Council want to house us opposite paedos!!

[Ilovepugs2017]

I’ll try and cut a long story short.
We are at risk of homelessness due to our landlord wanting to sell. Our section 21 ran out in July.
we have been bidding on properties every week with no luck.
The council bid on a property on our behalf in our local area (for personal reasons I didn’t bid on this particular property - issues with threats of assault from someone living on the same street as the one advertised).
anyway we were no.2 in the queue and couldn’t withdraw the bid which gave me huge anxiety. I’d even emailed the housing officer to say I didn’t bid for personal reasons.
2 weeks later which is today they have called and offered us the property. They have said if we refuse to take it they will help us no further!!
my partner has been to speak to a couple of the neighbours and they have said to be warned that a couple of convicted paedos live opposite the back entrance!

we have three young children how is this acceptable?
Im going to refuse the house and appeal!
anxiety is through the roof!! :(
anyone been through similar?

My anxiety is bad. I just want the best for my children :(
Being housed is what is best for your children.

When was the 'threat' of violence towards you and your children? And context? People threaten things all the time when they are pissed off. What makes this so valid?

I can see no reason NOT to take this house other than you simply being picky 🤷‍♀️

Accept the property and get support from Shelter, but be prepared for the council to not accept any appeals. Councils just aren't that sympathetic right now. Our local Labour councilys line is that if you are homeless than you'll accept anywhere we place you - regardless of how inappropriate it is for your safety/mental health.

If it all went to court (the person who threatened you), thanks grounds for a refusal.

Sorry you've had a pile on, op. Definitely understand you are feeling awful about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Everything you have said is believable based on your location and circumstances. Stop trying to justify yourself to judgemental middle class folk who have little clue of what life on the breadline entails.

My advice would be to accept the property but then submit a formal complaint following the councils complaints process.

Copy the complaint to your local Councillor and the Councillor responsible for housing. Councillors have far more influence over council officers than an MP who will be useless and possibly of a different political allegiance to the councillors?

Follow the process calmly. If you have any contacts at all who can help you navigate this system, use them. Be respectful and calm. Try to contain your anxiety- seek treatment and go to your GP as a preventative measure if you are feeling the pressure.

Consider taking out a restraining order against the ex. It is likely the only legal thing that would allow the council to act against its housing policy. If this isn't possible then I don't think there's anything you can do and if the council complaint process doesn't result in a better outcome you will just need to take steps to look after yourself and try to make the best of it. I know it isn't ideal to live in a place you don't feel safe but try to remember it may be your anxiety over thinking this.

Consider that what is best for your kids is a roof over their heads and take steps to improve your income, assess your outgoings, have a look on money-saving expert for good advice here.

Your anxiety will rub off on them so if you want your kids to be happy and healthy please try to focus on improving your own mental health by getting all the help you can. Sometimes it can feel like the world and the system is against you, and it is a bit. But think of 5 things every day to be grateful for and maybe take small steps to improve your circumstances for the future.

I wish you every luck. Document everything you do with official people, gp etc. Very important so you don't go mad when they run you in circles.

You need to consider a few things OP.

Do you believe that the 'pedos' across the road (if that's even true) would be able to harm your children? Will they, or anyone else, have the opportunity to do so?

Do you think that your sister's ex will harm your children?

Is it in your children's best interests to be homeless, or is it better to have a home and continue the process of trying to find somewhere you feel is more suitable via house swap etc?

Homelessness is is far greater threat to your children. There are unsavoury characters everywhere.

I'm guessing this next door neighbour would be willing to tell you anything to stop 3 kids moving in 🤣😆

Did you report the threats against you (not your sister) to the police?

Accept the property and once you are eligible put in for a transfer.

Just saying "personal reasons" isn't really enough for them to decide if your reasons are reasonable or not, you need to be much more explicit about the threats.

But the bottom line is they've fulfilled their duty under homelessness rules by offering you a property that meets the needs of your family. If you turn it down, you're on your own.

If you accept it, you can apply for a transfer or try and get an exchange once you've got a permanent tenancy, which in most councils is a year.

And there are convicted sex offenders everywhere, I know of two within half a mile of my house. I also know the level of supervision they're under. I doubt if anyone else in the area knows though, unless they work for the council or police/probation.

Homelessness in winter is a much greater risk to your children.

Living on same road not ideal but people move on. Any hint of trouble seek help.

Peados out the back well I'm willing to guess there are some in many streets. Not like your going to be sending your children to visit.

I want what is best for my children but being housed would be top for me then appeal, go back on list to move if need be.

To be honest I suspect the neighbour doesn't want a family with children moving in.

Difficult times call for difficult measures.

Catch hold of yourself and understand that you not working and your partner only working part time is the real reason you don’t have much choice.

There are loads of retail / care / hospitality jobs available at the moment - get working, get your partner working full time. This will buy you the luxury of choice of where to live.

Im sure there’s plenty of us who suffer some form of anxiety but still get up every day and just get on with it because we have to. To keep a roof over our head and be an example to our children.

sorry but this smacks of laziness and playing the system to get as much as possible handed on a plate. And you’re still not happy with what you are being offered. Shame on you.

A house from the council is like gold dust.
I wouldn't necessarily believe the neighbours. People gossip and make things up all the time.
Any of us could be living Nextdoor to peodophiles and not know it.

If the neighbours have been living there for 40 years they might not want a family with small children living there and may well have made it up.

Honestly, beggars can't be choosers. If you have no option to privately rent you are going to have to take the house. It really is that simple.

This.

A house vs the less secure world of bedsitterland/b+b accommodation.

Perhaps pay a visit to CAB and get experienced advice?

Firstly.

I used to work in a field that gave me lots of information about housing of offenders.

There are sex offenders on almost every street. (Also within classmates in schools).

I am sorry if this alarms you. But it's true

This rumour also isn't factual it's someones gossip

Just be mindful of your children as you Normally are. No extra precautions are needed.

Dropping your sister off at his house doesn’t mean he still lives there now. You’re moving, he may have moved too. If he hasn’t moved, threatening you in the past doesn’t mean you can’t have a positive relationship now.

If you turn down the house you need to prioritise upping your income so you can privately rent. As a mum, I’ve studied part-time and worked basically full time. It is doable.

That is a reasonable reason to refuse and ask for an alternative

If you only told them there were "personal reasons" then you didn't explain it. Did you tell them exactly what had happened?

How long ago was it that these threats were made? Has the person concerned tried to harm you and your family previously?

But you don't even know if the supposed paedophiles exist.

Neither me nor DH are qualified in maintenance either (his degrees are in physics, mine in mathematical economics), but that doesn’t stop us dealing with plumbing, electrics, leaks, and all sorts of other repairs.

😂😂😂

@Ilovepugs2017

Unfortunately i think you have little choice as they have formally offered a house.

Wish you all the best

👏this is the brutal truth you need to hear OP. I hope you act on it

I haven’t RTHT so sorry if this has already been said, but with my housing association, once you’ve lived in the property for a year and become a “secure tenant”, you’re able to house swap. I wonder whether this could be a compromise for you perhaps, that if you aren’t able to convince the council to let you retract the bid and get out of the offer, that you can swap to another property in a year?

I’m also almost certain that you’re allowed to decline one offer but that’s the limit - might be worth clarifying with whoever you’re speaking to’s manager?