Social housing - mental health

[mumofboysxo]

At the end of October last yeah I was evicted from my private rented accommodation by being handed a section 21. Due to Covid we had 6 months to find alternative accommodation, I didn’t find this a problem as I was currently renting and thought I’ll just find something elsewhere! Boy was I wrong!!! I never managed to find a private rent accommodation through a landlord or estate agents as I’m unemployed!

I have 3 children, 7,4 10 months. I started a homeless request with the council in January and since then my mental health has declined rapidly, I’m not eating, sleeping etc and struggle daily with the stress and no stability. I have told the council this and have been given a therapist and anti depresents by my gp.

I received a call from the council 2 days ago to say I do not have to leave the property on my eviction date. My problem is that the unknown/no stability and stress is causing me massive problems with my mental health. And I struggle in a daily basis and fear that the longer this situation carries on for the harder I’m going to fall.

I’ve never suffered with mental health before so this is all new to me. My housing officers seem to just brush off my mental health and haven’t understood or even tried to understand that the prolonging of this housing is causing me a great deal of stress.

Not to mention I want to be the best mother to my 3 children. We’ve just started a referral for my eldest for autism/adhd as he suffers from ticks and also struggles with change so I need to give him warning of any changes.

I feel the council could rectify this whole situation and I my mental health can start improving once I have stability and all they need to do is remove me from this situation but I’m not getting anywhere and they’ve said could be 6 months could be 2 months they don’t know.

Has anyone else been through anything like this and got somewhere with the council?

I would love to rent privately again but due to being good unemployed and my income they won’t accept me. I am still looking for hope I do come a cross something though.
I hope no one thinks I’m expecting a house handed to me. I’m just expecting help to find a stable home for my family.

Sorry for my spelling I have to do everything in a rush before my baby realises he’s been put down

What about the father? Is he not on the scene for the tenancy to be in his name/based on his income?

Unfortunately this is how the system works. It’s shit for everyone involved to have to wait until that moment the bailiffs show up.
Even then honestly it won’t be easy as you will be in temporary accommodation.

Do start to pack things up as when it’s the bailiff bit everything happens very quick. Make sure now that all your important documents are together so along with a case or two you can quickly grab them.

As for your mh, there is nothing they can do at the moment because you are housed. But please do talk to your gp.

Because of the system of life long tenancies for people who don't even need a council house and refusing to leave houses that are too big for their needs there is a huge shortage. It must be stressful but as far as the Council are concerned you have a house.

Do you have any help with the childcare so you can try to look for work? It would be easier to get a private rental with some income. Are you with the children’s father?

@Viviennemary

Because of the system of life long tenancies for people who don't even need a council house and refusing to leave houses that are too big for their needs there is a huge shortage. It must be stressful but as far as the Council are concerned you have a house.

What does 'dont even need' mean? Council housing is for everyone that needs a house. I lived in one up until last year when we managed to get a deposit together to buy.

How do you think that the council can rectify the situation? They don't have houses sitting empty. Until you are homeless there are people in greater need plus in most areas you will need to find a private let, some landlords do accept uc. Can I ask why you have a section 21 - the reason can alter your priority

I feel for you. It must be very stressful for you. Is the DC's father on the scene? Could he help in any way? Do you have emotional support from family/friends?

Unfortunately, I think the council are doing the best they can. I'm sure they'd offer you a suitable solution if they could. But there are so many others in similar circumstances and limited resources.

Have you spoken to Shelter to double check you've done everything possible to put you and the DC in the strongest position?

It's really awful but I used to work in council housing and it's so overwhelmed it's been underfunded for years and for everyone that's in your situation there's 10 more the same, they're just fire fighting and have to deal with the absolute most urgent cases first.

What about the kids dad? Or any other family member who can guarantor

I used to work with homeless families and unfortunately in many areas of the UK there is a real shortage of social housing.

