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

I have no idea on your personal circumstance but I would have thought that if you decline emergency accomodation that would be no further help it certainly is in my area

At this point I would contact shelter

It's not ideal and it's your choice of course but maybe moving areas is the only option I know this means no jobs though immediately unless you start applying elsewhere

It's difficult situation but when baby is born hospital will want a address to visit for midwife and health visitors after

@ThatKhakiMoose the homelessness crisis is being covered all over breakfast shows, newspapers. I saw Prince William has a documentary about it. I’ve even asked Sadiq Khan about it during a town hall style meeting and his response was “it will get worse before it gets better”.

It’s hard to understand because it doesn’t make sense at all. Why are working people unable to afford a decent life??

The housing crisis in London right now is horrific. Many of my friends have worked their butts off but live in rooms in order to split their income between bills, rent whilst having some left over to live a life and save. I know lots of couples and working people in guardianships. Living in schools and warehouses with no security. Most houses seem to be split into shared housing for Max profits. Family homes are so competitive and just expensive. You need to have about £2k a month just for rent these days. £1.5k if you are lucky but need your paper work in order. Poor credit causes issues too.

I know a handful of people in theirs 30s still living at home. It’s easier.

I know a handful of people who have moved on average every 2-3 years because these new school landlords can’t decide if they want to be landlords or not. Or I guess can’t afford to be but still take on the responsibility.

When I was renting over half of my salary went to rent (£1200) then about £500 went in bills and council tax and water etc. Then about £400 a month on food - and that’s grocery shopping because the cost of food is crazy - plus I grow food in an allotment and use local food bank style services. I don’t go on holiday. I even have a side income. I took home about £2,100.

It’s never ending. You earn, and everything is taken from you. And rents have skyrocketed.

Also spent a year job hunting to increase salary - income vs cost to live is another huge issue.

I sofa surfed when I left exh with ds, in the end we moved 25 miles away to live with my new dp until I got a council house. We didn't even get offered temporary accommodation & I only got my house because I had been on the waiting list 26 years.

No, they aren’t forced to choose a family with kids. As long as they can up with any other reason to state, the regulation is basically non-enforceable.

Where does your partner live and why aren't you living together if you're expecting a baby together?

Why is "private rent and pay your own way" not an option?

The issue is the eviction laws, in Australia. If they’re two weeks behind in the rent they can be in court within four weeks and out the door within six.
And even they have got a rental crisis
I have a property up north that I rent out at the moment and when those tenants want to move the house will either be sold or left because honestly I’d rather leave It sat empty then put anybody else in with the risks that they won’t pay and they’ll trash the place.

I would suggest trying to source a private bedsit yourself. The council can still help with deposit etc (although I've never heard of UC paying a shortfall for 12 months + when both parties work full time) but at least you choose.

I work for a housing association, and we have around 5000 properties in the London area. Most go to people who aren't working, who have significant additional needs such as mental health or physical health conditions. Even so, the wait for a property is 5+ years for a bedsit, 8+ years for a 2 bed and 10+ years for a 3 bed.

You'd be better off sourcing your own, and moving further out of London until it's affordable.

Hi Op. Under the homelessness legislation there is a difference in emergency accommodation and temporary accommodation.

The difference is important as to your rights. You were offered emergency accommodation, refusing emergency means the council do not have to offer any alternative emergency. But the relief duty continues.

Suitability of emergency can only be challenged via a judicial review.

At the end of relief, the council then decide if they accept the main duty. The main duty is a duty to provide temp accommodation until you are offered a permanent property.

So even though you refused emergency, this does not affect the rest of your homeless app.

If main duty is accepted. The council has a duty to provide this regardless of you refusing emergency.

If you refuse temp because it is unsuitable. This can be challenged by an internal review which takes 8 weeks.

As other posters have said contact shelter.

Homelessness challenges are in scope for legal and funding if you meet the financial eligibility criteria.

It's a very reasonable attitude.

I completely understand why you woukd not want to rent again but please don't leave the house empty.

