Does anyone bid for Lambeth council?

[pedropony76]

So sorry just posting for traffic.

Does anyone here bid for any Lambeth council properties? I’ve recently joined the bidding list and I’m in band B as I have two kids (2 month old DS, 14 month old DD) and just had a few questions.

How long have you been bidding for? How many kids do you have and how many bedrooms are you entitled too? Have you ever been offered a place or have you been bidding weekly and haven’t even been to see one in person?

I just have this feeling that I’ll be bidding for YEARS even though there’s three of us currently in a one bedroom (private) and all I’d like is a two bed. One of my friends has a daughter and she’s been bidding for THREE YEARS. I have no hope do I☹️

You can check this stuff out on your councils website my council in London will show you all the results of how long people waited and what band and what property they got my council 10 year minimum

@BiscoffSundae no way really? That’s so informative. I’ve tried to look on Lambeth’s allocations section and couldn’t find anything like that. I may try to look again, thank you

Shameless bump - anyone else?

Maybe ask them as my council London Borough shows the results weekly. You can check every week to see who got what.

Really?!!! I’ve just had a look again and I can’t find anything of the sort! Maybe Lambeth is just being stingy haha. I might try and find a number and give it a call on Monday to try and speak to someone to get more info.

All I got was my bidding number and no explanation as to how things work. You can’t even see the inside of the flats, only the front door and that’s it. It’s so ridiculous

Most councils only do a front photo, occasionally it's not even the correct house- just a similar stock photo. They aren't going to shower interior photos as they aren't in this to make any money, they want the quickest possible turnaround and it's very much take what you are given. Anyway, All councils tend to produce a list of what has been allocated, what band it went to etc. it could be under previous let's or letting cycles.

Could also be under allocations

Thank you I’ll definitely have a more thorough look

The mylondon website says the average wait for housing in Lambeth is 6.5 years

You are probably looking at a 6-7 year wait depending on how picky you are that could be longer

Yes I do. I am in band B too in Lambeth, i have been on the list since 2016 and unfortunately I am still not high enough to get somewhere despite bidding regularly.

I wouldn’t hold out for a council flat if you have young DC op, there’s a fair chance they will be late primary by the time you are offered somewhere

And to answer your questions in your OP-
I have been bidding regularly but still not been contacted to view somewhere. And we are entitled to a 2 bed property

Thank you for the more recent comments.
I also saw the waiting times on the mylondon website and can’t say I was shocked at all.

@Snakepets oh my this is my fear! I’ve been hoping to be housed before the kids start primary school but I know that’s not realistic. I’m also entitled to a two bed and cannot believe you’ve been bidding since 2016!! Are you already in a council flat or are you private renting trying to get a council place? I knew Lambeth was overcrowded but bloody hell

Anyone else bid for Lambeth council? Even if you don’t bid for Lambeth, can I ask how many bedrooms you’re entitled too and how long you’ve been bidding for?

Unless you can get into Band A, it's pretty hopeless in London. Even then, you will wait a long while. Hotels and hostels are full of people, which increases daily, and there just aren't the properties.

Many Ukraine placements have broken down, the payments to hosts run out next month, and, apparently, councils will then be responsible for them.

I don't personally bid but I work with families living in Lambeth. Some of them are overcrowded with children with special needs e.g. mum, dad, 5yo with Autism and 2yo in a 1 bed and are bidding for years. Others are in hostels often for around a year. It's really tough 😒

I’ve never even met anyone in Band A so I know I’m definitely not eligible!

It’s horrible isn’t it, especially if you’re overcrowded. I’m surprised that family has been bidding for a while seeing as they also have a child with Autism, it’s horrific. I was in temporary accommodation for nearly a year and there was one woman who’d been there for 7 years and was still waiting for a council flat! It’s hell

Band A in my area is only for those downsizing, those whose homes are going to be demolished and those who are in hospital unable to return to their homes as they are no longer suitable, so very rare to get an A. Medical, over crowding, homeless Those escaping DV all band b, Then band c for those with no priority need. I am on the list as my daughter has asd and can’t share a room but we are band C looking at 10 years minimum, been on the list since 2017, share a room with my 5 year old as she can’t share with her sister.

Wow Biscoff, a 10 year wait sounds insane. How come you’re not in Band B if you’re daughter can’t share a room? Is it because there’s no real rush to move you as the council are okay for you to share with your other daughter?

I really wish there were more social housing buildings especially how so many people are in need and waiting. Even though the council helped me get a private place really quickly after being homeless, I know the kids and I will be in this one bedroom forever

Hi @Snakepets I’m in the same boat and have been bidding for nearly 4 years.
Do you ever check what position number you land on when bidding? I feel like my position hardly changes and I’m still stuck in the hundreds when the bids are counted.
Hoping to hear the position numbers changed for you over the years!

Hi, it’s such a pain isn’t it! Yep I check my place fairly regularly and sometimes barely move for months - sometimes I’ll move up the list a fair bit, then bounce back down again which is really frustrating (I presume from people being added to the band above). But year on year I have moved up the list significantly, I try not to check my position too much as it drives me mad! Good luck 🤞

I'm band B as a registered homeless, disabled, single mum of one. The homeless prevention team made me choose between going into emergency housing but losing my band B status (emergency housing could have been a hotel room or an old office block or not in my area ..but is deemed as being housed so you move to band c). I was on band B because of living in a studio space with my ex and child. They said if i self sourced private accommodation I'd get LHA that would cover a 2 bed (it barely did in my area...and doesn't cover many rents I've seen in other areas). They also said they would pay a private landlord an incentive instead of me paying a deposit or first months rent ...then after weeks of being denied by private landlords and estate agents (no dss...no children...no pets...no peasants) I finally found a place, I had to leave my cat with my ex and the emotional damage from the stress is still causing me issues. And as you can see from the pics, this is where I'm at with bidding weekly on properties. Oh and I also started getting harrassed from my estate agents who said i was in rent arrears because it turned out the incentive agreement that i never saw between the council and the landlord only covered the deposit in the end and says i pay my rent a month in arrears. I have no idea if that looks bad on a credit check or what it means when my contract ends. Dealing with the council was horrendous. Twice when i finally managed to beg a landlord to agree to house me, my housing advisor didn't get back to me and they offered it to someone else...why would you rent to a single mum with no money and a messy child and a cat when you can rent to 2 yuppies who earn 60k each. We all know houses aren't homes anymore. They're just another means to make profit for the rich.