To put my name down for a council property?

[Teddylikeshisbeans]

I know I am probably being unreasonable and am donning my hard hat ready...

I currently live in rented accommodation. We’ve lived here for a while and we are lucky we have a great landlord.

But... I have one DC and another on the way. In hindsight I should have purchased a property before having children but I couldn’t afford a property before and I have some gynaecological issues so it felt like now or never to have a child.

I live in fear that the landlord will want to sell or move back in. We have debt so I doubt we’ll pass a credit check for another rental should that situation arise. We are trying to save but have no way near enough for a deposit on a rental. We are also on UC although we both work.

Our rent is more than reasonable but the council/HA properties are £200+ cheaper each month.

I hate the insecurity of rental. Would I be unreasonable to put our names down for a council property? I don’t know how big the waiting lists are in my county and I know we wouldn’t be anywhere near high priority.

Nobody could sensibly say yabu to put your name on a list. It will be very long though and you're v unlikely to get one while you have a roof over your head. If you get evicted in future though, it will be handy to already be on the list.

Unless you live in a county with a surplus of social housing you won't get on the list. Certainly in London and the South East you need to demonstrate a local connection and a housing need just to get on the list. You don't have a housing need and would not qualify.

It doesn’t work like that unfortunately. As you’re in accommodation the council won’t add you to the list. If you were in the situation of being evicted they would help find you another private rental. There are only so many properties and at least triple the amount of families with genuine need on the list, it’s very hard to get considered for one even when you’re a priority. The best thing you can do is keep a good communication line with your landlord, they have to give 2 months notice of any changes anyway. I know private doesn’t feel like home and stable enough as I rented for 8 years myself and hated the unknown, but you have a roof over your head and that’s the main thing.

Thanks!

I won’t go ahead and do it just want some more security

I live in the SW so I would be interested to see how long the waiting list is though

That is true I could be in a far far worse situation. I do have a roof over my head at least

Go for it just don’t pin your hopes on actually getting housed.

Not unreasonable at all. That's what social housing is for. Depending on the situation local to you you may be lucky.

There’s no reason not to put your name on the list, you have nothing to lose and at least you’d already be on the system if your landlord ever does need the property back.

As you’re in accommodation the council won’t add you to the list.

Not necessarily the case. Policies will vary from area to area.

If you go on your local council website it should tell you how long the waiting lists are.

In my area everyone gets accepted onto the list, as long as you haven't intentionally made yourself homeless.

However if you're in a property and not getting evicted the chances of you getting the offer of a house are next to none, even if the house is overcrowded.

Not unreasonable at all. We did very similar and got housed within 6 months. We were privately renting a tiny one bedroom flat for £800pcm when I got pregnant. Once DD was born we registered with our local council for housing, as a family you had to earn under a certain amount as your combined wage, we were £1000 under this so able to get our names on. There is a huge waiting list but our council has a scheme where they have to offer a certain percentage of homes to working people, as both DH and I work we were told this list is much shorter and we’d not wait as long. A lovely large 2 bedroom property came up available, on the working list, and was specifically for key workers which I came under. We applied, and were the only applicants to meet the working and keyworker criteria. We got accepted and moved in when DD was 6 months. We pay £600pcm so it’s much more affordable for us, is far more secure, and the best move we made. I would definitely look into if your local council does similar as you mention you both work so this could really help you.

Nothing to hurt by trying. Get your name on that list!

Get yourself on the list if you can and start bidding every single week if your local council/HA runs a choice based lettings scheme. You may not get anything quickly but if you do get given notice on your current place you should be further up the list with a history of bidding.

I had to give up my private rent when I went back to uni and was staying with a friend, when I had to move on due to circumstances I went to the council and got given a band 2 priority. I was offered a flat for myself and my child within 3 weeks. I had no idea that I would be eligible until I enquired when practically homeless, so could have been on the list for months before. My new flat is in a pretty dodgy immediate area but it's a beautiful flat in a sought after little town and most of all it's very affordable.

Good luck

Some councils will not put people on lists unless they are threatened homeless or in homelessness/temp accommodation. These days of 'put yourself on the list' are long gone in many areas. Also, many areas also no longer have stock to fit a family of 4 at all, they put you in temporary accommodation and then offer you a private let, so you're back in the same situation you are now, and it'll be take it or leave it. Sadly you need to do more to make yourself and your children's lives more secure. The days of getting a nice council house with a garden are long gone in a large number of areas.

Look into Stepchange or Payplan to get your debt under control and work on your credit rating. Have a look on moneysavingexpert forum to get free advice on your debt and improving your credit rating.

If you live in the south west and are already housed then you don't stand a chance - my mother is in a privately rented place which is inadequate because she is disabled and she has been told she won't be accepted.

Qhy not, you have nothing to lose.

I'm in the northeast, hear anyone can ask to go on the list. In fact the criteria for the lowest band is people who are housed but would prefer council. Would probably take about a year to get a flat, or 3-4 years if you were holding out for a house.

But we are lucky enough up hear to have a good housing stock, realise this isn't the case for most places.

It’s very unlikely you’ll get on the list. I work in the field, have a disabled child and my landlady gave me a section 21 (eviction notice) I still wasn’t eligible. You have to be in absolute dire straits in the south unfortunately. because I know just how frustrating it is not to have a ‘home for life’.

I wouldn't not do it, but be prepared depending on where you are and where you want to be housed then it could take years. It wont hurt to actually put your name down though.