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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be disappointed we are not able to access social housing

46 replies

billiejeanbob · 04/03/2015 19:01

I am a full time carer to my two disabled dc, also have a third dc currently being assessed for SN. I suffer from mental health problems and have bad depression and anxiety. My dc have complex needs and are statemented and recieve middle and high rate dla. I am really struggling at the moment.
We have lived in our privately rented house for 5 years and the landlord has not done any repairs. The house is in desperate need of repairs being done. There is a lot of mould and damp, hole I'm the ceiling from a leak, the bathroom floor is rotten and has a big hole in it. The window looking into the garden from the kitchen does not close at all and the house is freezing. I have repeatedly asked the landlord to do the repairs but he refuses and has now served me with a section 21 notice to quit as he is selling the house. I am now expected to have potential buyers in almost daily viewing the house, which is very difficult with the dcs.

I have been to my local council who have told me that I need to privately rent again. I feel stuck as I can't afford a deposit and the landlord here will not give me a reference as he is not happy I have complained about the repairs. I am worried about what will happen and anxious. I can't sleep properly, I have been looking every day for properties to rent but none are within my budget. I really hoped that the council could help us with affordable rents with social housing. AIBU?

OP posts:

TheFecklessFairy · 04/03/2015 19:08

The Council are telling you this because the more people who privately rent the less people they have on the waiting list. I think the advice is to wait until you are being evicted then the Council will HAVE to do something to help.

I am sure someone with concrete advice will be along soon.

Sparrowlegs248 · 04/03/2015 19:09

No, yanbu. The local authority have a duty to offer advice and assistance, and should be trying to 'prevent homelessness' by various options such as inclusion onto the housing register, assistance with a deposit to rent again etc.

Contact Shelter, they will take your details and speak to the council on your behalf.

Gigi789 · 04/03/2015 19:09

I don't think the council can help until u are actually homeless and will encourage u to stay in the property until legal notice has expired and landlord has been to court to evict you. This can take many weeks and is not a pleasant experience but with social housing at a premium the council will hope you can find something privately and only step in when it's absolutely emergency. This may involve u having to accept temporary accommodation. I'm so sorry u and your children are in this situation x

Gigi789 · 04/03/2015 19:12

By the way id tell the council about the conditions your living in, and you don't have to allow viewings, you're entitled to peaceful enjoyment of your home. I hope the council checked the s21 is legal?

motherofmonster · 04/03/2015 19:25

The council will nit help until the threat of being made homeless is within a couple of days.
i would however suggest that you start gathering evidence of estate agents ect that you have contacted looking for alternative accommodation. Make sure that that the estate agents know that you are on long term benefits . Also as horrible as it seems you need to let them know of medical and mental health factors, lack of deposit ect. Then you can be honest with the council when you give evidence that you tried to find alternative housing but no one was willing to help...The council needs to see evidence that you have tried.
Also you should be contacting your local doctor and health support workers to see if they will write a letter detailing the mental and physical strain that this is putting on you and the dc's and how important it is in your welfare to have stable and suitable housing.
Only when you have been removed from the property will they class you as in need. Be aware that some councils will try to say you have made yourself deliberately homeless of you leave before a court judgement, so hang on as long as you can.
then it will probably be a case of hostel/b&b and then on to tempory housing. Once you are in this the council has a duty of care to re house you. Each council works to its own targets. It can vary between 6months to 2 years.
It us a horrible situation for you to be in. And its disgusting that in order to get help you almost need to be on the street and cause your current landlord problems but it is the only way now to get any help.
I don't know if your council runs a choice based point system or not. But if they do go online and it should show you how the points are allocated, this will be the best way of working out what to push for to get the most points.

also as a after thought have you considered looking into the alms houses. These are for people in need, with low rent and there are more than you would imagine. May be worth a try xx

ArcheryAnnie · 04/03/2015 19:29

YANBU - and alas, I know a lot of people in your type of situation. (That's why we need much more public housing.)

Good luck, OP.

expatinscotland · 04/03/2015 19:31

Get on to Shelter, but in many councils, you have to be homeless to access anything, and then it might well be temporary housing until a social let comes free.

Out0fCheeseError · 04/03/2015 19:34

I can't help much but if it helps at all, you do not have to allow viewings, regardless of what it states in your tenancy agreement. The right to quiet enjoyment supersedes any thing except a true emergency eg a gas leak. So if you wish to refuse viewings and have the mental strength to do so ;and I quite understand why you might not, in such difficult circumstances) then know that the law is on your side.

MsAspreyDiamonds · 04/03/2015 19:41

Can you report the landlord to the council for the dangerous living conditions you have been forced to live in.

expatinscotland · 04/03/2015 19:41

YY, you don't have to allow viewings.

