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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off with how difficult the council make it to get housed

42 replies

AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 25/10/2018 18:59

I know they have long waiting lists etc...but currently i am helping a homeless family

They have fk all and are sofa surfing. It is heart breaking. They were evicted from their old place LL was selling up

Today the council demand proof of correspondence address or they will cancel their housing application. They don't have bills or benefits letters or anything to tie them to ANY address as they are no fixed abode and havent for a while now

This is just the latest in a long list of hoops this family have had to jump through for the last six months, to attempt to even get where they are now

It is so frustrating. This family are so deserving. They try so hard and are constantly having to leap through hoops

ARGH
rant over

OP posts:
CookieSwirlC · 25/10/2018 19:03

It’s a requirement. We can’t process a housing application without proof of a care of address it’s policy. Now I’m wondering if it’s my area!

AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 19:06

so when ll evicted them did they not take eviction notice to the council

the council will be used to homeless people no longer having a proper address

Bugsymalonemumof2 · 25/10/2018 19:06

People always spout "go to the council to be housed" without any real clue about just how bloody difficult that actually is to achieve.

Do they have young children? My loval sure start got the council to help me through specialists

AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 19:07

can they use your address for correspondence?

topcat2014 · 25/10/2018 19:11

I am trustee of a housing charity in my town. Our charity office will act as the correspondence address if required for it's clients.

Maybe there is something similar in your town?

KanielOutis · 25/10/2018 19:13

They must have a C/O address. Where are they sofa surfing?

Caprisunorange · 25/10/2018 19:15

But what’s the point of a c/o address when sofa surfacing? They’re not going to get the post so what’s it’s useful for?

AnonaMouse1 · 25/10/2018 19:16

weren't they given temporary housing?

bumblebee39 · 25/10/2018 19:20

Why are thy not in temporary or emergency accommodation while the application is processed?

tissuesosoft · 25/10/2018 19:26

The jobcentre (provided they’ve made a claim) or a local housing charity (in most instances) will let them use their address for correspondence.

tissuesosoft · 25/10/2018 19:29

The Jobcentre and other public bodies also have a duty to refer as of 1st October 2018- www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-duty-to-refer/a-guide-to-the-duty-to-refer#introduction

lampygirl · 25/10/2018 19:35

I presume if the LL was selling they were given notice to find themselves an alternative place to rent though? Selling houses isn’t instant.

LakieLady · 25/10/2018 19:39

Where do their bank statements, benefit letters, hospital letters etc get sent? What address does their doctor have for them? On driving licences, passports if they have them?

The qualifying period for a local authority to have a duty is either 6 months of the last 12 or 3 years out of the last 5 years, so it may be possible to establish that they have a local connection that fulfills the 3-year test and the council has a duty for their last settled address.
Somewhere you have lived involuntarily (eg prison, hospital) doesn't count.

I have used Experian reports to verify previous addresses when clients haven't got proof of residence. Costs £2 I think, but they go back a long time (6 years, iirc) so are useful for establishing local connection under the 3 out of 5 rule.

If someone has a prima facie case for being in priority need but is unable to establish a local connection, I believe that a council has to help them and then refer them on to the council that they believe they has the "local connection" duty. This may have changed since the Homeless Reduction Act though, I haven't dealt with a disputed duty case for several years now.

Some councils try it on and insist that you have to have been liable for council tax to have a local connection and all sorts of other shite, like utility bills in your name for the address in question. There are loads of ways you can live somewhere for years and not be liable for council tax etc, eg adult children living with parents, lodgers.

Shelter, CAB, local law centre or similar can help. Local agencies are best, as they tend to know the best way to play it with the local council.

Good luck!

LakieLady · 25/10/2018 19:44

Why are thy not in temporary or emergency accommodation while the application is processed?

Because councils bloody hate paying for it! They may not have a strong case for being in priority need (no kids, not vulnerable or elderly, care leavers etc). The council I deal with will only put people in TA if they really think they're going to have a duty to house them.

