Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
SSunnyFace14 · 16/08/2017 00:27

News story last year one county in southern region had 27,000 people on its council waiting list. I expect Basildon has a similar high number of people waiting

Alpacaandgo · 16/08/2017 00:52

I'm a bit confused. Surely if you're homeless with a little one you'd be grateful for anything that was offered? At least to allow you to get yourself back on your feet and look for somewhere more ideal.

How did you become homeless?

TheHungryDonkey · 16/08/2017 01:27

Is this post for real? Yes I've been in this situation. I've bid on eighth floor flats in shitty blocks in shitty areas for me and my two children to live in. If you have nowhere to go it doesn't fucking matter.

Yes I was working full time, yes I was homeless, no I couldn't rent because no agency would take me on as a self employed single mum and rental property in the area for 2 beds at the time was £1000 a month.

I was overjoyed to get a second floor flat in the shittest crime ridden area after. It pisses me right off when somebody rides into Mumsnet on a pony declaring that the lifestyles and housing that normal everyday people, families and children live in isn't fucking good enough for them.

I've said it before. You're not homeless enough if a flat isn't good enough for you.

BritInUS1 · 16/08/2017 01:57

I don't understand how you have ended up homeless if you are not claiming benefits and could rent privately. I'd much rather privately rent than end up in emergency housing x

Booboobooboo84 · 16/08/2017 08:36

Gosh OP your getting a bit of a kicking on this, at the end of the day your homeless. You need to do what's right for your child.

I've been homeless and I've been in a hostel. I'm in a housing association house right now and I'm about to move to private rental. The two tenancies I have are no different. There is no tenancy for life anymore.

You need to lose this idea that a council house will be yours forever it won't be. It's yours while your child is growing up that's all.

The system has changed. It would be lovely if it hadn't but it has.

Maybe look back at private rentals and target landlords with bigger portfolios. They are less likely to sell than those who bought one or two houses as a retirement investment.

Also look at shared ownership schemes etc and maybe plan to buy in the future. That's the only way left to get a forever home.

As I said in my pp your circumstances have changed so the council is now desperate to home you wherever they can. Because that's for your benefit. So no they aren't being unreasonable in that.

Good luck.

Lloyd45 · 16/08/2017 09:10

When did it change a council house wasn't a life tenancy, is this recent?

FreudianSlurp · 16/08/2017 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

user1490465531 · 16/08/2017 09:29

Feel sorry for anyone trying to get a council home in the southeast it's virtually impossible now.
I was thrown of the list as I private rent it's shit especially as rents are so high here.

Lloyd45 · 16/08/2017 09:33

Wow that's hard, the government need to sort this, I don't know what the answer is 😞

GreenTulips · 16/08/2017 09:34

Even if you own your own home - it's not for life - and it's not yours until you've paid off the mortgage or die - whichever comes first

We may lose jobs or become too ill to carry on working to pay the mortgage and have to sell.

We don't get to chose the area, we chose one we could afford.

Years ago we brought in a rough area to get on the housing ladder.

We've moved a few times to accommodate the kids and will again when they leave home

I haven't found a 'forever' home and doubt we actually will.

There's no more security in a morgaged home than a rented one.

PersianCatLady · 16/08/2017 09:36

Slightly off topic but you mention a dog.

How do you have a dog in the hostel?

Branleuse · 16/08/2017 09:41

If you're homeless and in a hostel and want social housing then you're going to have to accept that you won't have the same sort of choice as someone privately renting or buying. You might well end up in a flat, and if you are offered a flat and dontvtake it, you'll be off the housing list. That's how it works. No ones saying you'd be a bad person for not wanting a flat. Tbh, no-one really cares what you want. If you get offered social housing at all then you'll be bloody lucky as it's not easy to get.

GlitteryFluff · 16/08/2017 09:45

I haven't rtft. I live where you live op.
If you're talking about Brooke house in the town centre then yeah I wouldn't live there ever. So I don't know what I'd do in your situation.
My first council place was third (top) floor flat and we lived in that for 7 years. 1.5 with DS. Then we moved round the corner and on first floor (top again).
There's such a shortage of housing here you won't get a house and a garden. But I really couldn't live in Brooke house. It's too dangerous. But I don't know how you can get out of if they're bidding on it for you.
Good luck though.

