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Original poster

Can anyone help me ... i need advice on housing ......

239 replies

Scoobydooooo · 23/08/2006 13:26

Yes i am in the crapiest of situation & have spent the whole morning crying whats new hey!

Well we are in private rented & have been for the past 2 years in this house, we have a assured shorthold tenancy which ends on the 1st september 2006 the lanlord had served us with a "section 21" notice for eviction on the 18th september we are on the council housing list & i have been speaking to them on & off now since about april, i only have 25 points & we need 95 they have said.

I get on really well with the landlord & he has been very nice & understanding but he does want to move back into his property & is hoping to on the 18th BUT i have phoned the council again today & they have told me come the 18th i do not have to leave & he will have to take me to court la la la la i do NOT want to go to court, i am extremley down & really struggling with this how situation i dont know where to turn but i honestly have sat here today & thought i can not go through this anymore...

My HV still visits me at home because i have PND & i see my docotr about twice a month i can not take this stress its wearing me down & i feel like running away, it has put trmedous amount of stress on mine & dp's relationship.

I have tried everything i have even written to the MP he was very nice & he did try but the council just fobbed him off.

So what the hell can i do now? i just can't go on like this.....

OP posts:
magnolia1 · 23/08/2006 18:43

No probs hun, keep us posted and email me anytime you want xxx

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 23/08/2006 18:59

Thank you i will do i have many up & down days but today has been a bad one, hope i feel a bit better tomorrow

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ONEOF3 · 23/08/2006 19:49

Of course you can ask for your medical points to be reassessed at any time but you will get a better response if you can produce more or different medical proof and not the same stuff you provided before.
Speak to your hv she must have done this a million times before.
Hope tomorrow is a better day for you xx

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 23/08/2006 21:08

Thanks ONEOF3 i will be sorting alot more out, have just spoken to FIL who is very helpful & is 100% behind me, he has given me some things to think about & suggests i write a letter regarding some points he has pointed out to me with regards to what they are asking me to do.

Thanks again i hope tomorrow is better too, will shall see

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fussymummy · 24/08/2006 00:57

Hi scoobydooooo are you feeling any better???

I know the problem won't have gone away, but you must feel better now that you've shared it with MN.
Everyone here will give you advice and support.

Make your GP appt. and call your HV for a much earlier appt.

You urgently need their support and their letters.

Take care and keep in touch and please try AD's they will help you so much, at least you'll be able to think straight.

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 24/08/2006 08:29

Hi fussymummy i do feel better for sharing it with people & being able to speak but had a bad night last night, woke up in the middle of the night & cried i was also sick, i am feeling sort of ok this morning still emotional & still feel sick, but life most go on i have 2 little kiddies & i need to pull myself together for them, thanks for asking after me

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fussymummy · 24/08/2006 12:47

scoobydooooo
Have you made your apt with GP and HV.
Make that one of your jobs today, it'll only take 5-10mins.
You said you need to be told what to do, so i'm trying to give you a kick up the bum to get you moving!! (in a nice way of course)

Also, phone CAB and see if you can get through to them.
Try SHELTER as well.

If you only get answe machines, then leave messages, don't just leave one message, but keep calling back and say how you previously left a message with your phone number and that you want to check that they got it okay as no-one has called you back.
Tell them how urgent your problem is.

ONEOF3 · 24/08/2006 13:12

Agree totally with fussymummy - are you feeling any better since this morning?

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 24/08/2006 16:10

Hi again thanks for the kick up the arse your be pleased to know i have listened & i phoned the doctors & the earliest appointment they have with my doc is friday 1st @ 9.30am so i have that booked & written on my calendar too.

I have been trying shelter on & off all day but the lines just say there operators are busy & to please call back, i will not give up though.

I have had an email from the CAB which i will add here in a min.

I have also written a letter to the council & posted it today with regards to whats going on & the amount of pressure they are putting on me & my mental state etc etc, i also copied this letter & sent it to the MP, & again i have posted my letter to my doctor so she should read this b4 i come to see her on the 1st which i feel more better about.

I am feeling a tad better because i have been out this morning, have taken the kids to the country park & out for lunch & then went to my sisters house & have just got home so my mind has been occupied, which i feel i needed to happen.

I know i need to start to relax & not worry as much because i know i am making myself ill but i am one of these people that worries about everything, i have to have all bills paid etc before i can even sleep, its just the way i am.

Thanks again for asking & i will let you know the outcome of everything i have posted out today.

Off to find the email & will post it here......

