Accommodation through council

[Melanie1811]

My relationship fell apart. We live together in rented flat, but will be moving out in december going separete says. I work 16 hours a week but have no savings. I will have a child monday to Friday and my ex weekends(when im at work). He works full time and will be moving to studio flat as he can afford it. Me on the other hand I can’t afford to pay rent (in London) so I will be homeless going to council. I guess I will end up in emergency accommodation or temporary housing. My worry is how far they can move me. I still wanna keep my job and need access to my child’s father. Please tell me they won’t move me to other side of UK. How does the emergency accommodation / temporary housing looks like - I hear horror stories everywhere.

Be careful- if you leave the flat you are in you will be classed as making yourself intentionally homeless by the council.

Well I can’t afford to pay the flat myself and my landlord doesn’t accept benefits

Yes, but unless they issue you a notice of eviction and then go to court when the notice expires they cannot physically remove you.

Trust me, Im talking from experience. Your council will tell you to stay until it goes to court proceedings.

Arrange an appointment with them to discuss and register.

Also, I get my housing benefit paid to me directly. My landlords didnt know I claimed it.

Definitely don't give notice on your flat without speaking to the council first as you're risking making yourself ineligible for housing if you leave voluntarily, regardless of whether you can afford it

I think you and your ex should try the best you can to provide for you and your child yourselves because in London even the 'council' housing is very likely short-term private lets they stick you in as there is so little social housing, your chances of getting a 'council place' are small, and especially if you think you'll get a 2-bed. I'd look for another job and share the childcare with your h. If you're on tax credits, you will be moved to UC with a house move as it's a trigger.

I am not interested in council house. I just want to live peacefully without him. I’m in love and he is not - it’s heartbreaking. I was Just hoping in some temporary place (3-5years) to sort myself and my child out. I am gonna finish uni and I know I will have a job that will be able to support both of us in few years times. But for now I need to get away from him

I think you're going to find it hard to get a 3-5 year tenancy via the council in London, sadly, unless you're willing to go where they put you but even then, it's often a case of they put you in another private let that takes UC. He needs to step up and provide for his child but then, sadly, so do you. Finishing uni and being on benefits is sadly quite difficult now because UC takes your loan amount as income. I think it would be wise to get onto some forums like moneysavingexpert and the like to see how you can combine work and study. UC is here to stay and likely not going to improve at all but it's best when you're working as it helps pay for childcare.

I’m studying part time online - I asked student support and they said student loan won’t affect benefits - it would be affected if if I was to receive maintenance loan etc., but I don’t. I know loads of single mums on housing benefits / in accommodation through council in London- can’t be that bad

Go for it then! It sounds like they have plenty of places to house everyone and those tales we hear of people being put in B&B in the Midlands and UC leaving people with nothing are all bunkum.

If you are changing from joint to single or applying for a new tax credits claim you will be moved on to Universal Credit which can take 6 weeks to process - make sure you have some sort of buffer in place for this.

Is the ex your DS' Dad? If he can afford a flat for himself then he can afford to help pay toward accomodation for his child amongst other things. Get a maintenance agreement put in place, possibly contact CMS to ensure he's paying the correct amount and on a regular basis.

As PP has said you really should seek advice from local council, they can't just hand them out to everyone who needs - there are limited properties and funding to house EVERYONE who claims to be in need. They will tell you that you are making yourself intentionally homeless if you leave without an eviction notice from your landlord, it's not their problem you can't afford it - they will say that you are willingly moving out rather than trying to bring in more funds. Your landlord should write you a letter about 6 weeks in advance with a specific date that your tenancy will end, you take this to the council and on that date you go to the offices to state that you are now homeless. They won't do anything to find you temporary accomodation beforehand but you can get your name on the housing list now.

Keep looking out for a property within your budget though as you may well (likely) end up in a B&B or furnished homeless flat which both cost £££'s anyway.

Sorry you're facing this upheaval, it really is a crappy situation but one day it'll be a distant memory and you'll have settled somewhere of your own :)

If you are changing from joint to single or applying for a new tax credits claim you will be moved on to Universal Credit which can take 6 weeks to process - make sure you have some sort of buffer in place for this.

Also if you are moving house and so changing your housing benefit claim. You can apply for an advance on your entitlement, but this is a loan and the cost of it will be recouped from your pay outs for 12 months.

Your ex needs to pay up to support his kid.