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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Council house advice

75 replies

Soph30363 · 27/05/2020 15:22

Hi,

I’m new to this forum and would really appreciate some advice.

I’ve had an awful couple of years with my now ex partner. Our daughter is two. He has been very abusive and I’ve barely held it together however now I’m coming out the other side.

We live in Southwark and I don’t have any family here so have been pretty much alone. I am a nurse and have a good job and I’m happy here. We live in his flat (he owns it) and he kept throwing me and my daughter out, causing lots of upset. After a visit from the police (my friend called them) everything came to a head and they were really helpful. I finally feel like I’m getting control back.

Southwark council are offering me help with private renting and I’m being placed on the housing register. They have advised I’m in ‘band b’ however I’ve been told it’s unlikely I’ll get a council property.

I just wanted some advice - has anyone been in a similar situation? How long did you have to wait for a property?

Thanks,
Sophie

OP posts:
DontStandSoCloseToMe · 29/05/2020 10:21

OP do look at keyworker housing schemes lots of my colleagues rent at discounted rate in nice blocks or small houses or have bought through rent to buy etc with keyworker housing, that's greater London

Original poster
Soph30363 · 29/05/2020 14:32

@DontStandSoCloseToMe thank you! I’ll be sure to have a look x

OP posts:
Original poster
Soph30363 · 29/05/2020 14:33

@Idontknow23 totally agree. So many things we take for granted x

OP posts:
Original poster
Soph30363 · 29/05/2020 14:35

@Leflic do you mean to rent? I’m not sure but private renting in London is so expensive. My housing officer told me not to go over £310 per week but in that price range the places aren’t nice!

OP posts:
Original poster
Soph30363 · 29/05/2020 14:37

@Kaykay066 they could put me in temp accommodation but after the meeting told me I qualified for help to rent. Sorry you have been waiting so long - think it’s the same everywhere! Good luck to you xxx

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 29/05/2020 14:41

Just for a contrast, I rent a 2 bedroom house out and it is (I reckon!) really nice. North east. It rents for £395 a month.

loobyloo1234 · 29/05/2020 14:42

I would def move OP. If you are happy to relocate. Some councils have a much shorter waiting list than London boroughs. Could you move somewhere that meant you could still commute in if you wanted to stay in the same job?

Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 29/05/2020 14:44

Lovely, can you find a cheaper place somewhere you can commute in? I don’t know which hospital you work at but if it’s near Southwark there are lots of areas that are commutable so you could stay in your job and your daughter can stay at her nursery. You should be eligible for the housing aspect of universal credit as well. See what benefits you are entitled to even though you work. I work at an East London hospital and all the staff live in Essex, Kent etc.

highmarkingsnowbile · 29/05/2020 14:56

I'd move out.

PawPawNoodle · 29/05/2020 15:24

[quote Soph30363]@Leflic do you mean to rent? I’m not sure but private renting in London is so expensive. My housing officer told me not to go over £310 per week but in that price range the places aren’t nice![/quote]
I'm sorry but that isn't true, just a cursory search for 2 bed properties in Southwark showed up plenty of decent places well under budget. What were you hoping to get for your money?

Waveysnail · 29/05/2020 15:28

Why not start looking for a new job in another part if country? You would be away from ex, afford your own forever home.

vikingwife · 29/05/2020 15:34

Not in your country but recently got into a council house & it sounds like a similar process here in Australia.

You have a decent job & not on any kind of tenant blacklist right ? So you could afford to rent outside this area if you chose. You aren’t in genuine need from what you describe. You admittedly just don’t like the places in your budget because they aren’t nice - but what guarantee is there a council house would be nicer ? Why do you have to live in that zone, could you not compromise & rent in a zone further out if you want something nicer?

It sounds like you will be better off taking their help to get you into a private rental, otherwise declare yourself homeless, start living in motel rooms/b&bs and go through the hoops they require to improve your chances.

Original poster
Soph30363 · 29/05/2020 16:37

@PolPotNoodle I’ve been to visit 6 places. Pictures are very misleading. If I’m going to be paying that much for a place I don’t want to live in places with broken doors, big massive melts on work surfaces, doors hanging off and filthy walls. Sorry for wanting something better for myself and my child.

OP posts:
Brainfogmcfogface · 29/05/2020 16:47

I was homeless in Southwark, born and raised there, lived there all my life and couldn’t get anything. The council didn’t help, told me to find a place myself, and even though I was 7 months pregnant they advised I sofa surf as no hostels available. It was awful. And I was high priority. I ended up moving out of London completely.

Elephantonascooter · 29/05/2020 16:51

I was band C (bronze where we are) and got a flat after a year. However, the only reason was because there was an admin back log at the HA the flat was with and by the time they got around to offering it, all the people in front of us had already been housed. We were very lucky

ElectricTonight · 29/05/2020 16:59

I had a really awful time I was 34weeks pregnant, with two children and the council said there was a 10yr waiting list I had to sofa surf until I found a property to rent privately which took a year! Also in London and it's really tough because everything is expensive.

Looking to move next year to somewhere more affordable.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 30/05/2020 02:30

OP on a nurse's salary you could buy a little house in a northern town. Manchester is a bit more pricey but Liverpool is still pretty cheap and very cool these days.

Why not have a look?

sashh · 30/05/2020 04:14

Do have a look outside London, but tell your council.

Some of my neighbours came on a move from London, sorry I don't know which bit, but the council offered people some cash to move as well as swapping a flat for a house.

My parents had similar where they are, a group of Londoners moved near them.

As a nurse you have a lot of optons for work, you mentioned you ar e aspecialist, why not look at cities where your speciality has a department / hospital eg if your specialism is paediatrics then look at Liverpool / Birmingham or if you want to go really north Glasgow (appologies to those who consider Glasgow south) where there are children's hospitals.

I'm in a 2 bed bungalow with a garden and my own parking space, my rent is just over £100 pw. The three bedroomed houses actually have cheaper rents and bigger gardens.

It's pretty discusting that you can't afford to rent in London but at the same time you might get a better home outside.

Sample 2 bed rental

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-70262169.html

You might even be able to buy outside London.

Original poster
Soph30363 · 30/05/2020 10:53

Thanks everyone - you have all helped me make up my mind xx Starting to apply for jobs elsewhere. Xx

OP posts:
Kaykay066 · 30/05/2020 17:49

Paeds isn’t a specialty unless you’re a paeds Specific nurse specialist/cnn but op hope you find something soon, it’s a worrying time for you but I’m sure things will work out for you

sashh · 31/05/2020 14:35

How exciting OP.

Antipodeancousin · 31/05/2020 15:07

@vikingwife - The allocations system is totally different in Australia to the UK.

Shinesweetfreedom · 03/06/2020 05:09

OP
Come back for advice about areas when you are making a list.
Good luck

Thehop · 03/06/2020 06:17

Good luck OP x

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