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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect the council to house us even though DH is sshh ..... working!!

332 replies

EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:18

Landlord has a court order for possession which runs out tomorrow. Council have basically said we will have to wait for the court bailiffs to physically kick us out and then go to them with our stuff in binbags before they will provide us with anything even emergency housing which is quite a stressful thought . It could be that we have no more than 7 days until we get kicked out depending on how long it takes for the LL to arrange the bailiffs to come. Obviously I have no problem with the LL wanting us out and feel terrible that he has been forced to take us to court but it is the only way the council will help us.

BTW we are not feckless or scroungers! We have 4 DCs - youngest 2mnths old. DH works around 48 hours a week and has a relatively good wage. We are not entitled to tax credits (child benefit only) and have struggled with the massive amount we have to pay in private rent but scraped by without too much hassle. LL decided to sell house last year, we knew we would have problems renting again as we are both had to go bankrupt (1 year ago) since we moved into this house so our credit is shot and no chance of ever having a mortgage again . Current letting agents said they would not be able to rent to us again because of this as we have no one to be guarantor even though they have had no problems with us and nor will any other agent. There are no properties being advertised by individuals that would not need a credit check round here (except for shared house rooms) and anyway all 3 bed properties are like gold dust so we are in deep shit!!

The council keep telling us that as DH works we should find our own property. We keep telling them that we can't for reasons detailed above. It seems that if he was not working and we were on benefits, they would bend over backwards to help but as he is a taxpayer, they will not do anything. Is it me or is this a bit arse about face??

OP posts:
Veritythebrave · 22/03/2010 11:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

morningpaper · 22/03/2010 11:28

I doubt they will bend over backwards if he stops working - the list for council housing in this county (I think) is 50,000 with 8,000 places

If you aren't entitled to tax credits then he must be earning over 55k?

AuntieMaggie · 22/03/2010 11:29

Agree with Verity - it has nothing to do your DH working.

Why have you left it so long? Are there no housing associations that could've helped you before it got to this point?

emmymama · 22/03/2010 11:30

ds and i spent 2 weeks living in a hostel because my ex kicked us out, then we were given the smallest house you could imagine, 2 years later i have a partner a 1 yer old and anothe on the way and we are still waiting to be rehomed due to overcrowding ad the fact that when the baby comes i wont be able to get in and out of the house...... if there are no houses then you cant have one!

LaurieFairyCake · 22/03/2010 11:30

Can you move areas a bit to find more property - still commutable for your dh's work but to a larger town?

Is there no one who could guarantor for you?

onadietcokebreak · 22/03/2010 11:31

I understand your frustrations I really do and agree with the majority you have said.

The only way you are going to be able to rent is privately but if the properties arent there they arent there.

To be honest if he wasnt working the only difference would be that he will qualify for any deposit scheme that your council do- but if there are no private houses then that wouldnt help/

Even families on benefits are housed temporarily in B and Bs.

What sort of council scheme is it? Are you banded according to need?
If so you are going to have to play the long game so the council can not say you have made yourself intentially homeless

MmeLindt · 22/03/2010 11:32

I don't think that there are a lot of houses available at the moment so not sure if it would make a difference.

Why did you leave it so late to sort out an alternative?

Original poster
EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:33

No MP! Should have clarified that we ARE entitled to about 50.00 per month but due to an overpayment last year of £480 we are currently getting nothing (tried to make post shorter). Even if he was earning £55k what difference does that make wrt our current circumstances? We still cannot rent or buy - should we have to live in the car then?

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 22/03/2010 11:33

Have you rang shelter to get full advice about the court process??

shinyshoes · 22/03/2010 11:36

As long as you have a roof over your head the council will not help you, your best solution is wait to be kicked out and go to the council with everything in binbags.
They will most likely put you in a hostel for anything up top 12 weeks (its unlikely you'll be there for the whole 12 weeks, the longest in this area is 2 weeks).
You will classed as a BAND A (IF YOUR AREA IS ON THE BIDDING SYSTEM) and will be housed in accomadation to fit your needs.

