Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council house

212 replies

Snoreborewhoreee · 17/07/2017 09:24

My situation currently is me, my partner and three children living with my mom in a 3 bed house, it is very cramped, and I feel awful for taking over my moms house.. I've been on the council housing list for a long time and unfortunately we just don't earn enough to private rent.. Basically my question is, two houses down a family have just moved out and I was wondering whether if/how I could go about asking the council if we could have it before they put it up for bidding? I'm not sure if this is a possible thing or if they will just tell me to get lost basically? Any advice or same situations would be appreciated?

OP posts:
sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:06

Bless you, MumsnetHQ. Deleting posts doesn't make their content any less true. Defensive, much?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:06

Honestly I actually do know a woman who did this. Her friend moved out, and she moved in before her friend filled in the paperwork, returned keys, etc. It was presented as a fait accompli. She was essentially a squatter but she had a newborn and the council just let her stay. I'm guessing she was an exception though.

That's not how squatting laws work.

Jux · 17/07/2017 13:06

You could manage in a 2 bed, one room for you and dp and the other for children. Sharing is fine. Then you can settle a bit, take stock, check out your options re work, qualifications, study etc, and in the future get a bigger home. You really can manage, even with 3 children in a 2 bed place.

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:07

I was, for many many years, probably more years than this woman's been alive or had her kids. I have this flat because of my disability, no more reason.

I've paid my way, thanks. She clearly hasn't. And her having kids doesn't give her a free pass to try to work the system by trying to queue jump.

KathArtic · 17/07/2017 13:08

Wow the bitterness and nastiness on this thread is astonishing

No it's not nastiness and bitterness, it's telling the truth as it is. Why do people sympathise with those who don't help themselves and then complain if anyone points out the facts.

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:09

Kath, likely because most of them are of the same mindset. Entitlement.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:10

Private renting isn't an option as even if I could save for the deposit, my partners wage requires a guarantor before anyone will give us a house, the rent for a three bedroom house in my area is £700 + which we just can't afford and the council say they can't tell us how much housing benefit we would get until we are in a house!

She never said how much he earns. Just that it requires a guarantor. Read again.

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:12

She says they can't afford £700 a month for rent. So either he needs to earn more, or she needs to get a job too. I don't understand what's so difficult about that.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:13

I've paid my way, thanks. She clearly hasn't. And her having kids doesn't give her a free pass to try to work the system by trying to queue jump

RTFT. Her partner WORKS. Does he not pay his way then? What about everyone else in a council house? I worked from the age of 16 for many years (also now disabled). Paying my way gives me no more of right to me an odious judgmental knob than it does you.

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:14

Yes, he works, but he doesn't earn enough to support them. And she does not.

Do you condone deliberately having three children that you can't pay for or house, then? Genuine question.

VeryButchyRestingFace · 17/07/2017 13:14

She says they can't afford £700 a month for rent. So either he needs to earn more, or she needs to get a job too. I don't understand what's so difficult about that.

And what if he can't earn more? Or the childcare costs involved wipes out any income from her "getting a job"?

What then?

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:15

likely because most of them are of the same mindset. Entitlement.

Wow. How predictably judgemental and hypocritical.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:17

So either he needs to earn more, or she needs to get a job too. I don't understand what's so difficult about that.

Well it's clearly too difficult for some on this thread to comprehend. Hmm

Whiterabbitears · 17/07/2017 13:17

Entitlement! Pah! There you go again with your judging! There are some people in this country who believe that ALL social tenants are entitled, so surely that includes you too?

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:17

Your questions are circular, Butchy If they couldn't afford to support three children, which they CLEARLY couldn't if they earn so little they have to live with her mum even before they had them, then they shouldn't have had them.

But since they were irresponsible and did, then they both now need to pay their way to support them.

BitchQueen90 · 17/07/2017 13:18

Highly doubt that the OP getting a job would improve the situation as then presumably she'd be paying out for childcare for 3 children.

I don't really understand why people get so het up about this. The OP just asked a question, not to have her life choices vilified. seven if you're really not angry about it then why do you care so much to post? Hmm

Alfieisnoisy · 17/07/2017 13:18

Wow sevensisters. You are lovely aren't you?

Then again you say you're not jealous. BULLSHIT! If you were not jealous it wouldn't matter to you.

You're envious...admit it.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:20

Do you condone deliberately having three children that you can't pay for or house, then?

For someone who isn't bitter or jealous in the slightest. You seem awfully overinvested on some random strangers reproduction skills..

sevensisters7242 · 17/07/2017 13:21

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:24

Having a partner who doesn't work in a good enough job to support them either? Again

So now hes gone from being a feckless individual to someone who doesn't have a good enough job as he doesn't earn enough? Welcome to the real world. Hmm

Jesus wept. Katie Hopkins called. She wants her mantel back.

VeryButchyRestingFace · 17/07/2017 13:25

Your questions are circular, Butchy If they couldn't afford to support three children, which they CLEARLY couldn't if they earn so little they have to live with her mum even before they had them, then they shouldn't have had them

They're not remotely circular. It's been well established that you think OP shouldn't have had 3 children, even though circumstances change and someone who was well able to provide for a family may have since fallen on hard times and is now struggling to do so.

Since the children are already here, and can't be sent back, what is the sense in repeating "shouldn't breed them if you can't feed them" ad nausieum? How does that help the OP now?

You are assuming that OP's partner can simply click his fingers and earn more. We don't know that. He may be working overtime as it is and have maximised his earning potential. Well paid jobs aren't exactly growing on trees.

Whiterabbitears · 17/07/2017 13:25

Maybe you are jealous that she has a partner and kids? It wouldnt be very nice to be judged on an internet forum would it?

BitchQueen90 · 17/07/2017 13:28

seven I just don't understand why you'd be so bitter and angry if you weren't envious of something. If you're so superior then surely you'd feel only sympathy for those in a worse situation than you.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 17/07/2017 13:35

Bless you, MumsnetHQ. Deleting posts doesn't make their content any less true. Defensive, much?

No. There are rules to adhere to on this forum. Abide by them and you clearly won't be deleted. It's called being responsible for your actions. Bit lime you're expecting the OP to do... Hmm

Want2bSupermum · 17/07/2017 13:36

I think if you are not working you need to look for a job with consistent shifts outside of your OHs working hours. You can then save up for the deposit for a private rental. You should also be calling the council every single day, ask about your tier, find out how you can qualify for a higher priority etc. Just don't have more DC!

Honestly you situation doesn't sound so bad to me. We have 3 DC and they all share a room. It's not a huge room either, about 10'x12'.