Two Girls And One Boy Sharing A Room - Siblings

[shazx356]

Hi can anyone out there who can help me with my question how long do you have to wait before the council can move our family into a 3 bed house, as social housing seems to take for ever. Our two eldest children girl aged 12 and boy aged 11 and our youngest daughter aged 10 have to share one room and we live in a 2 bed room flat. the two eldest will be going through puberty soon and the youngest is growing up fast behind them. Our son still has to share my room with me and my husband and he is now 11 how long can he live like this, bless him.. has anyone got any advice other than citizens advice on how to get some more help with this situation as I have tried everything possible..

[shazx356]

ummm.........Hi there can i get this list from my council to give me a list of private landlords who take people on HB, or can I get this list from the web? could you let me know many thanks.

[cazzz1975]

renting privately is nothing to do with the council, once you leave your council property you will no longer be a council tenant. Landlords do let to DSS, not a huge amount and depending on where you live the rent can be expensive. but its not impossible to find a decent 3 bed house at a reasonable price that accepts dss, you have to look at the big picture here, living in unsuitable housing is not a lot of fun and you do tend to spend time "existing" rather than living, that being said the kids will eventually grow up and leave home, you have to decide how you want to spend the next few years.

[shazx356]

reply to Cazzz1975.. I no the council has nothing to do with renting privately but could they help me with private landlords who accepts tenants who are in receipt of HB, I believe there is a list that I can purchase is this true , as for the kids growing up and leaving home soon I really understand, but to get the dream now would be great?

[woofgang]

I don't think you should be buying lists and I am sure that the council won't sell them! Maybe a good place to start would be to speak to social services if you are concerned about a boy and a girl room sharing?

[ummmm]

If you google 'council list of private landlords in (where ever you are)'

[EDDIE51]

I would advise against going to a private rental as once you were in it you would be classed as adequately housed and go to the bottom of the list.
How many children do you have your post is a bit confusing you say 3 in one room and one in your room is that correct?
I understand the rule is that if 2 children of opposite sex and over 12 have to share that is officially overcrowded , same applies if a child of over 12 has to share with a parent so if I read your question correctly in a year you will have both rooms officially overcrowded and be eligible as an emergency case for rehousing.
This is the other side of the 'Bedroom Tax' debate and the reason why it has been imposed, there are many 1,000s of single people and lone couples who have more bedrooms than they need. Could you advertise for someone who has a 3 bed house and needs to downsize to avoid the 'tax' do do a swap?

[shazx356]

reply to Eddie51, that is correct I we do have 3 children, the two girls oldest is 12yr and the youngest is 10 and our son is now 11, who share our room, but I am glad if I can be housed within a year as emergency housing thanks for your response? Have you any other ideas.....will you let me know many thanks

[shazx356]

reply to ummmmm..... Thanks for your information I will google list of private landlords from council......what do i do then inform the council about needing to go private with their help....or do i have to do it all myself.

[EDDIE51]

Are you completely sure the council are fully aware of your situation?
I ask because my daughter was on the housing list , she has 3 children a girl age 2 1/2 and twin boys age 10 months. She had told them about the 3 kids but when she checked her details they had forgotten to add the twins. The addition of the twins pushed her right to the top of the list and she got an offer of a 3 bed house within 2 months. ( all 4 were sharing with my wife and I)
Housing departments are being overwhelmed with demand and this type of mistake is all too common.
Are you being asked to 'bid' on available housing yet by the way? Our local council has a website where every week the available houses are listed and people on the waiting list put in a 'bid' then the person with the highest number of points gets first refusal on the house. In my area the list was published every Thursday and people put in bids on the available houses. I think all councils operate a 'points' system , you get points for number of children and your current housing situation, you should be aware of how many points you have and of what number of points are needed to be at the top of the list.

[EDDIE51]

Just a thought but it may get you more points if you say that all 3 kids have to share one bedroom as your title suggests. Sharing with an 11 year old will not give you and your OH any privacy and you could say that it is not possible as your husband has to get up early to get to work or that one / both of you snore and wake the child up.

[shazx356]

reply to Eddie hi there yes i have said that they share one room already, now i like the idea that i will tell the council that my son has to share our room and me or my husband wakes up the child when he has to go to work early in the mornings. I will also tell them that he needs his own room? whom would I talk to about this the council by making a appointment as they do not tell you much these days? Could you let me know many thanks

[bednobs]

as previously said, it's impossible for a council to give you what they haven't got. Have you considered moving to a different area? The problem is that "overcrowding" is not considered as high a priority as medical needs.
you best solutions seem to be to me
1) rent privately
2) move somewhere cheaper (in the country)
3) as a temporary stopgap, use the living room as a bedroom

[factor-fiction]

I understand negotiating tactics but i'm not sure a request for a 4 bedroomed house will be taken seriously.

I don't know your family's finances, shaz, but is buying an old terraced house that needs doing up an option

[sherrardk]

You will be classed as three bedroom eligible so it is a non-starter asking for a four bed house.

[EDDIE51]

I hate to be negative but I think you stand little chance until the boy is 12 and the house is classed as overcrowded .
Your situation is not unusual , there are 1,000s of people in similar situations or worse and there is a very serious shortage of social housing. I personally know several families that have to live in worse situations with children or adults sleeping in the living room due to lack of space.
You can do no more than make certain your full situation is recorded on the housing list and that you have as many points as you are entitled to.

[loulou111]

I know a family with 3 children in a 2 bed house. The two boys aged 7 and 13 share a room. The 17 year old daughter has the smaller room. Mum and dad sleep in the living room on a pull out double sofa bed. Their wardrobe is in the daughters room, and daughters wardrobe which is smaller is on the landing. Whilst not ideal the arrangement suits their needs . Mum and dad both work part time as 17 year old daughter has a mental health issue and someone needs to be at home with her. Its manageable maybe you could do the same and give up your room and move into the sitting room?.