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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

how easy it to get a council house......

35 replies

mum2sam · 11/09/2007 22:38

im currently living in married quarters, have a ds and another on the way. Things are not working out with dh and me and i want to leave but im scared as i have nowhere to live if dh and i break up. How do i go about getting housing will i have to get divorced first before im entitled or can we just seperate. I just want to be settled with the kids. And how do i go about leaving him-who do i see about benefits and entitlements as i dont work.

OP posts:

ChorusLine · 11/09/2007 22:40

Hi there - I am mum to a sam as well! If you go to emtitledto.com its really helpful.

In our area its really hard to get one and I have to provate rent for DS and I.

Good Luck x

ChorusLine · 11/09/2007 22:41

www.entitledto.com/

CitizenColditz · 11/09/2007 22:42

It's hard to get a council house. Very very very hard. Lists are generally veru very long.

Sorry.

TippiHedren · 11/09/2007 22:43

Get yourself down to the job centre plus, they can advise on all benefits and go to the CAB about renting somewhere. Generally there are very long list for council housing but it is possible to rent privately and claim housing benefit to cover the cost as long as its reasonable accomadation, what they mean is you cant choose a 5 bed house for 3 of you!

Original poster

mum2sam · 11/09/2007 22:47

great i really dont want to rent priviately im sick of having to move around and havng no security. I just want a proper home.

OP posts:

munz · 11/09/2007 22:48

oh no i'm in the same boat as you at the mo pretty much - well DH walked out on DS and I on friday - bastard. anyhow so far i've gathered you get about £45 p/w in tc's (althou you'll obv have more once LO's come along) also see about army mod nominations scheme - my welfare were dismissive of it so waiting to see what XH's next move is before I make any more moves.

basically as was told to me yesterday, your H will move into the block and your qtr will be signed over to you. (he will still apy for it) then basically you have 93 days and will get an eviction notice to take to your council - then after the 93 days you get a letter saying you'll be evicted on x date (apparnetly they NEVER do that) and you then take it to your council place and they have to house you or so my welfare man said.

he also said I have to take which ever house i'm offered even if it's a run down bedsit in the middle of town with druggy needles lifts that don't work etc I ahve to take it. . for me that means around xmas - nice pres from H eh?

ambercat · 11/09/2007 22:49

A friend in MQ had to get the DHE to evict her before the council would house her.

munz · 11/09/2007 22:51

m2s - a I understand with pte rent you can be there for as long as you both wish - I had a friend from school who's mum had a long term rented house (was years literally all of seniors school anyhow) I plan on renting for as long as it takes to get enough together for a place of our own - be it 5 years or longer - can't see it being any quicker than that.

daisyandbabybootoo · 11/09/2007 22:53

When I was on my own with my DS, I moved back to my parents and DS and I were sharing a room. Because of this we were classified as top priority and got offered a flat pretty quickly (ie within two weeks).

However it was on a take it or lose your place on the list basis and I think it really depends on which local authority you come under.

Is there anyone you can stay with? I think if you are technically homeless you will get something sooner, and it shouldn't matter whether or not you are divorced or just separated.

AS an aside, do the DHE not offer support for women in exactly this situation, or failing that a friend of mine used to work for SSAFA and I'm pretty sure she dealt with women in your situation.

Good Luck xx

Original poster

mum2sam · 11/09/2007 23:33

how about if you speak to a councillor-this just sounds awful surely they must take the children into consideration. Ive had to give up my job to support my hubby and to have children grrr it makes me so mad

OP posts:

munz · 12/09/2007 08:07

put it this way mum's just told me her friend was in our boat, but moved from durham to the south. the council put her and 3 Lo's in a B&B for 6 weeks while they sorted a house - thats def not something I want to do wiht DS, so will have to try and get a pte rent I think. apparenlty thou they paid her full £750 p/m rent so that was a plus for them after all - they ngot a 3 bed house. i'm hoping to get a 2 bed but weather I will or not is another case.

MellowMa · 12/09/2007 08:09

Message withdrawn

Sixer · 12/09/2007 08:34

munz you can speed the whole proccess up and find a home that is suitable by doing the work yourself. It means nagging the hell out of your local agents and getting lots of refusals due to being DHS. However i did find there are folk that will rent to you. So once you find somewhere get in contact with housing office tell them what you've found and how much (rents that are acceptable in this area anyway was about £550.) that's what they'll pay. you can go over this but you will have to find the money yourself. The housing office will then supply you with forms to fill in regarding the property which you have to return to get the ball rolling. You will have to work quick, you are doing their job for them. so expect a large phone bill but anything is better than a doggy bedsit. Good luck

munz · 12/09/2007 08:43

ah sixer that's intresting - not bothered by the phone bill - it's not my phone! lol.

that's my worry being HA not many people will have them - and even less will take HA with dogs (still want to keep both of my dogs - highly unlikely to be able to now )

mellow -- i'm fine thanks v pissed off and angry with DH - yes didn't even ring to say goodnight to DS - guess that shows a lot huh? (and there's no reason for it as he's home right now)

zmandaz · 12/09/2007 09:04

I am living with my parents and sharing a room with DD but I was told that unless my parents write to the council to say I can't stay there any more and unless I'd be prepared to stay in a bedsit for anything up to a year before I get any kind of permanent housing, I can forget it as there'll always be people who over take me on the list! I'm looking into long term rental as at least I can choose where I want to live that way. Hope you get things sorted soon

Tinkerbel5 · 12/09/2007 09:53

mum2sam everyone wants a proper home but unfortunately there are loads of lone parents who have to privately rent whether they like it or not as they dont have an option, the council say that there isnt any council houses so thats why they are so selective in giving the properties when they come up, my local council say that the only ones that will be given properties are those who are homeless. The council arent obliged to give properties, but they do have a duty to provide temporary shelter, this can be in the form of a hostel or a b&b, so if its the case of privately renting in a nice clean house with a roof over your head or living in a hostel where you are all sharing a living room/toilet and a kitchen I think a private rent in the best option.

expatinscotland · 12/09/2007 09:57

Depends on the council. In Edinburgh, it is nigh on impossible. What they do offer is temporary accommodation in privately rented flats - the council pays the landlord the rent in exchange for using the flats.

There are tens of thousands of families on the wait list in some areas.

That's the reality.

The era of the council house is long gone.

MellowMa · 12/09/2007 10:34

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 12/09/2007 10:40

OMG, that kitten is so damn cute! Like a ball of fur! What kitten is not so damn cute, though?

Your other cat is adorable.

All cats are adorable, though .

Peachy · 12/09/2007 10:51

Ragdolls are amazing kitties- so but it's well nown I only accept cats missing at least one limb and another body part (eye, jaw etc) LOL

Good choice though

Re the housing- Shelter are amazing for advice in this situation, it can take a few tries to get through but well worth a telephone call imo

MellowMa · 12/09/2007 10:54

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 12/09/2007 11:03

What's going to be the kitten's name? Oooo, what a fluffy ball of CAT!

MellowMa · 12/09/2007 11:13

Message withdrawn

Tinkerbel5 · 12/09/2007 12:18

shame im allergic to pussies cause they are so cute

hoolagirl123 · 12/09/2007 18:25

I think it really depends on the area.
I had to wait 6 months (not that long) and got to refuse the first choice (crap area) then was offered really nice house in nice street, garden etc.
Contact your local council and any housing associations in the area you want to stay, the housing association gave me good advice on how to get housed asap.

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