To sell my house and try and get a council house? To think I'm too poor to own?

[RedFence]

I don't want to rub people up the wrong way, I know its not easy to get a council house, I've never had one before, but I am at breaking point.

I've posted a few times about my house; I bought using a government scheme which means I have 60% equity. I am a single parent to 2 sons, 9&13, 9 yo is SEN. I work PT around their school as youngest cannot attend wrap around.

I bought the house whilst we were homeless, 3 of us in my mums tiny and damp spare room.

The house had so many issues not on the home report and because I'm stupid and didn't 'see' the issues. I had to get a new bathroom due to leaking, insulation, roof repair, raw sewage coming up through pipes into bathroom, it's been awful. I am in debt. And then last night, I come downstairs to a large area of the wall wet and dripping because the roof is leaking again. I can't afford it, it'll be another debt.

I have £9 in my account. I behind on my council tax, every month just seems to be a new repair. It's unsustainable. I skip meals, I haven't had my hair cut for 9 months, I wear trainers with holes in them. I don't mind if the alternative my sons miss out, I just want them to be okay. We have moved three times in just over a year, I feel so guilty.

I feel I was never in a position to be a home owner, inevitably I bought a house with issues because that's what I could afford, but I can afford the repairs, or the upgrades.

I don't know who I can talk to about this. I don't know what to do. Private rents are rare and ridiculously expensive, we also have a 5year old dog. I am breaking.

My monthly salary is 1800, that will rise very slightly next month due a 4% pay increase (whoop 🤭).

Child maintenance is £80 a week.

I think our biggest spend is food, mortgage, insurance, debt. Food is the biggest. I grew up without much money and having a full fridge has always felt important, although inevitably when it gets to around 2 weeks before pay day the fridge is not full.

I don't go out, I use Aldi cleanser (which is actually fine), I don't buy clothes. I do believe I am guilty of trying to take my sons places quite a lot, I love taking them for days out, it always felt like that was the one thing I could do for them. So, for example last weekend we went to the beach, brought along the youngest inflatable boat, and I got them an ice cream and a drink. Not huge days out to Alton Towers or legoland, just pottering about, but I always buy them a treat.

A friend said to me last night I ought to sit and go through my banking app and itemise all the amounts leaving, then get an idea of what I am spending.

Yes you need to sit down and list all your incomings including child benefit and UC and CDP and all your outgoings. Assess if there is anything to cut out etc.
You need to check you are getting all the benefits you are entitled too.
Obviously I don't know your costs but seems your income wouldn't be super low in total. Are there any grants you can get for the house?

No mention of the children's father paying support (unless I've missed it, apologies).

Food prices have increased massively so if that is one of your biggest outgoings sit down and go through what it is you’re buying. Do you buy brand or supermarket own stuff?

@Lifestooshort71 she says she's getting £80 a week

You missed it, she does get some

Is £1800 your take home? If it is, you have £2120 before any benefits, and you’ll get at least £96 a month per child. What is your mortgage and any rent portion? If you are OK to list your fixed monthly outgoings, along with your total income, people will definitely be able to advise on where savings can be made.

Itemise your spends, swap utility deals where possible, cut down on additional spends. Take picnic lunches & snacks with you, you'll I be surprised how much you save. I always buy ice creams from the shop/supermarket rather than a van.

Use up everything in your cupboards/fridge and meal plan so you only buy what you need. Sell the boys old toys/clothes on vinted or car boot sales to generate extra income. Make a budget now for Christmas and save for it.

You earn too much for carers allowance but you might qualify for carers credit.

https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit

https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

That all sounds overwhelming OP. You definitely need advice and the citizens advice will also do a check to make sure you’re getting everything you’re entitled to.

I totally understand you wanting to sell up and get out but don’t do it without lots of advice. Depending on where you live there can be a minimum of 2 years wait for social housing for people in the highest band.

Whtly can't youngest attend wrap around? Can he change schools to somewhere that suits better to enable you to work full time?

Firstly do you get all the benefits you are entitled to?
Have you written down exactly how much you have to spend a month?
Have you written down and costed any urgent repairs?

You are overstretched and struggling but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it work. Buying a house is a real uphill battle and you’ve done the first bit but the next stage is often very hand to mouth. Typically everything falls apart and needs replacing and it’s al invisible like tanks and roofs and electrics. On top of that everyone is struggling to feed themselves and keep warm and dry at the moment. It’s hard but I would hang on as long as you possibly can.

My friend with 3 kids with SEND has been on the waiting list for 4 years. If you're in London then I absolutely wouldn't sell my house to get on a council waiting list. It will take years to get a house and probably in a very undesirablelocation.

