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Original poster

Council list

35 replies

Newmammaof1 · 26/06/2022 23:42

....

I live in a private rented flat on the 4th floor, no lifts with a two year old, I'm not allowed to leave my buggy downstairs so have to pull up more than 84 stairs everyday with child in my arms. I'm single live alone.

My tenancy ends next month and I'm not going to renew it. There is damp all over my flat and outside my front door the whole building is damp and mouldy.

It's affecting my asthma, Plus the stairs. If I leave and go to the council will they put me on a house list, also my rent is to high, barely have enough at the end of the month.

I don't mind going into a B&B or hostel, temporary accommodation if it means in the end I will get a house. Will I be able to go on there all they say that I made myself intentionally homeless, I rent with hosing benefit so it's quite hard to find somewhere else, and I want stability for my daughter hence why I want a council house. I'm by myself and the way I see it is I can't work complete full time until she's in school secondary school, as I always have to start after 9 to drop her to school and finish at 2 to pick her up from school, so I'm considering going there my mum has no space for me so I will be homeless, what is far is making me really depressed and sick and on extra inhalers and tablets for my asthma.

Will it work? How does it work? I'm in Lambeth Borough but want to go to bromley Borough closer to family.

Thanks for any advice x

OP posts:

anniegun · 27/06/2022 14:06

Depressingly this thread sums up what is wrong with housing in the UK. Someone in clear need of adequate housing and a lot of reasons why that is unlikely to happen

kitchenplans · 27/06/2022 14:07

There's no quick way to get a council property in London, I'm afraid.

Regarding working, most people take 9 months mat leave, and then use childcare so that they can go back to full time work, there is no need not to be working full time by the time your child is 2. Luckily, in London there is plenty of availability of childcare. So your first plan should be to sort out childcare and a full time job. This will then open up your options for renting. Unless you're on a very high salary, you'll still get help from Housing Benefit to top up your wages.

Regarding your flat, the hallway area that you've pictured doesn't look great. What is the actual flat like? If it is in similar poor condition, then get in touch with the private rental team at Lambeth Council -they can take enforcement action to make sure your flat is of a safe standard.

By all means ask to put yourself on the council waiting list at Lambeth. However, if you leave your flat and make yourself intentionally homeless, then that will reduce the help that they give you. If possible I would try to avoid being housed in temporary accommodation. It's unlikely to be better than your existing accommodation, it's very expensive, it could be anywhere in the country, and you'll likely be there for many years. The average time on a social housing list for Lambeth in 2021 was 6.5 years.

Original poster

Newmammaof1 · 27/06/2022 15:13

@berksandbeyond I didn't say not work, I mean work full time, or even more like I used to, before I had her, in order to get my mortgage etc. your hours are limited with a child, it's Just me looking after her. So that's what I meant by that full time work, which is what I need for a good wage.

OP posts:

LIZS · 27/06/2022 15:43

You would get some help with the childcare cost though, so ft might be viable.

berksandbeyond · 27/06/2022 19:54

You will be able to pay for childcare like the rest of us do

Trinity65 · 29/06/2022 11:38

caringcarer · 27/06/2022 10:11

You might be better asking your LL to evict you otherwise council will say you made yourself intensionally homeless. Could you relocate to a cheaper area of country. Last year my son moved to Hull and bought a 2 bed terraced house that is lovely for £75k. I know it is hard to believe but it is true. It is not damp or horrible or anything. He does not have a garden but has a medium sized back yard but would be good for a toddler to ride a little bike around or play with a ball. Do you have anything stopping you moving up North? You can get 2 bed rentals for £500 pcm. It is easier to move before child starts school.

I believe You
One of my DCs lives in Boston , with his Father at the moment but saving to buy his own .
I, out of interest and nosiness, had a look on Right Move at 2 bedroom houses.
The price difference to London is astonishing . One really lovely House, right on the High Street, is actually Listed . Does need work on it but the price upfront was low , considering .

Trinity65 · 29/06/2022 11:41

Newmammaof1 · 27/06/2022 10:23

No I can't move out of london my mum is here and she's my only support system I need it unfortunately.

So if he evicts me, Will then then allow me on the housing list? Do you get priority for having a child? Or am I just better private renting? I'm scared I will private rent then say my landlord wants to sell. I'm just never going to be fully secure, that's so scary for me

I do sympathise OP
I Rented privately for 4 years and then she sold .
Because I had to leave Me and my 3 children were put into a Hostel . It was actually a nice, clean Hostel to be Fair . 2 months later they were doing the Hostel up so we moved to one round the corner, literally . Same style and everything.
I was offered some mattresses on a Creche Floor for the night . No electric . This was 2001. Next day I was given the place in the first Hostel.
It is better to be evicted, Yes. If you have a child they will put you into Temporary Accommodation but could be anywhere in the Borough (I am in London) at all.

LilacPoppy · 29/06/2022 11:42

With a two year old try and get a very basic lightweight buggy and have her walk on the steps.

Grapewrath · 02/07/2022 08:42

Ok the condition of the flat won’t get you a council place- you will be advised to contact environmental health if the landlord is unhelpful. Damp is a common problem and should be fairly simple to rectify.
If you leave the flat voluntarily you will be classified as intentionally homeless and the council have no duty to you. If you are evicted the council can put you in temp accom and will expect you to rent privately from there, as you are in London they are very likely to relocate you to a more affordable area

Skyeheather · 02/07/2022 09:07

If I were you I would get myself on the housing list now. Where I live you apply online and there are lots of questions about where you currently live, how long can you stay there, will you be homeless soon etc.

It won't hurt to get yourself on the list, you can stay on there as long as you like and it could be a long time before you are offered anything. I don't live in London and it's currently a three year waiting list where I am.

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