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.

I saw something about a boiler, do you not qualify for the new boiler scheme?

Last one and I’ve just seen a local charity near me has a warm home scheme where they give grants for no insulation as well as advice etc.

You'll never get a council house sorry to say and if you did it would be 10 years+ time from now. You'll be expected to private rent or buy another house with your equity and you'll also be expected to live off that money for as long as possible.
And here's food for thought. They WILL deem you intentionally homeless and the ONLY duty of care they have then is to house the children which basically means Foster care/residential care home.

GOTBrienne · Today 18:16
My sister got a new boiler from a government grant. She was told if she’s earning under 33 grand a year and no benefits, she can claim for it. She got a brand new boiler system in September. They were in and out in a day. She’s a homeowner. Def work the op looking into these grants in her area

How old is the house? Is it coveted by NHBC or similar?

Oops... covered

Sadly it actually is here. (self repair in a very poor condition flat with big issues)

So something specific about sewage coming up pipes for you RedFence.
I'm sorry you're in the situation you're in, but it might help to know about this:

Raw sewage coming up the pipes is going to be a blockage. Unless ridiculous amounts of unflushable stuff is going down your toilet, (which you can prevent) the blockage is nearly always in the sewer outlet not your pipe.
Most common causes are other peoples abuse of toilets that empty into a shared outlet, rat traps, & roots of plants going through the sewer pipe.
The 1st two you can easily sort yourself.

Know where the inspection cover for your sewer outlet is.
They're heavy but you can dislodge, lift, and drag the cover off with a big screwdriver or a crowbar. Good idea to randomly do this one day so you know what you're doing.
Look and you'll see the entrance to the sewer pip, and it's going to be that, that's blocked up. When it happens you wont be able to see it anymore as there will be liquid sewage covering it if it has blocked. But that's the bit that needs rodding.

I know things are tight, but at some point invest in a basic rodding kit. (start at around £12) You only have to use it once for it to pay for itself several times over.

Keep an eye on any change in how fast your bath empties, or if the water level in your toilet changes (up or down) It's your warning sign to rod the sewer outlet before it comes up the pipes.

Use food banks, clothes banks, charities, and whatever you need to, to make life more livable. You aren't stupid, you're just going through hard times like many of us. hang on in there.

I owned with my ex husband. after we split the house went to sale as neither of us could afford to buy the other out, i went on the council house list with my children as we were having to stay on familys sofas and spare rooms, not together. This was 2014, i eventually saved enough to private rent but the rent even with UC top ups made it difficult to get by. I got a council house last year, 6 years after applying, and the rent isnt that much less than private for a smaller house, its a difference of £100 a month but my UC rent element also dropped so im actually no better off. The council house also doesnt come with flooring or any white goods. I still, a year on, dont have a bed myself or flooring in my room. There are benefits in that its a life time tenancy, and they will do repairs - ish, my place needs a new bathroom which i was told when offered, over a year later im still waiting and dont have a useable bath, just a shower, but its not all sunshine and rainbows. Its still hard if you arent on a good income, im a nurse, i earn an average wage, but on a single income, with 3 children, even in a council place, it doesnt go far, and i have to accept that i cant have the instagramable show home. Its not a quick, easy fix to your situation.

I'm sorry but to bè blunt; you wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting a council property. At the most they would stiçk you in temporary àccomodation which can be very grim...you may ñot eveñ get that.
As others have said; see if you have any benefit entitlemen. See if ÿoù can maxìmìze èarnings perĥaps with remote woŕk. If you sold coùld ìt ɓuy you something in another àrea of the UK outright? Or even a boat òr residential caravan depeñding on youŕ thoughts òn aĺternative housing?

Talk to council before you do anything. The council may declare you as making yourself homeless, you don't want to end up in B&B. Visit a finance expert at your mortgage provider, they may be able to help you.

They will say you made yourself intentionally homeless you will be bottom of a extremely long list you will be in temporary accommodation for years. Your best bet is to sell and get a shared ownership property and claim UC for the rent.

If you sell your home you will be intentionally homeless and the council will have no obligation to help you, they will put you in a b&b or temporary housing. Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to? Look on the entitled to website for an idea. Can you refinance?