Its either go homeless in a hostel for a few weeks or private rent in temp accomadation (the council also do this, but not sure of how this works)

morningpaper · 22/03/2010 11:36

Yes, sorry, but you will have to live in the car until you can sort yourselves out

Try the CAB or Shelter advice line

Original poster
EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:36

WE DID NOT LEAVE IT LATE (excuse shouting)! As soon as we were served the section 21 at the end of November, I went down to the council as advised by CAB and have returned every time we get more court papers. They have been sitting on it since then obviously expecting us to go away!

OP posts:
MrsMorgan · 22/03/2010 11:38

You'd be better off looking for a private landlord. Alot of them will be ok with a reference, proof of earnings and a deposit, and no credit check.

Look in the private ad's, on gumtree and similar.

EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

shinyshoes · 22/03/2010 11:38

I dont think things will move at all until you have no roof over your head whatsoever, unfortunately this is how they work

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 22/03/2010 11:39

There are always agents or LLs willing to rent to folk in your position, but you need to dig for them. Your DH must earn over £55k which is a considerable wage. I think people might struggle to find sympathy for you TBH. Sorry.
My friend is an HCA on £6ph, single mum, and declared bankrupt. She managed to find a private rental flat in the south east. Think she went through gumtree or similar.
To access social housing you must be able to evidence that you cannot afford to go into private rental. If they put you in temp accommodation they may just wait til you have been there a few weeks then ask for evidence that your DH's salary will not now cover the cost of a month's rent + deposit. Unless you bought a lot of clothes I would think you could save that in a couple of months if you were not paying market rates on rent during that time.

Original poster
EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:40

MrsMorgan - thanks bit have already said that there are no properties being advertised here except for rooms in shared houses. Have not seen anything privately advertised since we started looking as it seems they are all rented via letting agents.

OP posts:
Original poster
EverSoSlightlyStressed · 22/03/2010 11:43

DH does NOT earn 55K or anything near it . How more clearer can I make it - no letting agents will rent to us!!!!

Am off now - really can't be bothered with people who can't read.

OP posts:
wannaBe · 22/03/2010 11:44

well to be blunt if your dh earns £55k a year then I don't see why the council should be obliged to house you over someone who has no income other than what they are able to claim.

Have a look for private rentals - maybe you'll have to rent a flat or a smaller house, but that's life.

cravingcroissants · 22/03/2010 11:44

I agree that you should be able to find a private landlord willing to rent to you without a credit check....I've just done it as I was able to prove I could afford the rent.
To be fair you have known about this situation since November and it's now March and you haven't sorted accomodation for you and your family thinking that the council will have to help you if you're out on the streets. That isn't the way it goes unfortunately.
You need to try and help yourself.

OtterInaSkoda · 22/03/2010 11:46

Have you posted an ad in the paper or on a local website? This worked for me years ago. You'll have to field calls from agents but you may also get a call from a LL who prefers to let directly.

As others have stated - this isn't about your DH working - if the Council don't have any accomodation to let, then they can't let you have it. End of, really.

onadietcokebreak · 22/03/2010 11:47

Put a wanted ad in shop windows and papers.

Ask EVERY letting agent to approach there landlords and ask if they will forego the credit check. Its mainly because landlords with tenancy insurances require it.

onadietcokebreak · 22/03/2010 11:48

Also I am very confused about the whole tax credits thing. You should at least receive the £10 per week one.

MmeLindt · 22/03/2010 11:49

What did the council say when you first approached them? Did they say that they might be able to find you something?

Was the council were honest with you from the start? Did they tell you that you were unlikely to be housed by them unless you were literally on the streets?

morningpaper · 22/03/2010 11:50

ermm you sound a little fiesty

I think that private landlords and even landlords via agents rarely use credit checks and certainly not guarantors here (Somerset) - whereabouts in the country do you live?

Will your current landlord act as a referee? Have you approached him to see whether he has any other properties/friends who would rent to you?