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Original poster

Council housing and temp accommodation

32 replies

lmsh · 16/03/2021 14:03

Hi! I’m after advice regarding council housing. I’m currently 36 weeks pregnant and have been asked to leave where I live a week after my due date. Obviously moving is going to be difficult a week post partum and I’m likely to end up in temporary accommodation somewhere. I’m already on the housing register (band c, East Sussex), however only eligible for one beds and coming around 12th-14th for these. The council have also been useless in communicating with me. Does anyone have any experience going down the homeless council route? And how long it may take to find somewhere permanent? I have looked into private rent but I have no guarantor and can’t afford 6 months upfront. Thankyou😊

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 16/03/2021 15:22

It depends council to council.
I know from professional experience in our council you will get placed in a b&b and then moved to temporary accommodation, ie house or flat of varying quality with no say in the location.
You will stay there until suitable council accommodation is found. I was familiar with people being in properties for years (Manchester)

If you turn down the b&b or temporary accommodation they would offer no further assistance.

murbblurb · 16/03/2021 15:25

what do you mean by 'asked to leave?' If it is an informal arrangement then the council will hopefully help. If it is a tenancy with notice, be very careful - if you leave before the bailiffs the council may jump to say you are 'intentionally homeless'.

not how it should be, but often how it is.

ivykaty44 · 16/03/2021 15:28

and have been asked to leave where I live a week after my due date.

be very careful about leaving, have you been verbally asked? have you got any paperwork and if so what?

often landlords will request in writtening that you leave but don't follow correct procedure therefore you - if you left would be seen tec as making yourself homeless

lastqueenofscotland · 16/03/2021 15:34

Most councils WILL accept an S21 as proof you are being made homeless.
I’d be wary of the stay out advice as some housing associations won’t touch someone who’s been evicted via courts/bailiffs which narrows your options significantly. So check the criteria of your council.

I got the impression from the OP that she might be with family or lodging in which case she sadly does not have the the same protections as a tenant

murbblurb · 16/03/2021 15:39

Bloody hell, they catch people both ways, don't they? That's right to buy, crap councils and years of crap government finances for you.

I hope the council help you, op.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 16/03/2021 15:48

My council accepted notice to quit as proof of impending homelessness.
We still had to wait until the day the tenancy ended to be housed but it allowed me to fill in forms and have more of a sense of what would happen.
We were in a b and b, then temporary accommodation (we did actually get offered a choice between 2 properties which is unusual but maybe that related to the more suitable one meaning a longer wait in the b and b).
We were only in temporary accommodation for about 4 months before we got an offer of a council property but we really weren't choosy about where we went.

In terms of practical suggestions, it helped to have a very thick playmat for the floor in the b and b so that toys didn't make too much noise, but that might not be such an issue for a newborn. Comfortable shoes too and a buggy that folded up with one hand, or a sling, because I walked around so much during the day.

Original poster
lmsh · 16/03/2021 16:38

@murbblurb I currently live with my friends family however they were served a s21 notice and have found alternative accommodation, and as I can’t go with them have to leave too.

OP posts:
Original poster
lmsh · 16/03/2021 16:46

@SuperLoudPoppingAction Hi! I’m glad you found a home in the end! Gives me hope :) where are you based if you don’t mind me asking? I’m hoping I can be settled by next year

OP posts:
murbblurb · 16/03/2021 17:01

ah, I see. Thanks for taking the time to update and I hope you will be settled soon.

Gingerkittykat · 16/03/2021 17:07

If you have an informal notice from them can you as them to put it in writing and ask you to leave before your due date?

ivykaty44 · 16/03/2021 17:13

many s21 are not done correctly, so if you have one id photograph it and send it in by email and then ask council is it legit

that way if it not - the landlord has to start all over again with his/her/there 56 days notice

if you don't have a gas certificate, they can't issue a s21 either, which again you could point out much further down the line and again they'd have to start all over again

same with deposit

not sure on new electric certificate

this may help with delaying your move, and give you time to recover from the birth before moving

get onto shelter for more information

Original poster
lmsh · 16/03/2021 17:15

@ivykaty44 I’ve been asked to leave by my friends parents due to them moving x

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 16/03/2021 17:21

Have they given you a copy of the S21 with a covering letter telling you that means you'll have to leave their house? You need these to send to the council.

