To think I will be homeless in 6 months

[JulietteLeGall]

I have just been told my landlords are selling the house I have been renting for 6 years.

For complicated, and outing, reasons, I pay considerably less rent per month than the market value.

I’m priced out of the private rental market so my only option is local authority housing. I have been told I am entitled to a four bedroom property. I can’t see what properties are available yet because my application is waiting to be assessed.

There aren’t going to any, are there? The person I spoke with on the phone said I will be waiting years. I’m in a desirable area in the South West with limited social housing. The properties that do come up tend to be ‘swapped’ and so never get put back in the ‘pool’. Most social housing has been bought privately.

What am I going to do?! I’m terrified.

You sound like you’ve got your head screwed on OP, I hope it goes alright for you, everyone’s experiences are different so just do what you can, that’s all you can do for now - you’ve got time, that’s important

That sounds hopeful Lovemusic33, do you mind me asking where snouts you are? And what you had to do? I’m prepared to fight hard But some pointers would be really helpful

I might be teaching you to suck eggs here, but I would also advise speaking to shelter I've found them very helpful with similar difficulties, also are you getting all you and your family are eligible for?

Pip is not means tested and is for all disabilities inc mental illness (your lad I believe?) I get it for severe mental illness plus a less impactful physical disability.

There might be other things too, I'm out of the loop on how it works now with non adult dc.

I always use my local welfare rights advisor who are within the council within the social care dept but similar services are available in most areas just sometimes they have a different name and are within different depts

They are very knowledgable on benefits generally but also I've found housing, grants etc

I'd have thought couldn't hurt to check this out?

FYI - I too vary some details of my life to anonymise I think a lot of mners do.

Thats only £100 less than I make a month! OP I don't have much advice but i really hope you manage to sort something. It may not mean that much to someone with a higher income or a supportive partner but moving hundreds of miles away as a single parent could be very damaging. If I did that Id lose my entire support network therefore would struggle to work, I'd ve incredibly lonely which can lead to depression and anxiety! Plus breaking up attatchments your children have made with family/friends/teachers really isn't good for their social or emotional development. So please please don't feel guilty for not wanting to move to a different side of the country! Fingers crossed for you

Sorry that first bit was meant for a previous OP who said about the £800 properties

Does DH currently see the children?

Where is he living now?

I would look to move to a cheaper area.

@WhereverIGoddamnLike

What ages are your children? And do any of them have an disabilities which would grant them their own room?

If they've given you the wrong information and filed your application with an error, it's best to find out now so you arent delayed in getting access.

Housing benefit for private renting does not always even fully cover private renting at the lowest rung in some areas of England. This is because under the Coalition govt they reduced the local housing allowance rate for housing benefit from 50% of the local housing rental rates to 30%, then Conservatives froze housing benefit rates for a good few years. As there is not sufficient social housing people living in certain areas of England really struggle. I think it’s bad policy nor humane to effectively force people out of areas where they will have strong social networks and perhaps lived all their lives.

OP, I feel for you and truly hope you can find something not too far away.

Namechange0h8 Thank you for understanding

Graphista Thank you I will speak to shelter tomorrow

@WhereverIGoddamnLike, apologises didn’t mean to quote your post above! Wanted to quote a post where someone said the OP should be entitled to basic housing in her area.

I'm trying not to feel a bit aggrieved that people get free houses, while someone like my husband and me work, I have mental health issues and a child ..feel like I'm the mug here

They aren't free houses and many many many many people in social housing are some of the most overworked but underpaid people I know.

Another thread has people telling someone to travel to other side of the globe so that she has a support network because a support network is so important that a dad can go without seeing his baby for six months, yet people are telling the OP to move hundreds of miles away from theirs and making out like it's no big deal.

It's just another example of how some people on here actually feel about those in social housing and/or on low incomes. The OP says she has complex health problems and relies on her support network and people are saying it won't be traumatic to have that taken away? Fucking hell.

If life on low incomes is so cushty then why are so many people laid awake at night worrying about covid taking their jobs, their homes and having to uproot their family to move and rely on universal credit? Why are we told that suicide numbers could go up as people lose incomes and have to claim benefits, if it's no big deal and not traumatic? Or is it only a worry and big deal if you're on above a certain income? Or the right type of mental health problems?

I'm pleased that most people can see what shitty attitude that is. Best of luck OP

@D00MGL00M, agree with you 100%.

I would love to know what council this is because I have never come across a council that gives MAPPA cases Priority 1! I just don't believe it...sorry!

@JulietteLeGall

mummycanihaveadrink

I left my abusive husband. There have been a couple of threads that I have posted retrospectively to get clarity in some situations I was in. I’m in therapy so some things crop up that I try to make sense of. I hope that helps

I don't think you have to justify yourself to a troll hunter.

I hope you get sorted.

Today 22:31 Gruesome2some What do you mean?

ilovesooty thank you

@Someone1987

I'm trying not to feel a bit aggrieved that people get free houses, while someone like my husband and me work, I have mental health issues and a child ..feel like I'm the mug here

I feel like you're a nasty piece of work, not to mention overwhelmingly ignorant.

I really am not opposed to a 3 bed by any stretch !

But if they have you down for a 4-bed exclusively, it's possible that 3-bed houses will be given to others while you languish in a bedsit waiting for the mythical 4-bed to appear.

Make sure they haven't over estimated your bedroom needs. You are more likely to get a 3 bed. I think you should be in the 3-bed category, with 4-bed of course acceptable to you if that's all there is.

mathanxiety He said I will be able to bid on both 3 and 4 bed properties

Are the children's fathers in a position to help with the cost of private rent?

Why do people assume houses are free? Your obviously very intelligent 😕, HA houses are not free, my rent is almost as high as renting privately. OP will get help with her rent through UC the same as she would in private rented.

@XiCi

Are the children's fathers in a position to help with the cost of private rent?

Yes, to this.

Make sure that they know your housing cost might have to increase and so will their payment.

I know it's very possible they won't but it's worth telling them. Don't ask as a favour!

Second what everyone else says about making sure you bid on three beds as well as fours.

Child maintenance isn’t calculated by the price of your rent 😐 it’s calculated by how much he earns. It sounds like OP was in an abusive relationship so I can’t see how talking nicely to her ex will help.