How long are council housing waits for growing families?

[99Samblaze]

Hi
We moved to a one bedroom flat in Stockport a year ago. I had my son and now expecting again near Christmas. How long did people wait to get a council house of flat.
We can’t afford a two bedroom flat on the private market so having council house would help a lot.

Thank you

This is going to go well 🙄

It doesn't quite work like that OP. You are expected to house yourself and your family.

It depends on what area you live in. I personally have no idea what the waiting lists are like in Stockport.

You already have a roof over your head, so won't go to the top of the list even though you will be classed as overcrowded.

Are you on the housing list? What band?
It depends on the area and how many people are waiting. But broadly speaking if you're not in band A you'd be waiting many years. In some areas it's ten years or more.

Stockport Homes website says this

There are over 9,000 people registered with Homechoice, and each property we advertise can have over 500 bids on it, meaning even if you have a significant requirement for housing, you may not be successful in applying with us.
However, your chances of being successful may increase depending on the type of property you are bidding for and the area in which it is located. This is because we have more of some types of home than others, and different numbers of people applying for them.

You need to apply to go on your local housing register. You should have done this when child born.

All depends on your councils stock and allocation policy- impossible to say how long but several years is common for even those in emergency accommodation.

You may never get it.

It depends from area. Some areas alocate houses faster than others. Stockport area is in demand, so probably long wait involved.

I don’t understand why people are saying this is a rage bait. The second pregnancy was unplanned I was planning to go back to full time but I just can’t justify paying more money into the pocket of landlords but I could save few quid.

I work in the sector in the south east.
Band D you won’t ever be housed unless we miraculously manage to build 50,00 new houses.
Band C around 10 years.
Band B 3-5 years and
Band A about 18 months.

You’ll only be considered for the higher bands on a Medical or downsizing need. And no, needing a ‘sensory room’ for your child with ADHD does not count, sorry.

I have never claimed UC in my life and don’t want to. I was planning to go back to full time work and finish my teacher induction program. My husband pays 450 a month for his van insurance and on top of that for petrol for his work. We really can’t afford to rent on two bed flat on private market on one income. We earns above 16k so we won’t be entitled to benefits either.

If you can't afford a 2 bed then you stay in a 1 bed. It's not rocket science.

Which category would we fall into?
B? We don’t get UC as husband income is above 16k

Why not claim UC if you're entitled to it? And I thought the rule about 16k was that you can't claim UC when you have more than 16k in savings, not that you can't claim UC if you have more than 16k income.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Would advise using this website to see what benefits you may be entitled to

It is.

“I just can’t justify paying more money into the pocket of landlords ”

I hate to say this, OP, but this isn’t a justification for getting a council house. What do you think everyone else does, who can’t afford to buy?

In the past it was quite common to have a council house and families had more dc than today

I have sponsored my husband on visa sponsorship. We not allowed to claim public funds. I was earning good wage until I got pregnant now pregnant again not planned. Most of his money goes towards petrol and van insurance he applied to loads of jobs but only that accepted it.

This isn't how UC works. It's savings of £16k not income. With two children you may be entitled to something.

Are you British? If so you are absolutely allowed to claim public funds, and you can add him to your claim, but he won't be entitled to anything in his own right.

You would not be band A and unless you have medical needs probably not band B either.

I think that was before the council houses were sold off.

I have a couple of friends that waited so long to be moved from a 2 bed to a 3 their older child moved out and it never happened.

We're in the southwest.

I would imagine that its quite common now for that to happen