Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Involuntary homelessness and savings

59 replies

Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 16:43

Hi All,

Unfortunately, I have to vacate my house soon as I received bailiffs letter. So my council (hillingdon) is aware of the situation and they have asked financial details from me. Me and my partner have around 24k in our savings and around 13k in credit card debt. So now the case worker got back to me and said that they don’t think they can help me with my case as I have savings.

I’m not so sure how they want us to find a rental property with 45k annual income. My husband only works as I’m unwell.

When assessing our case wouldn’t they take our credit card debit into account?

the reason I have saved is to help my son get a small property once he finishes uni

im so worried now, as where I and my children will go now?

Dhalia

OP posts:
TooManyAnimals94 · 04/03/2024 16:47

Why would you not use the savings to pay off the debt?

You need to use the money you have available before you're entitled to help.

PickledPurplePickle · 04/03/2024 16:48

It’s an awful situation but you have enough savings and income to rent a property

The government shouldn’t be funding you saving for your child’s future

Bromptotoo · 04/03/2024 16:50

How old are the children?

wendywoopywoo222 · 04/03/2024 16:50

Unfortunately as said above your not in a financial position to be saving money for your son.

You need to pay of your credit card debts which will save you a lot of money in interest payments and then use the balance to fund a new home.

Bromptotoo · 04/03/2024 16:50

PickledPurplePickle · 04/03/2024 16:48

It’s an awful situation but you have enough savings and income to rent a property

The government shouldn’t be funding you saving for your child’s future

This sort of judgemental carp helps nobody.

Shouldbedoing · 04/03/2024 16:50

The best financial advice is to pay down debt before you start to save because the interest on loans is much higher than on savings and you're throwing money away.
With a smaller savings pot you might get help, but aren't savings there for a rainy day and isn't this one?

Summerhillsquare · 04/03/2024 16:52

Oh come on now. I am as left wing as they come but you don't need taxpayer support. Savings are for a rainy day, and now it's raining.

Moier · 04/03/2024 17:06

Is this for real?
Or looking for adverse reactions?
You are not homeless and won't be.
Pay the debt you will still have 11 grand for to rent somewhere else. Your partner earns enough and if you cannot work due to illness you can claim disability.
But goodness sake get a grip.

AgentProvocateur · 04/03/2024 17:10

You can’t afford to help your son until you have housed yourselves first.

Mrsttcno1 · 04/03/2024 17:11

Yep, as everyone has said, the support available is there for people who CAN’T support/house themselves. You have 24k saved and even if you paid off all debt you’d still have 11k to support yourself plus 45k a year coming in. You don’t have the luxury of having savings for your son in the future, you need that money to keep your kids housed now.

AlohaRose · 04/03/2024 17:17

I'm sorry but if you have only one income and you can't work, then you do not have the luxury of saving for your son to have a property when he finishes uni. I'm sure we'd all love to do this but the reality is that you should be paying off your credit card debt rather than racking up costs on that and you can't even think about your son's accommodation when you are about to be evicted. He can fund his own accommodation with his uni education!

Babyroobs · 04/03/2024 17:20

Why would you be saving money to help your son when you are at risk of homelessness yourself? Does not make sense at all ??
You could possibly increase your chances of renting privately by offering six months rent up front ? Some landlords may be more willing to rent to you if you can do this which you clearly can afford to.

Hereyoume · 04/03/2024 17:42

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Oh I needed a good laugh.

Thanks OP.

45k salary, 23k in savings, yep, absolutely 💯 deserve some benefits. It would be a disgrace if you didn't get a little something.

Houseplanter · 04/03/2024 17:44

I really hope this is a wind up because if not then the world really has gone mad

Original poster
Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 18:09

No, unfortunately it’s not a joke. I saved that money when I used to work until I became severely sick. Initially we wanted to use this small savings to buy a small flat for ourselves but I became unwell and I couldn’t work no longer and that stayed a dream for now.

My kids are 16 and 20 years. We recently moved to this place and the landlord needs their home back, hence why we are moving out.

Also, on a honest note, it seems like most of you live in small villages or in the middle of nowhere to be thinking that London rent is so cheap to afford it on 45k (for 3 bedroom property) I have been looking for another place but they have been stating our salary isn’t enough to rent a 3 bed property.

Before you mention, move out of London, I can’t at the moment because my son has already started his a levels.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 18:14

PickledPurplePickle · 04/03/2024 16:48

It’s an awful situation but you have enough savings and income to rent a property

The government shouldn’t be funding you saving for your child’s future

Yeah I could probably rent a property up to 1250gbp per month. But honestly that’s how much a 1 bedroom flat costs in Hillingdon

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 04/03/2024 18:17

Your son doing A Levels doesn’t mean you’re not able to move, of course you can. You can only live somewhere if you can afford to support yourselves there.

Happygirl79 · 04/03/2024 18:18

You need to look after yourself with the money you have saved.
Savings can not be kept by you if you want taxpayers help.
That would be very unfair.

Kalevala · 04/03/2024 18:20

If the children are same sex then they can share and you can get a two bed.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 04/03/2024 18:20

I'm sorry that you're in this situation, but you can't expect the taxpayer to stump up when you have savings. It would be lovely to help your dc with a house deposit etc but unfortunately you can't afford it.

You need to use the resources that you have in the short term, and go back to your council for support if and when you need it.

Are you getting PIP if you are unable to work?

Soontobe60 · 04/03/2024 18:24

Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 18:09

No, unfortunately it’s not a joke. I saved that money when I used to work until I became severely sick. Initially we wanted to use this small savings to buy a small flat for ourselves but I became unwell and I couldn’t work no longer and that stayed a dream for now.

My kids are 16 and 20 years. We recently moved to this place and the landlord needs their home back, hence why we are moving out.

Also, on a honest note, it seems like most of you live in small villages or in the middle of nowhere to be thinking that London rent is so cheap to afford it on 45k (for 3 bedroom property) I have been looking for another place but they have been stating our salary isn’t enough to rent a 3 bed property.

Before you mention, move out of London, I can’t at the moment because my son has already started his a levels.

Edited

You can move out of London - there are hundreds if not thousands of colleges where your Ds could continue his A levels.
You can rent a 2 bed property and your DSs can share
You have options.

Soontobe60 · 04/03/2024 18:25

Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 18:14

Yeah I could probably rent a property up to 1250gbp per month. But honestly that’s how much a 1 bedroom flat costs in Hillingdon

Show quote history

How much are you currently paying, and how much did you pay before you moved to where you now live?

jf1992x · 04/03/2024 18:27

Ok OP so I'm reading this as you're just expecting the council to give you a council house because you don't fancy paying by full rent 😅 You have the money. Rent like most other people do.

chopc · 04/03/2024 18:28

Is this for real? You are cocklodging off the government if you are expecting their support

Original poster
Dahlia22 · 04/03/2024 18:30

jf1992x · 04/03/2024 18:27

Ok OP so I'm reading this as you're just expecting the council to give you a council house because you don't fancy paying by full rent 😅 You have the money. Rent like most other people do.

No, I’m not expecting not to pay rent. I just need help to find a place because with our currently salary none of the estate agents are willing to give us a property

OP posts: