How hard is it to get council housing?

[IgorThalia]

Looking at getting some council housing. I need some independence from my family, and need a distraction from life at the moment. I've been toying with the idea but lacked the motivation. Currently live with my parents. Left my ex a couple of years ago due to domestic abuse. He lives in a house that we both own. I have about 7k equity in it but he refuses to sell and because I have a restraining order against him, he's impossible to communicate with. His solicitor doesn't respond to my emails re the house. I have a 2 year old who still sleeps in the same room as me. My parents have 2 other spare bedrooms but they're being prepared for lodgers and air bnb so I can't use them for my son. They need this to boost their income and it is why they bought a bigger house. I need a bit of independence and also wouldn't feel comfortable having my 2 year old in the house when parents are doing air bnb. I earn about 24k a year. Have anxiety, OCD and PTSD. That's my background. Am I likely to get any council housing or will I be way down on the list because I'm not homeless?

Sorry didn't mean to post in AIBU will ask for it to be moved.

You need legal advice

Depends where you are in the country and the criteria there.

Legal advice for housing?

It depends on your area but as a general rule of thumb if you have a roof over your head already you won't be high up on the list.

@IgorThalia

Legal advice for housing?

maybe legal advice to get your equity back?

I would I imagine it is very unlikely if you have equity in a property that you also jointly own. This should be the priority for resolution.

I don't know how to resolve it. I have zero money for legal advice and can't get legal aid because I own a house. His solicitor is ignoring me. I'm not allowed to contact him directly and it would be dangerous for me to do so.

I'm in the east of England but don't want to give any more than that away. I feel really stuck.

With £24k PA why can’t you rent?

The legal advice you need is to force the sale of the house you own, as depending were you live that might make you ineligible. The are some exemptions, so people who own can still get housed when fleeing DV, but not sure if that would still apply now you've lived elsewhere for 2 years. So you first step is probably looking up the criteria for your own council or asking CAB.

Well it depends where you live and avaibility etc ,but often if you own or part own a house you won't be eligible .

It depends very much where you live.

My friend's daughter and her little girl were able to get a council house a couple of years ago . They were living in parents family home and sharing a room but there weren't other spare rooms in the house . The house she was offered needed a lot of work doing on it and it's possible that it was empty and available because of this .

I know that in a neighbouring authority there is no way she would have been able to get council accommodation like that , if her parents had thrown her out and she was homeless then she would have been offered bed and breakfast accommodation and possibly then a flat but certainly not a house in a specified area

You are going to have to take this legal. If your emails aren’t doing the trick, you need to step it up. Have you tried Citizen's Advice? Or a more specialist forum?

On £24k a year you should be renting privately. I rented on £16k a year.

Easy to say, Masking, but in London rent on a 1 bed flat in a not-so-nice area would be a lot more than you earn. Echoing what the others say, you need legal advice but you definitely wouldn’t get council housing in your situation - not for several years at least.

I suggest you save some of your salary to pay for advice.

Approach your council and make an application. They may direct you to a housing association as much social housing is outsourced to them.

I was In the same situation as you a few years ago.

I'm on the north west. I waited six months. We have lots of council housing g in my area. A

I take home 1520 a month. My childcare fees are 950. I pay 300 rent to my parents. I am in a lot of debt due to court proceedings and financial abuse. Ex took control of my accounts. 1520 a month doesn't go very far. I would struggle to rent privately. There are only 2 2 bedroom places listed in my area for under 600 a month.

I have 0 salary to save. I think I'm left with about 28 at the end of every month. That's with extremely tight budgeting.

You would be very unlikely to get on the list for social housing as you already own a property albeit that you can't live in it or access the equity at the moment. Talk to your local CAB for advice. If they do not have the expertise to help you, they often have a list of local solicitors who will give you a 30 minute appointment for free of a nominal sum.

Alternatively you may be able to get an appointment with a Housing Officer at your local council and they would advise you.

If you can get round the home ownership issue you should be able to get on the list because you are sharing facilities (kitchen and/or bathroom) with another household.

you own a house - so I doubt you will be considered - that is why someone suggested legal advice - get out of the property you own

but I agree with people suggesting you rent privately as well

also why don;t you claim - lone parents are entitled to help with childcare fees etc - surely you get 'tax credits' ?

Right you don’t have much money...but council houses still cost money?

I'm also in east of england. I got made homeless and was told I'd be in hostel/temp accommodation for over a year most likely before I'd get housed. I managed to rent somewhere else in the end, and was earning a lot less than you at the time.

Also to echo PP it's very unlikely they'd help you anyway as you already own a house