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Original poster

Temp accommodation or renting from a private landlord ?

35 replies

Rosepetals11 · 13/08/2018 16:55

Hi all!
I’m really stressed and confused about my current situation.
I’m currently 8.5 weeks pregnant and me and my partner are being made homeless.
We’re already on the waiting list for a council house but I know that will take years.
Im the only one working atm my husband is looking for work.
We’ve been to our local council and they’re telling us to rent from a private landlord and apply for universal credit ..

But the thing is no landlord will want to accept us with only earning 1k a month and most landlord don’t accsept DSS tenants.

We only have until Friday to sort this out or the council will give us temp accommodation and put us anywhere in the UK not even in the area we are in atm. Which is scary.

Don’t know what to do, but will going into private renting not give us a chance to get a council house in the future ?

Need help?

OP posts:
LIZS · 13/08/2018 17:00

Will the council loan you the deposit for a private rental perhaps. Eventually your baby would help you move up the list but probably not yet. Is the eviction legal? Maybe Shelter could advise you on that and which local ll accept benefits appllcants.

mrsoutnumbered · 13/08/2018 17:55

Do the council have a list of landlords/agents that accept housing benefit? My old council did this.

It's also worth asking the agents and explaining your situation if you see somewhere that you like. Some landlords may accept benefits, my ex landlord never had a problem with it!

Original poster
Rosepetals11 · 13/08/2018 18:07

Nope our council wants us to find a place and sort it out on our own also I’m wondering will it take longer then to get a council place because we won’t be in a rush to find a roof over our head seen as we’re renting ?

OP posts:
SavannahSky · 13/08/2018 18:12

Well you won't be a priority when you are housed in rented

It's one or the other

Intheg00dolddayz · 14/08/2018 04:35

Your partner needs to apply for job seekers allowance or universal credit. It will not be back dated. As a couple you may get your rent paid up to a certain amount and the equivalent of working tax credits/universal credit. But he/both of you need to put in the claim and go to the job centre to confirm your entitlement

mrsoutnumbered · 14/08/2018 06:59

Also private renting is a lot more expensive than renting from the council, so you need to consider if your LHA will be enough to cover the rent (something I could rant about for days!). Hope you can sorted OP x

flirtygirl · 14/08/2018 08:51

When in private rent, though you may move up the housing list, the council will take even longer to house as you will be seen to be adequately housed.

It may be worth going into temp accommodation and getting housed quicker into a council property. You are then not at the whims of a private landlord and also benefit from cheaper rent.

PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 09:13

@outnumbered
Don't get me started on LHA and the fact that Councils are setting ridiculously low LHA rates.

LHA rates are supposed to be set at around the 30th percentile of the rents in the area not at around 5th, like they are in many areas.

PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 09:22

@flirtygirl
The OP can't just choose to go into temp accommodation.

If people cannot find their own accommodation, often the council will assist them to acquire a private tenancy.

Once the council has done this, they have met their legal duty under the Housing Act to provide accommodation.

Often the council will offer a loan for the deposit and sometimes may also offer to pay one or two months rent in advance.

By assisting people to acquire private tenancies the council saves money.

Mc180768 · 14/08/2018 10:48

What's the situation with your current home? You say you're being made homeless.

Have you been served with a notice of repossession? If we know more surrounding your current situation, it will be easier to assist. (I work in housing and supporting people at risk of homelessness. )

Original poster
Rosepetals11 · 14/08/2018 18:19

Thank you for all your replies!
I’m living with family and they’re kicking us out, we’re very over-crowed.
The council had asked if they could give us another week so we have time to find somewhere which they agreed on.

My partner and I have been contacting numerous amount of landlords to ask if they would accsept DSS tenants and they’ve all been unsuccessful plus they want a guarantor which we don’t have also..

Im scared the council will give us temp accommodation really far from where I live as I have to travel to work still :/

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 18:41

Im scared the council will give us temp accommodation really far from where I live as I have to travel to work still
Every council has a list of private landlords that will take benefit claimants and that will work with the council to house people without guarantors and without deposits.

No council wants to put people in temporary accommodation as it costs them a fortune over a period of time.

Have you asked your council about private landlords??

It sounds like you actually want to go into temporary accommodation rather than rent privately.

Either way here are some links that may be of use to you -

www.gov.uk/emergency-housing-if-homeless

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/ways_to_find_a_private_rented_home

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_deposit,_bond_and_guarantee_schemes

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/how_to_rent_when_a_landlord_wont_accept_housing_benefit

Original poster
Rosepetals11 · 14/08/2018 18:53

Our council told us to find somewhere on our own and then apply for universal credit it’s something I’ve never done so we feel quite lost
I don’t mind temp accommodation if it’s nearby and not too bad of a place. At least maybe that way we will get into a council house quicker? I don’t know

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 20:01

Our council told us to find somewhere on our own and then apply for universal credit it’s something I’ve never done so we feel quite lost
If the council have told you this then why do you think that they are going to put you in temporary accommodation??

