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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want a council/housing association house

60 replies

Tiredboymum22 · Yesterday 11:21

I’m aware I might come across as very entitled but hear me out.

DH employment hours were cut last Monday and a few days later we were given an eviction notice via text off my landlord. Because we have a mountain of debt, we contacted the council straight away. I told my LL that it wouldn’t be a straight forward process to move out (we’ve been here before but luckily found somewhere to rent) and that we need a formal written notice and his landlord registration number. We then found out that he’s not a licensed landlord and the house isn’t being rented to us legally.

He admitted this and said he would go through an agency and we’d have to sign a new tenancy agreement and then be given notice at the end of our 6 month contract. This should give us a chance to sort ourselves out financially and find somewhere else.

I haven’t reported him to the council and I won’t because I think it was a genuine oversight and he is distant family, but I’m incredibly frustrated! This is the fourth time we’ll have to move in 6 years! A chunk of our debt is due to moving! Three of those times were because our (then) Landlords were selling. We were told this would be a long-term let and we’ve been here 18 months. Furthermore, I have an autistic son and we need stability.

I didn’t want to be given notice but I was and then it was retracted. My husband will look for another job and then I’ll work when both kids are in full-time school so we might end up renting privately again (which is extortionate around here) and thus the cycle continues.

Everyone is telling me to be more positive but I’m sick of the instability!

OP posts:
SwatTheTwit · Yesterday 20:15

Fillies4DeclanRice · Yesterday 18:02

Absolutely loads!

From AI:

In the UK, housing support for immigrants (including asylum seekers, refugees, and other migrants) depends heavily on your immigration status. Most economic migrants, students, and workers on visas have "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) and get little or no state housing help. Asylum Seekers (while claim is pending)
Home Office provides accommodation if you are destitute (no adequate housing or means to get it) under Section 95 support. This includes dispersal housing (flats, houses, hostels, or sometimes hotels/B&Bs) across the UK.
You cannot choose the location — most are sent outside London and the south-east due to housing shortages.
Financial support: Around £49.18 per person per week for food, clothing, and essentials (as of recent figures).
Support continues during appeals in many cases, but refused asylum seekers get more limited Section 4 support only in specific circumstances.
Note: Reforms in 2025–2026 have made some support more discretionary, with efforts to reduce hotel use and tighten eligibility. Recognised Refugees (after grant of status)
Asylum accommodation ends (typically within 28–56 days). You must find your own housing.
Eligible for Universal Credit (including housing element) and social housing applications, treated similarly to UK nationals (subject to habitual residence test and priority need for homelessness help).
Not automatically prioritised for social housing — you join waiting lists and face the same shortages as others. Many rely on private rentals, local authority help if homeless, or charities.
Local authorities must assess homeless applications based on priority need (e.g., children, vulnerability).
Other Immigrants
Group
Housing/Benefits Access
Work, student, family visas
Usually NRPF — ineligible for most public funds, social housing, or housing benefit/Universal Credit housing element. Must self-fund or use private rentals.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) / Settled status
Generally eligible for full benefits and social housing after passing tests.
Humanitarian routes (e.g., Ukraine, Afghanistan schemes)
Often have specific support packages, including initial housing help.
Undocumented / NRPF migrants
Very limited — local authorities may provide emergency support (e.g., under Children Act for families) or via charities like NACCOM. No routine access.
Additional Support
Charities and local services: Refugee Council, Migrant Help, NACCOM, Room for Refugees (private hosting), and local councils offer advice, homelessness prevention, or short-term help.
Social housing: Allocations are needs-based, not immigration status-based, but new migrants often have lower priority.
Support levels and rules can change with policy (e.g., recent shifts toward more temporary refugee status and discretionary asylum support). For personalised advice, contact official sources like gov.uk/asylum-support, Migrant Help, or a local council housing options team.

Is this satire? Did you actually read what you posted?

Tiredboymum22 · Yesterday 22:58

Some people are wondering why I’m annoyed if he lets us rent for cheap…

The LL wants his house back which is fair enough. He issued us “notice” the week DH had his work hours cut and had to put repayments on hold. We went to the council because there is no chance of us renting privately right now. Then the LL admitted he isn’t a registered Landlord and asked us to sign a new tenancy agreement (once he’s registered) and he’d serve us notice once our tenancy is up.

We are getting evicted regardless but now it’ll take longer. There was more chance of securing help from the council now than there will be in 6 to 9 months when we’re both back in full-time work. We’ll probably end up in another private rental paying more for less than we have now as rent has risen so much.

I know some might think I sound entitled but this is the THIRD time in five years through no fault of our own. The amount of money spent on moving is insane! I have an autistic child and a toddler. I want stability for them and it’ll be years (if ever) until we can afford a mortgage! I’m aware we could end up in homeless accommodation for a long time but every rental feels insecure.

