Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone knew of a website that gave details of the ratio to tennants to bedrooms for housing.
Ive got 3children and a partner and living in a 2bedroomed house with one of the rooms being a small box room.
The council have said that because ive got 3kids under 8 im not really overcrowded even though i can only just fit a double bed in the box room and in the other i cant put three beds in unless ones in the middle of the floor.

Lee

thats correct information my friend had the same dispute but your oldest has to be 10years old

not too sure on this one cos iv got 2 children (boy and girl 7&4),and the answer i got when i asked was "you know your living room is classed as a sleeping space".
I couldnt believe what i was hearing,so i guess me getting a 3 bed is out of the question...:confused:

stinks dunt it but yea its right i believe i been waitin like 8 years for a bigger house i got 2 beds ones 17 ones 5 lol argue like cat n dog i gev up a few years ago n split the big room myself x lol

there was a website ive seen were it gave the breakdown of tennants:bedrooms but cant find it anywhere now.
im gutted lol

i dont know if im correct but it used to say on the back of your rent book if you still got one if not im sure the council websight that you go on to bid for houses states the ratios ive seen it somwhere also try there

A household is overcrowded if the permanent residents exceed the limits set out
in the table below. For this purpose all occupants count as 1 person, except a
lone parent who counts as 2 people.
Number of bedrooms Number of people
1 3
2 4
3 7
4 10
5 12

http://www.sheffieldpropertyshop.org.uk/resources/Lettings%20Policy%20document.pdf?ID=C015D4FF0BAA45 628CD69ADC0D11632A

It used to say in the back of rent books how many your home should occupy

The gender of the children is possibly an issue here.

A household is overcrowded if the permanent residents exceed the limits set out
in the table below. For this purpose all occupants count as 1 person, except a
lone parent who counts as 2 people.
Number of bedrooms Number of people
1 3
2 4
3 7
4 10
5 12

http://www.sheffieldpropertyshop.org.uk/resources/Lettings%20Policy%20document.pdf?ID=C015D4FF0BAA45 628CD69ADC0D11632A

of course, you have to remember that a child under the age of 1 is not counted as a person, and a child under the age of 10 is only counted as a "half-person" for the purposes of calculating the number of "persons" occupying a property.

So, you could have a husband and wife, with 11 month old Quads in a one bedroomed flat, but under those rules, there might be 6 people in that one-bed flat, but there will only be "two" persons occupying it...
or a husband and wife, in the one bedroomed flat, with 6 yr old twins, and under those riles ther will only be three persons occupying the property, despite there being four people actually in the place.

Me and my wife 16 year old daughter , 12 year old son, 3 other sons and a daughter under 10 andanother baby due in march , all in a 3 bedroom house and fighting to try and get a larger property.

I was also told when I moved into this property that the parlour was classed as a 4th bedroom and was in fact even on the rent as a fourth bedroom until it was pointed out that it was ajacent the kitchen and didnt have a fire door. it got put back to 3 bedroom and told we couldnt use it.

I got in touch with the over crowding dept to see if they could convert the door way to have a fire door so we could use this parlour room as a bedroom , they told use that they couldnt do it because its got to be officially classed as a 4 bedroom house before they can do it, but, it cannot be classed as a 4 bedroom house because it doesnt have the firedoor !!! chicken and the egg ? :loopy:

There's a lot of confusion about overcrowding rules, partly because people believe they can't be all that restrictive. The minimum by law is very cramped indeed and is proving difficult to change because of the impact on the overcrowding situation in London.

On the other hand here in Sheffield, there are other problems with the current rehousing system not working properly and the Council is being asked to support a Green Party motion on Wednesday to overhaul the policy thoroughly.

It's item 13 on the full council's agenda: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/council-meetings/full-council/agenda-7th-november-2007

The gender of the children is possibly an issue here.

It is once they reach ten (I think it's ten), but not before. At least, not as far as the council is concerned, and they make the decisions. Maybe it should be an issue at earlier ages ... but it ain't.

Heres a crazy plan. Why not stop banging kids out if you cant support them properly?

Heres a crazy plan. Why not stop banging kids out if you cant support them properly?

Durrrrr, don't you know anything? You can't live off child support without having far too many children.
:loopy:


:hihi:

Heres a crazy plan. Why not stop banging kids out if you cant support them properly?

But how will they ever get a bigger house then?:loopy::hihi:

Another crazy thought, maybe they could stop scrounging for a house and actually buy one with hard earned cash(not other peoples)???

