To wonder if social services become involved if you're made homeless?

[Confusedmartie999]

We've privately rented for years.
Had to move many times, sometimes our choice to follow jobs / family and sometimes landlords selling or increasing the rent beyond out affordability.
I wonder what would actually happen if this property ( been here 2 years but apparently owners are retiring next year according to neighbours and will sell ) if we physically couldn't raise deposit / rent in advance / moving costs and find a suitable property near kids school and we got evicted after notice served and went to the council.
Would social service become involved as the children would be homeless?
Or would they house us in temporary accommodation etc as it wouldn't be an intentional homeless case?
Worrying ahead of time

Shelter have lots of info on their site too. www.shelter.org.uk/

Rent is £1000 and 6 weeks deposit plus £300 for a van and £400 ref so just over £3000 a time
It's sickening
I physically can't do it anymore

I did think if one or both people were working the council would just give you a list of private landlords though as they will say we can afford to privately rent :-(

Landlord will legally have to give you a section 21 notice to ask you to leave, minimum of 2 months. Your agent should confirm this. Go to the local citizens advice centre to get some advice, most have appointments or drop in times.

A council may not look at housing options with you unless you have actually been given notice to leave the property or there is another reason why you cannot remain. You should be able to join the housing register (waiting list for social housing) I would do that ASAP. They should give you basic advice over the phone. Depending on where you live in the country some areas have waiting lists years long whilst others may be much quicker, all councils prioritise people on their own criteria for allocations to properties. It can vary a lot.

If you do have to leave the property the council will try to prevent you from becoming homeless by working with you to secure another property. If that is possible then it is unlikely social services would be involved unless there are other concerns for your Childrens welfare.

As others have said if you are found intentionally homeless (done or failed to do something that has led to the loss of the accommodation) or if they offer a property to prevent you from becoming homeless which you turn down and you have nowhere else to go, they may have a duty to make social services aware of your circumstances as you have children. Social services may contact you to check your housing plans. If you really have nowhere to stay and the council have no duty to help, they may assess you or consider helping or they may offer help only for your children.

I would try to get some confirmation from your agent about your landlords plans, if looking like you will be asked to leave start getting advice and making plans. Be proactive and try to take control of the situation. Far better than just waiting for the council to come up with something, as may be the last thing you want to consider.

Sorry for massive post!

Good luck.

Social services have no ability to 'put pressure' on housing. Sometimes they write a supportive letter but it rarely gets listened too. Housing have their own criteria. Social services may be notified and may have a duty to assess under section 17 of children act but that does not mean it will become a child protection concern unless there are other concerns. Social workers will assess that you have done all you can to avoid situation and to secure housing and from what you are saying you have done all you can. There are too many people who believe that social services can provide housing. Good luck with your search.

We're just going through this, had a section 21 notice to leave the property, they have to give you 2 months legally! We have to be out end of May and we spoke to the council and have a meeting next week with a housing officer. We were told as we have a 4 year old that they have to put us somewhere, my dh works but doesn't drive and had unsociable hours so not being within walking distance would cost him his job, I have long term illness so can't work. The council said that it's all irrelevant as we have a child they have to house us but could be temporary (b&b) etc until something more permanent comes available and with a child we would be highest priority. There has been no mention of social services at all. Like you we have nowhere to go and very little money to pay privately again. I've also not long found out I'm expecting too. Worst timing ever

In my area the council run an interest free loan to cover deposits if you have no money.They can also provide you with temporary accomodation in b and bs however these are often a way away making it difficult with school etc.
You can put yourself now on the list for a housing association property but in my area its a 2-3 year wait even if high priority but go to your local council housing advice they will go through your options.
I feel for you I have moved nine times in twelve years due to landlords selling property!

If a family is previously unknown to SS - no, not in my Local Authority. Certain Housing Associations may refer to make SS aware but there would be no assessment of need unless other risks identified.

I can't put myself on the list as we are not homeless as haven't been served notice as yet.
It's good to know it doesn't seem to be a social service issue if it does happen although the thoight of living in a BNB is awful, wouldn't the school be made aware?

Unlikely the school will be aware. You may want to tell them about what is happening in case the children are upset or stressed about what is happening. As they will pick things up at home but not fully understand.

Really unusual not to be able to join a housing register unless threatened with homelessness. I would maybe check again?

Oh of have lived in the borough for 5 years which we haven't sorry

Wonder if that rule of not living in the borough for 5 years applies if you're made homeless actually. Whether that may move you back to your old borough

Local connection rules are different for homelessness assistance. You need to show you have lived in the area for either 6 out if the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years. If you don't meet those criteria then they can still assess your situation but may refer you back to an area where you do meet the local connection criteria.

They make you jump through lots of hoops.

Also employment (not of a casual nature) in the area will count as a local connection.

Ok my husband is a fixed contract of 40 hours a week so that's fine and we have lived here for 2 years now so shouldn't be a problem that side of things.
I bye we end up in private rent again anyway!

As you can't refuse it can you on the grounds it's unstable!

Probably not no but if you don't have the money for the deposit?

