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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Council housing priority

71 replies

Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 21:03

Hi, my first time on here so not sure if anyone can help. We’re a family of 3, my husband and I and my 2 year old son. We’ve been living at my parents 2 bedroom flat for 3 years now.
I have bidded for a house which i am so desperate for, im in 8th position which i know means 7 are before me but i was wondering how it works. Do they just put you in that position due to your band then you will be 8th to be offered the property or do they look into it a bit further when bidding closes and maybe filter it further? I’ve been offered a flat on the 4th flat which I’m really grateful for, but because of my asthma it’s very difficult as there is no lift. Sorry i know 8 is a low chance i just really love the property and i am so desperate right now, I don’t know if I should risk it and decline the property or just take it? Thanks for any help

OP posts:

Yellowcar2 · 07/09/2020 22:26

Sorry crossed post didn't see your last reply. Just be really mindful now and only bid for properties you want otherwise I think you'll put yourself at risk from being unable to bid.

Wildthingsx · 07/09/2020 22:27

I was 11th in the queue for the house I live in now. Was a mixture of other people being unsuitable (it was listed as suitable for a disabled person and it absolutely is not) and the family ahead of us having rent arrears and therefore not allowed to move.

Good luck op ;)

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 07/09/2020 22:31

Difficult, because different councils have different policies. But definitely do NOT bid on a property and then turn it down, because you will severely run out of chances. My council has a three strikes you're out, which I think is fair.

To give you some idea, some weeks I was ranked as 97th in the queue for one property. The next week, I was 5th for something very similar. Three people ahead of me dropped out, so I was second. The person in 1st place bid for it, viewed, was offered the property, refused it. So I got it. We've been here five years now, and I thank my lucky stars for it every single day.

It was the only place I put in a bid for, because I wasn't going to risk my place on the waiting list.

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 22:57

@Butterer hi I’ve sent you a PM regarding your questions :) I hope it helps

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 23:06

@Starlight987- A section 106 is usually for new build developments. The building developers or council will be put a clause in the HA/councils deeds and it will usually state that they would like the properties to go to applicants with a local connection to the area. It is broken down into different categories such as

1- The applicant is currently living in the area and has been for the last three last years
2- The applicant is employed in the local area.
3- The applicant has family who are currently living in the area and have been here for 3 years or more.

They will then check the criteria 1 of all the applicants to see how many they get and then they will move to the different criteria’s.

If the properties don’t match they will repost them on another cycle. This is why occasionally you may see properties being re-advertised a following week. Some developers have clauses which means the section 106 on a property is valid for a number of years after it is built

Original poster

Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 23:15

@Logiclady94 thank you for clarifying that makes sense. From what I’ve been bidding for they’ve all been home connections so far. The council are now offering one by one rather than group viewings, so I doubt I’ll get the one I’m in position 8 for. The only hopes I have is that it is on the 2nd floor with 30 external steps and it has 13 internal steps inside the house with no bath only shower, bath isn’t allowed to be installed. But I don’t know if that makes a difference

OP posts:

Newgirl20 · 07/09/2020 23:17

If you reject after typically 2 or 3 depending on the local authority then you probably won't be offered another for quite some time, you're lucky to even be offered given legally you already have a place to stay, doesn't matter if you're all in the same room to the council. I would accept and move on.

AmelieTaylor · 07/09/2020 23:18

I hope you get a property that you want 🤞🏼

Can anyone explain to me how this works?
My friend was on a council list for a property, they had some HA properties come up & he bid on one. It's through a developer (have to provide so many in the new build estate). Managed through Radian (?).

Is he, or isn't he, a council tenant?

Thanks.

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 23:20

Are these new build houses? Do you mean they have local connection clauses or are they purpose built for particular health and well-being?

Newgirl20 · 07/09/2020 23:21

You're better off going through housing associations if you're being specific and the council will often cover it as they have then removed a family from their waiting list.

Logiclady94 · 07/09/2020 23:23

@AmelieTaylor- your friend will be a HA tenant. The rules around new builds for HA’s are that 100% of their new builds have to be advertised through the local councils bidding system/waiting list. It is because the councils bidding system/waiting lists are too long. This is why most current tenants are advised to apply through the local council as well if they wish to be moved.

However his tenancy will be managed by the HA who the property belongs too.

Floralbean · 07/09/2020 23:24

If you'd rejected 4 here you would be suspended from bidding. I know that no one should be forced to live somewhere unsuitable, but that's ridiculous.

