to think i will never get a council house?

[bellver888]

been on the waiting list 2 years - showing 30 in bidding systems
DV occurred up to September 2020 when i forced my exp out the house.
rent is 600 and i cannot afford it now there’s just me and DS.
Landlord is shit, I have no heating, riddled with damp and window hanging out of pane. It’s a 3rd floor flat. HSA (housing standards authority) keep saying they’re contacting my landlord and he’s sending someone round, they never come.
PTSD is kicking in and i can’t go in my bedroom without vomiting and panicking as that’s where the abuse occurred
poor credit and no guarantor and no way i can afford private rent as average is 600-700 in my area and i need support
severe depression, OCD and anxiety
im getting 1140 in UC and im in arrears with everything, DHP was rejected and can’t appeal

Every single time when I phone up I get “keep bidding you’re moving up the list” yet I’m really not. I can’t take anymore of this, I hate my life and I don’t think I have a future at all.

That sounds really hard op. It seems that you are in an area with huge demand for council houses.
Can you look at what you can do about the situation?
Make a plan for the debts through Stepchange.
Can you look for some part time work? Or online free training to make yourself more employable even if due to Covid it is a longer term plan.
What skills do you have?

Being employed is the best answer out of the situation even if not overnight

Does your ex work? Can you claim CMS?.

Can you tell us roughly which part of the country you are in? Thy seems to make a huge difference to housing lists.

I’m in a debt relief order
Was going back to uni in September to finish my degree in social work
I worked in a bar part time before covid and I get some wages from that which I included in the 1140 I put on, just seen I didn’t specify it was from wages too! Oops

I live in Manchester

Do you get housing benefit op?

493 a month then the 107 I pay as top up plus 65 for “service charge”

Sounds like you need to move area for now to get back on your feet then look at house swapping. Its shit but there's nothing else you can feasibly do. There's just a lot of people in your area needing housing and although your personal circumstances are shit, there will be a lot of people who are worse off.

University seems a really good plan. It will massively open up your options long term and having lived through difficult circumstances yourself, you will make a great SW. Will it be this year you go back?

In the meantime can you make a complaint about the lack of action re your flat. (Sorry not familiar with who the HSA are.)

HSA are our councils version of like environmental health :)

I have no connections to any other areas, therefore get rejected half the time. The only other option is to private rent in areas around 1-2 hours away where I don’t know anyone. I’m already isolated and I’m frightened to be further on my own, plus my bar job is local.

I will put a disclaimer I am fully aware I’m not the worse off and I don’t claim to be

@bellver888 Could you expand you areas?

My friend was on the housing list for 5 years, and although she has mobility problems, (chronic illness,) and struggled with the stairs, and the size of her large private-let, 4 bed, 3-storey house, the council said she was suitably housed - as she had a downstairs loo, and could turn the dining room into a bedroom. So she got nowhere.

Even though she pleaded with them, and said she really would benefit from a bungalow, as she struggles to get upstairs, the council said 'tell the landlady to put aids and adaptations in - eg, a shower downstairs, and/or a stairlift.' They said 'she HAS to do this by LAW.'

Yeah right, as soon as the 6 months was up (she signed 6-monthly) the landlady would not have renewed her tenancy!

What my friend wanted was a little 2-bed council or Housing Association bungalow. Easy to heat, and easy to clean, and with cheaper bills, and more importantly, a secure tenancy.

After 5 years on the housing list, she started to put bids on bungalows in little remote villages where most people didn't want to go, as they weren't on a bus route, and had no shops for 3 miles. She didn't mind as she had a car.

BINGO! 2 months and 13 property bids later; she was No 1, on the list for a 2 bed bungalow, (owned by a small rural housing association,) in a tiny village near a big woodland on the edges of the county. (She was the only bidder on that bungalow that week actually.)

She said it wasn't ideal as it was a bit remote, and in an area she didn't know. But she was in social housing now and knew she could apply for a transfer or do a direct exchange with another tenant.

As it happens, she loves it there. This was 4 years ago, and she never wants to move. Lovely village, good community, end bungalow in a row of 24, big side garden, 5 minutes walk from a big woodland, and only £350 a month rent. Also, all repairs and maintenance done. Often quite quickly too!

So why not expand your horizons and go for something further out? Just to get into social housing at least!

You are right that some rural areas will say no if you have no connection to the area (I find that rule so prejudiced!) But my friend had no connection to the area she bid on, and still got it as there were no other bidders on the bungalow! So keep trying anything and everything!

Good luck!!!!

I know in my local authority, they will help find DV survivors properties with no local connection.

You wouldn't be placed in a housing association property, but would be using on of their approved private landlords as those LL cannot charge more than the housing benefit amount you receive so you wouldn't be in arrears there.

I've been in my current property now for 3 years and it's been a good experience. Every year the council get in touch to remind me to 'save' for a deposit (I currently have a LA Bond) and to reconfirm my reciept of housing benefits and occupants.

I'm in South East however, but many some neighbouring councils to you offer similar as an alternative to getting a 'council house'

Contact Shelter England and the Citizens Advice Bureau, they will be be able to give you advice on your situation and what you can do. They can also contact your local authority on your behalf.

I waited years but eventually my turn did come. I started off in homeless hostel with children then a flat in a bad area that no one wanted then another 6 years I got a house but that was due to disabilities and stairs. It was hard, very hard and I had to push and push it was one of the worst times of my life if I'm honest.

Our LA doesn’t, I’ve been told to look for a private rented myself. They don’t have any details. I’m on 2 housing lists and the homeless register.

I apply for properties out of my borough but I’m like 100-200 on them. That’s the only HA that would take me
And ones in my borough in the 20’s to 40’s

I’m not classed as a risk of DV as my ex partner is not in my life now. But sadly the trauma didn’t leave when he did.

I’ve begged and pleaded for temporary accommodation and they won’t offer me that as I am adequately housed

Shelter and CAB already involved. Already confirming they can’t do anything until I’m served notice and my landlord won’t evict me cos he can’t let the property out as it’s a dump

If you have PTSD can you get your doctor to write to the council advising your need to move is urgent?

I know that consultants in the trust here will do that if they genuinely think it will help your mental state.

I’ll have to contact the HA’s and see how that would help

it's definitely worth a try, i would think they would be obligated to shift you up the list if things are as bad as being physically sick when you enter the room.

Can your doctor refer you to mental health services I read about your PTSD. Letters from them will carry more weight as it seemed everyone had a doctors letter when I was bidding - doctor told me she had written a lot and although she was willing to try she did say it didn't always help. Like I said I had to push and when you're beaten down by life and you're now homeless with young children you feel like you're not strong enough to fight. It seemed like housing was the only thought in my head 24 hours a day for years. It is a struggle and I hope things get better for you

I know it's not the right thing to do and I'd usually be very against it. But, and someone else might know if this is a terrible idea... if you stopped paying your rent, then your landlord would evict you and you'd at least get emergency housing, which may well be worse than what you're in, I dont know.

How much would it cost you commute to Manchester uni from a cheaper area? I assume you would have a little extra when you start uni from student loans? Rochdale has some cheaper housing and the areas are ok.

Godimabitch I believe if you stop paying rent that will count as becoming intentionally homeless and they don't have to help you.

@SonjaMorgan more than I can afford anyway, it’ll be a struggle juggling DS, uni, rent etc anyway but the transport time would be too much and I’m gonna struggle financially as it is

@Godimabitch hahahaha I love this answer, if I do that then I’m “intentionally making myself homeless” and entitled to even less!