To think 4 people can't fit in 2 bed house

[BananaCakePie]

The title explains it all really.

Teenage son in one room,mother,grandmother and teenage daughter sharing a room.

Life insurance is not that expensive though Brasty and often provided free by your employer.

I dunno; its a bad situation for this family. I think the priority should be providing the kids with a decent quiet space to study.

Wow the perspective on here from some who clearly don't understand that many people have

Nothing to leave in a will
Can't afford life assurance
Couldn't afford to get a will done

How many of you have got wills? Life assurance? Those that have are you on minimum wage?

Also there's been massive cuts to housing benefit funds, council waiting lists are incredibly long (some places don't even have council housing any more) ditto housing associations (which are businesses), nursing home lists also long.

We had three kids in a room until the eldest was 8. Then we moved and our boy had a room. Our two girls shared until the eldest of them was 10 and we moved again. It must be difficult for teens of the opposite sex to share.

I think that siblings sharing is fine as long as they are the same sex or very young but not as teens and the NSPCC and most Housing associations share this view ( see below) . It's hard on your SIL if she is struggling financially but I don't think it's the right long term solution. Has she considered jointly renting somewhere with her Mum that is big enough for all of them as at least the sharing of rent and bills should make that more affordable?

Bedroom sharing
There is currently no law in the United Kingdom about children of different genders sharing a bedroom. We would not advise that children of the opposite sex over the age of 10 share a room.
Long-term arrangements(Tab content hidden)(Tab content hidden)
Parents and carers need to decide sleeping arrangements in the family home to ensure that all children are safe and their needs are met. As children get older and their desire for privacy increases, sleeping arrangements may need to be reviewed.

If you're renting or your home is owned by a housing association there may be rules in place restricting children over 10 of the opposite sex from sharing a room. Your local authority should be able to give you more information and discuss any concerns. You can also contact an experienced advisor in housing matters at your local Citizens Advice Bureau or by speaking to the housing charity Shelter who can also advise on issues such as bedroom tax.

Couldn't afford to get a will done

You can get a will done for £80.

If you can't afford that, you bloody can't afford to bring another human being into the world!!!

They definitely need someone to review benefits and housing. Try shelter and CAB? They are definitely overcrowded. Is there no possibility of social housing?

Plus a carers assessment and OT assessment.
Is grandma getting attendance allowance? If not, she probably should be if she can't manage her own needs.

I'd have a daybed in the livingroom for gran and either the teenagers sharing (( not sure how workable this would be given theyre opposite sex )) Or mum and daughter share with the proviso that gran uses the boys room for storage, getting dressed etc.

OR boy and gran share, I actually think that would be more workable than two teens of the opposite sex sharing

DH's life insurance costs something like £13 a month for £100k. Manageable if you are both working. If your family situation is not complicated you don't need a will. Money goes first to your wife, then your kids.

Yello Jesus! First you don't even read the thread properly, your posts are insensitive I'll educated and aggressive! £80 to a family just getting by is a lot of money.

As for 'well they shouldn't have kids then' circumstances change! Unemployment, redundancy, illness, oh ... how about global economic crises caused by bloody politicians and bankers and not the poor sods on minimum wage?!!!!

It's all well and good talking about what should have been done in an ideal world, but we don't live in an ideal world and lots of people don't plan on dying young and get caught out. Hindsight is a great thing but it doesn't change the situation as it is now.

It sounds like your SIL really does need to seek proper advice from someone like shelter to make sure they are getting all the help they need.

Tinkly the man who died had an ex wife, kids from that marriage, a live in partner and children with her. Complicated in terms of life assurance and wills and yet not particularly unusual.

Thank you graphista . Things have changed since SIL had her children,they were just getting by before my bother died . They prioritised the kids being happy and taking part in activities (which they can no longer afford) instead of things like life insurance,no one ever thinks they will loose someone so young .

Gran contributes £150 per week.

However she doesn't live on fresh air and dust.

So presumably that doesn't mean there is a nett £600 more available for rent if gran lives with the family.

This article offers a breakdown of the cost of living for a pensioner in the UK last year www.theactuary.com/news/2015/02/average-annual-cost-of-living-for-a-uk-pensioner-is-11200/ - the average cost of living is estimated at £11,200, of which about £3000 is for housing including council tax.

So gran probably needs/ costs about £8000 a year in living expenses excluding rent.

Which is £153 per week. Almost exactly what she contributes. In other words she probably pays her way excluding housing - she is unlikely to be a net contributor to the household running costs, and it is unlikely that without her the family would have to look for cheaper housing than they can afford with her living with them.

At the end of the day SIL can't go back and change that. Right now the focus is living somewhere they can afford and I will tell her to speak to someone for advice on benefits and housing for Gran (thankvyou all for the advice)

Not really that complicated Graph. Without a will the money would just be shared between his kids. Sadly he should have either married new partner or got a will if he planned to include her.

Not trying to be mean and victim blame. But hopefully thinking about this now could stop another family from having to face a similar situation in future.

Sorry Banana not trying to be insensitive. It's a really difficult situation for everyone and shocking that it happens in a so called wealthy country. Can it really be that the council have no obligation to house them properly.

I know you contribute anyway but have you helped her check she is on the best tariffs for everything to help reduce expenditure too?

I will help SIL look at what she's entitled to first thing tomorrow,I haven't sat down with her and gone through this yet.

Depending on your relationship with her, because the last thing you want to do it seem like you are patronising/having a go at her also worth seeing if she will let you or someone else help with budgeting? It may make no difference or it may help them be just a bit more comfy.

Does she have debts do you know?

Yes presumably things were different 15 years ago when SIL was pregnant with the twins, Yello

I would look for, or have built, a long, tall, narrow bookcase on wheels. Preferably with shelves in each side. Use it to divide a room and put a teen on each side. It will be a divider and storage.

Are you No that is what my DH, aged 52, pays for life insurance. He's had it a long time though, since he went self employed so about 16 years. I think it is cheaper if you start it younger.

My DP has a genetic illness and so can't get life insurance. But easy to make assumptions about other people.

£13 a month for life insurance is very cheap.

Brasty I have a genetic illness myself which is why only my DH is covered. I am not making any kind of assumptions.

Just looked on Martin Lewis and a 30 year old non smoker would pay £7.50 a month for 200k of cover. I think that is manageable for many people.