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

Yeah

that didn’t mean you’ll get a house.

@DaisyDooley glasgow has had many social issues for ages and the article doesn’t even mention immigration, so I’m not sure what you were trying with your little “ah-ha! it’s the immigrants!” moment. But A for effort.

If this makes you rageous I feel sorry for you.

We just don’t build enough social housing. Nowhere near enough to provide them to people ‘just’ because they are low paid. It just isn’t how various governments have decided to spend money since Thatchers social housing sell off.
Your friends given social housing straight away because they got pregnant probably wouldn’t get the same if they got pregnant for the first time now.
There are families living in one room in hotels, who are actually homeless who are not being given social housing easily. People are on waiting lists for years.
I think many more people should qualify for social housing but if there’s not enough, there’s not enough.
I would get yourself on the list but I do not expect you to be successful for actual years.

But it’s only been seen as a safety net since the 80s. Before that, it was seen as a service provided to many. It was an accepted part of government planning that a well housed society would be a happy and productive society.
Those who lived in social housing weren’t seen as entitled or grabby or lazy.
It was policy.

Who were those people? Why is it some people think council housing is for them and others think it really isn't?
What entitles one person over another?

You appear to have better earning prospects than your husband. Best to focus on that. In a few years he will get his indefinite leave to remain and you can apply for UC.
It’s the risk of bringing over a spouse with low earning potential and no UK credit rating or driving licence so his ability to earn will be low for some years. He’s seen as risky to employ and the jobs market is dire. Good on him for finding something.
With a teacher salary and a driving job and ILR you’ll be able to get a mortgage in that area.

Hi OP, congrats on the pregnancy!

Definitely get advice on what you’re entitled to in terms of housing element of UC and social housing. Shelter Manchester would be best place: https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/local_services/manchester. They help renters.

And definitely apply. It’s important to put your name down for council housing asap, as you’ll likely get points for waiting time. Even if it takes a few years, you should get something eventually.

Also, some housing associations operate their own waiting lists, so check that out too.

Certainly stay in work after mat leave. You don’t get extra points if you’re not working. In fact, some councils give your extra points if you ARE working. And getting a private rental is obvs much easier the more you earn.

There are some nasty and ill-informed comments on here. People right up the income scale are struggling with finding an affordable home right now. It’s not a personal failing. Council housing isn’t welfare and should be an entitlement, just like the NHS (which it was created alongside to make sure families are healthy).

Most people get somewhere in the end. So don’t despair. Get expert help 💐

100%

Using the state to extend your family is not right at all.

Would it be cheaper to rent if you moved back to Manchester or do you have family there that you can move in with to save some money for awhile?
I thought that the person you have sponsored can’t apply for benefits but you could? I’d really recommend talking to someone who knows more about it.
With the ages of your children/child you wouldn’t be classed as a high priority in our area, I’ve had friends in a similar position who have just been able to move into social housing because the girl/boy were too old to share the only bedroom anymore (parents slept in lounge on sofa bed).
Their oldest child is 11 and the younger one is 9, they’ve been on the list since the second was born.

You are expected to take responsibility for your own poor choices (unplanned pregnancies). It sounds like you couldn't afford either child, the government is not obligated to provide you with a home. You may not even be classed as overcrowded for several years to come.

The toilet is in the living room?

Who were which people?
Renting before the 80s, particularly in the 40s say, was seen as pretty normal. Posted from AI (sorry)
“Following WWII, the UK government addressed a severe housing shortage—caused by 500,000 destroyed homes—by launching a "Homes for Heroes" initiative. Between 1946 and 1951, over 1.2 million new homes were built, primarily council-rented”
Home ownership was aspirational for many still, but not necessarily seen as the norm, particularly for the working class who had always rented.

Then Thatcher made home ownership the norm by selling off council houses and our attitude shifted.
Now we see social housing as only for the very poor, or disabled. It wasn’t always so.

Is the thing that’s wrong that people will believe anything they read online?

Heaten chapel and Stockport are expensive areas. Check places in tameside and Oldham, Oldham especially should be cheaper and it has nice areas. They're not too far from Stockport and Oldham has the tram system. Unfortunately like a lot of people you might have to accept you can't afford the area you grew up in.

Edit.. I mean check them for private rentals. They'll still have very large council house waits

Yes.

This. And this belief leads to the development of 'ghettos' with a higher concentration of people with problems (NOT problem people) instead of being a social mix. This is bad for everyone.

How long is a piece of string?
There is no point in asking on here
Speak to Stoockport council, to see how long the waitng list is and the avilability

My brother and his partner waited 11 years. Their 1st son was 16 by the time they got a 2 bed place. Second son was 11. They shared a tiny box room with small junior sized bunk beds for 11 years.

Stop having babies and expecting the council to give you a bigger place!

Sadly yes if a courier and has hire and reward or goods in transit

Thanks 🤗

The 1980s were 40 years ago. (I assume) before OP and many of the posters on this thread were born.

Yes, it would be lovely to live in a country where there was suitable, well maintained, affordable housing, but telling people that this is not the actual situation and they shouldn't expect it, is being realistic .

I absolutely agree that OP should have somewhere bigger to house her family. I think it would be wonderful if there was more support available to her. But me and lots of other MNetters thinking this will not make it so.