Original poster
lmsh · 16/03/2021 17:23

I’ve sent the council everything but haven’t had a reply, I was assigned a housing officer in October when I first joined the housing register but have never heard from anyone.

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 16/03/2021 17:27

I am in Scotland so nowhere near Sussex, but I hope it all works out for you.
The council should be able to let you know what kind of proof you need that you have to leave.
That will help, I think.

ivykaty44 · 17/03/2021 06:13

Imsh

Saw your update, sorry had missed that part

I’d ring the council every day

Do they have a self cert form online for showing your going to be homeless in 56 days?

Now your circumstances have changed you need to be pro active in contacting them at every opportunity and asking what to do

SandysMam · 17/03/2021 06:22

Speak to your midwife too Op, they won’t want you homeless with a newborn so may be able to advise.

KihoBebiluPute · 17/03/2021 06:43

Get your friends parents to put it in writing that you are not allowed to return to their house once your baby is born because they will be moving a few days later and cannot deal with a newborn in the house as they prepare to move. You are not a tenant, but a house guest. The stuff about s21 notices from pp above does not apply to you.

Presumably you are having a hospital birth? So you and your baby will have a bed in the hospital the night your baby is born.

So at that point you will be homeless. The hospital can't discharge a new mum and newborn baby onto to streets so emergency procedures to get you temporary accommodation will kick in. You will need to have that letter from the friends parents with you, and will need to pack up all your belongings before going in to hospital so that they can easily be fetched/brought to you when you have something sorted.

Whilst it would technically be possible for the council to sort you out in advance and you indeed can keep them informed that this situation is going to happen, the chances are that they will not have the power or resources to sort out anything in advance of your baby's birth. Immediate emergencies can unlock options that can't be accessed normally. You will be able to stay in hospital for an extra night or two if needed - in fact you may need to anyway, it is not unusual for there to be a medical reason for them to want to keep you and/or your baby under observation for a few days. That gives you and the social housing team a bit of space to find emergency accommodation. This is likely to be a B&B and you won't be there for long but will then be higher priority for being rehoused properly.

Els1e · 17/03/2021 06:58

I would start being a polite pest with housing and keep asking them for information. In my experience, they have huge caseloads and if you are quiet, they assume you’re ok. Hope all works out for you. 💐

Seymour5 · 17/03/2021 07:10

@KihoBebiluPute great post. I'd also suggest getting in touch with Shelter and/or any local homeless advice organisation.

niceupthedance · 17/03/2021 07:13

Some councils will pay a deposit and first months rent so you can rent privately instead of waiting x months or years for a council property in temp accommodation which can be very grim.

Hollywhiskey · 17/03/2021 07:14

I have no advice at all OP, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry you are in this situation. It's beyond ridiculous that the council wouldn't rather use some forward planning in your situation.
I assume the baby's father is not in a position to help you?
I hope it works out for you. Good luck with the birth and meeting your new baby too x

NoWordForFluffy · 17/03/2021 07:22

The s21 notice is relevant in as much as it gives a reason why the people she's living with can't house her anymore. It means they can't try to get the family to let her stay. That's why I said to include it with a covering letter from the family saying they're making her homeless from a certain date.

Original poster
lmsh · 17/03/2021 13:43

Hey! I’ve looked into this and the problem I’m having is finding a landlord who will accept dss, as every one I have contacted has said no due to a clause in their mortgage! I’m also finding that there is a lack of properties at the moment perhaps due to covid and no one wanting to move! It’s all very stressful but Thankyou for the advice x

OP posts:
Original poster
lmsh · 17/03/2021 13:43

@niceupthedance^^

OP posts: