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Original poster

Emergency council housing?

14 replies

NatalieJane · 19/05/2009 11:09

Do I have to accept the first thing they offer? Obviously, it is emergency, but I know the first place they'll offer, and I'd rather camp at my mum's rather full 3 bed than live in that area with my kids.

OP posts:

TheArmadillo · 19/05/2009 11:11

yep - if you refuse they can discharge their duty of you.

There are circumstances in which you can refuse but you have to have legitimate reasons (i.e. you are disabled and cannot access the property). Not wanting to live in the area is not considered a legitimate reason.

MerlinsBeard · 19/05/2009 11:12

i think th eidea is that if you can "camp out " elsewhere then you don't need emergency housing.

jetcat32 · 19/05/2009 11:13

are you on the homeless register - ie. are you being housed as homeless priority?

I know when i was going through a similar thing last year, as i had been on the list for 5 years, they tried all kinds to bump my points up so that i could have some choice (though i was really desperate and prob would have taken anything!)

if i didnt have enough points to be top of the list, then they would have classed me as homeless, and yes, that would have meant i had to take the first thing i was offered.

Not meaning that is the absolute rule, just giving my experience. It may be different in choice based lettings area etc.

good luck, and i hope you do get something sorted - i well understand how stressful it is!

as an afterthought - your local authority should have the housing policy on its website - maybe that will offer a bit of guidance??

jetcat32 · 19/05/2009 11:15

in my area, if they do discharge their duty - that means they kick you off the homeless list. You can still remain on the normal housing list, though that can be one really really long wait!

TheArmadillo · 19/05/2009 11:16

Also I think if they discharge their duty they will not accept an application for homelessness from you for a certain period of time (I think it is 2-5years) but you would have to check.

dilemma456 · 19/05/2009 11:24

Message withdrawn

Original poster

NatalieJane · 19/05/2009 11:28

OK thanks.

How about if I looked into renting privatly and applied for housing benefit or whatever it is? Would I even be able to rent privately with out an income?

I don't think I'd be classed as homeless because we do have a house up here that we'd need to sell, so I guess whilst this isn't sold then I'm not homeless, but we're splitting up, I need to get back down south, and other than camping out at mums (and I actually think we would need to camp as in, in a tent!) then I don't have anywhere to go.

OP posts:

TheArmadillo · 19/05/2009 11:31

you really need to go and get advice from your council and from shelter.

here

MerlinsBeard · 19/05/2009 11:33

right, so you don't need emergancy housing then going off your last post, you need a house asap. You need to look at the housing policy for the council where you are hoping to move to. also look up other housing associations and yes you could apply for HB

Original poster

NatalieJane · 19/05/2009 11:42

Sorry am not very good at the correct terms, I've not done this before!

When I spoke to the council of where I need to get a house (Bedford) she seemed to think I would be a top priority, and also said the sooner the forms are back to them the better.

Is there not a phone number/website that I can have a scurry through to check everything, it's all so bloody complicated! I need to know where we'll be living before I can apply for any benefits (for the short term) but don't know where we'll be living till we're living there and by which point I'm going to need some money!

Wish I hadn't have shrugged off Cod's idea of having a money pot for these things!

OP posts:

HappyMummyOfOne · 19/05/2009 19:52

You need to ensure you can pay the rent on a private let - as you own a property you will only qualify for a 26 week period re housing benefit. After that they will take into account that you own a property and you may not qualify.

Bear in mind that many private landlords also dont accept DSS tennants so if your moving away from the area/and your job you may need to secure employment first.

atworknotworking · 19/05/2009 20:59

Have you tried a local housng association their rules may be slightly different from the council's, I know one couple who split had a house, neither lived in it, it was up for sale, she got a new 3 bed semi from association as she scored higher points with them, he had to find a private rent.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 20/05/2009 08:14

Thanks I'll look into it

OP posts:

BONKERZ · 20/05/2009 08:21

i was homeless with 10 week old baby and was offered a B&B initally, after 5 weeks in B&B i was told i could get emergency housing but it was a one bed flat in a very bad area and i would not qualify for extra bedroom till DS reached age 8! I decided to rent privately and stayed on the housing list. It took a year for the council to offer me a 2 bed house in an ok area!

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