Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone here has experience with council housing. Since seperating from my wife at the beginning of the year i've been living back at my parents and im starting to need my own space again. Uunfortunately I don't earn massively so im looking towards council housing before private renting.
I've been told by colleagues that I would probably have a decent chance of getting something due to 'overcrowding' at my parents house. Currently there are 5 adults and 2 childrens living in a 3 bed house, sleeping arrangements are currently-
Room 1 -Parents,
Room 2 - Sister
Room 3 - Me and 2 daughters(daughters alternate between me and their mother each week)
Living room - Brother
There's also a dining room, i don't know if this would make a difference.
Does anyone have an idea of what sort of response my application would get ? And assuming im entitled, what timespan i'd be looking at.
Thanks
I think most council houses work on a points scheme - as a single man, I suspect you wouldn't score too high so you'd be way down the list. I think your parents would also have to make you homeless to stand any chance. It might be worth contacting the citizens advice bureau to ask their advice.
As a single man you will almost definitely be at the bottom of the list and to qualify for housing you will need to prove that you are vulnerable and cannot cope in your situation or have priority needs. I was made homeless by recent events and still had to get a solicitors (provided by legal aid) to obtain a property. I also have two daughters however due to the split and my situation I did not have my children living with me. To qualify for anything larger than a one bedroom flat you need to have a court order showing you have at least 50/50 access to your daughters - the council will not accept anything less than a court order. However, the courts are of the opinion that shared access is unfeasible and puts demands on the housing shortage. There is a lot of case law that backs up this situation and I don't believe a larger property has ever been provided to a father under these circumstances. I went to the citizens advice bureau and they gave me a lot of useless advice which sent me on a large goose chase, even down to contacting the people responsible for the amendments to the childrens act.
Of course I got nowhere - the only thing the government care about is a political agenda that saves money and puts the least strain on housing and financial resources.
I was treated with disdain by the council and even shouted at when I suggested that my children stay overnight at the flat they eventually gave me, being told that it would be against their policies and would constitute overcrowding. A group called shelter eventually advised me that children count as "half a person" and it would not be overcrowding so they would be able to stay overnight, a battle I'm still fighting through the courts.
The governments website for housing help is here... https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/finding-a-place-to-live/finding-accommodation/
You can also get advice from a group called shelter here... https://england.shelter.org.uk/
Of course every case is different and the fact that you already have your daughters living with you might put a different spin on things. I think the council will ultimately advise you to rent privately and prioritise men (already at the bottom of the list) who have a priority need. You will also have to prove a local connection to the area you're applying in.
Hi There,
.
As already said you will be scored on a points system, which works off whether you have dependants living with you full time, and also things like health and income.
.
being a single man without your children living with you, you would be very lucky to get anything, and if you did it may just be a bedsit which would be difficult to have your children stay in.
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GTTS