SnowWhitesRestingBitchFace · 25/10/2018 19:50

We lost our home when my DH lost his job (very suddenly and with no prior warning, our home was tied to the job) and we've been at my mums ever since (February).

We only got given a bidding number last month and we applied in March! That was always because of one problem or another.

There are 6 if us in a 1 bed flat. That's my mum, me, DH, DS11, DS4 and DS5months and we're given a C band as apparently we are only minor over crowded. They have admitted they made a mistake but have to do a home visit to check we aren't lying about our circumstances. We don't have a problem with this but that was 6 weeks ago and still no visit. I spoke to someone two days ago and they still had me down as being pregnant even though they have a copy of DS's birth cert!

Babyroobs · 25/10/2018 19:55

I was trying to help a client today. He spoke very little English, had been placed in high priority band but had no idea how to bid, has no computer. There wasn't even a council phone number on the letter- I managed to get hold of a number but it was impossible to actually speak to anyone to try to find out how he gets help with the bidding process, it just went from one automated message to the next and directing him to websites but her doesn't have access to a compute. The charities he had approached were too overwhelmed to help him. So unless we can help him with the bidding process ( not really our role and we are overwhelmed with other work because of Uc in our area). he will remain terminally ill stuck in a shared house/ hostel type place.

Original poster
AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 25/10/2018 19:57

can they use your address for correspondence?

Of course, I have stated this in a signed letter to the council

But without their name on a utility bill, apparently it isnt sufficient

Honestly I could cry at the ridiculous-ness of the situation

so when ll evicted them did they not take eviction notice to the council Yes they did - all that can be offered is hostel accommodation. They stayed a night, and suffered an incident that is under police investigation. They only stayed one night and now move around week to week

They must have a C/O address. Where are they sofa surfing? They have a C/O address they can use, unfortunately the council will not accept this without PROOF, bank statement, benefit letter, utility bill, something official but obviiously cannot provide this as they are not resident at any address at all

I presume if the LL was selling they were given notice to find themselves an alternative place to rent though? Selling houses isn’t instant Two months notice was given

LakieLady some useful advice there, thank you. They have never changed addresses with any other agency, they arent on benefits, low wage earners.A parents address is used work wise. They have never changed addresses with doctors etc - as feel it will cause them issues as they have moved out of their dr catchement area

OP posts:
Original poster
AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 25/10/2018 19:59

I dont know if people realise how vile hostels are, bulling, drug taking, and crime are rife.

They are worse than sofa surfing in many cases

OP posts:
Original poster
AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 25/10/2018 20:00

I was trying to help a client today. He spoke very little English, had been placed in high priority band but had no idea how to bid, has no computer. There wasn't even a council phone number on the letter- I managed to get hold of a number but it was impossible to actually speak to anyone to try to find out how he gets help with the bidding process, it just went from one automated message to the next and directing him to websites

Exactly the same in my city. Exactly.

There is no help...and the bidding website is very glitchy, at least 50% of the time, you cannot even log in..you can never see your bidding position to know how near to being housed you are

OP posts:
DayAtTheRaces · 25/10/2018 20:08

AiryFairy; are they on the electoral register?

Could they approach their Member of Parliament?

Original poster
AiryFairyUnicornRainbow · 25/10/2018 20:24

AiryFairy; are they on the electoral register

At old address, yes - unfortunately that doesnt suffice

The local councillor, is the assistant mayor ''in charge of housing' - he has been contacted numerous times, but ignores every contact

Apparently MPs dont deal with housing issues here, as i have been in contact with our local one last week and he basically told me to to jog on and speak to the councilor who had been ignoring us for the last 3 months

OP posts:
Mucky1 · 25/10/2018 21:23

Can they not change their address at the bank to their C/O address then ask for a statement to be sent? Or would the council not accept that.

AlphaBravo · 25/10/2018 21:27

How can they have a utility bill if they're homeless 🤔

dontalltalkatonce · 25/10/2018 21:32

This will only get worse because private renting is so insecure in the UK.

Musereader · 25/10/2018 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.