Involuntary homelessness and savings

[Dahlia22]

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

We pay 1900 per month and before we paid 2300. We moved because of my illness and we couldn’t afford it anymore

Pay off your debts then reapply - they can't take debts into account

Of course they are willing to give you a property OP, just not the properties you are asking for on the salary you have.

That’s what I’m thinking as well now

Whilst you have savings you are expected to use them. Go back to the letting agents and offer to pay rent up front.

I acknowledge it will be upsetting to spend money you have ear marked for your children's future. But you can't expect the state to support you when you have thousands in the bank.

You should have looked up the criteria before approaching the council. You could’ve given you son some of the money ready, in ISA or similar
Or you could’ve paid your debts off.

Your son will be entitled to more loans through Uni if you have a low salary. Some are grants.

I think you need decent financial advice.

Use your savings to pay all the debt(most of it) you will save a lot of money on interest alone. With what's left over, rent a different property, you will have more success being cash ready and willing to pay a few(2/3? At least) months in advance. Rent a 2 bedroom property rather than 3. Also look at area's further away that might be cheaper, but with good transport links.

Lastly, you keep mentioning being sick. Depending on the condition is it something that might entitle you to some benefits? DLA? PIP?

It’s unhelpful for people to be so rude to the OP.

But as others have said, you need to use your savings to pay off your debt. It should still leave you enough for a deposit on a property. For your budget you will need to rent a two bedroom place to stay within a three mile radius of Hillingdon. My friend lived in her sitting room in order for her children to have a bedroom. It’s shit but you will need to compromise.

I would also recommend you get in touch with your local citizens advice, as they will be able to help with access to PIP if you are too sick to work in the longer term.

Use your savings to pay rent until the end of the school year then move somewhere cheaper and your son can join a local college and continue his studies from September. You’ll only have to pay 4-5 months rent at a higher price and your savings will cover this. Is the 20 year old working? They can contribute to the rent if so.

I have suggested that, but most of the agency are like that will cover you only for 1.5 years, what about after.

You’ve got 1.5 years to figure out the “what about after”, that’s your solution for right now

You can't afford to live in London, we have a joint salary of £100k + and can't afford to live in London, nor would I want too. You need to leave London, pay your debts and find affordable housing.

Are they both boys? Does the oldest live away at Uni or at home? If they're both boys you only need a two bed not a three. Younger son and DH can commute to college / work so where would an hour commute get you in tes of cheaper areas?

Pay off your debts because cuts ridiculous to have so much debt so you can buy your son a house in the future.

@Summerhillsquare - just go and pay 6 months upfront - and then save rent away every month in case you have to pay 6 months up front each time-

I understand your sentiment but that's what savings are for-

One is a girl and the other is a boy. He lives at home

i had more savings but I have been using it up for obvious reasons. Not sure how you expect me to have new savings again after using everything up, considering the living costs right now

I wish I could direct you to the agency and probably you could have convinced them

I have heard it all now. Come on OP, you have plenty of money in the bank so cut your cloth accordingly.

Hi OP

I can't comment on the rental situation, but if you are too unwell to work there may be help you can access.

ESA (employment and support allowance) is worth applying for. If you have worked in the past 2-3 years then there is a contributions based allowance. You can apply for that whether you are looking for work or not and they will make an assessment of whether they think you are capable of work.

www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

If you are very unwell then you may be able to get PIP. This is a more complicated benefit to apply for as you need to explain how your illness impacts your daily life. A lot of people who are definitely ill or disabled don't necessarily qualify for it but it is worth looking at.

www.gov.uk/pip

I am sorry you are unwell.

The rental market is very difficult these days and I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks, I will have a look at that

In today’s society 24k really isn’t much, only because of how much everything costs and I don’t mean fancy things. Just the basic items have gone up in price. Maybe around 15 years ago, that was a lot of money

I am pretty sure that a lot of people on this thread would LOVE to have £24k in the bank.

Rent a decent 2 bedder - 6 months down -get a really good sofa bed in lounge and your son can have that when he's home or the 2 boys will have to share.

It's shit OP - but being factual you are unlikely to get help if you have some money .

In the meantime once you get somewhere, bank £1400 every month to bring it back up as much as you can , get yourself on the councils list - just in case you get lucky (even for HA property you have to be on the lists) and look at trying to fudge it and move out a bit when youngest is 18 if you don't want to move colleges - although personally I would consider it.

The fact in London is it's nigh on impossible to live and rent as a family on less than £65k - it's only really doable if you are single and can share places, have got council or HA , have had a mortgage years and years and a small mortgage or if you are pretty high earners- everyone else is totally stuffed.

You said money for a property for a son when he finishes uni then a son also studying A levels?