Social housing and UC

[Cupofteaonesugar]

I have been on the social housing waiting list for a good while now. I've just been informed on top of the list for a property. I have absolutely NO idea how this works. I've never done this before. If I accept it and everything goes well... can anyone with any experience tell me what I should expect to happen with my UC award? I read somewhere my award will be reduced because I would be claiming my social housing rent?
Would the rent me paid directly to the council?
Would I have to pay a despite and rent in advanced?

As you can tell I'm clueless and I'm abit scared that I'm going to have no money!

The UC will have the full social housing rent added as long as you aren’t under occupied, it is not capped like private rents. It is called the housing element of UC they also pay any service charges the housing association add.

Also would it be frowned upon if o said no? Obviously I have no idea of this place is suitable. It's not the most ideal location as it makes the school run longer so I'm just a bit apprehensive!

Thank you! I read on another thread when discussing something different that I get a full UC award because I don't claim any housing costs currently? So o thought my current award would be lower should I claim housing if that makes sense?

Don’t say no to social housing, they can close your case if you refuse without good reason.
your UC may reduce slightly if your new rent will be lower but only because you will need less rent to pay. The housing costs will be paid directly to you and you will be expected to pay that to your housing association/ council.

Also, my HA I had to pay the first 4 weeks up front. No deposit

Most housing associations only ask for a week's rent in advance, paid at sign up.
Once you have signed the tenancy you can then complete a change of circumstances in your UC journal, there should be a box to tick if you would prefer the housing element be paid directly to the landlord (housing association), you'll be able to tell them how much your rent will be and they will confirm this with the landlord.
If that isn't an option when you change circumstances, you can contact UC and request it, usually they will ask why, but I am a housing advisor and I've never had them say no to any of my customers. "I'm struggling to budget" is a valid reason!

I also second advice from PPs about not turning down social housing, it depends on the individual council and the reasons youve been accepted on the housing register.
Without asking what those are, best advice is to not turn down something offered without exceptionally good reason.

But what if the property isn't suitable for me? I know nothing about it at this point!
It does say that by bidding you're showing an interest 🤷🏼‍♀️

Generally speaking op, if it's on your bidding sheet, the council have deemed it suitable for you.

I agree, if you don’t accept this property you will have to accept the next one offered or you are no longer eligible. This is how it works in my LA.

Your UC will cover the rent, you just need to add the housing costs to the claim and they will pay the landlord directly if it’s council.

It should tell you when you bid that by bidding you are agreeing to accept the property should it be offered to you. Where I am if you refuse a house that you've bid on then you can be banned from bidding for between 1 and 3 years or you can be removed from the list entirely. To be blunt whi cares if you don't know anything about it, it's a secure roof over your head. If you want the perfect house in the perfect location, then buy one.

You can’t be too picky. Generally as long as it’s structurally sound and no damp it’s suitable. As bad as it sounds, beggars can’t be choosers.

my house was in a horrendous decorative state but I had to look past that. They gave me decorating vouchers. I’ll finish decorating eventually 😂

but ultimately, i have a secure tenancy and affordable rent. I’m grateful for that.

Wow gosh I'm feeling really nervous now.

In my local authority if a property comes up and you don't want to view it you can say no and keep your place on the list. However if you view the property then you can only say no twice and have to accept the 3rd one or you go back to the bottom of the list.

In my area you get up to 3 offers then you are banned from bidding for a certain amount of time, can remember how long. The HA I'm in was 4 weeks up front as well.

Thanks all I'll give them a ring tomorrow and see what they say.
I'm obviously not well informed in this. It's not that I'm not greatful but the offer came as a complete suprise as I'm normally like person number 35z I don't have any money saved up to buy anything and it's christmas so I'm just frightened.
I want to love the place obviously, I've been preying I would get an offer soon but I feel very worried about being forced to take it or loosing my place.

If you don’t claim housing your work allowance, when you have kids is 557 before they reduce your claim by 55p every pound you earn. If you get rent paid it’s 334 I think. So roughly Get £130 quid or so less a month if you’re working.

Seriously, Bite their hand off if you are offered a secure social housing tenancy.
You'd be mad not to unless you see yourself buying a place in the next few years.

With regard to UC all you need to do is advise them of the rent amount and any service charges and they will confirm this with your landlord.

You may be offered to have the housing element paid directly to your landlord.
If you are in a position to avoid this then do so (I appreciate not everyone will be)

@womaninatightspot oh gosh £130 is a lot to me :(

What is your current situation ? Do you rent privately or live with family ? Do you work ? The work allowance would only change if you work and currently don't claim rent element at all.

With my LA you have to accept the first offer you're not allowed to refuse or you're removed from the list. You can always apply for a swap later

That should be made up by your wages though.

You can do a benefit calculator to see what effect it may have if you know roughly what the rent will be
www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

You have to make sure on the day you sign your tenancy you report the change and the housing cost on your journal (I move people a lot in my job). You can make a request through the job centre to do direct payments to your landlord otherwise it will just come in your monthly award.

@wherearemyspecs how would it be made up by my wages though as I wouldn't be earning more?

What is your situation now ? Do you pay board or whatever to parents to live with them ? If you don't pay anything for housing at the moment then yes you will lose a little by renting but most people will have been paying something for their housing whether informally to family ?