To think I have no chance with a council property?

[Magicra84]

I've just been made redundant and found out my private landlord is selling up so in a few months, unless I find employment, I'm going to be homeless. My only chance is a council/housing association property. I've seen one and bidded on it, a two bed house. There's only me and my pets going to be living there/wherever. After the shit time I've had lately I would love to be successful in my bid, but aibu in thinking that realistically I've not got a chance?

For a lot of councils you would only be eligible for one bedroom.
My area always has social-housing available for immediate let to anyone from anywhere - we are very rural and need more people!

You’re a single person, so you’re not going to be allocated more than a one-bed property.

Of course it does depend where you are in the country, but the majority of people are on the housing list for years, and if you’re just a single healthy person with no disabilities you are going to stay near the bottom of that list.

The pets will also make it difficult for you.

Your best chance is to find another job—any job—as soon as possible and continue to rent in the private sector.

I really do wish you all the best but I implore you not to take a bigger property than you need

OP good luck with your job search, redundancy is horrible. Try all the supermarkets, delivery services etc too for jobs. It will be much much better option to be able to choose a private rental rather than a council list.

Landlords will be happy that you have employment and likely to look on you favourably, whereas they are less keen on unemployed I think.

Oh gosh @Magicra84 this is such a stressful time for you. But you're gonna be fine.

You should apply for Universal Credit even if at the moment you think you're not eligible. It's about a 6 week set up before you can get paid anything, so the sooner, the better and it can also help with job searches.

I probably already know the answer to this but is their any friends or family you could sofa-surf on? Whilst you may not be guaranteed a 2 bedroom property and I understand you said 1 bedroom properties aren't even available I do think there's more of a chance the council will give you a 1 bed over a 2, I just worry about your pets.

When your landlord gives you notice to move out that should help you move up the council list.

Good luck op I really hope something gets sorted soon!

If you were near me (North West) you wouldn't get a two bed property with one person.

thats not true cass - this property in Rochdale is a two bed and available to single people. You need to demonstrate you can afford it but you could bid as a single person
homes.rbh.org.uk/Choice/ROCH_PropertyList.aspx#

However, as a PP suggests the OP is in central London then her chances of being rehoused in social housing are very slim to non existent.

Yeah, Manchester City Council FlyRobinFly.

Thank you for all your replies. I am applying for everything going. With so many redundancies in these times, literally hundreds others are applying. It's crazy! I'm in the north west.

Hope it all works out for you Magicra84. Stressful times!

Could a friend take you in until you find a job?
You could claim UC whilst you do this

I'm really sorry to barge into your thread OP. I hope you don't mind. Also really hope you manage to find a new job and sort out a flat whether council or private.
@BiblioX Would you be willing to tell me where you live, either here or by PM? What area it is. I understand if you'd rather not. I thought I might as well ask.
I'm looking at leaving a DV relationship and housing after refuge worries me a lot. I don't mind being rural. I don't want to be around people.

@plantlife happily by pm I’m just not sure how to!! Can you pm first maybe?

@plantlife

If they were that desperate, they’d move out of London/ Essex

They wouldn't have 'local connection' to go on the council list in another area though and it's increasingly difficult to find private landlords who'll accept benefits tenants.

Okay, so if you need a ‘local connection’ to get social housing- can someone please explain how some of the Grenfell victims were recent immigrants to this country- this is is no way a racist post- I’m genuinely curious.

There were also some people who cannot possibly have qualified for it- two single men (brothers) and a flat mate. Makes no sense!

[quote Sobeyondthehills]@WitchesGlove

We were refused housing in about 4 other councils, because we had no local connection apparently, my partner working in one of them and his eldest son (who was under 12) living there is not a local connection. Its not as simple as move to another area.

OP. If you are on facebook, ask on local groups especially groups which involve your pet, such as a cat group or dog (I can't see where you have said) I find HA are more likely to accomodate a cat rather than a dog. So if you have a dog, you might need to start look at different options[/quote]
London councils do move people to other areas, though.

There have been documentaries about it.

Families were given private rents in Birmingham, were furious about it. Not in the slightest bit grateful.

A man with 7 children was moved to High Wycombe, he tried everything to stay in London, including threatening suicide! I mean, it’s not that far away, and surely it’s a lot better than the streets.

Also, how do asylum seekers manage to get housing if you need a local connection?

Asylum seekers have a local connection “if at any time they were provided with accommodation there under section 95 of the immigration and asylum act”.

For anyone else, it’s usually provable family or employment, sometimes work.

That said, places that are majorly oversubscribed like London often ask if you are willing to be housed further away in exchange for a faster house. It’s just not often that people will/can.

If you are homeless in an emergency such as Grenfell, then the usual 5 tests of homelessness may not apply. I don't think anyone with an ounce of compassion would think they should

@ImFree2doasiwant

If you are homeless in an emergency such as Grenfell, then the usual 5 tests of homelessness may not apply. I don't think anyone with an ounce of compassion would think they should

I meant before it burnt down, how did the tenants get housed in it in the first place?

Some were recent immigrants

@ShellsAndSunrises

Asylum seekers have a local connection “if at any time they were provided with accommodation there under section 95 of the immigration and asylum act”.

For anyone else, it’s usually provable family or employment, sometimes work.

That said, places that are majorly oversubscribed like London often ask if you are willing to be housed further away in exchange for a faster house. It’s just not often that people will/can.

I don’t understand.

If they need a local connection to be housed in the first place, how can they have been ‘provided with accommodation under the 95 Asylum Act’

As a single person you will be low priority for council housing but try Housing associations also. It does depend on availability in your area. Some councils have schemes that will loan deposit and first months rent on a private let and you can claim Universal credit to help with the rent, although your LHA may not cover your full rent. Good luck.

@Magicra84 how did you even get on the council list? My council won’t even let me get on the council list and I’m homeless currently living in a homeless hostel and meet all the criteria yet they’re still refining to put me on the list and pushing me towards a private sector

I remember this thread, and am wondering, too...
I hope OP comes back, and that all is well.

Apply for universal credit contributions based job seekers allowance today via www.gov.uk
It is not back dated

Investigate if council allows council tax reduction if you are unemployed

Has your landlord put your notice into writing yet or just verbal notice ?

Good luck