To ask if you live or work in Social Housing, can you talk to me?

[circlingstupidly]

Sorry, I'm having a very hard week with anxiety but trying to keep pushing on and stay positive.

I have multiple disabilities, I work part time when possible but keep losing jobs. I got PIP but it's finished and is in the middle of waiting for a tribunal. Because I am under 35, this means I am not able to get the housing benefits I used to get. I'm stuck.

I had a few appointments with a housing officer at our local council. At that time they could not put me on the list as I'd not been in the borough long enough. Now I am, so should I put myself on the list? I had medical points before but when my old landlord sold up the place I shared with friends I had to move. I am a lodger now and because I am on the ground floor, will I lose my medical points?

I have no security in my lodgings though? But i expect that doesn't matter?

Also, I live in a place very oversubscribed for housing. If I'm on my council's list would there be any option of being offered a social housing flat elsewhere in the country where property is less in demand? I'd go like a shot if it was a secure tenancy. I'm fed up of the strain of worrying I'm about to be homeless.

Finally, if I was ever lucky enough to get social housing, are they mostly in ok shape with nice neighbours? I have PTSD and bad anxiety and can't manage aggressive men. I used to think all social housing was very nice these days, but after Grenfell Tower read some terrible stories about deprivation and neglect in social housing and how in the cities some big estates are notorious for crime. I though that was basically all in the past.

Realise I probably would never be offered a flat anywhere anyway.

Would you consider relocating to Scotland?

Yes absolutely. As long as I can get to a city with good hospitals within an hour or two.

Rightio. If you go to www.housingoptionsscotland.org.uk and click on "get help" they will be able to assist.

Oh wow ok thank you will go and look at that right now. I had thought you had to be recently resident in any area for a certain amount of years to be considered!

Well housing is less in demand in my town in the north west but I think you need to speak to your housing officer regarding wether you could be moved elsewhere in the country ?I live in a two bed housing association house they are good at doing urgent repairs , but you may have a bit of wait for less urgent repairs , but I can only speak for my housing association.

Not in Scotland. Some areas have a shortage of social housing but others have an over supply. You can apply for housing wherever you want. Depending on what you need / where you would like to stay you may not have long to wait.

Thank you. Yes I'm going to email the housing office I was in contact with before and see if I could get an appointment. To see if there are any options.

Absolutely keep on the social housing lists and look around the country as waiting times can vary a lot. Our house was in a shocking state when we had our 1st HA home, it took 6wks of fumigation to get rid of the fleas and decoration was awful too. We then did a mutual exchange to a larger home and this house was in a worse state than some of the awful cleaning shows on TV. We couldn't move in for weeks as it was so filthy and I had to farm the kids out to stay with family while work & cleaning was done. Some houses are lovely and don't need much help work but I think they are the minority. It would probably help to expect some work needing to be done if you got a social house. Also keep in mind that carpets, curtains, cookers etc aren't included in the home so you'll need those too. Good luck

Ok, thank you. I don't mind dirt and deep cleaning or some work needing doing, I'd be concerned about things like bedbugs or rats though! I suppose all can be gotten rid of in the end though. But yes decorative stuff doesn't bother me.

Structurally, the houses should be in good shape (councils and HA have strict guidelines about length of time taken for repairs etc) but you'll probably have to decorate and do your own flooring.

Neighbours are luck of the draw though, same as anywhere - people in social housing could be the kindest people you'll ever meet or drug dealing scum and everything imbetween.

My brother moved to gateshead and got a council flat in 2 weeks

North East has over-supply. I got a house in less than a week. It was a few years back though. I love it here though, great place to live.

are they mostly in ok shape with nice neighbours?

No. Every house we've had has been a proper state.

No. You can't choose your neighbours and they could be good or bad anywhere. We've had some horrific ones on social housing estates.

My HA house is beautiful. It's only 5 years old. The previous tenant had left carpets in upstairs that had only been down 6 months. I just paid to have them professionally cleaned. There was laminate down in the bathroom and kitchen and downstairs loo.

It was neutrally decorated and clean.

However my dsis council house was a shit pit. Literally. The previous tenants had kept a litter (8 of them) of staffies in the living room for 3 months while they sold them. It was that bad that the council had to replace the floorboards as nothing wpuld get rid of the smell.

Neighbours here are lovely. It's luck of the draw. Waiting times will be a lot less oop north.

I live in scotland and there is a lack of housing where i am.

I have had a few different houses and some have been in really poor condition and some in a walk in condition.

Ok, thansk for more replies. I'm in a very low mood about this all tonight. It doesn't seem like there is any way to have a secure tenancy unless you're very lucky.

The Shelter helpline will be able to advise you :08088004444
Good luck, assistance to get stable safe housing should be available to those who need it.

Me again OP. Loreburn Housing Association in Dumfries and Galloway were advertising this the other day "Looking for housing in Sorbie? We have a 1 person 1 bedroom bungalow at St John's Place available for immediate let. Contact Callum R on 01387 321 300 for more details."