Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Housing list waiting times...

21 replies

Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 08:26

Hi all, I am new to mumsnet so please excuse me if I have made any mistakes..

Bit of background, I was born and raised in Sussex, but currently living in Wiltshire have done for 7 years.. after a recent marriage breakdown, and a breakdown with close family members my mental health has seriously taken a beating. I live here with my children, and not a great deal of support here from so called family, anyways...

I was accepted on to the housing list back in Sussex, and have been bidding. I’m currently 24 on a property, I know the likelihood of getting that property is very very slim but I was wondering if that means that I potentially won’t be waiting too long on the list if my queue position is quite low? Or have I got it completely wrong. I would love if someone could offer some advice and help me understand it all a bit better...

Thanks in advance ! 😊

OP posts:
Parmavioletmum · 02/07/2020 08:42

Normally if you have a bidding number already it means that you are high up the list. Currently I was told the list where I am (east sussex) is approximately 10 years and I have children too. To be honest I didn't even bother with the lengthy paperwork because of that, though my private rent is such a high amount of my income right now! I'm hoping in 10 years I'll be in a better financial situation than now!

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 09:21

That’s where I’m getting confused, I know it goes by date partly with mine, but I assumed that the lower the number the better chance I would have?

OP posts:
knittingaddict · 02/07/2020 11:04

Is it a popular/nice property?

My experience from watching my daughter bid for properties was:

  1. if the area is good and it's a nice home then 24 isn't bad at all because there would be lots of potential bidders.

  2. if it's in a bad area then 24 isn't great because you know that lots of bidders won't be interested and there are many more out than you are not seeing.

knittingaddict · 02/07/2020 11:11

Sorry should have said, 24 means that there are 23 people above you who have priority over you. As people get their homes you should go up the list over time.

Do you have banding in your area ie A,B,C?

My daughter went straight in as an A, so jumped over those with a B banding.

TheBirdsAndTheGreatMysteriousW · 02/07/2020 11:31

Depends on how many properties become available, how many people join with higher priority.
If you’re eligible for rare properties in your area, such as 4 bedroom here, it could take years as they just don’t come up often. Or if you’re 24 for a 2 bed, I’d say about 4/5 months.

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 11:41

So I’m band B, so quite high priority but not as high as other bands.. I’m 24th in q for a 4 bed house.. AND this is my first time bidding as they’ve only just added houses suitable for myself. The house is in a nice area, it happens to be my old childhood street.. but then I thought that being 24th on my first time bidding was quite a good sign but if it’s now correct that could vary from house to house?

OP posts:
StCharlotte · 02/07/2020 11:44

A friend of mine went on the list after a marriage breakdown and wasn't hopeful.

There was a new estate being built locally with social housing and there was a condition that priority must be given to someone with local links. She'd been born in the area and to her amazement was first in the queue. She'd been on the list for a matter weeks.

Fingers crossed you get a break OP Smile

bashcrashfall · 02/07/2020 11:45

No-one has any idea how long the wait will be. Your local authority might publish average wait times for each size of property and each band, mine do, but that doesn't mean you will get a property in the average time. In my area for example there are some high rise flats still. You can get a high rise flat fairly quickly as its not practical for families/elderly/disabled and its in the worst area. For a three or four bed house you would be waiting years.

SleepingStandingUp · 02/07/2020 11:48

@knittingaddict

Is it a popular/nice property?

My experience from watching my daughter bid for properties was:

  1. if the area is good and it's a nice home then 24 isn't bad at all because there would be lots of potential bidders.

  2. if it's in a bad area then 24 isn't great because you know that lots of bidders won't be interested and there are many more out than you are not seeing.

Basically this. 24th for a 4 bed in a decent area is good. What's your family size? There's likely to be few 4s coming up but more 3s so would that be an option?
Herbie0987 · 02/07/2020 12:04

In my local authority if you are in a band B we would advise could be 18 months or longer before you are successful. Have you looked at private rental?

