Council Housing

[~Wingnut~]

Hi

I have been talking to my friend and she was telling me about her cousin who lives quite a way from her. Her cousin lives at home with her parents, brother, boyfriend and their young baby. They've been turned down by the council for a house/flat in their area unless they are kicked out by her parents. 
She was just wondering hyperthetically (sp?) if her cousin's boyfriend managed to get a job in the town where my friend lives, what are the chances of them managing to get a council flat/house there too? would they be turned down also? or because they have her family there and a job to go to would they stand more of a chance of getting a house/flat?

I told her I would ask on here for her and would be most greatful of any info anyone can give me to tell her.

~Wingnut~

[kazza12345]

not really a definate answer but if the boyfriend got a job, maybe they could get a bedsit in the area?

[Mattk]

the rules for this are constantly changing but in my area(dorset) they are right...the only way to 'jump' the housing list is to be evicted from their current residence.the council is then legally obliged to re-house them.at best they will then get placed in b&b for a considerable time(i guess to try and weed people out who are not genuine).after possibly several months of this they will be offered a place but it could be terrible but if they dont accept the councils legal obligation is over. 

[curiosity]

hi I work with young people who regularly come up with this problem. I don't work for the council, but I have found out that unless your family (anyone) refuses to let you live with them then you will not be classed as homeless and get priority. It usually means the family being upfront and saying we don't want them living with us, however, as you can imagine most families don't want to say this. Despite having a child depending on availability in the area your cousin could find themselves in a B&B. Getting a job night help.

[kazzee69]

Hello, my best friend just found out she was pregnant so her and her boyfriend put their name down on the housing list and are basically at the top because they are expecting but my friend lives at home with both her parents and it is a very comfortable living situation and her and her boyfriend have good jobs however my cousin who is a single woman has been on the housing list for the last 5 years and has only just reached the top. Her parents live far away and she survives on her money only. What is up with this world?

[dmsjps]

Hi Wingnut, my sister experienced the same thing when she was living with her boyfriend in my parents' house and they were expecting a baby. In the end my mum went with her to the council offices and told them she was kicking my sister out. Of course she wouldn't have done that, but it was the only way to get the council to give my sister and her family a home.

 

Personally I think you're a lot better off if you both work, get some money behind you and put a deposit on your own house before starting to think about a family, but then again, everyone is different and my sister is quite happy with the way she went about things, so who am I to argue? I also realise that it is so much harder even getting your foot on the mortgage ladder these days, so I feel very sorry for young people who want to start being independent.

 

I hope things work out for your friend.