Going it alone... Need advice!

[exciter]

Hi everyone,

i desperately need some advice, my ex bf and i split a year or so ago, were currently still sharing the house that we jointly own (separate rooms) and we have a 5yr old son with severe speech and language problems. I desperately want to leave, i moved to the north east 10yrs ago to be with him, im isolated and have no family or close friends here, i want to move back to be near my elderly dad and my best friend of 30+ years but dont know how. i went to my dads local council a year ago explaining the situation and basically got told to go away as i had a house and im the problem of my current council not them. Athough id get all the emotional support in the world, nobody has the room for me and my son to stay and my dad has a severe heart problem.

The situation has now changed, for financial reasons we can no longer afford the mortgage and are going to have to sell up and go our separate ways. Im so unhappy living up here and just want to go home... but id be homeless with my son, i have no idea where id need to go or what to do, bedsits.. hostels.. etc and my son has special education needs, im scared we'd end up living in my car.

if anyone has been in a similar situation, id be so grateful of some advice as to what to do so i can have some idea of the things/places/people i need to deal with.

Hope you can help xx

I don't think that you'd be left in your car but hostels and B&Bs are not to be sneezed at - certainly no fun. While you still have a mortgage then I don't think that any council will look at homing you. The only option that you have is to move out because you can't be around your ex anymore and declare yourself homeless while he sells the house and carries on living there.

Have you tried ringing Womans Aid or Shelter and asking their advice? Explain how upset living with the ex is making you and how isolated you are.

Can you move out and rent nearer your family? Will there be money from the house sale?

If you can rent for the time being (few months or so), get a private rental and then apply to your local council for help with rent and council tax. it's easier for them to help with a private rent than to house you themselves.

Hi

I work for a local authortity housing options team.

Once the you have a buyer for the property you will be classed as at risk of being homeless.

You will have a connection to the town where you dad is, as long as he has lived there for moer than 5 years, and the local council will have a duty to assist you to find accommodation should you choose to approach them as homeless. Dependant on your financial circumstances this may be advice and a list of local landlords who take families claiming housing benefit.

However, if you come out of the sale with no equity they will have to help you buy either providing temporary accommodation or assisting you with a rent deposit to rent in the private sector.

You will also be able to apply to go on the waiting list for council accommodtion, but will have to wait dependant on the length of the waiting lists in that area.

Once you have a buyer you should contact them and tell them that you wish to make a homeless application. Next time you visit you dad visit the local authortiy and ask for a housing options interview.

You should also research local advocacy services in the area who can support you in your approach to the local authority.

Hope this makes sense.

oo, good post. Very helpful

If you are eligible for housing benefit you should be able to find a property to rent in your fathers area ,worth googling "houses to rent in *"and see what comes up ,you can contact the local private letting agents and ask the availability and explain your situation .If you are single and not working you should be eligible for income support,child tax credits ,housing benefit,council tax benefits and you will still get your child allowance ,explore all your options.The more knowledge you have the more optimistic you will be ,good luck x