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?

@DC3Dakota That is positive I'm glad there is help for people in OP's situation.

@dc3dakota thank you, your comments have been really helpful

OP, can you ensure you are claiming everything you should be. And then double-check your entitlement to Legal Aid - it sounds to me, from my own similar experiences, as though you probably would. It’s not huge amounts of energy to double check and worthwhile.

Then also consider asking the court to have your ex pay your expenses. If the case is difficult/contentious because of ‘his wrongdoing’ then you have good grounds. Be aware it’s not guaranteed though. I bet your initial reaction will be to recoil as this’ll make him angry, but he’s going to be angry anyway by your taking the lead with legal action. Do everything you can to ensure your physical safety, and then make a start on the things you must do to secure a future for you and your child.

Overcrowding rules may apply if you’re sharing a home with lodgers, and your domestic abuse history will also carry weight with some councils/housing associations.

Also, get in touch with your creditors, or with step change, in order to reduce your debt repayments.

@IgorThalia

Clearly I need to scrap this idea.

It doesn't hurt to have your name on the list, and it used to be the case that you accrues points for the length of time you are on the list so getting your name down asap was a wise move.

Is it still like that? Can anyone say?

I will say though, that I would sit down with your parents/a friend and write down a comparison between what you would gain from writing off the equity in your house and what you'd lose.

IF the council or housing associations cannot provide housing then would you be able to get loan/a second mortgage for say.... £10-50k? If so, there's always shared ownership? These can often start as low as £5k. They're often brand new homes and are with a housing association. Meaning the rent side of things are still very cheap and the tenancy is secure.

I know you say you have very little spare cash so it may seem odd for me to be asking if you can find a lump sum, but it would be wrong for me not to even suggest it as an option.

Best of luck xx

I work within this field (although not in OP’s area) and usually people are given an instant ‘no’ if they already own property. However manegerial discretion can be used when it’s a DA/DV case or in exceptional circumstances.

I’d say definitely see if you can speak to someone at your Council (phone or in person) and explain your situation. Off the record it may well help if you have a letter from your parents saying they want you out by X date.
Also try CAB regarding the legal issues - they should at least be able to point you in the right direction.

@longwigglylines Yes time on list points are still very much a thing

despite people telling you to get your name removed from the house/mortgage op, this will be very difficult. To get the house into his sole name, your ex has to prove to his lender that he can pay the mortgage himself and tbh it doesnt sound like he’s going to be able to do that as he gets cash in hand with no actual proof of income. There is absolutely no way the mortgage lender will allow him to take on the mortgage himself.

@Grapewrath

Lots of inaccurate advice here OP You may be eligible to join the housing register due to feeling domestic violence, theoretically you can’t be intentionally homeless if you flee DA. The fact that your child is sharing facilities with several non family members will also go in your favour as this is not considered appropriate by many local housing authorities. You will also be classed as a bedroom short according to lots of LA. The best thing is to approach your council and seek some advice around legalities from a local domestic abuse charity so you are going in aware of your rights Good luck to you.

Is it not the case though that they will look at the last address and she is not fleeing DV from this one?

@IgorThalia

So basically, I was in an abusive relationship, I can't communicate with him because he is dangerous and I have a restraining order, we own a house together, I need the house to be sold, but I'm not eligible for legal aid because I own part of the house, even though I don't have access to it, I could force a sale, but it'll cost me the same amount of equity that is in the house, so basically... I'm screwed.

try your local university law clinic. They may be able to assist you for free.

£600 for a two bed house?!? It's £950 where I live for a ROOM in a share house. You have a decent wage. Rent like everyone else does.

You have nothing to lose by going on your local housing register. As has been said above it might help to have a letter from your parents saying you cannot continue to live with them indefinitely. You won't be in the highest banding but that wouldn't stop you bidding and there's a chance you could get a 'first-come-first-served' property in one of the less popular areas.

try
womens aid
Step change, or christians against poverty
local authority housing officer
CAB
any free law clinics
shelter

@IgorThalia

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.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/ending-a-relationship/sorting-out-money-when-you-separate/help-with-legal-fees-when-you-separate/

Have a look at this page - you should be eligible for legal aid if you've suffered domestic violence in the last 5 years.
Do get in touch with your local Citizens Advice. They can help with your housing issues and accessing legal aid.