Have they told you the plan for when you are evicted? I presume temporary accommodation but that comes in many forms. It's unlikely you will go straight into a full tenancy so possibly two moves. I'd also suggest your housing officers do understand, they just can't make promises because legally there is procedure to be followed. Leaving a property when you don't have to can have ramifications as to whether you are statutorily homeless or not. In your circumstances, being found "intentionally" homeless would be a bad thing. What exactly did they say when they phoned the other day?

It's very difficult op. Essentially you're "in the queue" for a house to become a available. The council cannot immediately rectify it.

There may be other families that have been waiting longer, and have already been in temporary accommodation. It's a case of waiting your turn I'm afraid. There isn't just a number of empty council properties ready and waiting.

I think op it’s not the housing officers job to discuss your mental health with you. This is for your gp. The council don’t have properties sitting waiting this is the issue, they aren’t being mean to you bu not giving you a home. They are working through a priority list. And sadly there is a shortage of properties and a shit ton of people in need. And when I say in need, I mean living families living in a bed sit kind of need.

Have you checked the s21 was issued correctly? If not they need to start process again. The notice doesn't mean you must leave on the date of expiry, just that the landlord can go to court to start eviction proceedings- this can take from 6 months to a year. You have breathing space.

I have a section 21 because the landlord needs his property back to live in himself as he’s lost his job and cannot afford to rent elsewhere

@minniemoocher

I have a section 21 because the landlord needs his property back to live in himself as he’s lost his job and cannot afford to rent elsewhere

Are you saying the housing are refusing to help or that they can't find you a suitable property quick enough?

Are you expected to check the list each week and put your name down for suitable ones?

Are you v restricted on the areas you'll move to?

@Gazelda

Unfortunately the father isn’t on the scene. And I have no other family or friends to rely on. So as you can understand I’m very alone and dealing with this by myself.

I have spoken to shelter and they have said the council should be taking my mental health into consideration. I have had letters from the gp and a social prescriber to tell them how my mental health is Deteriorating

Some less than pleasant responses here.

It would hugely impact my mental health to be waiting for bailiffs while at home with three young children, one with a disability.

I wish I could help OP. I can’t, but you do have my absolute sympathy and I’m sorry.

@Dazedandconfused10
Yes the section 21 was issued correctly and the council have checked it over

@daisyoranges

Thank you. You have no idea how much your response is appreciated.
I have tried everything in my power to find a home for my children for stability and I’m up every night worrying about the future for them.
Some people don’t understand sometimes dads don’t stick around, and some people are completely alone in dealing with problems that have no solution

@SleepingStandingUp
The council have not refused help they have told me they have no idea how long it would be and a court order would result in emergency housing which my eldest would not mentally be able to cope with so that piles on extra stress and worry for me.
I bid on properties every week and am coming 60/70 at lowest every time sometimes even in the 200s.

I am not restricted in areas but need to stay in the same town to get my son to school as changing him isn’t an option just yet

@mumofboysxo are you clear on what you need to do re putting your name down against suitable properties etc? At my HA priority applicants are expected to actively check the list weekly, sometimes people assume they just do nothing until someone calls them. So are you fully clear on what you need to do?

Are you being open minded about areas?

Do you know where you came for the last property you put your name forward for?

It isn't that they don't care, it's that if you're already top banding what if else can they do but wait for the people registered longer than you to be housed? Every in your band is in dire need. Alot of them will find its affecting their MH. Youre all in the same boat for different reasons so whoever is in it the longest will need to be housed first.

My friend had similar and got placed in a B and B for 5 months and then a caravan in a holiday park for 8 months. The children thought that they were on holiday but my friend really struggled.
It was worth it in the end because they ended up in a really nice house. It was far from where they were originally and meant school changes but they had to.

Where’s the children’s dad?
Are you likely to return to work?

Sorry cross posted. Are you Def in the top band for priority? 60 sounds v far down for a 3 bed house if you're too band

@Bluntness100

I just want to make clear I’m not asking the council to house me immediately I’m asking for a plan of action. I’m just being fobbed off every call and being told to wait.
The closest I have got with a solution is then saying they will enquire about changing my banding and that was 3 weeks ago.

I’ve also been trying to private rent but no one will rent without a guarantor and unfortunately I do not have one.