Newgirl20 · 07/09/2020 23:24

@amelietaylor he is the HA's tenant not the council

Original poster

Starlight987 · 07/09/2020 23:26

@Floralbean 2 of them were from when I first joined, I was just bidding without thinking because someone told me the more you bid the more points you get which I later found to be false. And the other two were wrongly advertised

OP posts:

Lougle · 07/09/2020 23:30

When we bid on our house, we finished number 3. We don't know what happened, but we got a phone call offering us the house. The only thing I can think of is that DD1 has SN and they must have looked at the shortlist and decided that we got priority within our band. We were very grateful, either way.

Barryisland · 08/09/2020 00:13

Surely if your asthma is that bad that it affects your mobility regularly you would have included it on your application form along with a Gp letter confirming it so that you won’t be offered unsuitable properties?

PelicanDeuce · 08/09/2020 00:27

Is it just you bidding or is your husband moving in too? You don’t seem to say “we” at all. I think for the sake of your parents and son you either need to private rent or get strong medical proof you can only live in a bungalow.

Is your parents’ flat ground floor?

MomToTwoBabas · 08/09/2020 00:50

Turning down 4 is ridiculous my councils turn down 2 and you are off as you obviously don't need the help. With 2 adults in the house can you not privately rent then you can pick somewhere you like? I think you are taking the piss out the system slightly.

MummytoCSJH · 08/09/2020 00:56

Bloody hell I was so scared I would lose my spot on the list that I took the first house I was offered which had walls literally covered in black and furry mould caused by a massive water leak, sharp screws poking up out of the floorboards, mice and fuck off 8 legged creatures actively wandering around and a forest for a back garden (they subsidised me 2 weeks rent whilst I got it sorted out - lucky me) when I went to view it. I can't imagine turning down 4. You're lucky they haven't taken you off the list yet. I'd honestly say just take the next one you're offered. If you've bidded on it - you should only be doing that on the basis you'd be happy to live there, there are so many people with no chance of getting a decent home people like us who are offered one when we are desperate are lucky. Good luck x

plantlife · 08/09/2020 01:05

I'm really sorry to also butt in.
I'd be really grateful to know if the local connection 106 thing is disregarded if the bidder has fled DV?

AmelieTaylor · 08/09/2020 05:54

@Logiclady94

Are these new build houses? Do you mean they have local connection clauses or are they purpose built for particular health and well-being?

Yes, it's a newly developed site, mostly 'owned' but some HA - presume local requirement that some are 'social housing'

They were advertised on the Council List & they had to bid for it.

AmelieTaylor · 08/09/2020 06:11

[quote Logiclady94]@AmelieTaylor- your friend will be a HA tenant. The rules around new builds for HA’s are that 100% of their new builds have to be advertised through the local councils bidding system/waiting list. It is because the councils bidding system/waiting lists are too long. This is why most current tenants are advised to apply through the local council as well if they wish to be moved.

However his tenancy will be managed by the HA who the property belongs too.[/quote]
Only a handful of the houses were advertised through the Council (several hundred built) The rest were sold as 'Affordable Housing'. Some you could buy a share of

So what does it actually mean to be a HA tenant & does it mean the council have no responsibility to them re housing? (Are they now 'off' the council list?)

Sorry, we are all confused about how it works/what it means. He's SE & with CV his business has tanked. What happens if they can't pay the rent? (It's market tent for around here) and he was given the two SE grants, but lost virtually all of the HB he was getting previously- which makes NO sense to me as it was (obviously) less than his income was previously 80% & 70%).

He's married & has a 10yo DD if that makes any difference.

dentydown · 08/09/2020 06:14

If you have asthma that makes you unable to climb stairs, can you / health professional fill out a medical form to say so (and potentially increasing your need). You/professional have to spell out what is suitable and what isn’t. E.g “ms starlight has asthma and is only suited to properties on ground and first floors due to her climbing stairs triggers an asthma attack”

Do you have auto bid on. If you are bidding for 7th floor flats, are you doing it or is it “the system”. You may want to request auto bid turned off if you are getting housing that isn’t suitable.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 08/09/2020 06:33

Surely the ones on the 15th flier had lifts? So what was wrong with them?

AmelieTaylor · 08/09/2020 06:36

[quote Newgirl20]@amelietaylor he is the HA's tenant not the council[/quote]
Can you explain what that really means for them?

Thanks for all your help everyone. It's not something I've been involved with & they have privately rented until last year. We are all (as you can tell!!) clueless, confused & very worried about them being made homeless (his business relies on other businesses that can't open, opening).

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