Does anyone know about statutory overcrowding?

[Sorelip]

Hi, I am trying to get some advice about overcrowding rules. I am 25, and live with my parents, two adult brothers, 13 year old sister, my DH and DS, who is 4 months old. We live in a three bedroom flat which is rented through the council. My mother shares a room with my sister, my brothers share a room, my dad sleeps in the living room, and me, DH and DS are in the last room. I am on the council waiting list for a flat for DH, DS and I, and we are in band 3, which is the second lowest priority. We cannot afford to rent privately, otherwise we would.

Can anyone provide clarification of the statutory overcrowding act, and what it means for us?

Council should come out and maesure up! I just got rehoused due to statuarory overcrowding

Is there a gas fire in room your dad sleeps in?

You have three bedrooms available in the flat.

The two adult brothers shouldmove out and perhaps rent a room or bedsit together, if they can't afford their own accomodation.

This leaves one room for your mum and dad, a room for your siser, and a room for your family. In that circumstance, until your Ds is 1, you are not overcrowded.

I might get slated for this but can you not tell the council your parents are throwing you out?

I got moved super quick as I was sleeping in the living room..... Gas fire was a carbon monoxide risk, even though it was serviced and all ok with it

Is there no chance you could get housing benefit so that you could privately rent somewhere?

I am not sure that you/your dh and your kid aren't the separate 'family' here - your parents have chosen to have your two brothers live with them - you guys are the ones that need to have your own place as a family right?

Why would you and your brothers stay and make the rest of the family suffer?

Why the attacks on the OP? The OP clearly says that they cannot afford to rent privately.
With that fact in mind it's not too hard to realise that they can't afford to move out. I'm sure they are not wanting to live like that. Sheesh....some people.

Have you always lived at home or moved back there after marriage?

Council don't offer the rent assist/bond scheme?

Yes, our council offers the bonds scheme.

What a crap situation the OP is in - literally anywhere is better than what you're describing - even a bedsit would give you some privacy and personal space.

Are all the adults out at work during the day - that would be the only way I could live like this - at least you would get some peace and quiet with the baby.

I really feel for you OP. Is it the bond etc that makes private housing unviable or the monthly rent or both?

Do the council do loans for the bond?

I don't really understand people saying the bothers should move out, would have though as OP has her own family now, it really is OP who should/needs own place.

Quick hijack

I live in a 2bed flat with DH and our 3DC.

DD1 and Ds share a bedroom, DH, DD2 and I share the other. If all the DC were split between the 2 bedrooms and DH and I decamped to the living room, would that be allowed, bearing in mind the gas boiler is located in the living room (and we have no separate kitchen if that makes any difference)?

I'm not saying that the brothers SHOULD move out, I wasn't giving an opinion, I was giving an "Is this statatury overcrowding" opinion, which is the Op's situation according to her local council.

I know damned well she SHOULD be housed, but councils don't always go by what's right, they go by what they can get away wityh

Im just genuinely shocked that in one family all 3 adults are not able to afford to leave home and make like more bearable for their parents and younger sibling. I'm not saying the need isn't genuine I'm just shocked - what would have happened to op if her parents had not agreed for her and her family to live there??

Lucy ring them and ask, it seems a grey area. Tell them you already sleep in that room and see what they say. Mine were pretty horrified and had me out in a flash! I was given priority bidding on any 4 beds which came up. I ended up in a 5 bed new build. I was lucky.

Dropdead my brothers are 19 and 21. They have been at college for the last couple of years full time and so are not working. They are hoping to find jobs, but until then cannot afford to move out. At the moment, my dad is not working regularly (he is in the building trade and the company he works for are in trouble), and my mum is looking for work, so DH has been supporting the whole family for a few months now, which is a major reason that we cannot save up enough money to move out. If my parents decided that I couldn't live here, then I, DH and DS would be homeless, and the council have a duty to assist us. My parents have split up, but my dad has refused to move out, so sleeps in what used to be the living room. I have always lived at home. We were supposed to start saving for our own place after getting married, but then I fell pregnant.

One thing that is confusing me about the statutory overcrowding is that the space standard says that we can have 8 people here, but the room standard says 7.5. Does anyone know which would apply? Or should I just call the council and get them to come round?

Sorelip - I do feel for you. I can see how difficult it is for your family - are you sure it's not worth claiming that your parents are throwing you out through lack of space??

Homeless will put us in the same council banding that we are now. We would be put into a bed and breakfast or hostel, and I'm not sure I could handle that - I'm taking antidepressants as I had postnatal depression following the birth of DS, and I'm scared that that kind of change and worry could make things worse. Sounds stupid, right?

All those adults should be seeking work. And be on jobseekers? So at least they would have a small income.

Then maybe once working, your dad and brothers could find a place together? Solving both your mums problem and yours in one go.

Olympia2012 my brothers hate my dad. It's all a bit complicated, I know.

I've found out that the overcrowding applies when either the room or space standard is contravened, so thank you to everyone for replying.

If your DH is working, why cant you move into a private rental? You could always return to work if his wage alone cant support the three of you. If your family dont work very much then they may be able to help with childcare.

Surely instead of looking for regulations you would be better focussing your energy into finding your own home especially given you now have a child so have known for x months that you needed the extra room.

My DH is supporting 8 people at present. My family refuse to assist with childcare.

Thank you for your opinion Happy.