Can somebody help with my housing problems?

[staceym11]

I'm 18 with a 10month old dd and a dh, i'm not working and he only earns 14k a year. We are currently living with my parents, but as dd is getting bigger the space seems to be getting smaller and patience with us wearing thinner. We have been on the council list for 2 months but they have quoted it will take two and a half years to house us. They will not consider an approved private tenancy as we are not considered homeless (and my mum won't write to say she's kicking us out in case anyone thinks ill of her) but we do qualify for housing benefit if we rent a private sector accomadation. Now my problem is i have absolutely no idea how much of the rent they would pay on a two bedroom property that is between 6 and 7 hundred pounds a month. Does anybody have any idea, because we can't afford to move into somwhere and then find out we can't pay the rent!!!!!

you can get whats known as a 'pre tenancy determination'. you can pick these up at your local housing office, the landlord/agent will fill in thier details you fill in yours, post/bring to the housing office and you'll get an answer in 24 hours. i rent a small house for myself and dd rent is 465, housing benefits pay 437, so my rent is minimal, i would have to stay in my mums for life if i couldn't get this.
you can always ask the housing office straight out, but they'll probabley advise one of those forms. p.s my mum wrote a letter to housing office ''threatening '' to kick me out. it didn't work, they really just don't have anywhere for people and the housing list here is 6 years, thay were going to stick me in a b+b but thankfully i found this place through private let. good luck

Thanks very much, thats great. cant stand not having my own house anymore!!!! thanks again il get onto them!

Hi stacey, I thought a married couple had to be housed! Can't understand why you have to wait over 2yrs. I used to work in housing Allocations about 7yrs ago for the Council and we had to allocate on a points basis, a married couple with a child were always far up the list, but saying that a couple who were not married and still staying with family were only given overcrowding points! The systems have probably changed a lot from when I worked there!

Some councils no longer operate on a points system, kidstrack. Many also no longer have 'council' housing but have turned over their housing stock to a designated housing association - usually in turn for the Treasury writing off their debts.

Livys suggestion is a good one, as is getting an appointment w/a housing officer to see what your options are.

The housing list here is enormous. Last I checked, there are over 100,000 people on it.

Thanks everyone, no its not done on points anymore its a banding system, basically they wont put anyone in band 1 unless homeless. within the bands there are ranges the most important being A least being D. we'r in band 2A so we'r highest on the list basically, im not picky and put every area in our borough with every type of accomadation inc council or housing association, and the lowest on any list we are is 68 which they reckon will take 2 1/2 YEARS! most lists we'r number 700 and something so god knows how long that would take!!!!
I only want a house of my own from the council until my dh is earning enough to get a mortgage, im not gunna be there forever!!!!
AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Stacey remeber on that list theres a lot of people who will turn it down, circumstances have changed, got housed with someone else etc.

I know, but it seems to be taking absolutely forever! i just hope it doesnt take two and a half years!

Keep on the phone, every week, keep nagging.

hi i am 40 years of age am sleeping rough in a abandoned shed i have been there for Ova a week and wud like help finding a place please can u help thank you please phone on 07441457464