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.

I'm sorry the wait is shit Have you called Environmental Health regarding the damp? Years ago we were in a private rental with damp, we get environmental health involved who wrote a report to say we shouldn't be in the house and we were moved a few weeks later.
Can you extend the areas you are able to move too to help the search?

Good Luck, you will get there OP

Godimabitch
I tend to agree with this - however if you do turn up to the council homeless they may want to check your bank statements to prove you couldn't afford your rent otherwise if you have made yourself intentionally homeless they may not want to help. If you have children however they possibly have a duty to help you and that often means a hostel. Mine wasn't too bad but some I've heard are horrendous.
I may be wrong in what I've said however I'm no expert but have been through the council system.

I don't think the council list works as you moving up the more you bid. Even if you are in band a if someone more in need joins the list they get priority. Or that's what we were told anyway.
Depending on where you live sometimes badgering then actually works. By that I mean calling them 3 or 4 times a day. If you annoy them enough sometimes they will find you somewhere to get rid of you. (They aren't supposed to do this, it's supposed to be based on need so it may or may not work).
Contact environmental health about the flat. We did that once and the landlord was forced to carry out repairs. Although this was pre Covid so they came round to inspect the property not sure how it works now. Now he might evict you but if he does then the council will have to find you somewhere to live.

@bellver888

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

but you're not adequately housed as you have no heating and thats a breach of HHSRS (housing standards) which would bump you up the list maybe. I used to work in a related field and the housing officers would tell clients where they were on the wait list. could you ring and ask? also ask whether your current home is labelled in breach/inadequate?

sounds so tough for you, sorry to hear this

How old is your son?

OP didn’t want to read and run. I have no experience of your situation but really hope it all works out for you

Ds is 1

If I’m classed as intentionally homeless if they have to put me in a hostel I would be there absolutely years in band 3

Moving up the list in our HA means your actual position, so I’m really not moving up anywhere so if I’m position 40 there are 39 more entitled people than me who bidded

And LA have said by adequately housed it means it’s up to my landlord to sort, only housing standards can enforce it

Which band are you in?

Plus I’d have to be in a payment plan for 12 weeks before they’d help me :)

Sorry just saw you answered that

Silver band, gold is for ex army and overcrowded by 2 bedrooms, bronze is for other HA tenants or those who are underoccupying

I was in the hostel 6months but yeah these days people are in there much longer. 1 family got housed sooner as the school and doctor had written on behalf of her son and said his behavioural problems were, they believed, down to him not having suitable housing. Just my experience.

Can you share your councils allocation policy with us please? What local connections to areas have you listed?

Who are you working with regarding the domestic abuse and PTSD.

DHP rejected. What were the reasons? How much is the rent and how much is the UC housing element?

Rent 600
Service charge 65 as it’s property management
UC housing 493
I’m not sure why it was rejected I’m awaiting feedback as it was only last week

Support with my GP
Local connections to my area are that I’ve lived here all my life and all my support is here
Other area was my college area and my uni area

Sorry just seen that you have £107 unmet housing costs.

Plus £65 service charges. What are these charges? Most should be covered by UC.

Oh god op, I started reading this and wondered if you were in Manchester because I get it, the housing situation here is appalling and private rents have become ridiculous.

You're right that you can't appeal a DHP decision. But you can make a new application, which might be successful if you get good advice and support to write it and gather supporting evidence.

What's the maximum you can afford in rent?

They’re not covered as my LHA for a 2 bed property which is my entitlement is only 493

I could afford probably around 550 but it’s finding 1 that accepts DSS AND bad credit

Do you live with your childs father? Any child support isn't included in benefit payments so that could help you out. I know that has been a lifeline for me in the past.

No he abused me quite badly and me and DS are completely NC. I don’t know where he is and I don’t want to know, I’m not adding fuel to the fire by contacting CMS either, cos £50 a month isn’t worth getting my head caved in over

Can you get a cheaper place? £600 seems a lot. Can you look to a cheaper area.?

Have you actually checked what you would pay in rent in a council house? Where I used to live they were typically more than private. You may get less benefits too. Planning to return to university is your best long term plan and you can get some benefits as a parent

Unfortunately the average in my area is 600-700. To get one cheaper I’d have to be miles out of the area and I need to stay somewhat local for work and childcare

@movingonup20 average round here is between 89-100 a week