Another crazy thought, maybe they could stop scrounging for a house and actually buy one with hard earned cash(not other peoples)???

Get a life.
I take it you dont understand the points were stressing.
I take you aint got any friends/family living in council properties or do you tell them to stop scrounging lol

Me and my wife 16 year old daughter , 12 year old son, 3 other sons and a daughter under 10 andanother baby due in march , all in a 3 bedroom house and fighting to try and get a larger property. chicken and the egg ? :loopy:

I really, genuinely wonder why, when you have 6 children in a 3 bedroomed property, you would think it was a good idea to have another child?

I really, genuinely wonder why, when you have 6 children in a 3 bedroomed property, you would think it was a good idea to have another child?

That's what I thought

Get a life.
I take it you dont understand the points were stressing.
I take you aint got any friends/family living in council properties or do you tell them to stop scrounging lol

No not that I can re-call, the points I was stressing are why the hell do people whinge about not getting a big enough council house, more benifit money etc, when there is things they can do, simple as getting a job in alot of cases. I dont get paid the earth but I pride myself on the fact that I dont have to rely on handouts. I have a house, yeh i'm skint alot and have to comprimise on not having lots of luxuries but its better than relying on someone else to home me!!

The fact remains that if you and your kids have a roof over your head just be thankful. I want a bigger house too, who the hell doesn't?? But it aint gonna happen for me unless i earn a lot more money and buy one, so it shouldn't happen for you just because you've got kids.

I think its amazing how people look at things differently to others.
I was asking a question in my original post not complaining about things. Im not a idle layabout or do things to sponge off the state, I work on average 55 hours a week to reply to jonhansons post and the reason I dont buy a house is because I have a family and dont want to commit to a 25+ year morgatage due security and worries even if its supposed to be cheaper to buy than rent in most cases.
Im very very thankful for what Ive got and was asking out of curiosity as a neighbour of mine lives with her partner in a 3 bedroom council house and havent had any kids yet others are struggling with space.
The system seems wrong to me on that basis and a innocent question has been taken by some totally out of context.

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone knew of a website that gave details of the ratio to tennants to bedrooms for housing.

Lee

Office of national statistics is the site you are looking for... That has details of how many people living in a house. But the most recent data will be the 2001 census

Cheers matt
Thanks for that

Havn't read all threads but if you have 3 kids (Say 1 girl 2 boys) and the girl turns 11, she HAS to have her own bedroom. Privicy thing. It's the law that different sex children when they turn 10 or 11 they cannot sleep in the same room. Sorry if somebody else told you this.

the reason I dont buy a house is because I have a family and dont want to commit to a 25+ year morgatage due security and worries even if its supposed to be cheaper to buy than rent in most cases.


can i ask what security issues you have? because it is FAR cheaper to buy than rent and if you can afford to you should and not hold up a house for a family who might just need it?

can i ask what security issues you have? because it is FAR cheaper to buy than rent and if you can afford to you should and not hold up a house for a family who might just need it?

Exactly, the way I see council houses are a halfway home they should be used by people that need priority housing not because people want cheap rent, or RTB. They should have a maximum term you can live in them before you should have got your feet on the floor and able to buy/rent privatley.

Exactly, the way I see council houses are a halfway home they should be used by people that need priority housing not because people want cheap rent, or RTB. They should have a maximum term you can live in them before you should have got your feet on the floor and able to buy/rent privatley.

I agree with the first part of your comments, but not the second bit. I don't agree that a tenancy should be fixed term. If someone is happy to carry on renting, that should be fine and dandy. I agree that Social Housing should be kept as SH, and not sold off. If you can afford to buy, then buy, privately, is my opinion.

I'm pleased that the obscenely large discounts are being curbed. (I know someone who got a £100k council house, some years ago, under RTB, for £17k)

Havn't read all threads but if you have 3 kids (Say 1 girl 2 boys) and the girl turns 11, she HAS to have her own bedroom. Privicy thing. It's the law that different sex children when they turn 10 or 11 they cannot sleep in the same room. Sorry if somebody else told you this.

Do you know where that is written?

We were talking about this and were wondering whether this is just a general view people have or whether it is actually true as we could not find anything anywhere.
Thank you.

