Social Housing Ranking confusing

[Livinglife86]

Thank you for reading my post. Please could anyone explain what the council ranking numbers mean?

Example: 1-5, 6-10 & 11-20

I called the council and enquired however the operator said she didn't understand the ranking system either ☹️

I am currently in Band B the property I bid upon placed me at 11-20. I asked my Dad what this meant and was told "I don't have hope in hell..." however he admitted he had no idea how the ranking system worked.

Do I just wait for the bid to end then enquire again? I won't deny I feel a little dismayed as it was a lovely property and a new build in one of the nicest areas so it proved very popular very quickly 😣

@AidaK are you in a two bed now? Do they assume you are housed in some way? As in not homeless?

@stomachameleon I'am, housing is not just about been homeless thats why there is housing list banding and rank, i should be re housed because we are over occupying atm x

@AidaK I wasn't having a pop.
I moved from a 4 bed to a 2. Was band b as it was a move rather than a need.
Sorry was just curious.

@AidaK I think you would be on there for a little while maybe a year or two depending on the properties that you are looking at.

Are you bidding on houses and flats? Have you signed up with twenty11? As they tend to offer 3 beds and they are based in bucks? The only accept homeseekers no transfer tenants therefore you will get higher priority.

Is the home your in only suitable for up to three people?

@stomachameleon that's interesting that you were downsizing and they still kept you at band B.

@Livinglife86 bidding for houses only its very rare they put 3 bed flats i wouldn't bid for one anyway children need garden to play.
twenty11? Never heard about it, im not a transfer tenant definitely i will read about it

our flat not suitable as we are over occupying for two years now hence I'am on band B which is counted as hight priority apparently.

@Livinglife86 not the same area. Am in Kent. They are desperate for big houses. I think there is only 150 4+.beds in my area.

I offered to go and they found me a two bed in six weeks roughly.

Hello, so my relief duty is coming to an end (next week) I was just wondering does anyone know what happens after this? And does anyone know the criteria for “main duty” or what I will have to do?

Were you in temporary accommodation? Xx

Hello, no at the moment I’m living at my friends house xx

@Hello846268 there is a few things with relief duty they will accept responsibility to house you in hostel, B&B hotel/guest house general temporary accommodation.

This usually means you fall into one the priority groups pregnant, dependents under 16 or vulnerability etc. Did they offer this to you? If not have they contacted you with a plan? It's important because if the release their duty to you they are effectively saying they no longer have a responsibility to help you.

This is what I have been emailed. I have a 3 year old and I’m 23 weeks pregnant

@Hello846268 hi thanks for sending this. It is a little different from the ones I'm used to seeing. I had a look online and found this I hope it helps:

Once the relief duty comes to an end, if you have not been able to secure accommodation, we will assess whether you are owed the main housing duty. You are owed the main housing duty if you remain homeless after the relief duty comes to an end, are in priority need, and have not made yourself intentionally homeless. If you are owed the main housing duty, we will have a duty to source suitable alternative accommodation for you.

Okay thank you for your help. I’ve been looking into private renting, but everything is just so expensive. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to afford to live and pay rent and bills etc

@Hello846268 where abouts are you? Are you in London? Everything on the housing list is very long, but if you're outside of London, then it's worth waiting x

I’m in west Suffolk. But it says that I need to look for something in the private renting sector. But they aren’t affordable for me. I’m just worried they will say I haven’t done enough

@Hello846268 I think it is worth waiting for and I think they will accept your application on the housing list as the sponsor has said that you were in Band B which seems very high. I would appeal it if they try to release their duty from you if you need any help, just give me a shout privately and I can help you with the letter.

Okay thank you so much for your help I will definitely be back in contact if it doesn’t go well. I just hope it does. Thank you for your help again x

@Hello846268 Anytime and I hope it goes absolutely perfectly for you x

Hello, so I have been added to 1-5 to get a property. However it’s so far from family and friends. I know I shouldn’t have them bid for it, but i did. I’ve been told if I say no to this property then I will have to have a very good reason. Does anyone have any advice in how to say no to the property if I get it?

@Hello638105 hi has the bidding cycle closed or is it still open?

It’s closed. And had a call today for a viewing and to go through to see if it is affordable for me. But if because I’m band a i have to have a really good reason for saying no. It’s a house a bid on last week.

I only got band a today

My heart really goes out to you. Our local Councillor got involved and came out to see how badly we'd been housed a few years ago and got us moved. Please try this, you never know, I didn't expect mine to make such a difference but he did and like I say he even came to the flat. Best of luck x

@Hello638105 if you get it and it's too remote you could tell them you can't relocate because it's too far from the children's school and Your immediate family provides childcare and you miscalculated the distance when you originally bid etc.