Does anyone work in housing? Need advice on council/private renting etc

[WantToGetOut]

Hi,

I have pretty much made up my mind that I want to leave the area we are living in. The timing is not great, I am just about to start a new job, but I have had enough of it round here.

My dcs school is going down hill as it the area generally. Also my ex is going to be released from prison soon and I need to be gone by then.

I have a council tenancy atm. I am going to give this up and move into private rented (The area I am going to is not even in my county) I will get the majority of my rent paid if I stay on Housing Benefit/Income Support.

Does anyone know if I can get any help with moving costs?

Basically, what I need to know is, how long do people normally stay in private rented? I know the tenancy is normally 6/12 months but is it usual for this to be renewed if you are a good tenant? I don't want too much disruption for my dc and ideally only want to move their school once.

If the worst did happen and my landlord asked me to leave, would the council put me on the housing register or would I be intentionally homeless because I'd given up my previous tenancy? (even if this was a year or two later)

TIA.

Message withdrawn

you can get help for moving through a community care grant i think, but believe you have to be on income support for this.

For a private rented landlord to end a tenancy he has to do it in a legal way, serviing 'notices' etc. If he does not legally end the tenancy it will automatically renew for the same period again. If you lost that tenancy the reason for your homelessness would be that the landlord had ended you tenancy so no you would not be intentionally homeless. The Council can not look back to previous addresses. Look at link below for housing advice. good luck with it all.

houisng advice

You will not get any help with moving costs although you could apply for various benefit loans or grants. (the community care grant scheme may cover moving)

AS for landlords the length of your tenancy is very much dependant on the landlord. you may be very lucky and stay for years, as long as you pay the rent and cause no trouble they are happy to stay. but it is not particularly secure as they may have financial trouble and need to sell, they may want to return if they ar renting their own house...there are lots of reason's why it may fall through.

If i were you i would ask for a council exchange that way you would still have the security of a council tenancy but would still be able to get out of the area you are in.

I second the exchange idea, no deposit to pay (would HB cover this if you moved into private rent?), can be quick and I think a tenancy is worth keeping until you're really on your feet. Contact housing associations in the area you want and have you looked on all the exchange websites?

Hi. Thanks for all your advice.

I really want to be brave and just go for it but I am met with a lot of un certainity from friends and family as they are concerned about the effect on the children.

Mamazon, I have been trying to get an exchange for years but no one wants to move here.

I am also on this particular council's choice based lettings scheme but have been bidding constantly for 14 months with no luck. I spoke to an adviser yesterday who said people in my banding can sometimes wait 10 years my eldest will have finished school by then which kind of defeats the object!

I got help with moving costs from the Community care grant, they gave me £500 for moving, so it may cover it for you too.

BucketsofDynamite and WantToGetOut - no, HB doesn't cover private rent deposit. I'm in private rent house, have been here for 8 years and desperately need to move. My council say I am low priority band as I'm not homeless and no council houses ever come available here (maybe 1 every 6 months, then it always goes to high priority!) I tried to get out to another private rent place, but was told I would have to pay deposit + first months rent + administration fees up front out of my own pocket, which came to well over a grand and a half!! I applied for a loan (not the community care one, can't remember what it was called but similar thing) but they look at all your outgoings and income and decided to only offer me half of what I needed and couldn't get the rest from anywhere else. Hope you have much better luck than me, wishing you all the best as I know it's difficult.

I have been both a tenant and a landlord - IME, if you are a good tenant (don't cause trouble, look after the place and pay your rent) it is easier for everybody if you stay. It is a hassle for a landlord to change tenants, so unless there is a good reason (e.g. financial, the landlord selling the property, or bad tenants) it is unlikely that you would need to move again. Most landlords are very pleased to find good tenants and would rather you stay.

HTH