Separation...Anybody have experiences with council housing?

[louisejanep]

Hi,

After plucking up the courage to leave EA partner (MNetters have been a massive support system, so thank you smile ). I am living back at parents with DD, trying very hard to save for a rental.

I applied for a council house mid Jan, they still said they are processing everything. Does anybody have any experiences with waiting for council house?
I would like to know:

1. What band you were placed in 2.) How long it took for you to be offered property 3.) And how long it took for you to move in? 4.) Did you get offered something of your choice?

I work around 25 hours a week (which I have heard will go in my favour) and I'm a student. I feel very greatful I have family helping us out but looking forward to getting into own place.

Any advice would be great. Thank you in advance!

My poor cousin has been in bed and breakfast accommodation since Oct and it's miles from the children's school and her job.
I really hope you have much better luck as she's tearing her hair out! She should be offered something this month ( fingers crossed)

No experience but just to warn you if you are living with your parents you probably won't be very high priority and you could potentially be waiting years depending on what the demand is like in your area.

When I left my ex I saved for a deposit and found a private rent.

You’re adequately housed so you’ll be in a low ban
You bid on the properties each week - so the more you bid and regular the more likely you are to be housed
Move in the day your offered a property and let relevant benefits and council tax relief know - they won’t pay benefits or relief on an empty property regardless of decorating or concrete floors

This doesn't give me much hope :( There is not a lot of space here for me and DD were quite cramped, would that not go in our favour?
There are lots of new builds being built here, some are completed, I know some are nearly complete. I wonder what percentage of these will be council houses?

I keep checking the bidding page, and I have noticed that flats have lots of bids, but the newer builds have less bids. I was really surprised by this.

Took us two years to get a house and OH works 40 hours a week but that being said it's a housing epidemic here. Fingers crossed your not waiting too long. In the mean time could you save up for renting somewhere else?

@notsothinlizzy what area are you in?

My dsis was on the list for years with her baby dd. She lived with my parents and never got a house so got a private rental in the end. You have a home so you'll be very low priority however cramped you are.

New builds may be more expensive both for rent and council tax, thus less bids

You have it in your favour with a roof over your head, but bid every week on the first day early without fail & use all the bids you can. Bid for properties you know get less bids and keep bidding.

Many people complain they can get a property but many don’t actually bid - then there nit going to be housed...

My aunt had to evict my cousin! The council phoned and asked if she could live there a little while longer but then she would never have gone on the waiting list apparently.
An adult and 2 children living in what is effectively motorway services

Temporary accommodation is shit, but hopefully it’s only temporary

When I split up I was staying at my mates a few nights and staying a few nights at my mum's.. that gave me more points as I was staying in 2 different places..I waited 2 months and got an offer of a flat which I took and still here

We are in the Highland Scotland

What bands did you all get placed in? I haven’t been placed in a band yet as when I rang today they said they received my application but there’s a two week back log they need to sort through. So not too sure what happens after that. Thanks for sharing experiences

Your best form of information would be a local housing charity.

Waits vary hugely, even within a council area.

Allocation also varies, in my area there is no bidding for example you are allocated a house and have to accept or reject.

I privately rented after borrowing a deposit from a housing charity. I was told that I was adequately housed due to age of DC and housing benefit paid the rent plus my wages

I then became ‘over crowded’ and applied for housing association. When I became over crowded was as one child turned 16. I was then placed into band C and therefore better chance of housing

All of the housing association homes are quite expensive. They usually 80% of the going market rate ie if a 3 bed house is £1000pm locally the house will be £800pm.

Council housing is very cheap around £100pw where I live but really hard to come by

Also bear in mind most council/HA homes have no carpets, no white goods - nothing. So you have to furnish yourself entirely. Whereas private renting usually you get white goods and even part furnished in some places

It is hard as I needed a guarantor for many houses - can you get one? They will also want to see you can pay the rent

If you have somewhere OK to live then just live in it and wait on the list if you can. Try to save up as much as you can. If you need to get out ASAP you will probably have to consider private renting

I have been private renting over 10 years

Sorry missed out that I was housed in my mother’s 2 bed flat. dC had one room she had other I slept living room. Still classed as not over crowded. But I moved and rented a home in another area - you will need to live in the area for X amount of years.

No one is bidding on HA as they are too expensive and too small IMO - also here I see them going without bids. I was the only bidder on mine. You have a better chance if you take something no one else wants - ie remoter, crap area.

Just bid on everything. You have to take the tenancy on the day you view it and I only get 2 chances at this.

In my case I am taking a house in a nice road but further from DC school and have no carpets and white goods which is annoying.

Best thing you could do is call shelter. They gave data on the regional waiting lists and can advise on how to maximise your chances.

But as pp have said, many places waiting lists are years. I was almost 9 years waiting and we're both disabled! There just is very little social housing here.

You talk of "preferences" you cannot be too fussy, most places operate a "3 strikes & bottom of list" policy ie you can reject 3 properties BUT you'll be put at bottom of list again. Some places it's only 2 as here. Remember things like decor can be changed, also don't be too fussy on location (as long as not a REALLY rough area, although generally there's people happy to live there too as they've family there) the reality is social housing isn't generally in naice mc leafy suburbs!

And yes to no flooring, curtains or white goods either, you have to provide these yourself.

I’m moving into a house that is in a cul de sac and has solar panels. But it’s £200pw not sure how much the solar panels will help with costs
But I have no central heating where I am no garden and DD1 has to sleep downstairs so I will pay whatever I have to