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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Applied for housing (London) and was rejected

176 replies

PetitDiable · 23/10/2015 11:49

I couldn't find a suitable topic to post this in, so I'm posting here.

I'm nearly 8 months pregnant and living with my mother in a 2 bedroom flat with my two other brothers because my XP threw me out 3 weeks ago. Come December, when baby is due , my two other siblings will return home from university. I am currently sleeping in my sister's box room.

I applied to join the housing register 2 weeks ago, but received an email telling me I'm not eligible. How can this be? Perhaps there are a lack of homes in my borough. It's a pretty affluent area so I wouldn't be surprised. But what am I suppose to do? I can't live in an overcrowded home with a baby. We would have nowhere to sleep once baby is here and my siblings return home.

I have no job. I've just set up a claim for income support. I can't get any help financially from my family. My mother is on a state pension and my siblings are on a low income.

Has anyone been in a similar position?

OP posts:
OddSocksHighHeels · 23/10/2015 12:44

Landlords will accept babies, some might not agree to it but most will be fine.

The problem is that not many will accept housing benefit which I'm assuming you will need. They also want credit checks and reference checks, many ask for proof of income and bank statements too. If you go through an agency they are likely to tell you that you need a minimum income in order to rent otherwise you'll need a guarantor. In the £800-£1000 monthly rent range most ask for you to earn a minimum salary of anything from £27k to £30k.

Sharing a house with others or finding a landlord without involving agencies will be your best bet.

Original poster
PetitDiable · 23/10/2015 12:45

What reason have they given for refusal?

No reason. Just had a letter stating that I'm ineligible as a I'm not a priority.

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 23/10/2015 12:49

www.ealing.gov.uk/info/100007/housing/378/homelessness

"The law on homelessness changed in November 2012 - this means that accepted applicants will be helped to find housing by renting from a private landlord.

You will not be offered a council or housing association home.

There are not enough council and housing association homes in Ealing for those who want one - most of the homes we let are allocated to those who have high care and support needs and to council tenants who need to move because their homes are being knocked down and rebuilt.

You may not be able to afford to live in Ealing anymore - if you are affected by the government's welfare benefit cap and you cannot find paid work, you may have less money coming in each week. We will explain to you where you can afford to live and this may be outside of the Ealing borough."

That's Ealing Council's policy on allocating social housing - I'm pretty shocked by it to be honest, I thought my borough was draconian.

HorribleMotherCo · 23/10/2015 12:56

DH has a relative that was in hostel type accommodation (small kitchen area but basically just a room with a shared bathroom outside) for 10 YEARS in North London. She moved in when pregnant with her son, she never had any more children so she was not moved. She was of the mind of 'soon, I will get a place' so kept waiting! Just last year, she was allocated a 2 bedroom flat on the 8th floor of a tower block.

Really, really do not count on the council especially in London. Ask for help with a deposit and a list of reputable landlords and try and rent privately with housing benefit help.

Alternatively you could ask your mother to apply for a larger property, I read somewhere that 2 beds are more in demand than 3/4 beds because of the bedroom 'tax'. I think you have to be part of her household for 12 months though?

PolterGoose · 23/10/2015 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jsku · 23/10/2015 13:08

This is just so typical. And please feel free to throw stones at me.

Most of us have to make responsible choices, wait until we can afford to have a child, live on what we make, pay taxes...

And why - well, so that other people can do just the opposite, and be picky on top of it. So that they can have babies without having a clear way of supporting them. So they they can "not plan on working"...

I feel sorry that you feel vulnerable, but mostly I feel bad for your child who has very little going for him/her.

If you are asking for all of us to pay for your housing - then you don't get to "not consider moving away out of London".

PolterGoose · 23/10/2015 13:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

expatinscotland · 23/10/2015 13:14

The days of getting a council/HA property in most boroughs of London are long gone. There is also some very radical welfare reform coming in next April.

OddSocksHighHeels · 23/10/2015 13:15

jsku asking us all to pay for her? Don't be silly. She doesn't have a job now, it doesn't mean that she never has and never will again.