Im very very thankful for what Ive got and was asking out of curiosity as a neighbour of mine lives with her partner in a 3 bedroom council house and havent had any kids


Do you actually know they haven't had kids and how do you know how many bedrooms they have ??

suzie

:mad:excuse me!!!!!!! i work bloody hard me and my husband both long hours we have NEVER EVER SCROUNGED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE PAY FULL RENT ALWAYS HAVE NEVER EVER HAVE WE SCROUNGED WHAT A SH**Y COMMENT TO MAKE i live in a council house simply cant affored to buy a house theese days the prices are rediculous so hence i am a council tennent not a bloody scrounger thankyou !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yes some are scroungers yes but were NOT ALL SCROUNGERS RANT OVER:(:rant::rant:

Another crazy thought, maybe they could stop scrounging for a house and actually buy one with hard earned cash(not other peoples)???

your comment really ****** me off sorry for saying i said in a coment i posted a few mins ago but dint put you quote with it as said i am not a scrounger me nor my husband we both work full time and dam bloody hard !!!!!!!!!!! we NEVER EVER HAVE SCROUNGED FOR OUR HOUSE THANKYOU ALWAYS PAID FULL RENT AND COUNCIL TAX IN FULL SO THANKYOU VERRY MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENT BUT I AM NOT AND AM SURE MANY OTHER COUNCIL TENENTS ARE NOT SCROUNGERS granted some are who do not work but your coment sugested that we are all the same which we are CERTAINLY NOT rant over :rant::rant:

i live in a 2 bedroomed house with 3 children (2 boys and 1 girl), i asked the council if i could move as it was a council house (yes i did pay full rent, council tax, water rates etc..) but got told that i would'nt be classed over crowded or priority until my eldest was 10 and as we live in parson cross there was a lot of houses being demolished so they got priority. we decided to buy our council house last year because after 3 years we can buy a bigger house (which we would have probably still been waiting to be moved with the council) and it was the first step on the propert ladder as houses to buy for first time buyers are rediculous prices. my next door neighbour is a single parent of 1 5 year old child and she lives in a 3 bedroomed house and she got that through her house being demolished so i think where the council are concerned its one rule for one person and another for another.

Do you know where that is written?

We were talking about this and were wondering whether this is just a general view people have or whether it is actually true as we could not find anything anywhere.
Thank you.

Lettings policy, Sheffield council. (http://www.sheffieldpropertyshop.org.uk/resources/Lettings%20Policy%20document.pdf?ID=94BA702B87EE4B CEB5F839CB6A273ECA)

I can't find anything in here that specifies the under-10 rule, either; perhaps it's one of those things that "everyone knows" that isn't actually true. Then again, such evidence as we have suggests it is.


Ah, wait, I found it: page 34. "When working out the number of people sleeping in the property, occupants are counted as follows: Over 10 years old, one person. One to nine, half a person. Under one year old, not counted."

Heres a crazy plan. Why not stop banging kids out if you cant support them properly?

heres a crazier plan, lets round up all the annoying small minded fools that post utter excriment on this forum and launch rotten vegitables at them.

I am going shopping now jeff incase we get this one off the ground, is there anything particular you want ?


@ irenewilde, I have no problems with that question as it seems a legitamate one so I dont mind answering it .

Of course having severn children seems excesive to anyone with one or 2 children, but I got brought up in a big household because my mother had about 6 sisters and a brother so to me it doesnt seem that big a deal.
There is going to be a huge generation gap in this country and we are going to have to have mass imigration to keep the cogs going in this country so I dont see my family as being a burden, more of the next generation of workers that will keep this country going.
There are a lot on people from other countries that have settled here and are having large families now and we are going to rely on these people because the indiginous population are relying more on creating wealth than having families.

if I could have 20 children I would. you never know , one of them may be tucking you in bed in your nursing home in the future if your lucky. I dont mean that in the wrong way, just that we are all going to get old and there wont be enough young fit people to take care of us all

Exactly, the way I see council houses are a halfway home they should be used by people that need priority housing not because people want cheap rent, or RTB. They should have a maximum term you can live in them before you should have got your feet on the floor and able to buy/rent privatley.


Thats because over here we have a culture of house buyers.
In germany for instance they mostly rent there accomodation so its not anything to do with how you see it, Just because you prefer to buy it doesnt mean you should impose your life style on anyone else.

I imagine there is a geman poster putting up that buying is for fools and a waiste of money and that how they see it ....

heres a crazier plan, lets round up all the annoying small minded fools that post utter excriment on this forum and launch rotten vegitables at them.

