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 have no advice for the finance side of things but would you be able to move your DS's bed and bedroom things into your bedroom, and use his room as your bedroom? I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to have to stay there for that reason alone, let alone the other reasons. It may make things easier if you see that room as somewhere safe your son sleeps?

Do you have real life support from anyone? Can you contact your GP or Women's Aid for MH support?

I hope things pick up for you soon, you deserve to live somewhere safe and stable, and to be happier than you are now. You can and will get through this. We're here for you.

We can’t use our other room due to the damp and disgusting mold smell, I have treated it countless times but it’s back with a vengeance and mold and mildew spray isn’t touching the sides

I was going to live in the living room but that’s where the broken window is and it’s far too cold plus rain comes through so there’s some damp showing itself in there too

Thank you so much xxxx

Can I check. Are you on the Manchester Move register?

People with no knowledge of the Manchester market, stop telling the OP to get something cheaper, the property market here is insane. £600 is cheap as chips for most parts of Manchester.
Also I would be wary of presenting as homeless, most of the temporary accommodation used by Manchester City council is in Oldham and Rochdale, not Manchester which could prove too much of a commute for you.

With your history OP it may be worth speaking to women’s aid?

Try west Lancashire op, tiny little county and you don't need a local connection for a vast amount of places. They often have some flats/maisonettes ready to rent and turnover is rather quick. Plus it's council, not HA .

www.westlancshomefinder.co.uk/?UseFullSite=1

I wonder if you harass and report the landlord for the state of the property he would serve notice? I would consider going to your MP with the state of the property you are expected to live on whilst the landlords responsibilities aren't being enforced.

Just an idea

I am on the Manchester move register

@lastqueenofscotland I’m actually closer to oldham so that’d suit me fine lol! They won’t offer me any temp accommodation anyway so I can count that out x

I can’t move that far out of my area, my job is here and my family. I’ve been isolated through DV as it is and I can’t just go somewhere where I know absolutely no one, plus I couldn’t afford to get to uni from there. I genuinely think I’m one of those people that have just fell through the net

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.

If OP is in Manchester, private rents are definitely more than social rents.

Id push for assessment on Reasonable preference D mental health .

suffering from mental illness or disorder where the medical condition would be significantly improved by a move to alternative accommodation. Note that this would not normally include consideration of an applicant’s preference for, or dislike of, a particular location, nor would it include addressing insecurity arising from welfare reforms and/or other financial pressures

Is there a local law society that does charity work they often can help with housing matters ?

Are you sure you've got the right LHA rate though, OP? 2 bed in both the Manchester LHA areas is c650?

I’m not sure but couldnt you ge true widow repaired then give the landlords name for the bill

And

c Reasonable Preference category section 166A (3) (c) – People occupying insanitary or overcrowded housing or otherwise living in unsatisfactory housing conditions.
This group comprises:
Applicants living in insanitary or unsatisfactory housing conditions because they:
● lack a bathroom, or
● lack a kitchen, or
● lack an inside WC, or
● lack hot or cold water supplies, or
● lack electricity, gas or adequate heating, or
● occupy a property which is in disrepair or is unfit for occupation
Note that applicants who only have access to shared facilities in shared accommodation do not qualify under these criteria unless their access to shared facilities is restricted to limited times of the day.
Applicants living in unsatisfactory housing conditions in the private sector where there is one or more Category 1 Hazards (excluding overcrowding) under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)

Get the not ge thu !

Also they don’t do gold, silver or bronze banding now so what cat are you in?

Any charities don’t budge our LA. Also I’m pretty fucking sick of them saying I’m “adequately housed”

@CornishTiger how do I do that? Do u mind PM’ing me x

They do use bronze silver and gold, the letter I had from January 2019 said silver band. Our council sold all their homes to HA’s

And yes the LHA is incorrect?

secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/200008/benefits_and_support/4249/local_housing_allowance_lha_rules/3

I'd second raising this with your MP, so at least you may be able to get the property you're in made livable. If that can't be done they may be able to assist with securing somewhere else. Good luck, it sounds like you have overcome a lot recently, keep that strength in mind

I don’t have an M postcode

They changed the allocation policy in Nov 2020. When you log on what does it say your banding is now?

You need to read the allocation policy. You need to know it and make sure you get the correct banding through supplying evidence to them.

@bellver888

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

Can you make yourself more overcrowded? Or do something to get put in a higher band?

I hate to say it, but have another baby?

Can your own parents help you at all?

Are you registered on one Manchester?

What if your house was to suffer a serious water leak? Would that move you up the list?