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?

Hey now , don't be cross with yourself. You were being abused. That's not a failure on your part.

Why haven't you taken back your accounts? Why are you jot getting help with nursery fees? Why have you not checked what you are entitled to? Are you getting maintenance from child's father?

You’re not stupid and it’s not your fault. Many of us have been there It takes time and motivation to pay off the debts, but you won’t have them forever.
Have you ever had support from women’s aid? They offer so much - including legal advice - to women who have been victims of domestic abuse. I wouldn’t have got my house without their help.

You won’t need legal advice for council housing. You can call them and explain your situation. I think you will be a high priority living with your parents..... if your parents were to give you notice because they wanted to rent your room out the council would have no choice but to re house you. Get as many supporting letters as you can OP.

Is your ex paying the full mortgage on the house you own with him? Have you checked that he is not only paying his half?

How long until your DS gets funded childcare (turn after he turns 3)? Could you wait for that to kick in then cover a privet rental with a combination of cheaper childcare and increased UC.

the council would have no choice but to re house you

The council could very well ask the question why she isn't living in the house she owns.

Actually as a Lone Parent isn't your son entitled to free hours now at 2yo?

Tbh you need to get advice from your local council and find out rules and regulations etc ,it's no use asking on here as people can only advise on their own areas which will differ from area to area as will avaibility.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz true. However as long as OP isn’t doing anything fraudulent I think saying she left based on a valid reason would be ok as long as she can back this OP.

Also if the debt is leaving you in financial hardship you could talk to a dept help charity like stepchange. Maybe they can do something to reduce your payments.

Have you worked out your UC if you were private renting? There’s a Facebook group called Universal Credit Essentials that have really good calculators and knowledgable admins. You would get the 2 bed rate of local housing allowance for your area.

Citizens Advice or Women’s Aid may be able to offer some advice.

I have taken back my accounts. I am getting help with nursery fees. I have checked what I am entitled to. My ex pays me £7 a week

Op have you even bothered applying?

If not, why not, just get it done.

However I think you’d need your parents to evict you to get you up the waiting list. The fact you also own a home makes it very difficult, it’s unlikely they’d give you another one.

Personally I would privately rent. You should be able to get help with housing costs and rent/rent in advance.
You can fill out a form for the council and just see what they say. No one here will be able to tell you with certainty if you'll be accepted or how long the wait will be.

Are you getting tax free childcare OP? What you're paying is comparable to our bill for full time but tax free childcare means it 'only' costs us £750. Easy enough to set up and as you're working I reckon you'd be entitled. If that's your bill AFTER tfc then maybe look at different childcare options? Appreciate that may just be the going rate where you are though.

Would you be entitled to maintenance too? Sounds to me like your solution lies in resolving the housing situation with your ex (and any maintenance you are due for him) so you can plough it into getting rid of your debt and then saving for rental costs. Your living arrangement maybe won't feel so claustrophobic if you can see a way out of it. Good luck, I feel for you!

Well you don’t need to rent a 2 bed house if your child is 2. You can share a bedroom or have a sofa bed in the living room. It’s better than where you are.

Have you investigated what benefits you would get in private rented ?

How are your parents doing air bnb right now? Why can’t you use one of these rooms at the moment ?

Your problem with getting council housing are

1. You already own a house
2. You currently live in another house which has 4 bedrooms for a couple and a toddler, so you are adequately housed.

Placing the current situation aside, how long are you prepared to let this house business rumble on for?

You can force sale of the marital home through the courts, in likelihood your ex will buy you out but at least the money would pay off some debt for you?

I would use google etc to find out which forms to fill in. Have you started divorce proceedings?

Years and years. You could apply to private rent with HB afaik as long as your name is on a home you can't apply for HB.
My friend had to hand over her small investment in a property to her ex otherwise she was seen as a homeowner.

I'm just very scared to try and force the sale as I know he doesn't have enough money to buy me out, so he will have to move. I'm worried about what he will do as I know he's already close to breaking point. He has already said he wants to kill me.

If he only pays 7 a week that means he has virtually nil income that's what jobseekers pay....how is he paying the mortgage

My SIL got short term housing benefit for rent whilst having a marital home due to fleeing abuse so it is possible she had to evidence that they were in the process of divorcing etc so don't rule it out.

You need to speak to your local housing officer - do they do on line appointments?

@slipperywhensparticus he is employed by his friend and declares far less than he's earning. He gets paid some to his bank and some in cash. He's done it so he doesn't have to pay me. He pays the bills and mortgage out of his wage and everything else cash or he gives his dad cash and his dad pays money as a gift in to his account.

The problem is all the time this is going on, he is still abusing you and still controlling you. Have you reported the threats to kill?