Housing advice please!

[Curlycurls23]

The council have informed me that if I end up back in temporary accommodation due to if the council did not manage to 'prevent homelessness' then my bidding points would drop down to 200. Back to square one. I was in temporary early last year, I found my own private property, I have now been given a section 21 to move, I'm trying actively to find somewhere else and I just feel so demotivated that all my additional points would disappear if I don't find anything before I am given my eviction notice. I was going through so much stress with my neighbours and thought at least something good came out of it - I built up points by staying. I just don't get it I wont have a chance at bidding - I'm already low on the list. Then to top it off they said if I bid for a 1 bed when I am entitled to 2, I cannot in the future go back and say I am over crowded. I have enquired about just under 100 properties with no luck. I feel stuck. I don't know how I ended up in this situation but I have to keep going. Has anyone got any positive outcomes they have been through - please say there is a light at the end of this long tunnel :(

Can’t you rent privately again?

I have enquired about over 100 private properties I am actively trying before they put me and my baby in temporary its literally impossible because no one wants to know about a single mum on benefits - I am still trying though regardless of all of the declines

Can you work full time?

I know it's so hard but I found landlords more receptive to some UC or housing benefits if you work and then you had another income.
You have to build your income up as much as possible to be have the best chance of private renting and get yourself in the best possible position

Could you call Shelter 0808 800 444 helpline for housing advice?

My landlord has already gone to court, literally just waiting for the bailiff letter :( I was trying to find something before I get put into temporary which is in the next two weeks, I am also actively seeking work. Trust me I do not want to be on UC forever I have worked all my life and worked for the NHS for 10 years! I went through pregnancy discrimination, won a case but couldn't go back to my job but that is a whole different story!

@Ifallelsefailschocolate Spoke to them ages ago - thank you

Dont give up Curlycurls you sound a great role model for your young child with strength and determination. It’s true there will be light at the end of the tunnel , but also true that it’s so hard for you and others trying to find somewhere, especially single mums being discriminated against by landlords
💐💐

I know temporary accommodation is grim, but have you any idea how long people have to stay in TA in your area?

The way it works here is that people in TA are priority when it comes to getting places, so councils will allocate available homes to them first. A lot of people choose to hang on in TA, grim though it is, for social housing, where they know they will eventually get a secure tenancy, because they are just so sick of having to move time after time.

But the wait doesn't tend to be that long, rarely more than 6 months. I know that in some London boroughs it's years, and I can quite understand you not wanting to put your child through that.

The housing situation in this country is just dire. We need a massive programme of building social housing, the private rented sector will never meet the need.

@Ifallelsefailschocolate That is such a sweet thing to say, thank you x

@LakieLady hiya yes i'm in London and so many people in my situation so it will most likely be years for me as well, it's a shame my points go down by 130 just because I might not find something in time. I know that could take years too but it was just another option. I really wish there was a programme that could do that, it's all just crazy!

Going through this, section 21, the new renters reform bill wont stop no fault evictions either, in fact will make matters easier for LLs.

There just isn't enough low cost social housing, in my area, 11000 people are bidding on 2 or 3 houses that come up per week, UC payments don't come anywhere nr what rents costs, even a room in an HMO can be 500 plus.

ATM just waiting for the bailiff's, i can't afford current market rents, my existing place is quite cheap, the LL is getting me out to re market on the rental market after i complained about repairs not being done, even if i win a vindictive eviction, the LL can still re issue a new section 21, it just buys me some time.

No party seems to want to address any of this, sorry OP but there isn't light at the end of the tunnel.

@Doagooddeed I am so sorry you are going through it too it's just awful! Yeah most of the advice people try and give about to try and fight back only buys time - only a matter of time before LL will get the property back. I really hope you manage to sort out your situation and happy with the outcome. I don't feel so alone when I'm actually talking to someone going through the same thing. Some of the prices for these properties are actually offensive especially for what some of them are like!

Wishing the same for you, its awful, the problems with the rental market seem to have just passed the main parties by, no one cares and no one has any solutions.

My council housing officer suggested i look for AirBnB accommodation, until a HA house comes up, really?

@Doagooddeed Literally no solutions so frustrating and fgs thats ridiculous - plus air bnb is no different in prices they are ridiculous - if it was that great we would all be living in one!

@Doagooddeed has the court proceedings letter come through yet or is that what you are waiting for? I'm just wondering how long after receiving that does the eviction letter come through with an actual date of when bailiffs come or does it depend?

Hi @Curlycurls23 we are in this process now. Our S21 notice expires 30th June, then the landlord will start court proceedings after that. Hopefully that will give us a few weeks until the bailiffs turf us out, hoping we will find somewhere by then. We are moving to priority on the council list from the 30th. I really hope you find somewhere soon. You should be put on priority really, since a s21 notice is a no fault eviction. Wishing you the best.

Hey @sindym82 Sorry your going through it as well :( this whole thing just makes me feel so uneasy. I really wish you the best too and thanks for reaching out. Omg thinking about the bailiffs makes me feel sick with worry! x

@Curlycurls23 Thank you! I know, defo not the best feeling :( . Never been in this position before so its all new to me. I'm trying to be relaxed about it all as much as i can to keep my sanity, and worry about it when the day comes closer while hoping something comes up in the meantime. Sorry I never had anything helpful to advise you, just know you are not alone, this is happening alot and lots of landlords are selling up! Hope there is some good news for you soon! x

Hi Guys
This got me wanting to bang my head against the wall.
I fled demestic violence two years ago and eventually got a house for me and my beautiful baby girl, well she's six now but yeah.
This was council property and my housing officer set my housing benefits up on universal credit.

However the council also came back a few weeks later saying I wasn't a tenant at the address given. When questioned by my support worker they said I gave the wrong address, however the adress given was the address I was living at. I screenshotted everything. This still carried on for over a year back an forth during this time I was suffering really bad with PTSD and my mental health was getting worse. So after a year agruging I was tenant at the address I got evicted through section 21 so even though it was 'no fault ' of my own they had grounds to evicted me.

So I went to stay temporary accommodation my support worker was worried about me on my own as I hardly go out side as I get flash backs and it's seizures so she took my friend to stay with me on the first night so someone apart my little girl is there when I have a seizure, I was open about this to council as i didn't know i was doing anything wrong but got kicked out temporary accommodation the second day.
So I didn't want effect my baby girl so whilst I try a sort thing she is with my sister for a week but she has kids of her own and is already overcrowded.

I've gone social services however they haven't been able get involved untill recently as they my child is loved and looked after very well.
They are involved now but their not sure what to do either.

I'm worried sick I miss my little girl and feel the worse mum ever.

Can anyone give me any advice.

Hey love,

Sorry ur having to go through all of that how stressful! Have u tried going to the council to say ur homeless? U could use the fact ur sister is over crowded so it was only temporary and she cant keep this going anymore. They cant turn you away if your saying you have no where else to go with your daughter? U can always call up instead of going to the actual council? Unless ur in the position to privately rent something even just a bedsit/studio then there isn’t too much choice left! Bless you xx

I might have missed something but they cant kick u out of temporary with no where to go what happened there!