You already have a home, you need to find a way to make it work for you. Most people in a council waiting list will think you're mad to sell to go on a waiting list. You're not even guaranteed a home, just a place on the waiting list.

Can you take another p/t remote role or change to a f/t remote role to increase your income?
https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs?workplace=remote

Get Roofer to look at roof - it might be a simple repair (slipped tile or something) which is not too costly then you can decide what to do.

If expensive take in a lodger or even two if you can manage it. Not ideal I know but it will give you an immediate inflow of cash. Turn your livingroom into a bedroom if you have to. I know it's rubbish but it's short term

Get your roof fixed with the cash. Put any spare aside from lodgers for future repairs.

When lodgers leave you can decide whether to take in more or not.

If you hate it you can ask them to leave as soon as you can afford it

Don't sell your house. You will end up homeless or in temporary and have to get rid of your dog. Moving costs a fortune anyway and they usually want upfront money for photo's and home report.

Sorry for your troubles

Others have given good advice about the overall situation you find yourself in. To focus just on the wet wall you found yesterday - most of the country had exceptional rainfall in 24 hours - did this happen where you are? We had a similar situation last year on a day like that. When we had someone out it wasn't a roof failure, but very bad luck with the rain and wind direction that meant water had flowed under some flashing. The fix was relatively quick and inexpensive, so don't panic yet until you've had someone look at it.

Do you have house insurance? Could they look at the leaks ?
You'll have to stop having paid days out and treats for a while.
How come you've moved three times in just over year ?
It will be worth it in the end.

You unlikely to get a council house around here unless you waited several years but that's only if you overcrowded etc. as you making yourself homeless by selling the house you would be right at the bottom of the list of at all. You have to rent im afraid

OP did mention it, but it might have been in a reply (and not opening post).

A lot of the issues with the house will be covered under insurance.

Hi OP, sorry you’re feeling so shit. It’s horrible when things are wrong with your house. As everyone says, making yourself homeless for a council house is unlikely to be a viable option.

You could sell your house with its problems. With a 60% mortgage you’re unlikely to have negative equity - the repairs won’t cost that much! You could then rent (and keep the equity in savings till it’s needed), or perhaps you’d be able to afford somewhere similar/smaller/cheaper area.

Alternatively you could remortgage, taking out some equity to do the repairs, and extend the term of your mortgage to keep payments roughly the same. Is that possible - what’s is the term of your mortgage currently and what’s the maximum you could extend to?

Have you got quotes for the works (3 for each job) so you really know what you’re dealing with? It might not be as bad as you think in the grand scheme of things.

If you do the repairs, you also have the option to sell later down the line - again downsizing or moving to a different area to reduce costs. That might only be possible when the kids have left home but it’s means that you wouldn’t be tied to your current mortgage/term forever - there’s scope to reduce in the long term.

Also as others say leaks look terrible but are often really quick to fix. Especially indoor ones you need a plumber for. (Though don’t get me started on roofers, I’ve had them quote me everything from £50 to £5k for the same job!!)

I was quoted £3-£6k for a new roof on my 2 bed terrace recently so even a new roof isn’t going to send you into negative equity.

Sorry to hear that things are a struggle.
Your local HIA may be able to help you get funding for the repairs, here is a link: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/improving-your-home/help-with-home-improvements/#:~:text=Home%20improvement%20agencies%20(HIAs)%20are,maintain%20or%20adapt%20their%20home.
Make sure you request a grant before settling for any offer of a loan, and be clear about all circumstances including your caring responsibilities, because that will increase your chance of getting a grant.
You should also check the house documentation carefully with them or with citizens advice; the freeholder or your insurer may have responsibility for these costs not you, or at least up to your contribution % / excess.

Is there anything like lendology by you? Not sure where you are but I'm a similar amount of skintness and a single parent homeowner and I managed to get a loan from a company who borrow money from local councils to help homeowners? I spread the cost of my bathroom over 15 years. You could do the same with a new roof. Spread it over 20 years or so. I also have terrible credit and they still lent to me. I think the scheme is to keep homeowners in their homes so they don't become the LA's problem

I can’t see that happening anytime soon where l live. The current wait is nearly 5-10 years and it sounds like you would be intentionally making yourself homeless

Are you sure this is true? When I worked in social housing ( admittedly a while ago) it was illegal to take into account income when deciding who to let to.

OP, you would be best contacting either a housing advice agency such as shelter, and then your local authority/ local housing associations to find out what their criteria and waiting lists are like, and what your priority/ waiting time is likely to be with them.

I think you’d need to be willing to move there are places with council houses available so no waitlist. A friend went from Edinburgh to Arran as something available immediately rather than waiting in temp accommodation with fingers crossed.