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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Some advice, anyone in council/social housing?

60 replies

Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:26

I’m currently living in a two bed house, it is actually only designed for three people as my daughters bedroom is so small she can only fit a single bed in it not even a wardrobe or chest of drawers. My daughter is almost 13 and my little boy is six months, he is currently sharing with me. We are currently banned be on the housing list due to overcrowding and I am coming in at around 40 on most of my local properties, some of them further afield I am over the 100 mark. Does anyone know how it works?? I was 38 on a house locally and it was the first want to come up next to my village in the last six months unfortunately it wasn’t local connection only so I’m not holding my breath but how did they choose a suitable person? Would I ever get a house being 38th in line?

And is anyone waiting because I feel like I could be sitting waiting for years?

Any advice would be great. I did think about going to the doctors as my anxiety has been really bad as my baby keeps getting woken up by my daughter as we are in such a small house and the walls are so thin and she’s trying to study. We would really like to be able to put our little boy in a coat but I cannot fit one in my bedroom 😩

OP posts:
XPuppetry · 23/02/2021 11:42

Unfortunately its mostly just waiting, you may find your priority increases as you son becomes older.

In general people higher than you in priority (bigger over crowding, temp accommodation, meds needs etc) will usually get preference.

Sometimes houses come up though that fewer people bid on for whatever reason (might be out of town, odd layout, less desirable area etc), and sometimes its just luck that your bid is the highest on that house. I know in my area some houses have only 2 or 3 people bid and others hundreds

Have you considered swapping?

XPuppetry · 23/02/2021 11:44

The house my sister lives in she "won" even though she was no 5 due to issues with all the people above, and she had been much lower on pretty much every property

Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:46

@XPuppetry thanks for your reply! I’ve tried every page on Facebook and home swapper site, cannot get anyone who wants a 2 bed 😩

There’s only been one local one and I need to keep local as my daughter is at high school, and I came 38th 😭 it didn’t have a picture and is in a really quiet spot in the middle of no where so I was shocked it had some many bids. I contacted the council and they said they are currently doing the shortlist?

I did ask them for a waiting time and they say they couldn’t say, it’s hard with my little boy as he ideally needs his own room now so he’s not constantly woken up.

:)

OP posts:
DicklessWonder · 23/02/2021 11:49

You say “me” and “my” on here but “we” elsewhere (indicating a partner). How overcrowded are you?

PawPawNoodle · 23/02/2021 11:50

My cousin was on the social list for about 15 years living in a 2 bed flat with her mum and brother. Her mum and brother shared a bedroom well into his teens as the living room couldn't be used as as bedroom because of the layout until she moved out to her dads a few years ago. Never got a look-in despite the clear overcrowding. That is a London Borough so likely very different to where you are but it's just a luck of the draw.

TheGracefulwhale · 23/02/2021 11:52

You won't count as 'overcrowded' until your boy is one so you'll be waiting a while.
We were 5th on the list for our flat and the only reason we got it was because the people ahead of us had already been housed hy the time the housing association got through their admin backlog.
Good news is, as your children are different sexea and one is over 10, you will be eligible for a 3 bed when your son turns one so your priority will be higher. Having said that, the average wait is over 2 years. We were housed about 18 months after applying. SIL was victim of domestic violence and ordered to flea her house by social services and even she took 3 months to house.

Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:54

@DicklessWonder I’m using we as in the terms that it’s not myself, my teenage daughter and my baby. Unfortunately I had a relationship breakdown so no more partner. We have been put up to a b as we are obviously overcrowded due to the square footage or my house as some 2 beds you can accommodate more people in. Each child needs there own bedroom in this case

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:55

@PolPotNoodle thank you for your reply :) definitely dependant on area I guess x

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 23/02/2021 11:56

Does your Council have a scheme to support people to privately rent? Some councils will fund the deposit for example to get you going, and benefits/ income may be enough to cover the rent? Otherwise many families set things up so the adult(s) sleep in the living room - your teen coukd have your room, the baby the box room and you on a sofa bed in the living area. Far from ideal I know but might make things a bit easier while you wait.

abigailsnan · 23/02/2021 11:57

Different people on the bidding lists have different priorities,some need downstairs toilet/shower facilities because of health problems etc.
When I was offered my bungalow there where 7 people bidding above me and I thought I had no chance with it being such a sort after area after waiting 6 weeks I got a phone call to view it because the people above me did not need the adaptations that had been made and I did,so you even if you are low down on the bidding list do not give up it just may happen.
Get a letter from your Dr.about the stress it is causing and don't dismiss the idea of going on the house exchange list as lots of people are downsizing as they get older. Good luck to you.

Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:57

@TheGracefulwhale it must work different in my area as I was classed as a d banging but as soon as my son was born they put me upto a b banding due to overcrowding? Sorry to hear about the domestic abuse. I’ve been trying to move from this property for a couple of years anyway as I was a victim of sexual abuse aswell, it’s been awful having to keep living here! X

OP posts:
Meruem · 23/02/2021 11:58

Unfortunately you could be waiting a long time. I presume your living room isn’t particularly big if you have such small bedrooms. But could you put the cot in there and maybe have the tv in your room? Maybe change your room into a bed/sitting room and have the living room as his room? That way he’s a bit further away from your daughter also. I know it’s not ideal but if you can find a better way while you’re waiting it will be less stressful.

Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 11:59

@VanCleefArpels I’m not sure I could look into it :) thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 12:01

@abigailsnan thank you! I’m just hoping something pops up. It’s luck of the draw. I will see if I can chat to my doctor at some point, it’s not a nice way to feel. Xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunflower2019 · 23/02/2021 12:03

@Meruem yes I guess it’s something I can consider :) x

OP posts:
CecilyP · 23/02/2021 12:15

If your house is a 2-bed 3 person house and you are only 3 persons, then you are not technically overcrowded. One of your bedrooms must be a double, even if your DD's room is very small. You would have automatically gone into a higher band once your DS was born and you should get more points when he turns one, but you will not be statutorily overcrowded (2 people both over 10 sharing a bedroom) and qualify for immediate rehousing until your DS is10. Hope you are successful before then though!

VettiyaIruken · 23/02/2021 12:20

Depends where you live.
We are in HA and the previous tenants had I think it was 5 kids in a 2 bed. They were still left waiting several years! But in other areas you can get a house very quickly. It's impossible to even guess at a timescale.

You might end up waiting a while. You could have your daughter in one bedroom and your son in the other, you sleep on a sofa bed or futon or something in the living room with your clothes stored in the larger of the two bedrooms. Not ideal but tolerable while you wait.

Divorcethediv · 23/02/2021 12:36

You will be waiting a long time OP. I used to be an allocations officer, and we always had many families with more children, and older children waiting years and years.
FYI, from someone who’s dealt with it...everyone
Gets a letter from their GP stating they need to move to band a as their situation is causing them stress. In reality, this makes no difference to waiting times, as so many do it. Band a is reserved for individuals who’s immediate safety is in danger, ie, threat of life/abuse/severe risk in current situation due to disability etc.
Band b is actually very high. The issue is available housing stock, and the sheer amount of families on the housing list.
A GP only holds so much weight with regards to banding. Councils have housing allocation policies, they are very clear on qualifying for banding, a GP will not make much difference to banding in most cases.
The advice I would always give is, bid on everything you are eligible for, don’t be picky. Most councils/housing associations are of the opinion that if you are indeed in desperate need of a property, you will bid on anything that is available in your criteria. They don’t take in to consideration schools/family etc. There just isn’t enough housing stock for that.
As I said, band b is a high banding. You are being placed around 40 now, but the longer you are waiting the higher you will eventually get. Shortlisting takes into consideration banding, length of time on the register as well as other factors. Bid, bid, bid

TitsOot4Xmas · 23/02/2021 12:39

[quote Sunflower2019]@DicklessWonder I’m using we as in the terms that it’s not myself, my teenage daughter and my baby. Unfortunately I had a relationship breakdown so no more partner. We have been put up to a b as we are obviously overcrowded due to the square footage or my house as some 2 beds you can accommodate more people in. Each child needs there own bedroom in this case[/quote]
Not until the youngest is 7 or 8, surely?

Dishwashersaurous · 23/02/2021 12:45

Get a single bed or a high sleeper for yourself and then a small cot for the baby. The total floor space needed for a bed and a cot is actually really small.

Unfortunately as you say that you are three people in a three person house you are not overcrowded

rawalpindithelabrador · 23/02/2021 12:47

Why does your son need his own room and is constantly woken up? You put him in your bedroom and you sleep in the living room for now.

Depending on the area, yes, you could be waiting until after your daughter is an adult.

By all means see a doctor but the whole letter from the doctor/anxiety, is 10p a punnet and will count for nothing to get you more points.

Dishwashersaurous · 23/02/2021 12:48

And by the time your son is 10, and overcrowded officially. Your daughter will be 22 and probably have left home.

So you may never get to being overcrowded officially

Kpo58 · 23/02/2021 12:48

I would have thought that they would expect you and your daughter to be sharing the big bedroom as you are both females and your son to be in the small which would be how they "solve" the overcrowding as you have a 2 person room and a 1 person room.

Unfortunately I'm not sure how much of a priority they will see you as since you aren't technically overcrowded.

rawalpindithelabrador · 23/02/2021 12:52

Bid, bid, bid

But then when someone like this does, they don't want the flat in a tower in another area because they're different, they need a 3 bed house with garden in the same area as the other one is in school, etc. and so turn the property down, and don't you only get to do that so many times?

sandichshortofapicnic · 23/02/2021 12:53

You will be waiting years unfortunately depending on area and demand. You are best off bidding on less desirable properties as you will have a higher chance on these. We have been waiting 2 years so far 3 children in a 2 bedroom flat with a leaking kitchen ceiling too! The highest we have come is 20th place. You have to be realistic and make the best of what you have