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Original poster

Council housing London

33 replies

DianaXXX · 19/11/2011 00:34

Iv been leaving in a one bedroom council flat for the past four years. Me and my boyfriend are On and of and with this attitude i don't even want him to stay around as my baby once born would need stability.
The issue now really is that, the flat that i live in is on a ground floor in a purporse build block with four flats downstairs and four upstairs. I'm downstairs in a middle of two neighbours. On one side I share the bedroom wall with an old neighbour of 80+ that smokes and drinks all day long and the smoke gets into my flat as the flats are small and the walls are thin. When I moved in 4 years ago he fell asleep with a fag and half of his flat got burned down so the council had to re do the whole flat including new windows. On the other side I have a mentally disable guy who makes noises at all hours of the night always poking his head in my windows and last year he nearly burned himself down as well, he has a mind of a 5 year old and no social worker or anything to help him with his issues which he clearly needs.
I was uncomfortable with these sort of neighbours for a while now but considered myself lucky for having a council flat, however now that I'm 26 weeks pregnant I am worried for the health and safety of my unborn child and i applied for rehousing. The council refused me on the grounds that's my reasons are insufficient. I'm really worried now & don't know what to do!
I think I should be rehoused to a safe environment and to a larger more suitable property for me and my child.
Any advise would help a lot, thank you for taking your time to respond x

OP posts:
bigboobsatlast · 19/11/2011 10:51

Hi Diana, I work in housing (although not London) so I can give some advice I think. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what you want to hear though. I think a quick move is very unlikely for you as your reasons for wanting to move are not going to be high priority. I understand why you have concerns and of course you want a home for you and your baby that you feel safe and secure in. However, there is no point in me giving you false hope - I think the chances of a move are slim. However, you may well be able to apply for a two-bed when the baby arrives - and you are in a much better position than others as you already have a council tenancy - and therefore if the Council move you, they will get your current flat back for someone else in need of housing.

There may be other options available to you, like shared ownership, depending on your circumstances - but a secure affordable Council tenancy is probably worth holding on to.

By all means go back to the Council and reiterate your concerns and your reasons for moving and see if they say anything different, but I dont think they will.

Have you looked for a mutual exchange?

Hope this helps a little.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 19/11/2011 12:01

Hi, thanks for your response :)
Unfortunately I got a letter this morning from my local council, giving me 100 points for my application. 50 for local connection 50 leaving in the area for more then 12 month.
Apparently I need atleast 240 for a one bedroom place, nowhere in the response letter they mention the fact that I'm pregnant and my neighbours are unsafe to be around etc....
I'm gutted to be honest but i kind of expected it Blush
I wonder if I go to see my local MP if that could help?
I have been on home swappers for nearly two years and no joy, been offered flats in towel blocks in the worse parts of London :(

OP posts:
NatashaBee · 19/11/2011 12:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 19/11/2011 12:09

My baby is due in February so I would need to apply again than?

OP posts:
bigboobsatlast · 19/11/2011 14:25

NatashaBee is right - you will need to update your application once you have had the baby - your priority may well increase then as you will be lacking a bedroom.
You can see your local MP or your local Cllr but to be honest it is unlikely to make any difference.

serendipity16 · 19/11/2011 19:09

Don't really have much advise but are you sure your council know you're pregnant?

I was living in a 2 bedroom with my husband & 2 kids & we were close to being offered 2 bedroom with the council..... we were in flat that was run by a charity. At the time i was just coming up to 24 weeks, my husband called and informed them & they said we'd need a 3 bedroom so we went on the list for a 3 bedroom. So at 24 weeks they did include my unborn baby & we live in London too.
Not sure how it is now, if they still do that, as it was about 7 years ago.

Just worth double checking that they are aware that you are 26 weeks pregnant. My council are terrible for losing documents and all sorts of information so it may be possible they are unaware.

Wishing you all the best x

melliebobs · 19/11/2011 19:39

My husband works in housing in the north west. Under their scheme wanting to move because of your neighbours isn't a priority. Also as you have accommodation you aren't vulnerable on that front either. He says apply for a move once your babies here as in a 1 bed flat you will get extra points or it will work in your favour as it will be a form of overcrowding

Original poster
DianaXXX · 19/11/2011 20:05

I have included that I'm pregnant in the form but they haven't even mentioned it in the rejection letter! I'm with Enfield council, which are are you with?

OP posts:
serendipity16 · 19/11/2011 20:24

I'm with Hammersmith & Fulham.

May be worth calling them to make sure they know.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 19/11/2011 20:35

As far as i know your council has more of a shortage than mine does!