OP posts:
Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 24/08/2006 16:12

Dear ***,
Thank you for your Email received yesterday. I do the housing casework here
at the Bureau. In answer to your questions :

  1. It is correct that once your Notice of Seeking Possession expires your
    landlord will then need to issue a claim for possession of your property
    through the county court if you have not left the property. This is an
    accelerated procedure, using Sec 21, and you will be sent a defence form to
    complete but usually there is no hearing and possession is given. You will
    be sent a possession order with a date you must leave, and yes the tenant
    pays the costs of the claim.

  2. Once you have this order you can present it to Woking Borough Council. At
    this point you are statutorily entitled to make a Homelessness Application
    under Part V11 of the Housing Act 1996 ( as amended by the Homelessness Act
    2002 ).

  3. It has been common practise for the council to expect a possession order,
    altho' the Code of Guidance does state that local authorities should work
    with notices so as not to involve the tenant with additional court costs.

  4. You have a housing application with 25 points. Once you are facing
    homelessness these points will automatically increase. You could also
    complete a Medical Information Form now with details of your PND which could
    increase your medical points to either low 15 or medium 40 points.

  5. The Housing Register is changing in September from a points based system
    to a banding system - Woking Hometrak. All those on the housing register
    will be given a band, and you will be able to bid for properties that are
    available. Within the band you will be placed in date order so if you have
    been on the Housing Register for a long time you will be higher up the band.
    You will be sent information from the council about this scheme.

  6. I am away now for 2 weeks but will be back on Tuesday Sept 12th if you
    need further assistance.
    Hope this helps.
    Best wishes
    Janet Murphy

OP posts:
ONEOF3 · 24/08/2006 16:22

So pleased that you are feeling better and by the looks of things you are moving in the right direction.
This horrible phase will pass I promise and then you get your bright and shiny new house .

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 24/08/2006 16:27

I new from the beginning this was going to be a journey & i also new this was going to be one of the hardest times of my life, unfortunatly though because of where we live we really can not afford it, the rent on a 3 bed house is £800+ it's just ridiculous prices, we also can not afford to buy because the prices just keep on rising, i never intended my life to go this way but at this point in life this is the only thing we can do, i don't think i expected as much pressure & to of reacted this way but i think partly the way i am feeling is because of my PND is well.

I just have to keep thinking i need to keep fighting for the sake of my children, they are my life & they deserve stabilty more than anyone

OP posts:
pointydog · 24/08/2006 16:34

Good for you. Keep at it, scooby.

albatros · 24/08/2006 19:18

I'm glad you've come back fighting.
Good luck

fussymummy · 24/08/2006 21:54

scoobydooooo well done girl, you've come out doing the right things today.
Whole load off your mind, i should think.
Would it make a difference to your points to get your GP letter and medical form into the council before the banding system begins?

How long have you been waiting on the council list?

Don't worry too much that your life might not be going the way you expected.

That happens to lots of people.

Just make the best of the life that you have.

Could you try to get an urgent appt with your doc?
I think that once she has read your letter, then she'll want to see you a.s.a.p. to try to help and to give you a prescription for AD's.

You need to start these as soon as you can.

Do either you or your partner work?

Are you claiming housing benefit and tax credits?

You must now look into making sure you have all that you're entitled to.

Also is there a seperate form from your council that you need to fill in once you're made homeless?

If so, get the form now and fill in as much as you can in preperation for when it happens.

As you say, you can't sleep til the bills are paid, so be prepared for what is going to happen.

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 25/08/2006 09:01

Morning Fussymummy,

Only been on the list since april because never thought about it before this & to be honest never thought we would be in this situation.

I am sure the doctor will write or phone me or will probably even get my hv to ring me as they are also in contact with each other about me alot. I will wait till this happens & then will bring my appt forward.

I don't think the medical points going up will make a difference to what band i get put in because when i spoke to the lady at the council she told me that the new system works on "how long" people have been on the list for & the longer the better so this is not in my favour, but obviously when someone is homeless i am sure they will have to be in a top band somewhere.

Yes my dp works & we get working family tax credit.

I thought from th email off CAB that there was a seperate form to be filling in when homeless but when i phoned the council to ask for the form they told me it is exactly the same as the form i have already filled in.....so that puzzled me.

I have still been trying shelter but it must be the most difficult place to get through toothe lines are constantly busy or if you go on hold it never gets answered....its strange.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 25/08/2006 11:52

Ok i have spoken to a nice man at shelter.... ahh i am crying again now, i think i cry because i block it out of my head then when i have to speak about it, it gets me really down & emotional

Anyway he has told me many interesting things & also given me some useful numbers to call..

