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

Total lack of understanding about the state of housing on display here. Yes, people can be working full time, even in professional jobs, and be homeless in the UK.

I recommend this investigative podcast series by ITV, it was really eye-opening. https://www.thetrapped.co.uk

🤣

Stop recommending that OP should move far away. It may be away from her job and any support or social structure she has. If she leaves her job, how will she rent a place? It compounds the problem.

I think unfortunately you have to take what you are given. There are just so many homeless people.

My friend lived in a small room for a year with her 2 teenagers. It was smaller than my living room. It wasn't maintained properly either.

Good luck.

I don't think you can get a one bed flat to rent in Croydon for £800 a month, perhaps 10 years ago. The only thing for that price would be house shares and studios up to about £1200 and you will not find a landlord who wants a couple and a newborn baby squashed in there. Most landlords now specify single or couple occupancy and no children in smaller properties, due to people being desperate and squeezing two kids into a one bed flat.

Honestly so many comments like this.
OP mumsnet is shit if you are poor. It means getting lectured by people who haven't a clue what life is like for many people.

And I live in the north. OP would not get a house here either. Every week there are people posting in our local facebook group desperately asking if anyone knows anyone that will accept HB.

Yep, people do not get it and can’t see beyond their own situation. They may never have known what it feels like to be vulnerable in their entire lives. OP, I recommend looking at the links page on that podcast I posted.

You will get a load of judgement on here from people who are cruel and enjoy sticking the knife into someone they perceive as below them in the social hierarchy.

If "playing the system" gets her baby a suitable, safe home, then I say do it.

The problem with this is that for every person who "plays the system" someone else (with genuinely more pressing needs) has to wait even longer. Queue jumping can't be justified morally.

The OP must have been genuinely made homeless to be on the temporary housing list, being pregnant and having nowhere to live is quite a genuine need. All those saying 'private rental'- it's pretty brutal out there right now, I used to wake up in cold sweats worried about my tenancy ending when I had children, I've been lucky enough to buy and it's taken a huge weight off my mind.

Why aren’t they working? My immediate concern? Upon looking at those areas is about employment.
I know of several senior people who upped sticks and moved up north and during the pandemic and their back down again now. There just weren’t enough well paying jobs.

Do you need to be in London?

I personally agree with not accepting what they offered as it wasn’t secure or healthy.

2 of you working FT and no dependent (yet) but can’t afford to rent as a couple - have you seriously considered leaving London?

After much of it was sold off, there is very little social housing left in London coupled with very high demand. The stock that remains as you’ve already seen is poor, with damp and other issues (typically mice and rat infestations) which won’t be healthy for a newborn,

Rent is much cheaper outside London and if still needed, there is more and better social housing available, You would have a much better quality of life.

And please don’t take any notice of jonnyhadasister and think the North offers housing so cheap that you’d get to pay £100 PM. Not sure where he’s heard that little gem, but I live in the North and you’d be luck to get a garage to store your car for that price, never mind a house….the North’s streets aren’t paved with gold, and has the same issues that the South has - very low social housing stocks, and high rentals due to private landlords selling up, so huge competition for every property up for rent.

@MyPithyPoster exactly!!

I live in a high rent city and have looked into moving but the job market elsewhere for my role is awful.
Would be a massive risk

You was acting as if you was a vulnerable single pregnant woman who is scared of being alone in the accommodation and you’re sofa surfing alone bla bla. You have a partner? Surely being in the accommodation temporarily with a partner would be manageable to get through until you get a home.

How many private rentals have you checked out? They can go really fast you probably need to be calling several a day. I wouldn’t expect the council to house you. Where is your partner living now?

This thread does not need to know why OP is homeless and doesn’t change her circumstances.

If OP and her DP are in low paid work it’s possible it’s not specialised and they can get similar work elsewhere.

OP is not going to be ok with the social housing available in London.

Lots of people move away and find new support especially with a newborn. Many on MN are low or NC with their families.

It’s not unreasonable to at least consider moving out of the most expensive city in the U.K. and one of the most expensive in the world for a healthier home environment.

In the past councils used to run schemes to help landlords rent to tenants on welfare

Some still do. My flat is let to a woman and two children fleeing DV, the council were great.

“Beggars cannot be choosers, my Lord.”
—A Knight’s Tale (2001)

it doesn’t sound like Mary and Joseph here though are high earners though so they will be fine

Of course, no one needs to know any details about any post on MN. But people can be really helpful with advice on these threads, but details for getting such advice is very helpful. E.g. advice given would depend on how she became homeless, say for example she was evicted for non-payment of rent, that would make it extremely difficult for her to get a private rental property, so advice specifically for getting temp and longer term council accommodation would be the focus.

If it were me, I wouldn't bother with council accommodation, but she may not have that option depending on the circumstances as to how she became homeless.

It's asking to help her get focussed advice, not to be nosey.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Awy1kso9A/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Depending on what experience your DP has you might have to get creative. Pubs need live in staff for insurance purposes etc.

Could your DP become a property guardian/get a house share to keep his costs low whilst you move out of London. Not ideal but a lot of landlords quietly refuse tenants on HB. Do you have any other links in the U.K.?

One of the barriers you’re going to have is that landlords just won’t look at tenants who rely on HB. Especially at the moment when there’s 10s of applications for every half decent let.

If you refuse an offer of temporary accommodation that usually means that the council can they have discharged their duty to house you. So the standard advice is to accept what is offered and then challenge suitability.

Given your current situation you need specialist advice so please contact Shelter asap.