Social Housing

[Fiszi]

I've recently found myself in a possition I never thought I'd be in, hoping to get a council house or flat. I know that all councils work differently but they must be sort of the same. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what my chances of being accepted are.

I'm pregnant, living with my partner. We are now both unemployed and have just made a claim for jobseekers allowance and housing and council tax benefit. We have applied to a council in a city near my family rather than the council for the area we are currently living in as we have no job prospects around here and are far away from family. We privatly rent our current flat and aren't being kicked out but can't afford the rent unless we get help now.

Thanks to anyone who answers.

[theonlyone]

Can you move in with your family as if you are pregnant and overcrowded you will get more points on the council housing system .

[cazzz1975]

If you are privately renting and on jobseekers then the social security will probably be able to pay your rent for your current place, If not then you can only get emergency accomodation when you are handed a 28 day warrant letter from your landlord as a result of non payment of rent.

theonlyone'd idea is good, and you will get more points however, be prepared to be offered a load of rubbish from the council! you are quite likely to get offered a 2 bedroomed flat or maisonette.

contact the Benefits office regarding your rent and they may be able to sort that out for you rather than being thrown out.

[Fiszi]

Thanks for your answers!! xx

[amonty1144]

In most areas, social housing is in the hands of housing associations so it is a good idea to find out how many there are and apply to all of them as they all allocate points in a different way.
Good luck

[Dee Sa]

dont want to be a wet blanket, but dont you have to apply to the council in the area you live in to be considered?
a letter from your GP might help you gain more points, try no to stress yourself out to much with a baby on the way and I hope things get sorted for you.

[buildersmate]

Whilst amonty's suggestion is true and a good idea, many local councils have a 'allocation', whereby it is they who decide which of their applicants to go into the HA accommodation. This is variable %, dedending on many factors like how many former council houses were passed across to the HA etc. Therefore worth being on BOTH sets of lists.

[amonty1144]

Hi Fiszi,
I have kind of assumed that you are in England and not scotland, you no longer have to apply where you live, the regulations changed a few years ago.
This info on the Shelter site might help.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-43 1.cfm

[katerich48]

theonlyone... has the right idea councils work on a points system and lets face it.. you have accomodation so they won't be rushing to help.. but if you were living with your parents and were overcrowded that would up the ante and give you more points....Housing Assoc have to take referrals from the coucil as they recieve funding from them...The council cannot refuse to put you on their housing list but with the accomodation you have you will get very few points so could be on it for ever...other than that you have to make yourself homeless and go into council B&B for a while then you would be housed eventually....

[karmabum]

As you say, not all councils operate in the same way, but usually they want you to have some kind of link with the area you are applying in, so either job or family. As you are pregnant your family link in the area you want will be a strong one...BUT depending on where you live, the council might prefer for you to stay put in your current housing and the rent would be paid for you because of your unemployed status and benefit claim. Go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, they will be able to give you more accurate picture of your chances.