Look up 'places for people'
https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/find-a-home/homes-to-rent/

I wouldn't give up your home for a council home (despite what this means in terms of their rules of making yourself homeless and actually being homeless, you could be waiting until your kids are actually ADULTS to be rehoused, such is the housing crisis - this means your kids spending much of their childhood in temp accommodation / poss years)

However Places for People may be more of a help - check it out

Sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time, please ask gp or nurse to refer you to a food bank, there are also available grants from your council which you may be entitled to and as you have UC you can apply to get a new boiler through government scheme foc. Speak to CAB l am sure that they direct you to the relevant help.

I'm really sorry you're having such a shit time.
My advice is DON'T GIVE UP YOUR HOUSE!
See someone from your housing association or citizens advice or your local authority housing advice and tell them about your problems. Possibly consult a financial advisor who is recommended by one of these organisations.
You won't get a council house, realistically, for years or never.
Find a way to make your home comfortable and safe, with their advice.

You won’t be entitled to council housing.
you’ll have made yourself intentionally homeless. The equity you do have will be expected to go towards private renting.

You haven't replied to the question about who owns the other 40%. They surely should be helping with the costs...?

If you don't already...get DLA for your son ..it is not income linked

You might not be a much better off in a council house, they aren’t all new build houses. Mine is damp, mouldy and doesn’t have a shower or proper heating the council and HA don’t have the same obligations as private landlords so can get away with providing substandard housing. I can’t get any kind of grant or loan to deal with the problems because I don’t own the house!

So sorry you’re struggling. our boiler pressure dropped every couple of weeks and it was a leaking pipe, that could be why your wall is wet?

Is it possible to rent one of your bedrooms out? Either full time or Monday to Friday? That's the quickest way I can think of to get a decent income boost. If not, can you rent out your garage or shed for storage? If you have a drive then could you rent it out for daily parking or caravan storage? How big is your garden? If long and thin, is there space at the end to rent out for a private allotment?

I hope you can make the property work for you in some way. Good luck!

If you earn £1800 a month which is topped up by UC and your child's DP, I would look at where your money IS going. You don't need a full fridge. Start planning meals and cut out wastage. Visit Food Hubs and use Olio etc to get freebies.

Your mortgage provider would've given you a mortgage based on your survey and what they thought the property was worth. If there were major problems with the property and they weren't in the survey you do need to chase this for compensation.

Also, if my ceiling had fallen in, I'd probably have claimed on my Home Insurance. Did they say it was fair wear and tear?

Many CAB are overworked but do try and contact them or look for a free Debt Helpline to help you work out a way forward.

I was in a similar situation years ago. My home was repossessed as I could no longer afford the mortage. The council didn't count repossession as intentionally homeless because I was effectively forced to leave my home. Obviously I didn't make any money from the forced sale because the mortage company sold it just for the amount I owed on the mortage, therefore I walked away with no equity/profit.

My son has mental health issues and I fought to stay in our local area. After getting doctors reports etc the Council conceded that he should not be removed from his "support". In other words his psychiatric community nurse and local doctors surgery.

This was a long time ago and I expect everything has changed dramatically.

I know of certain people who have received free boilers due to certain benefits- not sure which ones but you could always ask CA

I really feel for you. I bought a house with compensation received after a disabling accident. It's a nice enough ex Council house with a lot of potential. Unfortunately, after many bad choices and dodgy workmen I couldn't face people coming in any more than I could afford to have things done. Fortunately for me, I have only pets to worry about.

I recently had to call an ambulance and while the paramedics were there they saw the state of things, I had to explain the whys and wherefores, and they got me help. It's not happening quickly, but now I have the opportunity for the house to be rodent-free, things have been moved that I was unable to manage, and spaces cleared etc, making cleaning easier etc etc. I live from one week to the next, and I've often thought I should not have bought a house, but at the time I couldn't find anywhere to rent that would take me with my pets.

There is help out there, I'm sure. I'm sure that with two children, there will be something/somebody who can assist you through this so you can get to a situation where you are able to care for your children without stressing about mere survival. I haven't read the entire thread, but hope someone is able to point you in the right direction.