I hope that makes sense.

OP posts:
Tiredboymum22 · Yesterday 23:07

Also, I don’t know when we’ll have our finances sorted but I’ve agreed not to do a financial assessment for housing until he’s registered the house as a private rental. I won’t report him (although it might be too late as I initially contacted the council before I knew he wasn’t registered so they have his details) but I really hope this doesn’t damage our already small chance of finding somewhere more permanent. This has been a huge setback for my mental health as I don’t know what I’m doing now.

OP posts:
Honeyhonay · Yesterday 23:11

Tiredboymum22 · Yesterday 23:07

Also, I don’t know when we’ll have our finances sorted but I’ve agreed not to do a financial assessment for housing until he’s registered the house as a private rental. I won’t report him (although it might be too late as I initially contacted the council before I knew he wasn’t registered so they have his details) but I really hope this doesn’t damage our already small chance of finding somewhere more permanent. This has been a huge setback for my mental health as I don’t know what I’m doing now.

You do realise the reason your family member hasn’t been charging you market rent is linked to not registering as a landlord?
They have been doing you a favour and now you’re fucking them over, your financial ills are not their responsibility.

Tiredboymum22 · Yesterday 23:21

@Honeyhonay I’m literally not as I haven’t reported it. I told the council our LL had changed his mind but thanks for the help as I contacted them BEFORE I found out he wasn’t registered. He asked me to pause our council application and I did despite the fact I’m getting evicted anyway.

If I wanted to f”(k him over I would’ve reported it and tried to claim our rent and bond back, but I won’t! I’m just frustrated!

And yes we have benefited from living in a bigger house but he’s also benefited from not paying landlord insurance or declaring the money.

OP posts:
oliviaAustin · Yesterday 23:42

Sounds like you both need to get jobs and save money so that moving doesn’t put you in debt.

If you both work you’ll get 30 hours funded childcare.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · Today 00:19

LifeBeginsToday · Yesterday 11:55

Its not the jackpot you think it is. The people in the most desperate need get the house no one else wants after years of living in bedsits, b&bs and temporary housing. Kitchens and bathrooms are replaced every 30 years and to ones in a basic style. Nothing fancy. The schools are often failing so there is no choice about getting a good education and making a better life. It's easy to be envious when you put on your rose tinted glasses.

In London they are riverside cottages with balconies and or gardens I could only dream of affording on the open market. In the meantime I has extortionate service charges and a flat I am trying and failing to sell at a loss!

Houseofdrums · Today 00:24

i agree with you OP.

I have private rented throughout, not quite saving enough for a deposit and not having family that can lend me a few thousands like my friends that have gotten on the ladder.

I have moved 4 times since 2018 and it’s ridiculous. Same reason as you. 2 years in the landlord suddenly wants to sell despite telling the estate agent they are looking for long term tenants. It’s annoying and it’s meant I have had to uproot completely, with a child.

The housing crisis is insane.

10 years ago I had friends that either got council homes (some people don’t live on estates, so have lovely flats or nice houses with gardens and some are in very nice mixed areas - in London classes tend to mix slightly). Or they managed to get on the property ladder. I did neither and regret it.

Good luck OP. I’m sorry you are in this situation and I really hope it works out. I know how hard it is. The waiting lists are ridiculous unless you have an exceptional circumstance.

Ah, and near me a scandal broke out that people were paying friends to get them fast tracked - terrible / so you still need heaps of money … management.insidehousing.co.uk/home/london-council-to-prosecute-housing-officer-over-temporary-accommodation-fraud-94641

JenniferBooth · Today 00:30

Meadowfinch · Yesterday 18:22

I'm sorry you have to cope with the insecurity. It must be tough.

This is why I put buying a flat first, before I would even consider marriage or a child. I sacrificed holidays, car, socialising, everything to get that first step.

Housing association dwellings aren't all good news. I know someone who has been asking for a shower for 21 years. The council says she doesn't need one, and a bath will do. 🙄

Edited

Yep I have thick hair and ive been rinsing my hair with a washing up bowl for 32 years.

AlgaeDreams · Today 00:39

JenniferBooth · Today 00:30

Yep I have thick hair and ive been rinsing my hair with a washing up bowl for 32 years.

Could you have not got one of those heads on plastic pipe with rubber things to attach to taps? That's what I used when only had a bath.

@Tiredboymum22 did you pay a deposit and has the landlord put it in a deposit scheme? If not, he can't issue a section 21 or 8 until that's done.
Stay put and make him go through the section 21 process and then the council will help you... However if it's a section 8 for rent arrears they won't.

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