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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
omnishambles · 22/03/2010 13:12

Because cupofteaplease - those places are for people in crisis and at the councils expense and in my book that doesnt include people who have know that a crisis was on its way for 5 months...

Tiredmumno1 - am not even going to bother replying to that. Get back to the DM where you belong.

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Scardypants · 22/03/2010 13:13

You were not rude mp just realistic.

Morloth · 22/03/2010 13:13

Just putting in the disclaimer about not being a racist doesn't make it so.

It doesn't matter whether they should or shouldn't, the cold hard fact is that they are not. So the OP needs to sort it out herself.

MadameCastafiore · 22/03/2010 13:13

Tiredmumm - have you seen the little some 'foreigners' live with - would you prefer as a human and not someone who pays taxes answer this - to give a hostel place to someone who has been raped battered and abused for their political beliefs or their race or to give that hostel place to someone who earns a good wage and through keeping having children that they cannot afford and making some silly financial decisions?

If this family is on such a good wage they need to sort out their finances hopefully with the help of someone at the CSA but bandying about the word foreigner isn't helpful even if you say 'What me gov? Im' not racist after it!)

BAFE · 22/03/2010 13:14

oh dear oh dear oh dear

cupofteaplease · 22/03/2010 13:14

I'm not defending the OP having known for 5 months- I was just replying to give them some hope that all may work out ok. After all, this is a stressful time for them, even if they have known about it for 5 months.

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:14

You lot are kidding right, i know a few people who work for the housing side, and they have told me what goes on, and i am afraid that is what happens. I have it on good authority you know

Morloth · 22/03/2010 13:16

Ah yes the "I heard it from a guy at the pub who heard it from someone he knows who is married to someone who works there".

Excellent

Where is the popcorn gif?

Scardypants · 22/03/2010 13:17

Way to debate Tiredmum ...and you had the cheek to call mp rude!

If you cannot construct your own valid point of view then at the very least bow out of a grown-up conversation instead of being childish and racist! (yes you are!!!)

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:19

Racism actually means if you are horrid about someones race, not if you say the word foreigner, you could be green for all i care, i would still smile, be polite and say hi. But that just me

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 22/03/2010 13:19

Yeah...definitely. British? Yep? Back of the queue. Polish? Here, have a large three bed with a garden. Have some jobs and cash while you're at it.

Sorry British family, you have to stay in B&B for a while longer, a foreign family needs somewhere to live!

Bugger off with your ignorant nonsense.

LadyBiscuit · 22/03/2010 13:20

Do you know anything about how the housing points system works tiredmum?

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 22/03/2010 13:20

No, that's not the definition of racist. Which you are being, by the way.

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 22/03/2010 13:20

THIng is, what would you do OP if council houses didn't exist? WOuld you be on the streets for the forseeable future or would you manage to get some sort of roof over your heads? I don't see council housing as an 'option', more of a last resort. You have means to get houses yourself and I am sorry, I think you could be doing a whole lot more. MP is definatly not being rude, I think it's stupid people feel things are other peoples responsibility.

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:21

Scardypants go look the word up will ya. So your calling your arguments adult are you, very adult when you take something out of context. I love the way you just turned that around. Very clever

Scardypants · 22/03/2010 13:21

It would appear you may be the green one

Ignorance is bliss

Morloth · 22/03/2010 13:23

I am a foreigner, where is my free house please?

Scardypants · 22/03/2010 13:24
Grin
skinsl · 22/03/2010 13:25

FGS will people read!!

It's not about how much they earn, it's about not being able to find somewhere to live, for a number of reasons.
Money isn't the issue.

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:26

Okay maybe it depends on the area. But even years ago, i remember a council worker saying to me if you were a different colour we would be able to help. Yes her words not mine, maybe i should have complained about it at the time i was a in shock at the time, what a strange thing to say then.

Tiredmumno1 · 22/03/2010 13:27

And yes skins you are right, i feel for the op, if there are no properties close to her area.

Morloth · 22/03/2010 13:28

So not actually, foreigners that are the problem them - just those people who happen to be a different colour? So who trumps who then? A white foreigner or a brown British person?

Avidly awaits answer.

GetOrfMoiLand · 22/03/2010 13:29

Oh FFS Tiredmum, piss off. Have seen your crappy comments all over the board.

I think the OP needs to look a little inwardly as to the cause of her problems, not just blame the council.

ShadeofViolet · 22/03/2010 13:30
Shock