Refused temporary accommodation

[BabyMama2025]

so I am currently pregnant I did my homeless application in October and got offered a temporary accommodation on the 7th of November. However I refused it as the room was absolutely tiny literally just fits a bed. Of course I am grateful to be offered the help and roof over my head. But, how would I know how long I was in there not only that it was unsafe front door didn’t lock. Crazy man screaming and shouting in the shared kitchen. Writing on the walls saying theives work here. Google reviews of the place showing mould in the rooms. So yes not safe as I refused I explained to my council why and wasn’t offered anything else I have since been sofa surfing but I am due end of jan. my relief duty is now coming to a end and I’ve had no contact from the council. I have been trying to get private rent with the council but before I say I want it the lady says it’s now under offer 🙄 so she’s not very helpful in helping me find a place. I have been trying myself but I live in London so it’s incredibly hard. Anyway any advice on what may happen when my relief duty has finished ? I’m planning to email my housing officer and ask.but maybe they could dismiss my duty as I refused the temp accommodation. I am still with my partner too who works full time I have already started my mat leave

where does your partner live currently? Are they sofa surfing too?

You need to move out of London. My sil is a single mum with 4 kids. She's been in temporary accommodation for about 7 years and no signs of moving up the bidding line

This.

The accommodation they offered was suitable for two adults which you currently are.

When the baby is born, it would have become unsuitable, and you could have requested a review.

If you have the option of turning down temporary accommodation, you're not as much in need of it as someone who wouldn't have that option. Someone will have accepted that room you were offered because they had no choice.

I'd imagine fhis is their thinking.

Op, I feel for you, I really do. But I think it was a mistake to refuse the place they offered. You currently have no fixed abode. A small, mouldy flat (which you can clean!) is infinitely better than sofa surfing, or living on the streets and having a baby taken from its mum.
You are not in a position to be choosy.
They will house you where they can, there isn’t some secret stash of beautiful terraced houses to be given away for free, you should accept wherever you’re given and then do your best to improve your living conditions. You could have taken the flat, you would then have had an address, your partner could have got a job and you could have saved for somewhere better.
As it is, you clearly can’t afford to live in the city. Leaving London is probably your best option

I think you seem quite uninformed. I’m pretty sure you will not be getting a DHP for “12 months plus” it would have been a set amount of time, and you should have been told this by your council. Your partner works full time so I’m not sure how you’re even eligible tbh.

if your partner works full time and you can’t afford the rent in London and are getting nowhere with the local council ultimately you need to move out of London. You need a roof over your babies head, that’s the most important thing.

Also the only thing people think they need to say is 'mould' to refuse accommodation or get moved if they already have it. My partner works in housing and people use this all the time to engineer this.

Why do you want to be in London necessarily?

How much we as a society let down Women and Children is truly staggering.

If you work you can buy immediately in the North and start a new job there. Mortgages are 100 to 400 pounds

The thing is many councils offer absolute shitholes with the aim of weeding out anyone who has better options, or lacks the persistence to push through the process. You need to accept the shithole, live there for a short while, and then (in your case when your baby is born) you will be moved to standard temporary accomodation, which will be much better but may not be exactly where you would wish, and the time you can stay there can be unpredictable. You may move through several such places before being offered something permanent, and at all times there will be encouragement to find a private rental instead.

If you grit your teeth and accept all this for as long as it takes, which may be years, you will eventually be offered long term social housing. But they don't make it easy, for obvious reasons.

I lived in Northwich near Manchester ages ago. Cheap, decent area
BIL lives in Yorkshire, cheap , still decent

What a shit attitude.

Why? Because they both don't work like you and want everything given on a plate?

Until you have your baby, the refusal of the temporary accommodation will mean you're essentially discharged.

When you have your baby the local authority will have a duty to house you (this is different to council housing) but you will more than likely be placed in temporary accommodation whilst you wait for a longer term place.

Unfortunately most temporary accommodation isn't ideal. You have families sharing one room, parents and children. Communal bathrooms and kitchens. This is all that is available, and if you reject it again once baby is here you will be seen as not in need, but also potentially putting your child at risk by leaving them homeless.

Follow the above advice from PP and get in contact with Shelter.

I agree with others. The OP needs to consider living outside of London.

You do have to accept what is offered to you. Myself and my kids first went to a holiday park, then a homeless hostel. Finally we got moved to a temporary 3 bedroom house. All in all it was 18 months. We have been in our forever home for 6 months now

We both work full time thank you xx

None of that is true.

If you both work full time why are you homeless?

I would try private rents in the counties surrounding London so your partner can still commute in. I know someone that rented a caravan when they were desperate. Can your midwife contact t the council for you?

U do know u can work and be homeless right ? Not everyone who lives in social housing is just on uc their whole lives.

I think you need a reality check.

If you have nowhere to go better accept whatever they are giving you and then ask for something more suitable when your baby arrives.

Are you both working? do you have family/a particular reason for being in London?

Because you might need to consider moving to a cheaper part of the country where there might also be less competition for social housing or at least where it is easier to rent.

What? 😆

Theres lots of cheap property up north and in the midlands where your mortgage would be around 400 quid a month but of course you need a deposit and it takes time, you cant just move and then buy something that easily, and with a new born

However, OP you havent said how this came about and where you're sofa surfing and therefore whether there are avenues for support with whoever you're staying with, your employer, colleagues, do you have the deposit, are you going to be entitled to HB at all, what rent can you afford at the moment?

@MyPithyPoster I assume you realise there is also a shortage of accommodation for homeless people in areas like this too? There might not be a 10 year wait but I very much doubt the OP would be housed any time soon, even if they could meet a local connection requirement.