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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would social services really say this?

52 replies

Rogerroger744 · 17/03/2018 17:57

My friend told me that her social worker advised her to stop paying her rent and to get herself evicted to get a council house because she is struggling to pay her rent. She's known for being very loose with the truth, would a social worker really advise that?

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 17/03/2018 18:00

I hope not as being evicted for non payment of rent is usually considered to be making oneself homeless... and you don't get re-housed for that. Although if she had a child your friend would be housed, but who knows what emergency housing is like in your area?

TabbyMack · 17/03/2018 18:00

No, they wouldn’t.

Wouldn’t work, anyway. She’d be classed as intentionally homeless.

blueskypink · 17/03/2018 18:04

Do you mean because it wouldn't work op, or because you think that social workers are upstanding members of society?

Original poster
Rogerroger744 · 17/03/2018 18:06

I'm unsure whether this is just her grand plan she's made up or they would actually suggest that. I was shocked and said I personally think that's a terrible idea, especially as it would mean splitting her kids up too. The three oldest would be with their dad (they are divorced) and her two youngest would stay with her at a family members house. None of that is my business, I can only advise her as a friend but I was so shocked when she said and find it hard to believe they would tell anyone that. Council housing is hard to get around here for anything more than a small flat

OP posts:
NewYearNewMe18 · 17/03/2018 18:07

Is it possible she misinterpreted what a SW said?

Original poster
Rogerroger744 · 17/03/2018 18:08

Blueskypink I guess I thought better of ss. I don't really know much about them as I've never had any experience with them and don't know anyone else who has

OP posts:
Bumbumtaloo · 17/03/2018 18:09

I don’t think so. The advice is always pay your rent regardless of the situation. Most local authorities would see that as making yourself intentionally homeless. Has she applied/does she get housing benefit?

On an aside from that is she even on the housing list? I know our LA’s are really coming down on who they let register on the housing lists. One of our LA’s has such a huge list that they have huge waiting times for houses even for genuinely homeless cases.

Original poster
Rogerroger744 · 17/03/2018 18:13

Yeah she gets the majority of the rent paid via LHA and has put the rest to it as it exceeds the maximum benefit allowance. She is on the lists already

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 17/03/2018 18:15

It’s very unlikely, as PP have said that would count as intentionally homeless. Is it possible she’s misunderstood?
Or maybe she’s trying to justify a decision by saying she has SS backing (even if she doesn’t)

Bumbumtaloo · 17/03/2018 18:15

I guess it would then comedown to the LA as to weather they deem the rent to be affordable as to them thinking she has made herself homeless.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/rules/intentionally_homeless

SmashedMug · 17/03/2018 18:16

I think she's misunderstood the advice that you'll often get when your tenancy ends and you've nowhere else to go and they say to stay and not leave. But they always say to pay your rent still.

Oldraver · 17/03/2018 18:19

I would take it with a pinch of salt if she has form for lying.

All you can do...if you want to do anything is advise her NOT to stop paying her rent

Mercurial123 · 17/03/2018 18:22

She would still need to pay her rent. My current tenant has applied for council housing as I need to move back in the property to be near to my parents whose health is not good. I have to get an accelerated possession order in place and this will be enough to get her a council house. She will stay in the property until she has a home and I still get the rent.

CrochetBelle · 17/03/2018 18:24

Having present input from social services, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

Bowerbird5 · 17/03/2018 18:27

Unlikely.

expatinscotland · 17/03/2018 18:29

Not at all likely.

littlegecko · 17/03/2018 18:30

They probably were explaining that it's very hard to get a council house and the only way to get on the waiting list is if she is homeless. I would imagine she has misinterpreted this information deliberately.

LittleMyLikesSnuffkin · 17/03/2018 18:34

Bloody hope the social worker wouldn’t tell her that! I don’t if all councils are the same but places I’ve lived will not usually go out of their way to help you if you’ve intentionally made yourself homeless. Which you would be eventually for not paying your rent. Not to mention there just isn’t that much social housing available now.

But while my family social worker was fantastic some of the ones friends met appeared to be batshit. So might have happened.

IrisAtwood · 17/03/2018 18:35

I don’t think any social worker would advise someone to make themselves intentionally homeless - especially with the housing crisis.

Depending on where your friend lives even if she has children she is more likely to end up in one room in a bed breakfast for months.

The days of local authorities having houses and flats to give to homeless families are long gone!

Ariesgirl1988 · 17/03/2018 18:36

I can't say I'm surprised I worked with Social Workers and believe me they're a mix bunch of brilliant at their jobs and shockingly bad! however you friend is seriously deluded if thats what she thinks. If's she's evicted for non payment of rent the HA will just stick her in a hostel or B&B as they call them now and will think twice about giving her place if she doesn't pay rent and has been taken to court and evicted due to not paying rent. He best option is to declare herself homeless saying she can no longer afford the rent on her place and ending the tenancy but either way she needs to get legal advice.

Schlimbesserung · 17/03/2018 18:37

No half-decent SW would say this. Sadly, not all of them are half decent (as with all professions).

Longtime · 17/03/2018 18:40

What happens if the person stops paying their rent if they have absolutely no income, ie no right to unemployment benefit and spent all savings?

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 17/03/2018 18:40

What a foolish idea.
At best after eviction she'd go on a waiting list for housing but if she and her children are housed at their dad's and a family member's then she won't be a priority. She'll be on the waiting list for years and years. There's a massive shortage of council housing.

It's one thing to find it impossible to pay the rent and another to intentionally with hold it.

gamerwidow · 17/03/2018 18:42

I think it's more likely that the SW has said she would need to be evicted from her property before she would be considered for social housing.
I have a lot of sympathy for your friend it's nigh on impossible to get affordable housing and if you are in a house you can't afford you are trapped.
It's all very well saying rent somewhere cheaper but if you are only just scrapping the rent together then you cannot afford to save the deposit for a new place.
I'm sure others will be on saying oh well she'll get the old deposit back which is true but it won't be until she has left the house and she needs it before she moves to the new place.
Then when she defaults on the rent as she'll have to if she really can't afford it she'll be told she made herself homeless so jog on plus she'll probably have a CCJ against her so no other landlord will take her.
It's a desperate situation for some out there.

MyDcAreMarvel · 17/03/2018 18:45

Longtime if they had a child social services may place child in foster care . Usually though they would pay for a bed and breakfast and help with a deposit for a new private landlord.