Where will we live?

[Siriusmewandtinseltoo]

Does anyone know the rules for council housing? My DP business is going down the swanny and we are going to lose our home. We are in rent arrears and can't see anyway of paying. (£750pcm plus £1100 in arrears).We have been given notice for the end of Jan. Would we get any help? My cousin says we won't get housing benefit as our house is too big for us. (4 bedrooms for myself, DP, DS1(4) and DS(7mths)) I understand we don't need this bloody great house but when we moved in 2 years ago DSD was living with us plus we are storing all of MIL furniture and stuff as they are abroad. Sorry to be a bit rambly but I'm starting to get panicky now. we haven't been able to get an appointment with CAB and I don't know what to do. Can't seem to stop crying.

Ok, so you need to move to a smaller house, but dont' panic.

The council will give you money towards renting privately - enough for a decent 3 bed semi probably. Although some letting agencies won't accept DSS or what ever, lots will, as long as the landlord is willing.

Once you have found a new home for the new year, your DH can focus on finding a new job, where he is not self emplyed and you can get back on your feet again.

I ahve a good friend who is going through this at the moment, and as long as you have your whits about you, you will be fine.

Do go directly to the council and talk to them....and try to get as muich in writing off them as you can.

Thanks Lynette. I'm truly not bothered about moving to a smaller house it would be a welcome relief to get rid of MIL's tat. DP owns the company so he trying to keep that going. I'm just worried about moving all the stuff and whether our refrences will be bad if we were given notice for rent arrears. Don't know if another letting agency would take us on?

you wont get your mortgage paid, you need to accept that you will have to leav your current house. CAB are overrun at the moment, I used to be a volunteer adviser and can't imagine what its like there at this current time.
You need to go to your local council housing depart and explain that you have got to leave your property and when, with proof eg correspondance. They will only fund you to live in a 2 bedroom probably as both your children are same sex. They will help you to rent privately but only a 2 bed as I said. I feel for you so much, what a horrible thing to be planning over christmas. Try not to cry, you are definately not alone and I am sure things will get better once you have left that house, it will be a weight around your necks at the moment and you might actually feel relieved once you are out. Then you need to start to rebuild your lives slowly.

Our council will give you up to a cetain amount for rent...I know one family who are getting £550, and one family who are getting £625. Both families are with out jobs. The sad thing is that by your DH trying to keep you buisness going, you aren't able to claim housing benfit. It's the people like you who are really suffering at the moment, not people who are climing benefits, and there are a lot of poeple out there in the same situation at the moment.

Personally I blame Thatcher.

me too,
Lynettescarvo...LOVE the name, isnt she great lol

I have put a thread on here a day or so ago and NO ONE has said anything, about 'If you had chance to speak to high profile MP's about help and support for your average low-middle income families, what would you say or ask for'?
PLease comment, I am possibly doing an interview in the new year and need some weight behind me IYKWIM

chocolatmummy..I will find the thread and ask DH to comment. I'm sure he would have a lot to say!

Thinking about it. I think I'd quite like a nice 2bed. Not so much to clean, cosy no bloody boxes (largest upstairs bedroom full ATM). DP says it would only be for a while as he wants us to move to France in September.

So start searching the net for a nice 2 bed for you to move into in the new year.

What does your DP do?

sometimes I feel the same, We have a three bed, large downstairs and one empty double bedroom just piled up with ironing and toys, junk etc I often think (espeically at the moment) sod it, lets sell up and downsize to a nice little 2 bed that we can easily afford

DP runs a flooring business. I'm thinking this is harder on him in some ways. Been struggling to keep afloat for so long and he feels guilty about lumbering us with the extra stuff. I try to keep his spirits up as I'm a pretty optimistic person. Its just extra hard when its happened so close to Christmas with no money for gifts and things.

we barely have any money for gifts and things either, dh qworks full time but is not on a great wage by any means and I ama student nurse so only get a bursary. I would literally like to to cancel xmas this year IYKWIM. BUT, we can afford our mortgage and are not in arrears with anything although thats is because we live to a budget of £70 a week after all our bills have been paid and that is for food, petrol etc. Its tough. We are just thankful our incomes are guaranteed

We've been quite fortunate in that my mum went completely crazy buying presents for the boys so she gave some to me to give the kids. They are not old enough yet to be wanting a load of stuff luckily.