He is also passing my info & writing what we disgust on his system for the crawley branch to read & i will contatc them as they can fight on my behalf.

He has told me the council are doing things wrong with me he has also said that i should be allowed to fill in another form for homelessness & has ready out the 3 or 4 things that result in this & i answer "yes to all of them" so they have a duty now to look at me as homeless because i have been served with my "section 21"
He said if they do not allow this i should get in touch with the community legal service who will fight on my behalf because the law states i am now classed as homeless & they have to look for emergency accomadation.

So back on the phone for me to get another form from the council & to stop being fobbed off, i now feel the fob off is because they know the new rules & how the housing thing is going to chnage very soon & think they want me to be in this situation.

another day worrying & crying !

OP posts:
ishouldbedoingtheironing · 25/08/2006 12:33

Well done you!!! Fantastic achievement -I am so pleased for you. It will help now that you have someone fighting in your corner.
I didnt think that it was being handled right but as I only know Scotts legislation wasnt sure.
Keep at it girl - youll get there.

Sorry should have said changed my name I used to be ONEOF3

magnolia1 · 25/08/2006 12:53

Oh Hun, well done for being strong enough to keep going!!
You are right in what you said you need to do this for you and your children and that is what will give you the energy and determibation to keep going. Please keep appt with docs I am sure you will feel better once you have been.
Thinking of you and email if you want anything

pointydog · 25/08/2006 13:17

Fantastic. The crawley branch people will be able to do quite a lot of stuff for you so keep going.

fussymummy · 25/08/2006 18:29

Oh scoobydooooo i'm so pleased that someone at shelter was able to help you a bit.
Could you get an appointment at the council to see the head of housing and throw some of the 'shelter man's' words at them.
Let them see that you now have some more helpful information and that you know what you're talking about.
I don't know about you, but obviously i cry when i get upset, but when i get angry it also sets me off.
I do keep going though and make sure i get my point across.
Write down the points that you need to make, so that you don't forget everything if you get upset.
Also, take the kids with you, let them see what you have to deal with and how it affects you.
Go when they're hungry so they whinge a bit more.
Don't forget to take their food with you, we wouldn't want them to starve!!!!!!
Wish i could come with you and help.
Have a great weekend if you can.
Why don't you get some boxes and start packing up some of the things that you won't be using for a while.
You don't want to leave it all to the last minute.

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 26/08/2006 21:30

I will be back to answer & speak some more...but lets just say i have had one of the wrost days today & i am feeling the pressure more than ever

OP posts:
pointydog · 26/08/2006 22:40

Aw, I'm sorry to hear it, scooby.

I'm impressed you've managed to slog away with all the phone calls and everything because it's pretty soul-destroying when you're feeling miserable. Don't be hard on yourself - and I hope no else is being hard on you either.

fussymummy · 26/08/2006 23:27

Poor scoobydooooo, we're all still here for you if you want to chat and get it out of your system!!!
You won't be judged for what you say, people on here just want to help.
Keep going girl and don't give up. xx

Original poster
Scoobydooooo · 29/08/2006 09:52

I am back,thanks for asking after me, i have been on mn but just felt i did not want to write what has been happening.

I had a very very bad day on Saturday, i had a massive row with dp & i totally flipped, i rold him i was running away (which i really felt like doing) & told him i could not take anymore of this situation, i spent alot of time crying, sleeping & just feeling crap.

I just can not seem to accept the fact this is what is happening to me, i just can not take the pressure of what this is puttting on me. I feel like life has come to a stand steal & i am just here waiting to see what the next person is going to say, i am a very routine person anyway & i have had stabilitly all my life so i think the feeling that i have no stabilty at the moment is probably the main factor & i am also feeling very bad on my kids & dd changes with my own mood so it's hard.

I actually can't wait to see the doctor on friday now, yes i am scared but i just feel i need someone else to help me, i need her to know the extent of this & the way it's actually effecting me. I never thought it would effect me in this way, i always thought i was stronger than this but for some reason it is hitting me hard & i am struggling to fight back.

I must also add i am exhausted & waking in the night also god i dont wanna say this but i will my hair is falling out & i am not sure if it is due to this or something else.

Anyway not feeling great today but feeling ok not as bad as saturday if that makes sense?

Thanks again for all these lovely messages it makes it great to be able to write it down

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