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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

Council housing after domestic abuse

25 replies

PaperDreamsHoney · 22/10/2021 14:29

I'm a single mum with 2 kids and found out last week we're being evicted from our flat because the landlord wants to sell.

I've been in touch with the council but they've said I'd only get Band 3 priority even as homeless - Band 1 being the highest. To qualify for a higher band I'd need to demonstrate that not rehousing us would "seriously prejudice the welfare" of one or both of my children, but there's nothing about what that actually means. I'm currently fighting my abusive ex through court to keep my kids in their current school because it's the one constant in their lives - they've had to leave their home abruptly because I didn't feel safe where we were even after XH moved out; we were ostracised from our church and my daughter lost all her friends (she was previously homeschooled so her only friends were from church); school is our main support system and they've been amazing with helping the kids through all the upheaval. My 10 year old is waiting on an assessment because I think she might be autistic and my 5 year old is showing a lot of signs of stress, particularly after contact with his father. Is this enough for them to agree we need to stay in the area?

They said they'll help me find somewhere to rent, but the trouble is that I can't afford anywhere big enough so we're already overcrowded, plus most landlords won't take someone on benefits (and yes, I know that's illegal but I still routinely get told to get lost by estate agents).

OP posts:

TurnUpTurnip · 22/10/2021 17:25

Band 3 sounds about right tbh, my council only give band 1 (band a) to people who have lost their homes to fire/being demolished or if they are down sizing

Alwayswantedasmegf · 26/10/2021 16:46

I don't know the rules OP as I moved a while back now. But when DS was born my flat was driving me crazy and I really wanted to go private.

Has there been any mention of temp accommodation? My friend lived in temp for over a year and then managed to get a lovely council house in a half decent area.

I would not be pressured into private if you have the opportunity to go with the council. I'm really grateful now that I didn't go down the private route.

Original poster

PaperDreamsHoney · 26/10/2021 19:20

Unfortunately we're in an area with really high demand for council housing, so even temp accommodation is hard to come by.

OP posts:

SnowWhitesSM · 26/10/2021 19:31

No you've been given wrong advice.

If you are homeless because your landlord is selling (so no fault of your own) you will end up in their emergency accommodation where they will have a 56 day limit to assess your needs. As you will then be classed as homeless (not voluntary homeless) you will be given either the top band or the second band depending on your LA.

If you're in a big city you will probably spend years in their emergency accommodation so I'd take their help of a deposit loan and looking for private. If you're in a fairly big but not London then hang on for a council property.

Get advice from shelter. It sounds like they're not giving you all of the information they should. Technically if you haven't been evicted yet then what they're saying is correct, but you need to stay in your house until you're legally evicted. Then you will have a different needs assessment. They will rehouse you rather than see your dc homeless.

willithappen · 26/10/2021 19:42

I'm in a similar situation and due to vacate at the end of March as landlord is selling up. I have gone to our local council as I'm due a baby early Jan. we have been given band B just now and told this will change to band A priority once it's two months before we have to leave
I am in a small town and think different LA's have different rules

catwhispererpsps · 26/10/2021 19:45

You won't move up the list until about 2 weeks before you need to be out. My friends son has just been through the same thing.

willithappen · 26/10/2021 19:47

@catwhispererpsps

You won't move up the list until about 2 weeks before you need to be out. My friends son has just been through the same thing.

It would depend on the LA I think. Like I say mine is two months before the eviction that we go to band A

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 26/10/2021 19:54

The council in my area would be expecting you to apply for all houses that are big enough in their whole area if you're given temporary housing. They also don't take your kids school or your support system into place around here if you're in temporary accommodation.

If you're not applying to all the houses with enough rooms they take you out of their accommodation.

Other areas may have different rules I would think but they are really strict around here.

If you have a specific need to stay at the school then maybe you would be better off taking their help for private rent, but try making an appointment and asking for their specific rules.

Alwayswantedasmegf · 26/10/2021 20:03

@PaperDreamsHoney my friend was near London and this was in 2020 she got rehoused... after being in temp accommodation. Borehamwood area.

I think maybe they are saying once you literally have no where to live you surely must be high priority they would have to give you temp accommodation what else would you do?

Original poster

PaperDreamsHoney · 26/10/2021 21:44

I am in a big city, yes. DD's teacher mentioned that she knew a family in the same situation who got put in temporary accommodation 60 miles away. I'd happily take anything in the local authority area. My fear is that they'll offer us either temporary accommodation or a private rental that's just too far away - and of course if I turn it down, I won't get any further help.

OP posts:

TurnUpTurnip · 26/10/2021 22:06

Tbh if you are fleeing DV then most councils do expect you to leave the area as you are literally moving to be safe which won’t be the case if you moving within the same area.

Original poster

PaperDreamsHoney · 27/10/2021 08:02

I've already left the area where we lived before - we're now being made homeless in the new area. Sorry, shouldhave made that clear in my OP.

OP posts:

Alwayswantedasmegf · 27/10/2021 08:16

Try not to worry. If it's temp in a new area it will only be temp and then hopefully you can move to your preferred area.

