Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How long to get council house?

133 replies

kvtie · 17/01/2022 18:24

So i’m in the north east and I’m on band B, I have been on there since the end of November. I’m bidding atm and I’m usually coming around 10th for properties. I’m just wondering how long other people waited?

OP posts:
ElEmEnOhPee · 17/01/2022 22:08

I was Band A in Wales (11 years ago) and took 8 months (was offered the place after 6 months but needed 2 months worth of work doing to it).

Moved in this new place August this year, Band C and had been waiting around 2 years, again in Wales.

Honestly just depends on how the system works where you are. Here it's something like 40% Allocation to Band A, 30% to Band B and C - Bands D onwards only get offered properties everyone else has rejected. Here you wait until you're top of the list and that's it, if you change Bands you go back to the bottom of the pile. Previously it was more based on need so others could go above you if they had more "points" (were considered more in need).

reddA · 17/01/2022 22:16

NW a few months into a brand new build (not me - not priority) very impressed tbh

plantmadness · 17/01/2022 22:41

North east - band b.
Was on the list 18 months but only because appropriate property was being built by the housing association and a proportion of the estate needed to be complete before they could be released. From first brick laid to move in was about 9 months.
I got my local councillor to help me with evidence gathering specific to our situation and to ask questions of the housing team on my behalf. I have no doubt that helped.
I'm in a sought after village so can't believe our luck!

MaryAndHerNet · 17/01/2022 22:47

2 years I've been on the books on 2nd highest tier. Every house I bid on has 70+ bids.

mightbealittlebitmad · 17/01/2022 23:07

I'm in the Midlands and my friend was looking into it but was told unless she was actually homeless she wouldn't stand a chance and even then would be housed somewhere temporary even with kids. She ended up private renting because she wasn't putting her kids through temporary housing when there was no safety needs, she was just splitting up with her husband.

The4teddybears · 17/01/2022 23:16

Solihull. Band B. 3 -4 year wait for a 3 bed house

Spidey66 · 17/01/2022 23:39

@bringinglightandpeace
She's in the NW...her post says so!

I agree with those who feel social housing should not be sold off. Terrible policy. They used to give council tenants 'grants to vacate e.g. 3k or something to put towards a house deposit. Much better idea. The tenant still gets an opportunity to buy but releases a council property. This was in the 90s mind when 3k actually helped!

I didn't know HAs could sell. I thought HA properties were supposed to remain as HA stock

Spidey66 · 17/01/2022 23:41

Btw the grant to vacate was an alternative to the RTB, not instead of.

Famousinlove · 18/01/2022 01:02

I think you just have to be lucky. It took me about 4 months to get my 1 bed flat, I had no band and in NW

Sort0f · 18/01/2022 01:16

I don’t think right to buy should be stopped.

I think instead it should be a proper pathway, so for every home sold at least another one is built.

Housing market is totally skewed in this country and this might help rebalance it.

nalabae · 18/01/2022 01:23

If you’re single don’t do for HA
If you have children HA are okay

Hope you get something soon x

Tealightsandd · 18/01/2022 01:45

@Sort0f

I don’t think right to buy should be stopped.

I think instead it should be a proper pathway, so for every home sold at least another one is built.

Housing market is totally skewed in this country and this might help rebalance it.

We can't concrete over every bit of our country. And we need green spaces - for farming, for wildlife - and, well, just to breathe.

Why should taxpayers (including those struggling on low incomes in terrible housing situations) pay towards someone who least needs it buying at a knockdown price their secure affordable rented home?

There's no need to own. It's nice but not necessary. What is necessary is proper (not for sale) secure affordable housing. Like... social housing.

Mumofsend · 18/01/2022 06:19

@spidey66

HA are right to aquire rather than right to buy. Not as easy to access and your HA can offer you an alternative home if they agree at all.

Rosebel · 18/01/2022 08:26

@nalabae

If you’re single don’t do for HA If you have children HA are okay

Hope you get something soon x

Really? 3 children and been bidding for over 2 years. Nowhere to live in 6 weeks but still nothing.
Spidey66 · 18/01/2022 08:51

@Sort0f

I don’t think right to buy should be stopped.

I think instead it should be a proper pathway, so for every home sold at least another one is built.

Housing market is totally skewed in this country and this might help rebalance it.

That would be a better alternative....when Thatcher brought in the RTB she specifically banned using money raised to build more. At the time people who bought into it thought it was a wonderful act of philanthropy. It wasn't. It was a way of depleting council housing stocks, and it worked.Hmm

What's also needed now is an increase in 1 bed properties, to teahouse those 'overoccupying' and subject to the bedroom tax.

Spidey66 · 18/01/2022 08:53

Teahouse! Rehouse. Damn autocorrect.

Spidey66 · 18/01/2022 08:56

[quote Mumofsend]@spidey66

HA are right to aquire rather than right to buy. Not as easy to access and your HA can offer you an alternative home if they agree at all.[/quote]
Oh I've not heard of that....how is that different?

namechangeagaintwice · 18/01/2022 09:07

In south London it took me 4.5 years whilst in temporary accommodation

Mumofsend · 18/01/2022 09:13

@Spidey66 the HA don't have to agree at all and discount is capped.

Locally single people have it easier as there is a lot more 1 bed accommodation available

Mintymin · 18/01/2022 09:41

Think was just under year and I wasn't top banding but there is reasonable housing stock still left locally and 1 bed flats aren't as in demand. It was on a bid I had put in while back but was #20, However it had taken longer to become ready than expected so they contacted people who bid to check if were still looking. Some may have also turned it down as it required loads of work to get to decent standard and tbh if I'd not had help & somewhere to stay as quicker to do empty I'd have really struggled. The condition was a bit of a shock and I didn't know about lack of flooring, having always rented privately in the past used to being basic standards.

I don't feel Right to Buy was wrong as there were lot of social issues & stigma associated with council estates and so allowing these to become more mixed ownership as ours is now makes for better area. The issue was not ring fencing the proceeds to only be re-invested into building new properties.

JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 18/01/2022 10:19

Home counties, list is 7-10 years unless band A priority but even then it's often hostel or bedsit accommodation offered and if you say no twice no matter the reasons they won't offer any more

Pazuzu · 18/01/2022 10:39

All well and good blaming Thatcher but Labour dropped their opposition to the policy in 1985 and didn't exactly put the brakes on it, they simply reduced the discount.

Given that the population has increased by over 10 million in the last 40 years, I doubt supply would have kept up with demand.

Finally, contrary to a lot of opinion on here, you do need privately rented accommodation for many reasons.

Jlos · 05/04/2022 21:06

Just been put on band b from band c due to 56 day relief duty and not securing a property in the 56 days ending!!! and we are in emergency accommodation me and 3 children been here 10 weeks now!!! We are in Salford Greater Manchester has anyone been in same situation and how long did it take to get houses? Thanks 😊

Kitkat151 · 05/04/2022 21:34

I’m NW ...my DD was A band+ , she was 5 months....my SIL was C band ....she was also 5 months but in a less desirable area of town....my nieces were both B band one was 10 months and the other 6 months ( they both got new builds) .....there’s lots of social housing round these parts though

Jlos · 05/04/2022 21:48

@Kitkat151 oh that sounds promising then thankyou 🙏😊