MrsTawdry · 04/03/2015 19:43

I agree they're lying. They give you that rubbish to put you off applying.

maddening · 04/03/2015 19:44

Say you refuse to allow viewings without a good reference.

gallicgirl · 04/03/2015 20:02

The Council should have a department called something like Private Sector Housing who can help you to force the landlord to make repairs and fine him if he refuses.

Of course, the downside is that the landlord could give you notice, or put up rent. He sounds like a toe rag of a landlord anyway but I understand how stressful this can be. There desperately needs to be some sort of change in housing regulations to protect good tenants but also help those landlords evict bad tenants.

Laquitar · 04/03/2015 20:16

Contact council again, Selter, local councilor.
Can i just send you a hug:-)
Do you want to say where you are?

Gigi789 · 04/03/2015 20:20

Check where your deposits held cos if it's not held properly the notice is invalid.

BoredFatCat · 04/03/2015 20:26

like somebody said you are homeless so they have to rehouse you the council btw i live in HA and they are crap with repairs i got mushrooms growing out my wall and nobody has come to fix it and i have no floor luckily im moving because of different circumstances but i would of had to stay here if i didnt have the other issues

Sparrowlegs248 · 04/03/2015 20:32

The council CAN help before you are within days of homelessness and in fact have a legal duty to. This is what I do for work every day. Many many councils practice 'gatekeeping' or, in other words, fobbing people off.

Please contact Shelter, they will make sure the council are doing what they should be.

You don't have to prove that you have been looking for private rent, but the council could discharge its homelessness duty to you by offering you a private rent.

PissedOffRestingFace · 04/03/2015 20:35

We were in a similar position a few years ago op. My husband lost his job and the council misinformed us that we could not claim for housing benefit. Stupidly we believed them and as a result rent arrears accrued. The council would not step in once the notice to quit was served as we had to wait until our landlord obtained a court order to evict us (adding unnecessary costs to our debt to them and stress to all parties). They made it clear that if we left before then we would be leaving 'voluntarily' and as such they'd have no duty to house us. So with no other option, it went to court and order was served. At that point the council stepped in and found us a private landlord who would let to us accepting housing benefit and the council sorted the deposit via a scheme they run which we would then pay back in installments.

The problem we are facing now is that our property is too small and we need to move again. However this is more problematic this time round as we have a CCJ on our credit records which will not go down well with agents/landlords.

Hopefully my experience will reassure you that the council will not leave you high and dry, however I wanted to point out the costs of that help in the longer term.

NiceCardigan · 04/03/2015 20:38

Have you been able to join the housing register? It depends where you live but there will be criteria that you need to fit such as living in the local area for a particular length of time. When you apply to join you will gets points or be put in a band and then you can bid for social housing.

You shouldn't leave where you are as you still have a legal right to live there. When the notice period has passed the landlord needs to apply to the court for a warrant of eviction. This is the date you need to leave. You can make a homelessness presentation to the council when you are threatened with homelessness i.e. it is within 28 days. They will then make a decision as to whether they have a duty to help you.

JsOtherHalf · 04/03/2015 20:41

Do your children have a social worker? They might be able to support you with rehousing.

bimandbam · 04/03/2015 20:41

Keep going back into the council. Tell them there is nothing you can find that you can rent privately. Ask them for help.

Go to shelter. Go to cab.

Do you have ss for your dcs? Get them to help too. Also contact your mp.

The more people you ask for help the more likely you are to get it.

Original poster

billiejeanbob · 04/03/2015 20:57

Thank you for all of your replies. I am just feeling so overwhelmed tonight and have been panicking.

I have joined the local housing register but been given a band E which means I have no housing need so can't bid. We don't have a social worker, my dcs have a paediatrician but there is a long waiting list for an appointment.

Thank you for suggesting shelter. I have just googled and found a local number for them so will give them a call in the morning.

I did mention to the council about the repairs that need doing but they said as I have been served notice I will have left the property before they can act.

I just feel like I have let my dcs down. They are so vulnerable and innocent in all of this - they deserve better. I would love to be able to work to support us but the dcs can't cope with childcare and would need 1:1 care. also i know that won't help us in the short term and feel that I have no way of improving our situation.

Thank you for all of the advice.

OP posts:

AntiHop · 04/03/2015 21:01

You haven't let your dcs down. You're doing your best under very challenging circumstances.

JsOtherHalf · 04/03/2015 21:09

Keep phoning the paed's secretary and ask them for a supporting letter for rehousing.
What age are the children? If they are under 5 then get the health visitor onside. If over 5, can the school nurse help?

Laquitar · 04/03/2015 21:14

Would it worth to take some photos just in case and to call somoene to write a report about the house state in case you need it in future to prove that it was not your fault?

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