I will call them to ask them on what grounds I have been refused as they are not even mentioned!
The fact that my housing situation is stressing me out so much to a point they I'm worried if I'll get depressed again. At times I can't sleep at night when from one side my mentally capped neighbour screams and the bedroom smells like an ash try when the other neighbour is smoking none stop!
I know that my situation is far from worse out there but its still bad in my eyes and I wanna try and get rehoused to be safe and content not being worried all the time if one of them will set the flat on fire!
I still can't believe they turned me down on the grounds that I don't i don't have enough points, I was given 50 for local connection 50 for leaving in the area for more than 12 month & I need atleast 240 to even bid for a one bedroom flat!

OP posts:
RockChick1984 · 19/11/2011 23:07

Can you look at private rental? I know it can be more expensive but if it's what is necessary for you and your baby surely it's worth going without something else for that?

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 00:17

Privately rented is never as secure as council that would mean forever moving around with a child and that's no stability with council it's always more affordable rent and secure tenacy which I wouldn't be willing to give up!

OP posts:
eminencegrise · 20/11/2011 00:49

'Privately rented is never as secure as council that would mean forever moving around with a child and that's no stability with council it's always more affordable rent and secure tenacy which I wouldn't be willing to give up!'

Not necessarily. And tbh you might struggle to get another council tenancy. Please try to keep your options open.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 00:53

At this stage I'm not considering giving up a council property if worse comes to worse ie my neighbours burn their flats down again or something i might have to
Consider it than

OP posts:
eminencegrise · 20/11/2011 00:55

That's too bad. Some councils won't even give extra points for only one child, ours would not, because they are considered 1/2 a person until age 10.

You could try HAs, charities, even churches.

But if you're hooked on wanting council 2 bed in nice bits of London it could be a long wait Sad.

Any plans on working? You can claim HB and work.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 01:01

My flat is in southgate so it's a reasonably nice area in north London
I want to go to work once the baby is one years old, as I'm aware I could get help with child's minders fees if I will start on low income which I obviously would.
It's so strange leaving on benefits for the first time in my life and such a low income I'll need to get a job ASAP its impossible to live like this and why should the government pick up the bill after myself or any other person that's not what the tax payers should be paying for!
What's your housing situation if u don't mind me asking

OP posts:
eminencegrise · 20/11/2011 01:02

We live in an HA flat but it's very far from London in a remote area.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 01:07

It is easier to get housing outside of London as far as I understand.
However i gotta keep trying to get rehoused as much as I can before I would have to consider other options. At my council it's also the policy that the child had to reach age 10 before needing a bedroom for himself, however I'm not that concerned about getting a two bed for now I would be just as happy with a one bed but just a safe one bedroom

OP posts:
eminencegrise · 20/11/2011 01:27

Depends where you are, it can be REALLY hard in some larger cities like Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 01:49

I'm sure it is in the larger cities because the demand is hight, I meant smaller cities it would be easier

OP posts:
princesss · 20/11/2011 08:25

if you live in a one bedroom you will not automatically get a whole extra bedroom for your baby when it is born as they are only counted as half a person until they are ten. i had the same problem, I am privately renting a very nice two bedroom with a big garden in an expensive part of london but I had to pay nearly £4k deposit for it and the tennacy could end at any time, and I am desparetly trying to get out of it after constant problems with my landlord not carrying out works in the flat. I am desparetely trying to get a council tenancy but because I am in private renting my points are very low indeed. I asked if my points would go up if I moved into a one bedroom as I have a 2 year old but was informed that it would make no difference as until my DS was ten we would not be overcrowded.

I know people who have down swaps into bigger council tenancy flats and houses if you have £££££££ it is possible!

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 11:28

In order for you to be housed now you need to fit within definition of homeless
When the tenancy ends do not get a new one but apply for housing, it will be a hostel to start with but than u will move to a council property which is always a secure option! I had to live in a hostel for 3 years before I got this flat however I was single with no kids your situation is different on its own!
Ps how much money would I need to be offering for a larger property do you know?

OP posts:
princesss · 20/11/2011 16:52

not renewing the tenancy is counted asmaking yourself intentionally homeless. you will only get housed in a hostel if your landlord will not continue your tennacy. I have already tried this with my council. when people do mutual exchanges money is all different for each property swao,you should be able to see this in the mutual exchange section of your council, its not something which is official if you know what i mean.

Original poster
DianaXXX · 20/11/2011 21:10

Yeah I guess Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
DianaXXX · 21/11/2011 09:53

I know that this will sound bad but if we were not British and came over from somewhere the government would be more than accommodating! It's not fair that as much as this is a great country to live in that the government look after asylums more than their own!
After all it's their own that contribute toward the society, yet that seem to be ignored when it comes to housing issues etc...

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