Council/housing association wait time for homeless?

[Maymoo99]

Can anyone around the derby/east midlands share there experiences or offer any advice on council housing waiting time?

I have become homeless in the last 6-7 weeks with my 21 months old toddler, currently sofa surfing in my disabled cousins which has been classified as severely overcrowded. The council has also set up a temporary pay-to-stay arrangement with my cousin to help with the costs of keeping me here. They have placed me in the highest band with a homeless need, severe overcrowding need and a minor medical need.

I have been bidding for the past 5-6 weeks and my bids have been positioning between 3-11 consistently. (Most properties have around 100 bids)

I cannot afford the upfront or ongoing costs of private rent as the average two bed around here is at least £800 per month and LHA only covers circa £450, and even if i could afford the demand for private rentals is very high with around 10-15 attending block viewings. I don’t stand a chance.

I suppose i’m just asking if anyone can share their experience and how long they’ve waited? I suppose at the least i’m just looking for some positive words.

Tia

I have tried but can’t access due to no local connection etc and will receive the highest priority where i currently live

It’s just so hard to access anything most options are dead ends

I work for a HA that covers Derby, our 1 bed waiting list on Band A is anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. A 2 bed is an average of 2-4 years.

If you can be massively flexible with areas you would be willing to move to, that often helps.

OP, some HA’s advertise on Rightmove (E.g. Places For People), it might be worth looking there too.

And zoopla

@MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel how do i access other areas ? They all seem to be non accessible due to no local connection etc

Are you entitled to one bed or two?

@MatthewsMumFromTikTok two bed, can only bid on two beds

I mean consider the whole area your LA covers, not being specific about estates/towns.

For example, we have someone demanding a move but the area in question we only have 7 properties so she won't ever get moved. But she rings every Wednesday and Friday like clockwork to check and has done for 10 years.

The wider area choice, the more chance of a move.

Gosh that’s good in my area you would be looking at 5 years minimum even on a “priority”

I work attached to children's social care and the current wait time for houses in our area in currently 100 weeks ( even for priority band A). It's the worst it's ever been.

@MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel yes i understand now, i’m not fussed on area whatsoever or wether it’s a flat/house

Very true. Demand is at the highest its ever been. My HA covers the whole of England and we are only getting a handful of vacancies because due to the CoL crisis people are not moving. So our only vacancies are either evictions (which are notoriously hard to get) or death without succession rights.

I've worked in housing almost 20 years and I've never known it so bad.

@EmeraldTheSeahorse @milkysmum where are you both located

4 years! I suppose 2 beds are the most popular

I'm trying to downsize but way too much hassle

I was shoved in a homeless hotel that was cockroach infested with a 1 day old baby so that shows how much councils give a shit

Seems to me that they're doing plenty. OP is already right at the top of the list and will likely get housed in the next few months. For many people it takes years or never happens.

@DisquietintheRanks i am very appreciative that my bids are coming high, i just pray it materialises soon for our wellbeing

Yes i really hope you get somewhere soon.

@DisquietintheRanks thank you for your kind words, i get the opinion that some people seem to think i’m ungrateful or trying to wiggle the system but i’m just someone who genuinely cannot afford or access private housing

What would I like the council to do? I'm not blaming the council per se, I'm blaming tory Britain that doesn't fund them enough.
A first world country can't put a rood over a baby and his mother. Totally awful.

Good luck OP, I hope you and your little one don't have to wait too long for a property....

Honestly @Maymoo99 don't worry about what stupid people think. More and more people are in your situation as we (as in this country) don't build enough housing, let alone social housing and still keep selling social housing off. Once you have your home you'll be able to build a secure life for yourself and your child.

Coming in 3-10 means it really could be anytime. The house I got we were 4th. Just so happened the top 3 either weren't suitable or offered previous properties. We were only on Gold for 6 months