Yeah I hadn't realised until recently just how much the rental sector has changed. We went for so many properties, even offered to pay large sums of rent in advance to no avail. Utter madness.

When estate agents workout affordability They multiply the monthly rent by 30 and that must be less than the total annual income. So according to people above a couple on full-time minimum wage jobs would be able to afford a flat for 1300 a month.

You say you are applying as a couple, but all the time refer to me and I. Where is your partner in all of this? Is he sharing in the efforts to find accommodation? Where is he living at the moment, presumably he is not also homeless?

Because getting a property as HB tenants with a baby on the way is incredibly difficult.
There are so many people commenting on this thread who have absolutely zero understanding of the current rental housing market.
I think it shows a sense of entitlement. I would not go on a thread from someone asking about advice about private schools as I know nothing about individual private schools. But people who have no idea what they are talking about come on this thread and give the OP laughably stupid advice because they have not a clue what they are talking about.

Then very good, look around Sutton and south of Sutton. 1 bed mortgage flat is still affordable on 2 salaries.

Check Reigate area also, there is area with tiny but still 2 bed maisonettes, most of them are very very cheap

@johnyhadasister have you tried to rent there recently whilst claiming Housing Benefit?

The poster said she lives on 2 salaries not a housing benefit.
No, I don't rest and do not have a single benefit, apart from a child's one

LOL, yes, I don't rent but own because I don't rest.

The poster said she was entitled to housing benefit. Most people who get housing benefit are working and it is HB is a top up.
Kindly you have zero idea how difficult it is to get somewhere to rent at the moment. People were fighting to rent the house next to us, and the rent was pretty overpriced. Weekly there are posts in our local face book group asking if anyone knows a landlord who will rent to HB tenants, or children, or if you have pets. And I am in the north. There is a shortage of places to rent and landlords choose who they rent to in a lot of places. Next door to me the landlord chose a couple with no children or pets who had been in their jobs for ages.

Aside from the OPs specific issue, this whole housing mess isn’t just a London or Uk problem. It’s increasingly affecting people in cities worldwide and it’s so disgusting. A friend of mine had to leave Athens when she split up with her boyfriend as the average salary and rent there just didn’t match up.

I can only imagine the very rich are making a lot of money from this.

I’ve noticed people are making poor decisions because they’re feeling rushed. When I moved out of London I was lucky enough to get a new build housing association flat which gave me a bit of breathing space after paying ever rising private rent for my whole adult life.

There was the option to buy it too, so I was initially going to buy myself as I don’t live with my partner, using shared ownership or something similar. But for now I’ve just happily stuck to renting. It’s £650 pcm for a 2 bed flat. I was paying £1250 in zone 5 London for a one bed flat two years ago!
My work is still in London but I only need to attend the office once a month and they pay for travel. So I’m very fortunate about that.

I’ve now looked into it and seen shared ownership can actually be a total pain in the butt plus being in England it will be a leasehold and may come with steep rises to the services charges.

Other single people I know got trapped and are now regretting their decision as shared ownership isn’t right for everyone. And it’s harder for single people to but unless they’ve been living with family. I have travelled a lot the past few years and I know I could have scraped the moment for a deposit if I’d given all that up but tbh I didn’t want to. I’m ok with not drinking and not socialising every week, I don’t get takeaway nowadays either but I do find travel important for my mental health. I know some people will go on about millennials buying avocados when they should be saving but I do believe middle income people shouldn’t be expected to pour all they have into buying a property just to secure housing.

I plan to build up my savings in 2025 and look into what is the best option for me long term especially with the expected leasehold reforms coming up. I am not averse to leaving this country if I can get remote work or higher paid work within the country I move to.

I don’t know what the solution is but the governments worldwide really need to get a grip of things.

@Rososos I agree. I am getting older and in some ways it would suit me to sell up and rent. But I would not because the rental market is so terrible. Most people just want a secure place to rent at a reasonable price.

"Pay your own way" to me implies not on housing benefit.

If she can pay her own way it would appear to make a lot of problems go away hence the question.

Ah! It was an anti benefits rant. I had not realised.