Temporary accommodation is the last straw for councils, especially B & B type accommodation as it costs them a lot of money.

Personally I think that they have given you the opportunity to find your own private rental but if you don't find anything then most likely they will find one for you.

Temporary accommodation isn't a choice that you make so that you can get a council house more quickly, it is what the council uses to house people when there is no other option.

Do you have any previous experience of living in temporary housing??

By that I mean when you think of temporary housing, what do you imagine (or think) it is like??

Sorry if any of this sounds harsh, I am just a very direct person and I have been told that sometimes I come across as very harsh!!

Original poster
Rosepetals11 · 14/08/2018 20:35

Basically we have until Friday to find somewhere if we don’t they said they’ll house us anywhere but even in temp accommodation well still have to find a private rental.
I’ve never stayed in a temp accommodation I know of people that have.

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 21:22

@Rosepetals11
The advice that I wish I had been given when I was in your position is do whatever you can to find your own private rental because at least that way you will have some choice and control over where you live.

If you leave it so that the council has to find you somewhere when you are running out of time then you could end up somewhere awful or miles away or anything.

Also remember that by finding your own accommodation, you are saving the council money and somebody at the council a great deal of hassle.

You say that you don't have a guarantor but you don't say anything about a deposit. Forgive me for being presumptuous but if you don't have a deposit, tell the council that.

If you can find a suitable place and the only thing in the way is a deposit then the council will often lend you the money or come to an arrangement with the LL about it.

I don't know where you live but this website shows properties that accept DSS. However, some areas seem to have no accommodation on the website at all and others have quite a few. So sorry if it is of no use to you.
www.dssmove.co.uk/

This website here is for renting a room in a house. I know that it is not ideal but you may find that it is easier to rent a double bedroom in a house share than it is to find a flat / house at such short notice.
www.spareroom.co.uk/

PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 21:27

Sorry I pressed ENTER too soon

I haven't had much experience using this website but it looks OK
property.adzuna.co.uk/

Then I am sure that you already know about these websites but just in case -
www.gumtree.com/
www.rightmove.co.uk/
www.zoopla.co.uk/

PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 21:29

Forgot to add -
Good luck!!

Intheg00dolddayz · 14/08/2018 21:29

Some councils have 25,000+ people on their long waiting lists (reports in news). Please be aware that some councils are housing people 100s of miles away from their local area, schools, jobs etc

ivykaty44 · 14/08/2018 21:41

Persiancatlady are you serious when you say they just need a deposit?

Most agents are looking at not letting to people without an income of over £25k and the op has said they are on a low income, in the region of £1000.

Have you looked at how much private renting costs?

Op go with the temp accommodation if you can and keep bidding for properties every week for everything you can bid for, with the hope of getting something in 6 months

PersianCatLady · 14/08/2018 22:41

Persiancatlady are you serious when you say they just need a deposit?
Yes thank you @ivykaty44

I know a lot about private renting and even more about local authorities and how they discharge their duty under the Housing Act.

You are assuming that the OP is going to rent a flat or a house. Unfortunately it is more likely that she will end up renting a room in a shared house or a bedsit.

You talk as if you know a lot about the current housing situation and talk as if the OP can just ask for temporary accommodation and get it.

Look at some of the latest housing policies. Councils and LAs have spent a fortune in the past on temporary accommodation and it just isn't sustainable so LAs are turning to the private sector to find rental accommodation for those that it has a duty to house under the HA.

If you have any more recent or more in-depth knowledge of the subject then be my guest

ivykaty44 · 15/08/2018 06:33

The op isn’t going to be able to rent in a shared house easily as op is pg and that isn’t going to something other sharers or live in LL want.

Having a deposit to rent just isn’t enough now in the private sector, earning over a certain amount is also required and in some cases being solo is also an obstacle, as LL want couples in case one looses their job the other can pay the rent.

Original poster
Rosepetals11 · 15/08/2018 08:21

Ivykaty44 - I totally agree with you!
Renting privatey isn't easy anymore you need to be earning over a certain amount, prove all your earnings and spendings because they want to be sure you will be able to pay the rent.
And as I’m pg and my job is quite long from where I am I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to work.

OP posts:
LeftRightCentre · 15/08/2018 08:27

The thing is, if they don't have the stock then they cannot magic it up. If you go for the temp housing, it can be anywhere and in many councils and boroughs, the 'council' housing is now only private LLs who have agreed to let to people in need of housing/top of the list. It's another private let. In many areas there are simply no more of what is considered a traditional council house.

LIZS · 15/08/2018 08:42

Could you look for somewhere closer to your work? You still have at least 5 months to work before ml, if you decide the commute is too far now you will lose your smp etc. Your dh can then look at different companies and jobs. Temporary accommodation could well be a room with shared facilities, council will be hoping to avoid it and it just delays the inevitable move on.