Council House Waiting List Advice?

[Pinkdiamond44]

Hi lovelies,

Not sure if this will get much traffic but hopefully somebody who knows about housing or has been in my position will come and offer some much appreciated advice! 😊

I’m basically Band B (north west area) and have been for over a year now. I have two little girls under the age of 5. So for five of the properties advertised this week I have came number 3 (3 times) number 9 and number 23. I haven’t bid on any of these as the area is not where we are needing.

What I am wanting to know is although I know what the numbers I’m coming in at mean, I’m also aware that there are Band A’s in front of me … but how does it work for allocations? I would say around 10 band B’s are awarded each month for my local authority but how does the order work? Is there a shortlist and they look deeper into the circumstances and see who is more suitable? I’m just wanting to know if I stand a chance or I don’t as although I’m top 3, I’ve read stories on here where people have stayed in that position for years! So I’m worried that priority A’s will keep coming in front of me and I may not get a place for years (in my situation I 100% should be a band A but hey that’s a different story).

Thank you for anybody reading.

Also if it helps I know they have changed the rules for property pool now and look at local contribution. I work 28 hours a week so I really hope this is taken into consideration.

Thanks in advance! x

North West and I know 2 people who got properties when they were 3rd either those above got another better offer, rejected or were deemed unsuitable

I used to work for a local housing authority, not sure if all LA’s have the same process
It depends on who bids and who’s been on band B longest. If 5 band B’s bid for the same property, the person with the longest Band B time is no.1 and the one who’s been on the least time is in fifth place. If a Band A also bids they get the property. You will get there but widening your choice of area would help. If you are choosy about where you bid the LA may force bids for you and you will be expected to take the property if you are top. Thy will say they are letting scarce properties on a ‘needs not aspirations’ basis. I’m not making any judgement on you, just trying to explain how things are

I guess I’m just wondering the way a certain amount of allocations are between band A’s and Band b’s for example … is that already set in stone? Because it’s not as if all the band A’s always get the properties, there is a significant amount that get allocated to band B’s too. Just trying to see how that works. If there was a band A and then a band B who passed all the financial checks etc … ahh I guess it’s one big Russian roulette isn’t it.

When I say these properties were out of my area I mean as in two bus journeys to even do the school run and then another bus journey to do the nursery run!

I also find it strange how I’m in the 20’s for one property and number 3 for other multiple ones. I know that means there are that many people in front of me but all of the houses are in the same area and as nice as the other. Very strange!

I just wish I knew what the actual ‘wait time’ will be. Whether that he months or years. Feel like I’m in limbo until we are rehomed.

Thanks for responses so far :)

Your position is determined by band a length of time in Band. So the person that has been in Band A the longest will be at the top, then all band As and then the person who had been in Band B the longest. However, applicants can be bypassed for all sorts of reasons- being under offer at another property, rent arrears, or, particularly for Band A applicants- property not being suitable, either from a mobility or location point of view (possible DV and the property is too close to perp or something). It is likely going to B's when A's have been bypassed

@Pinkdiamond44 re wait time, some boroughs publish average wait times for previous year- have you asked for info?

Thanks for all of the responses so far!

To be honest, because all LA’s vary so much it’s hard to know a timeframe as it’s all very conflicting! I am really, really hoping to be housed this year … especially if I’m coming up in the top 3 but I guess it really is just a waiting game!

Guess I’m just frustrated, anxious, tired. Just so disheartened and feeling so down at where we are. We have escaped DV and I’m just so ready to start the next chapter for me and my girls in a house where we are safe and content. I suppose I need to look at it from another angle and know that it’s probably going to happen in the near future so to be excited for it :) x

@Pinkdiamond44

A lot of LAs do publish their waiting times. What borough are you and I'll have a look and see if it is there

Would/could you move school/nursery if you were allocated a suitable property? Is there another reason you are limiting your choice of potential properties/search area?

It’s the wirral thanks. I did have a look but I’m presuming that’s for band A’s and not a general average?

Because of the nature (DV) my IDVA lady has basically told me to disregard certain areas (the main one being where the perpetrator lives which unfortunately is the place that all of the houses seem to be advertised!)

Also, I heavily rely on my parents for wrap around childcare for my eldest … it took a lot of work to get her in the school she is in now local to my parents so without their help I would be more financially screwed than I am already.

Hello everyone,

We live in Surrey and we have been on the register since September last year. Band 2.

Reading some other threads it left me wondering how long after a property is shortlisted that the status changes to offered somewhere else or any other ones, cause with this council the status seems to not change at all.

We have bid at the end of November for a property we were ranked 1-5 (never found out what place exactly), but the the status has remained unchanged since, namely Property shortlisted.

They have a feedback page where you can see the type of properties and if they have been rented out and by which band. There is no update on the status of proprieties since the end of October/mid November.

There seems to be quite a bit of information out there for and from other councils, but not for this one.

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply.

@AndyM080905 I would have a guess that there is a large amount of void works to do- therefore they haven't made any offers yet.

@AndyM080905 more than likely property was advertised using stock photos and prior to the previous tenant moving out. Since they moved and property inspection completed it has been identified work that needs doing before next tenant can move in. It is not uncommon for tenants to change the property and not tell the HA for example remove adaptations and this results in adverts being wrong

I see, that does make sense and is an option I did not think. We are so new to this but also really looking forward to move from our current leaving situation as second baby is on the way that I am becoming anxious.

But then again, there have been a total of 26 properties since mid November (not just for us to bid, but all of them) and none of them seems to have been rented out and all of them to need heavy repairs I would have thought to be unlikely.

I’m in Calderdale been on the housing register since June 2019 got gold (here is good silver bronze) banding finally after a long fight 3 weeks ago! We’ve 5 children in a 3 bed 2 with additional needs stairs out front one child is wheelchair user we’ve bid on a 4 bed last week (bidding from Wednesday to Sundays) it said on the advert priority given to people with mobility needs and level access requirements (we did finish 7th so not much hope) but the unknown is killing me! I wish they could devise a better system so you heard at least something! X

Oh no! I think the wait in your circumstances is ridiculous, hopefully you will get a house soon.

Yes, the unknowing drives me mad too.

They can’t even tel you how long and just keep telling me to continue to bid would be great advise If there was suitable properties each week! Just not ideal but at least we have a roof over our heads x

Ask your local council for a copy of their allocations policy or you might be able to find it on their website. A lot of local authorities allocate band A to applicants escaping DV so that may be worth enquiring about.

Just to update everyone we got the council house 4 he’s been a 5 year wait so chuffed!

Ah lovely news!! Congratulations x