@CorianderLord

£600 for a two bed house?!? It's £950 where I live for a ROOM in a share house. You have a decent wage. Rent like everyone else does.

Really unhelpful. The OP has given a breakdown of her outgoings and she doesn't have a £600 for rent.

@corianderlord it's not a competition of who has it worse. I'm well aware that there are more expensive places to live.

A history of domestic violence May entitle you to legal aid for proceedings to force the sale of the property you partly own. Look on Gov.Uk - search legal aid and you will find a checker to see if you qualify and also a link to search for keg so aid solicitors in your area. If for whatever reason you can’t get a solicitor google “law centre” plus your town /city name and/or see if your local university does a free legal clinic. At worst you can make the application yourself - all info on the gov.uk website with links to forms etc. This must be your priority. Second priority is chat with your local housing office on your options locally. In addition could you consider a one bed flat where your child gets the bedroom and you have a sofa bed? This may be more affordable in the short term.

If your parents want you to leave you may be able to get priority with the council. You can apply to the general list no matter what you earn. Look on your local council's housing website, you should be able to fill an application in.

You could well be entitled to council housing OP and not every area has a huge waiting list. In my area most people in Band P (priority) or Band 1 tend to by rehoused fairly quickly, Band P is normally within weeks and Band 1 within a couple of months, Band 2 takes around 6 months then 6+ months for Bands 3 and 4. Someone i know recently left a relationship, moved in with her parents and went on the housing list, six weeks of bidding later and she had the keys to a house.

Fill in the forms and send them back, once you've sent them then ring up and request to speak to the homeless officer. Explain to them about leaving domestic abuse, that you have equity but cannot access it so essentially are having to walk away from ownership of that property for the foreseeable future/potentially forever, and that your current living situation is untenable longterm. They will more than likely add you to the housing register based on your circumstances. They may also be able to recommend some accredited landlords and also give you details of housing associations, although in my area they're all linked to the council register anyway so one form registers you for them all.

Well if you force the sale you end up with zilch but are then free of co-owning the property with him, eligible for social housing and he doesn’t get to keep your share of the equity?
I know, it sucks, but that’s how I’m trying to sell it to myself.
Like me, you probably should have tried for an occupation order at the time, but it isn’t always that straightforward. I decided not to and am also left with this pile of shite to deal with.
There’s a lot of talk about the help available for survivors of domestic abuse etc, doesn’t hold up when you find yourself in that position though.

You can rent on 24pa I earn less than that as I work part time but I am topped up by UC and I have managed to rent..
I had to flee domestic abuse and was even given a housing support letter by MARAC and social housing didn't consider me a priority. Fortunately I worked and had some savings when I realised I was leaving my ex I saved every penny I could in a secret bank account. You can definitely rent on 24kpa

Got to Shelter or CAB and get some specific advice. Each council can set it's own policies. Where I live I know someone who got a council house despite owning her own home. She did have to make an effort to sell it though. Council housing seems a lot more common here than where I grew up. Being a domestic abuse survivor would give you priority near me, but you need advice pertaining to your specific council as to what evidence you need to provide.

Put it this way. I'm in a similar situation ie not homeless but need to move out and I've been on the list bidding every week since 2011. I'm not even halfway up the list yet. I regularly come in at about 40 from the bottom even for just a bedsit.

Really unhelpful. The OP has given a breakdown of her outgoings and she doesn't have a £600 for rent

Again, what's the point of looking for a council house in that case? Rent still needs to be paid and it's not much different to 600 quid.

@gamerchick, social housing rents vary hugely across the country. I live in the north, there are properties from around £300 pm. The OP stated they are fairly cheap in her area compared to private rent. The security of tenure is also a big plus.

I'd echo what others have said, get on the housing register with the LA, and contact Shelter and/or the CAB.