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 12:21

@StCharlotte, Thank you. I hope so, it’s been ridiculously tough. Battling mental health to the lowest it could get, my family (parents) disowning me (because of my marriage breakdown) and then Lockdown.. I have my fingers crossed I’ll be ‘home’ soon. I’m prepared for the long wait though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 12:26

@SleepingStandingUp I’m only able to bid on 4 beds or 3 beds with a separate dining room. Any property’s that aren’t suitable I can’t bid on, it won’t allow me. This is my first time bidding as there hasn’t been anything on there until now, I was quite surprised by how low the number was, as I assume that is all the bands on there and not just Band B bids showing. I am willing to wait, nothing more I can do than be patient anyway, but I’m so new to this whole bidding thing. I am a single mum of four, my children aged 11, 10, 7 and 2. I’ll also bid for anything that I am allowed too, as I’m really not that fussy.. I am desperate to get back home for my support links that way! x

OP posts:
LycraLovingLass · 02/07/2020 13:55

There is no way of guessing so just keep bidding. If you are 24th in the queue and they only have 4 beds twice a year it will take ages. If there are lots in the area it will be quick.

If you are picky about specific area it could take ages.

People can come on the list above you or their circumstances change and they leave the list boosting you up a slot.

So many variables.

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 14:23

Thank you... :)

OP posts:
LakieLady · 02/07/2020 14:30

I used to work in homelessness/homelessness prevention in East Sussex.

Which district/borough council has accepted you? The available housing stock varies a lot between councils (eg with my council, it's easier to get a 3-bed than a 2-bed, because they have more of them). Another E Sx council has a surprising number of 4-beds, some have hardly any. And some councils have so many band A people bidding that no-one on band B stands a chance.

And do you have a "local connection" to a rural village/parish (usually living there or having close family living there)? People with a rural connection often get housed from quite low bandings.

rosiejaune · 02/07/2020 14:51

Has the property cycle finished? Otherwise you may be 24th today, but by the end of the week (or however long they leave it up for), you could be much further back as more people will have bid on it by then.

Our council doesn't tell you a specific number; they give a colour:
green = 1st-5th place, high chance
orange = 6th-10th place, medium chance
red = 11th or lower place, low chance

I am in band B and always red by the end of the bidding cycle. And even though as I wait I will gain higher priority, there will always be people who are e.g. homeless coming up the list past me. So it's unlikely I'll ever get anywhere that way, especially as I have quite specific housing needs.

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 14:53

@rosiejaune this weeks bidding cycle has ended. So I’ve ended on 24.

I just wanted to know if 24 was a good sign that my wait may be short, wishful thinking more than anything 😂 but reading comments it’s helped me understand the whole system a bit better. Especially seeing as 4 beds may be far and few which makes my wait a little longer.. but I’m prepared for the wait regardless.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 14:55

@LakieLady West Sussex- Crawley. I have links to the area. Family/my children’s dad etc. I’m happy to wait it out but it’s good to understand the system a little better! :)

OP posts:
Ravenclawgirl · 02/07/2020 15:16

Used to work for a council. 24 is good but you won't get that property. It will vary with other properties depending on the number of bidders. Look out for new build properties as they will have Local Lettings Plans to make sure they get a good mix of tenants, so if for instance they ask for families with children under 10, they would put families that fit that criteria higher for that property only. Keep on bidding, to be getting near the top 20 is good, but as I'm sure you realise 4 bed houses are diffficult to come by.

Original poster
Thepinkmum89 · 02/07/2020 16:13

Oh yes for sure., I don’t know why the vote thing is there.. new to this whole thing. I knew it wouldn’t be anytime soon that I was allocated but it shon some light on a dark time for me a little. I’m completely new to the whole housing list bid system too, so just wanted some understanding on how it works a little better than what I thought. Not unreasonable at all.. I’d say anyway! 😂😂

OP posts:
Jesslarrrrr1990 · 29/11/2023 18:31

Hi currently in a womens refuge with 4 kids.
5 of us in a room and the council have said band C......
Surely that can't be right, my friends in a 1 bed and band C ffs!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page