn't put her up. I mean, they were so keen to fob her off it was sickening.

They refused to even look at the letter properly.

I'm glad you were accepted onto the housing list. Are you sorted now?

Post on Bournmouth netmums (I know!) As they're a mine of local knowledge.

Dave Wells takes on tenants with HB - he has a reputation though, both good and bad depends on who you speak to.

I was about to type something similar
. He's "known" for taking hb isn't he? You often see the vans around... but I'm not sure about the reputation.

Dave wells turned her down. That's when we knew we were in trouble! Say they need a guarantor. We don't come from big earning, house buying stock. I'm the only one out of the whole family who works full time.

Have you tried housing associations? Or housing/dv helplines? Really not sure what to suggest but wish I knew.

Ah that's the one I was thinking of

Bournemouth churches housing association. Google it and it has an advice line. I believe this is their kind of area. Sorry can't link on phone.

Is she looking for just her or her DC too? If the marriage was abusive, and she's on tenancy agreement at DC home can she have her ex removed?