Things don't always go to plan, no matter how much you like to feel confident that you've made the "right" choices.

ThruUlikeAshortcut · 23/10/2015 13:16

If you are asking for all of us to pay for your housing - then you don't get to "not consider moving away out of London"

Nice Hmm

Where has she said she expects us to pay? We know nothing about her personal circumstances, not all tenants in SH are getting housing benefit you know! She may not be working at the moment because she is 8 months pregnant.

ilovechristmas123 · 23/10/2015 13:17

sorry about your situation op

this is exactly why i agreed with the op on the thread yesterday about an oap having her own house (not living in it) but was able to renting a council place.that should of been given to somebody without a permanent home

people should not be in B & B's and sleeping on friends floors when some people own their own place and are still elegible for LA housing

good luck op

stealthbanana · 23/10/2015 13:17

ThruULikeA - you took your council to court because you wanted to live in Westminster rather than East London? Jesus H Christ. No wonder the system is in such a mess if you think that's an acceptable way to behave.

OP - Flowers. Sorry your life has been turned upside down. I don't have any advice but good luck x

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/10/2015 13:17

Where were you and your exP living? Was it his property? Were you on the tenancy?

harshbuttrue1980 · 23/10/2015 13:17

I agree with jsku. I work full time as a teacher in London. Can I afford to live in London? Can I hell. I don't live in Slough out of choice, but because that's where I can afford - I'd far rather be in Chelsea! Why should my taxes then be used to allow someone who isn't working to choose to live in one of the most expensive boroughs in London?

I do have some sympathy with your overcrowding, and I think that the government needs to provide suitable housing for all. However, I don't think you should be as picky about where you live. Your choice may well be a flat in a place like Slough or living in overcrowded conditions but keeping your posh postcode.

HorribleMotherCo · 23/10/2015 13:18

jsku DFOD. I imagine you planned everything out in your perfect little world and because it turned out fine, you see fit to sit in judgement of others.

OP pay no heed to idiotic comments from the likes of jsku

Of course you need to stay near family.

expatinscotland · 23/10/2015 13:21

They'll move you out of London. You need to find an alternative and sadly, don't get to pick where you live unless you are paying for it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34580932

Babyroobs · 23/10/2015 13:21

I read somewhere that there are a million + people on housing waiting lists n Londn and surrounding areas. The situation sounds truly dire. I would consider moving elsewhere if the council will help you do that. I understand about nt wanting to be away from your suport network , but I don't think you have too many choices available to you to be honest. As pp says you could try private landlords and may get lucky but the ods are stacked against you. Contact Shelter.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/10/2015 13:21

stealth
I know of someone else who has done that successful. This time West London to East London move imposed by the council. He would have had to move his three children out of school mid term and try to find new school places. He won too and then the council found a place after all.

ThruUlikeAshortcut · 23/10/2015 13:22

you took your council to court because you wanted to live in Westminster rather than East London? Jesus H Christ. No wonder the system is in such a mess if you think that's an acceptable way to behave

More judgey knickers being hoisted Grin You know nothing about my situation - A Judge agreed with me, don't really care what you think tbh!

OddSocksHighHeels · 23/10/2015 13:22

OP is heavily pregnant with her first child. She's just out of a relationship. Is it really surprising she wants to remain near family?

She isn't asking to live in Chelsea either!

Mistigri · 23/10/2015 13:22

Ealing isn't one of the most expensive boroughs in London though. It's zone 3/4 and although there are nice bits but there are plenty of fairly grotty ones too.

HeySoulSister · 23/10/2015 13:22

You'll have to be prepared to move out of London. No pointing pushing for something which won't happen.

stealthbanana · 23/10/2015 13:23

I'm not doubting it doesn't happen Chaz. I just think it's madness.

expatinscotland · 23/10/2015 13:23

'Of course you need to stay near family.'

That is simply not enough anymore, Happy, for boroughs in London.

stealthbanana · 23/10/2015 13:25

Thru - nothing to do with knickers, it just becomes very clear why the housing system is so under strain when you are litigating to live in the most expensive borough in london.

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