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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Housing help

207 replies

Love29 · 15/08/2017 21:42

Long story I have been on the Council list (Basildon) bidding for the last 3 years to get me and my son our own place, I've now gone down as homeless and am currently in a hostel waiting for temporary acc. Once in my temp place I will continue to bid on a perm place but will be in a higher band, my fear is that I have to put 2 bids in and if there's a week where not so nice places come up ie 6th floor flat rough area, no garden arc comes up and I don't bid the Council will now put bids in for me. I know I should be grateful for any where but I still have the right to a home that I would like as I've been able to chose what I've bid on for the last 3 years so has any one been in this situation what's the chances I'll get the properties I bid on over getting one they bid on for me

OP posts:
Letstryagainshallwe · 15/08/2017 23:04

As I've said I've been in this situation but what are you asking?? It's not very clear other than you don't want a tower block.

Original poster
Love29 · 15/08/2017 23:05

What are you talking about I simply asked if any one had been through this, just because I don't want to be in an 8th floor flat with a dog and a child doesn't really make me the devil does it jeez

OP posts:
PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:05

Don't your council do a rent deposit scheme with private landlords? Beggars can't be choosers especially in a town so close to London where housing stock is severely restricted

GrockleBocs · 15/08/2017 23:06

I'm not going to keep moving my child around etc because a landlord sells the propertie or because a landlord decided he wants his home back to live in, privately rent and your could be chucked out every few years
But this is the thing most private renters who don't get council help do have to do. It isn't the way children should be living but a lot are.

DJBaggySmalls · 15/08/2017 23:07

I've been through this. What you have do do is apply to all the housing associations as well. Then be prepared to move several times by exchanging, one step up at a time.

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 15/08/2017 23:07

Well then Helena she will happily take what the council offers won't she?

It's security

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 15/08/2017 23:09

Love I have been in your situation.

My posts come from the memories of that.

I took the first flat I was offered and made the best of it. After the minimum 12 months, I went back on the housing list & started bidding again for somewhere I would prefer. I was in my "given" flat for 3 years. I wouldn't have chosen it from a brochure, but it was a million times better than actually being homeless.

I'm now wondering if you've actually declared yourself homeless to jump the list - rather than because you genuinely have nowhere to go? Hmm

PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:10

I've been in your situation. It's shit. But if a 6th floor flat comes up (are there any high rises in basildon?!) Then you need to take it. Use the cheap rent to save like billio and get a deposit together for your own place

ChrisPrattsFace · 15/08/2017 23:13

My cousin was in th same position, withoi as the dog. She had a house offered that she hadn't bid on and she took it. Genuinely one of the worst areas you could live round here.
But, house inside is in perfect condition, close to commute and nursery and neighbours are lovely.
May be shitty now, even when they give you a house that looks shitty, but in the end it will probably all be better than you expect even if it's not first or second or third choice!

ChrisPrattsFace · 15/08/2017 23:14

Without the dog**

Ilovechocolate111 · 15/08/2017 23:14

Sorry but I dont think the you are being unreasonable tbh. I had 3 toddlers under the age of 4 in a one bedroom flat and the ceiling fell in on us and the damp and mold. A very noisy pub behind us. The council turned around and said that I wasn't priority and was at the bottom of the list. (My new born child was born at 27week with lung disease and heart disease) they turned around and said that damp and mold could not affect my daughter's health! And to be honest they said that they didn't care..! So after months of bidding they turned around and said that I can have this flat which was 6 stories high with 3 toddlers! So try to imaging me with a double pram trying to get up 6 flights of stairs.
I had no chose but to turn it down.
You say you have no security with private renting. Lovely you have more right with private than the council.. read up about it!
People on here will say arww but think about the actual homeless! The council don't give to f*ks about the homeless... all the council think of is money! END OF THAT... But I think your entitled to a decent home.. If the council was to think realistically if they have you a home that you require (a forever home) they would have how many years of rent!

Anyway I hope they pull their finger out soon.. atb x Emma

x2boys · 15/08/2017 23:15

You will not get many sensible replays on here op just lots of frothing posters wo appear to think social tenants are the scum of the earth and don't pay there own rentHmm I,m guessing though if you are homeless you will have to accept what your offered you maybe able to exchange at a later date.

MumIsRunningAMarathon · 15/08/2017 23:17

A 'forever home' !?? Sweet Jesus woman!! It's the council!

You don't 'get given' forever homes.... you buy them!

Kickhiminthenuts · 15/08/2017 23:19

As a private renter whose just had the heartbreak and expense of yet another move I get why you want security but the trade off is lack of choice.

It's bullshit and no it's not right but it is how it is at the moment. Your lucky (although it won't feel it) they are housing you in your area, some people are being moved miles away from their area.
Britains housing is fucked

Letstryagainshallwe · 15/08/2017 23:19

I'm in a council house and on benefits so pipe down x2boys

PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:23

Long term assured tenancies are no longer provided by many councils. They have moved away from the old days where multiple generations saw it as a right to have a house.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 15/08/2017 23:23

When I worked for a Homeless team, people were offered one house matched by the computer and they could either take it or not. Yes, people could appeal but most were denied. So you are already in better position than many.

However, many councils refuse to allow pets in high rise blocks of flats and it's unlikely they will demand that you get rid of your pet (at least we never did) so that should work in your favour.

x2boys · 15/08/2017 23:23

My point was that not just people on benefits live in council houses lots of people work it's the attitudes on here that annoy me I live in a council house too .

AnneGrommit · 15/08/2017 23:23

OP I've been through this. Of course yanbu to not want to rent privately with all the insecurity that entails. That other people have to do it doesn't make it right. For anyone.

Re what to do now, first have a look at your council's allocations policy. We can't advise what the best thing to do in your area is because it varies from authority to authority. It should tell you how many areas you can restrict yourself to, how many bids you need to make and how many properties you can turn down and so on.

When the list goes live each week go through it with the policy in mind. If you need help Shelter have a free helpline where you can talk over the implications of what you plan to do in regard to the policy.

You're kind of stymied by being homeless because generally the rules about how they can house you give you much less flexibility if you're in that situation. Is there any way you could move in with a friend and just be threatened homeless (if your council has that category)? That often gives you a bit more wiggle room but check the policy first.

Good luck. You are absolutely not being unreasonable to want a home that is suitable for you.

Crispsheets · 15/08/2017 23:24

If you have a 3 bed council house then your children move Out, do the council make you downsize to.release the property for a family?

Letstryagainshallwe · 15/08/2017 23:26

No they don't force you to downsize crispsheets

PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:27

That's what the "bedroom tax" is about. You get help for the rooms you're allowed which is why people are angry because they're being asked to move out of their "family" home that they feel entitled to keep. Sorry it's a short-mid term loan to get you out of a hole you no longer require that size property so move and let someone who does move in. They're not being made homeless they should be being offered 2 or 1 bed properties instead.

AnneGrommit · 15/08/2017 23:27

Mumisrunning the OP isn't asking to be given anything. When she does take up a tenancy she'll be paying the rent on it from her wages. Of course she wants to make sure therefore that it is a home that suits her. And social housing is designed to be a forever home - that's kind of the point.

PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:27

Many councils offer financial incentives to downsize. So whilst not forcing you they do strongly hint at it

PlayOnWurtz · 15/08/2017 23:28

Social housing is being overhauled it's no longer going to be tenancies for life they're moving to match private rentals in both price and tenancies.