I think the most important thing is you get houses in a council property rather than council.

Are your children at school? If so hopefully they will consider this and not move you too far away.

Original poster

PaperDreamsHoney · 27/10/2021 09:01

@Alwayswantedasmegf

Try not to worry. If it's temp in a new area it will only be temp and then hopefully you can move to your preferred area.

I think the most important thing is you get houses in a council property rather than council.

Are your children at school? If so hopefully they will consider this and not move you too far away.

Yes, they're in school, and it's literally the only thing in their lives that hasn't been turned upside down so I'm desperate to keep them there.

OP posts:

SnowWhitesSM · 27/10/2021 10:50

Please ring shelter for advice.

You could probably get a letter of support from the school and a letter of support from the GP to add to your claim that you need to be near to the school. It just needs to be worded right. I would totally highlight and play up on your dcs emotional distress from A your previous relationship and B what the school have done and are continuing to do to support them and C what the impact would be to them having to move away and why it would be more for them because of A and B. I'd also chuck in a load of stuff from every child matters and the LAs duty to children in their area. Housing have to act as corporate parents to LAC and care leaver yp and the head of children service is responsible for every single child and yp in the LA. I'd be tempted to find out who that is and give them a ring and ask for their help! Better that they support you rather than you being unable to cope and them having to take up corporate parenting responsibilities for your DC!

CorrBlimeyGG · 27/10/2021 10:58

The difficulty you have is that you are not asking to be rehoused to escape domestic abuse, but rather you need to be rehoused due to being evicted (through no fault of your own) and you'd strongly prefer to remain in your LA due to your support network.

The former scenario puts you in a higher band than the latter. I hope your LA can help, but you need to be realistic about your options.

CorrBlimeyGG · 27/10/2021 11:01

Housing have to act as corporate parents to LAC and care leaver yp and the head of children service is responsible for every single child and yp in the LA. I'd be tempted to find out who that is and give them a ring and ask for their help!

The OP's children are not looked after children or care leavers. Unless you're suggesting they hand over their children, then child services cannot provide intervene. The sad reality is that they will have far more cases with an even greater priority than that of the OP and her children.

CorrBlimeyGG · 27/10/2021 11:02

Scrub out provide...

SnowWhitesSM · 27/10/2021 11:17

Yes I know that @CorrBlimeyGG but the head of service is still responsible for every child in their LA. Housing still have a safeguarding responsibility to OPs dc and creating more trauma in their lives isn't the right thing to do.

I honestly think it would be worth a shot getting in contact with them. Sorting OPs housing (something the head of service can do) makes much more sense financially then having to put in early support or more if her children end up on a plan. They could very well end up needing a service with all of the trauma they have had so far in their lives. If the HoS has any sense they would see that preventative work would help that. It may not happen but in an ideal world it could and should.

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 27/10/2021 11:24

If homeless they don't have to rehome near their school at all.

They just have to rehome them, that is where their responsibility ends (in my area).

They won't even rehome very ill children near their hospital, or children who need specialist schools near them as other departments have to deal with the transport and logistics of everything else.

Around here those in temporary accommodation need to apply for everything that is big enough regardless of where it is or they get removed from the accommodation.

Viviennemary · 27/10/2021 11:30

Sadly from what she has said I don't think the council will see it as a necessity to house Op near the dchool. But I expect rules vary between councils.

TheLastLonelyBakedBeanInTheTin · 27/10/2021 11:35

If you are homeless they will have to find you emergency housing, which is likely to be a bnb or hostel And might be quite far away, and then they will look for suitable temporary accommodation which should be closer to where you lived before and more suitable for you household (though could be a bedroom less than you really need). From there you would start bidding, and depending on your area this could be anything from a few weeks to many years on band 3. In most areas almost everyone is a band 3 or 4 (or band C and D) because bands 1/A and 2/B are reserved for people with disabilities and serious health conditions, eg. Somebody who lives on the 8th floor of a tower block and no lift and has to start using a wheelchair, or somebody with a degenerative illness that needs an extra bedroom for a live in carer or medical apparatus. Rightly so, those families go first. And so in high demand/low housing stock areas that's why the wait can be so long.

TurnUpTurnip · 27/10/2021 13:57

Doesn’t sound like DV is the reason you need to be rehoused then which made it sound like it in your op

midnightpopcorn · 27/10/2021 14:16

I was in this exact situation 2 years ago. You're not in band 1 because you aren't homeless yet. There is no risk to your. Goldeneye if they are not housed because they have a home right up until they are actually kicked out.

I went on our list as a band 3 then I had to stay put living where I was and follow the whole eviction process holding on to the bitter end. Once it was 3 days before we were due to have baliffs at the door we got pushed right to the top and given temporary accommodation overnight.

It's a horribly worrying time because you're in complete limbo and your letting agent and landlord will try to make out that you need to leave at the end of your notice.

I really feel for you but you'll get there x

midnightpopcorn · 27/10/2021 14:18

Goldeneye?! Wtf? That meant to say children!

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