BarbaraOcumbungles · 16/08/2017 09:56

You're not homeless enough if a flat isn't good enough for you.

^ This 100%

If you're genuinely homeless then it's only fair that the council are autobidding on properties for you.

You need somewhere to live. That's all.

Kickhiminthenuts · 16/08/2017 09:56

greentulips you get more then 8 weeks notice to move with a mortgaged home though. (Last move we did in 3 weeks as the only home we could afford within school area we had to move quickly to secure)
It cost us £3000 in deposit
£500 in man and van
£200 in utility cost moves
£500 in fees to agent
£500 in reference fees and credit checks
£250 for boxes, bubble wrap etc.
£50 a month in storage costs for the things that don't fit in the new house
£90 post redirection

We found that in 3 weeks. Potentially we will have to find that again in 9 months time!!!
The bank don't suddenly decide to sell. Or put the mortgage up by 40% with one months notice like my last landlord. Yes granted rates rise, but not 40% in a month.
You can paint it, extend, put pictures and carpet down.
Do stuff in the garden, plant trees or bulbs as you'll see them grow - or at least have a choice in if you see them.
You can have pets if you want.
Your kids get a normal childhood of paints and glue without worrying (too much!) about mess.

Mine sobbed their hearts out when I told them we were moving again and they still aren't right.
Even if you stop paying the mortgage it's around 6 months before they start court proceedings.

When you paid your mortgage off it's yours, your not looking at a "retirement" of continued housing payments.

It's TOTALLY different

PersianCatLady · 16/08/2017 10:18

£250 for boxes, bubble wrap etc
You can get boxes free from supermarkets and buy a few rolls of tape to reseal them with.

£250 for boxes is an awful were of money.

Kickhiminthenuts · 16/08/2017 10:23

The only boxes I could get in supermarkets (I tried a few!) were the crappy veg boxes with holes in the bottom. Everything else had to go to their recycling now. Nothing good enough for plates etc.
Let alone enough with 3 weeks

Yes it's a shit load of money. I stored my last ones but damp in the house we rented left them unsuitable.

Kickhiminthenuts · 16/08/2017 10:30

greentulips the mortgage company don't come round to inspect and comment on their investment either.

Letstryagainshallwe · 16/08/2017 10:30

The people in my hostel had a dog so I guess some places allow it.

letmepeeinpeace · 16/08/2017 10:35

I private rented for years. I finally got a tiny 3 bed council flat. Yes, it's small and noisy but it's home. When I moved here my six and eight year old had already moved six times. We are suffering a housing crisis, people can't just pick and choose. We are very grateful to finally have stability.

BLACKTUESDAY1 · 16/08/2017 10:39

When needed social housing there was no bidding or choice. You had two offers of properties and had to take one or that was that. I got a high floor flat with no garden but was just happy to have a home when I was in need.

BLACKTUESDAY1 · 16/08/2017 10:40

When needed social housing there was no bidding or choice. You had two offers of properties and had to take one or that was that. I got a high floor flat with no garden but was just happy to have a home when I was in need.

Lloyd45 · 16/08/2017 10:42

Kick I'm with you, buying is definitely better than renting

PersianCatLady · 16/08/2017 10:44

When needed social housing there was no bidding or choice
I think it always used to be like that. People were allocated properties without all of this bidding nonsense.

usernameavailable · 16/08/2017 10:48

I wasn't homeless but the home I was living in could have actually out me and my kids lives in danger due to a disease I have. We were literally bidding on anything suitable for my health regardless of area. The policy for social housing has changed. Its to get people who are homeless housed permanently. Yes you have the right to live in a home you like, but that home comes at a cost, privately. Social housing is not a choice, its to safely house you and your family. If you get given a high rise, buy some window locks. If you are given a home with no garden make a point of going park frequently. If you are given a rough area, close the doors and shut it all outside. Somebody has to live in those properties.

Swipe left for the next trending thread