I think they'll offer the deposit

My understanding of the legislation regarding homelessness is as follows:

If you are deemed to be unintentionally homeless and in priority need (because of having children in this case) then the Housing Dept have a duty to re-house you. Having said that all councils are desperately short of housing stock (most of it is sub contracted to HAs) but there is still a massive shortfall with demand far exceeding supply. But the duty remains, and so they would have to find accommodation. They are not meant to put families in B & B (and not for longer than 6 weeks) but they do this in some areas of the country where there are no other options.

Because of the shortage of council/HA properties LA Housing Depts are now in the ludicrous situation where they have to house people in private rented accommodation in order to fulfil their duty, but tenants can claim Housing Benefit if they fulfil the criteria. If you are unfortunate enough to live in London, you could be housed anywhere in the country, where the rents are cheapest.

NB Don't vote Tory

Incidentally even if you are deemed to be intentionally homeless but in priority need they have a duty to provide you with temporary accommodation.

LA Housing Depts can loan advanced rent and deposits etc on a private rented property as this is a cheaper option for them than having to provide accommodation themselves.

OP PLEASE stop worrying about social services - (retired social worker here with 30 years experience) and child protection procedures - it won't happen - there has to be evidence that a child is being significantly harmed. Time was when Social Services would be able to provide some financial help for families in need of housing (and yes S.17 of the CA 1989) is still in existence but they too are severely cash strapped so it's highly unlikely you would get any financial help from them. Sometimes social services and housing work together but this will be on the basis of helping homeless families not invoking child protection procedures (unless of course there was evidence that a child was being abused/neglected)

I agree with others that SHELTER (the biggest Housing Charity) are excellent - have a look at their website, and you can talk to them on the phone.

I'm wondering OP about this "help to buy" scheme (not that I know anything about it) and there may be a catch but might b worth a look at the details. The other thing is there are properties where you can buy a half share (again worth looking into) there were some really nice houses in our local paper being offered for sale on this basis (3 bed semi) for around £60/£70 K - it's a really tough time for families and anyone in need of housing as owners can keep increasing rents and evicting tenants if they think they can get higher rents.

CAB might be a good place to give you information. The other excellent charity on all welfare rights is Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)

My understanding of the legislation regarding homelessness is as follows:

If you are deemed to be unintentionally homeless and in priority need (because of having children in this case) then the Housing Dept have a duty to re-house you. Having said that all councils are desperately short of housing stock (most of it is sub contracted to HAs) but there is still a massive shortfall with demand far exceeding supply. But the duty remains, and so they would have to find accommodation. They are not meant to put families in B & B (and not for longer than 6 weeks) but they do this in some areas of the country where there are no other options.

Because of the shortage of council/HA properties LA Housing Depts are now in the ludicrous situation where they have to house people in private rented accommodation in order to fulfil their duty, but tenants can claim Housing Benefit if they fulfil the criteria. If you are unfortunate enough to live in London, you could be housed anywhere in the country, where the rents are cheapest.

NB Don't vote Tory

Incidentally even if you are deemed to be intentionally homeless but in priority need they have a duty to provide you with temporary accommodation.

LA Housing Depts can loan advanced rent and deposits etc on a private rented property as this is a cheaper option for them than having to provide accommodation themselves.

OP PLEASE stop worrying about social services - (retired social worker here with 30 years experience) and child protection procedures - it won't happen - there has to be evidence that a child is being significantly harmed. Time was when Social Services would be able to provide some financial help for families in need of housing (and yes S.17 of the CA 1989) is still in existence but they too are severely cash strapped so it's highly unlikely you would get any financial help from them. Sometimes social services and housing work together but this will be on the basis of helping homeless families not invoking child protection procedures (unless of course there was evidence that a child was being abused/neglected)

I agree with others that SHELTER (the biggest Housing Charity) are excellent - have a look at their website, and you can talk to them on the phone.

I'm wondering OP about this "help to buy" scheme (not that I know anything about it) and there may be a catch but might b worth a look at the details. The other thing is there are properties where you can buy a half share (again worth looking into) there were some really nice houses in our local paper being offered for sale on this basis (3 bed semi) for around £60/£70 K - it's a really tough time for families and anyone in need of housing as owners can keep increasing rents and evicting tenants if they think they can get higher rents.

CAB might be a good place to give you information. The other excellent charity on all welfare rights is Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)

SORRY - didn't mean to duplicate post! Time I went to bed!

Thanks for your very helpful post
That's put my mind at ease somewhat
I hope it doesn't come to it but am less worried if it does now.
Well slightly less worried as I would hate to be living in a hostel environment with children :-(
We did look at the part buy places but we would need a good £10,000 for one. Which we don't have and can never save whilst paying £1000 in rent every month

If you stay until you're evicted, do you still get your deposit back? I have no idea about this, just wondering if the LL can keep it to cover legal costs. Will you need that deposit to help with a new place?

I don't think they would put you into a hostel with children. They're usually single occupancy (and single sex?) and don't take under 18s anyway. It would be B&B (grim but at least you'd have a door to close) or a temporary flat.

I wonder if you could get a loan for the 10k for the part buy places? If the repayments were similar to the difference between your current rental costs and the cost of half rent/half mortgage on the part buy place?

No we can't get a loan as done earn enough and we don't have the best credit either as paying back loans from before we had children
I think they would keep our deposit to cover the months rent it would take for us to be legally evicted
Would it be in the same area or could it be somehere hundreds of miles away?
It's crazy people scam the system and actually want to go through this just to get a council home for cheaper rent as to be it seems horrific