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.

@SleepingStandingUp our housing goes from A+ to D and I’m in band A

@SleepingStandingUp

I’m also bidding every week and doing private rented searches and enquiries also.

@Reinventinganna my children’s dad isn’t around. I won’t be able to return to work until my youngest is at nursery and then I will need to secure a job that fits around school hours as I don’t drive

I hate to say it but I have been on the council list since 2011. 2015 I was diagnosed with PTSD and also told that because I can sleep on my mums sofa bed they didnt know how long before they could house me. I still don't have anywhere.

I wouldn't count on them if you have another option

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut
Unfortunately I don’t have another option. I’m being evicted at some point I just don’t know when

Do you have any SS involvement? Could they wrote a letter of support but I'm assuming A* then is people actually homeless not threatened with in which case you literally just have to wait, I'm sorry.

They're right in that you are to not move out without an explicit court order, otherwise you're making yourself homeless and they won't be obliged to help. Yes it's shit for your landlord but YOU have to look after your kids not his

Sorry, I hadn’t seen that you had said about the children’s dad before I posted.

@SleepingStandingUp no I have no social services involvement but you aren’t the first person to tell me to call them. The council spoke about requesting a change in my banding nearly a month ago and I’m still trying to chase up the answer but no one gets back to me or they avoid the question all together

So are the council requesting to a Housing Assoc or do they manage their own stock?

If it's a HA have you called them directly?

@SleepingStandingUp
My council have their own social housing. they also have housing assoc properties. sometimes these are on the bidding or you need to be referred by the council

Not sure where you live but don't count on getting a "secure job that fits around school hours" especially since you don't drive. Go back to the GP housing cannot help your mental health, it's an awful situation for you but they aren't doing it on purpose there just isn't any housing.

@Rosieredapples
why not count on getting a job in school hours?
I'm not going to be unemployed forever but as a single parent with no other support or help I have no option but to hope that i do find a position like that.
i've been to my GP countless times, housing WILL help my mental health as my mental health has been caused by this situation, this situation being solved means my mental health will be on the mend as i will have the security and stability i need.

There's just not enough local housing stock. Do they have any connections to private landlords? Anyone's mental health would be shot to shit in this situation. It's a travesty that people are put in this situation.

I'm saying jobs that fit round school hours are highly desired and hard to find. Add in you don't drive will make that harder, I said where do you live as if you have good public transport perhaps it isn't an issue.
Maybe look for a nursery for the little one now, surely it would help you and give you time for job / house hunting calls to housing etc.
Are you registered with local private rental agents? There are ones that take UC.

It's a travesty that people are put in this situation which bit? The landlord, having lived through a pandemic, needs his house back. You can't force landlords to give out lifetime tenancies. She's protected by law that she can't just be kicked out onto the streets. If she is, illegally, she will be housed in the sense that she'll have a roof. Housing are engaging with her to rehouse her but they can't have hundreds of empty homes sitting empty waiting just in case.

It's obv hard and scary for op but it doesn't sound like anyone is actually doing anything wrong / not trying to help.

Op all I can suggest if trying to find out why you aren't A* and what the criteria is for it. It might be that you can't be so long as you are housed.

The landlord will have to go through Court to get you evicted. Make sure you reply to every letter and follow up everything and inform housing of every date and decision.

Individuals aren’t doing anything wrong but the system is a mess.

I am sure you will get a job in the future OP. Hang in there. It’s awful

the system is a mess

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 preach nobody should have to wait to be evicted by bailiffs before the council steps in.

this doesn't make sense - the LAW is if you are given a specific date for bailiff (usually 2 weeks notice) than the council have to find you accommodation - ask your landlord if he can pester housing officer & explain to them his situation as well as yours & to notify them as well as you about the dates of bailiff date
To be frank I had a tenant from hell but none the less I kept contacted & updating the housing officer & tenant got keys to a temporary flat the day before eviction - we gave the tenant access & a few weeks to move their stuff after the date .

Councils kind of bring this on themselves. Local council have sold a massive building recently which is being converted into luxury flats (just what we need) and are putting the money into 'improving customer service' when what is desperately needed in our area is more social housing.
OP, I sympathise, it sucks and it should not be this way.

You just have to be patient until a house is available for you.

You won't get A+ banding whilst on a notice period.

The only thing the council can do realistically is bump you up the list which would mean someone else in band a (most likely in exactly the same circs as you but for longer) would be bumped down.

There is still no evictions taking place and when they do restart they'll be such a back log it's going to take a very long time for you.

Op have you been to court and been given an eviction date by COURT?

@Hwory

I understand the back log which is why my mental health is being affected as I have no stability and no security of a proper home!

I have also done my research and I should be in band A+

To be in band A+ with my council you must of received either a court order or a letter of possession (section 22) and the homelessness act part 7 says I qualify to be in A+ as technically I am homeless.

‘ person is also threatened with homelessness if—

(a)a valid notice has been given to the person under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 (orders for possession on expiry or termination of assured shorthold tenancy) in respect of the only accommodation the person has that is available for the person's occupation, and

(b)that notice will expire within 56 days.]

So I don’t understand why I’m not being prioritised when not only am I going to be homeless in the near future but I have 3 children 1 with a possible disability and my mental health is on the decline.

@mumwon

Thank you for your message. The landlord wants to live in his property so if he calls do you think that’ll help?
He hasn’t done the court order yet as he wants to avoid doing it if possible as money is tight for him which is why he wants to move back in!

@SleepingStandingUp

Not yet. My eviction date in a few days so he can’t file for a court order untill I have stayed put which he wants to avoid doing as money is really tight for him which is why he wants his home back as he is currently homeless.

@inmyslippers

I completely agree especially with 3 young children. Not knowing what is happening and when is unfair as we have no security or stability!

And everyone saying this is Normal obviously has never had it done to them!

I don't think the importance of a safe and stable environment can be overstated!