I am going shopping now jeff incase we get this one off the ground, is there anything particular you want ?


@ irenewilde, I have no problems with that question as it seems a legitamate one so I dont mind answering it .

Of course having severn children seems excesive to anyone with one or 2 children, but I got brought up in a big household because my mother had about 6 sisters and a brother so to me it doesnt seem that big a deal.
There is going to be a huge generation gap in this country and we are going to have to have mass imigration to keep the cogs going in this country so I dont see my family as being a burden, more of the next generation of workers that will keep this country going.
There are a lot on people from other countries that have settled here and are having large families now and we are going to rely on these people because the indiginous population are relying more on creating wealth than having families.

if I could have 20 children I would. you never know , one of them may be tucking you in bed in your nursing home in the future if your lucky. I dont mean that in the wrong way, just that we are all going to get old and there wont be enough young fit people to take care of us all

:D WELL SAID !!!!!!! THERES SOME SMALL MINDED PEOPLE AROUND !!!! THEY THINK JUST CUS WE LIVE IN COUNCIL PROPERTY WERE SCROUNGERS FOR SOME STRANGE REASON :huh: DONT THEY REALISE SOME OF US PAY FULL RENT AND COUNCIL TAX SO WHY THE HELL ARE WE SCROUNGERS ??????? I DONT GET IT ?? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Lettings policy, Sheffield council. (http://www.sheffieldpropertyshop.org.uk/resources/Lettings%20Policy%20document.pdf?ID=94BA702B87EE4B CEB5F839CB6A273ECA)

I can't find anything in here that specifies the under-10 rule, either; perhaps it's one of those things that "everyone knows" that isn't actually true. Then again, such evidence as we have suggests it is.


Ah, wait, I found it: page 34. "When working out the number of people sleeping in the property, occupants are counted as follows: Over 10 years old, one person. One to nine, half a person. Under one year old, not counted."

yup, that's exactly what I said in my earlier post.

I'm thinking how much a 4 bedroom house average cost is now, and to say you shouldnt be having more than X number of kids if you cant afford your own is crazy, I would be 50+ before I could get a nice deposit or get a mortgage for one. Do people think haveing more than say 5+ kids should be a right reserved for the wealthy?

:rant:well i hope for your sake that maybee one day you dont loose your job and maybee your home in the process so that oyu never have to live in council acomodation and scrounge like that rest of us do as you are all implying you wouldnt be needing council acomodation to help you out then would you all:rant:

WE PAY FULL RENT ALWAYS HAVE NEVER EVER HAVE WE SCROUNGED

What *is* full rent as a matter of interest? And you might want to ease off on the little pink shouty faces - I think we get the idea!

What *is* full rent as a matter of interest? And you might want to ease off on the little pink shouty faces - I think we get the idea!

sorry for the shouty faces !!!!! but you have to get my point i dont like to be called a scrounger and full rent is £70 a week and not £3 or £ 4 like some people pay which before anyone says is not a bad thing so im not getting at you at all i dont think that paying £70 a week in my book is scrounging thats all ill shut up now

I'm thinking how much a 4 bedroom house average cost is now, and to say you shouldnt be having more than X number of kids if you cant afford your own is crazy


Well, I can't argue that deliberately having kids you can't afford to support is crazy - just extremely selfish and arrogant. Frankly, if you can't afford to support them yourself, they should be taken away from you for adoption; then you won't have an overcrowding problem.

sorry for the shouty faces !!!!! but you have to get my point i dont like to be called a scrounger and full rent is £70 a week and not £3 or £ 4 like some people pay which before anyone says is not a bad thing so im not getting at you at all i dont think that paying £70 a week in my book is scrounging thats all ill shut up now

Yes, but most people's mortgages are more than twice that amount.

Yes, but most people's mortgages are more than twice that amount.
so there fore i am a scrounger well your opinion so im loosing the battle all i know is that i work bloody hard and try and get called a scrounger i work 40 hours a week and so does my hubby so if thats scrounging then so be it and your mortgage yes maybee more than that point taken but does that make me a scrounger no i dont think so !!

so there fore i am a scrounger well your opinion so im loosing the battle all i know is that i work bloody hard and try and get called a scrounger i work 40 hours a week and so does my hubby so if thats scrounging then so be it and your mortgage yes maybee more than that point taken but does that make me a scrounger no i dont think so !!

What size of house, and which area, do you live in?

Having a council house doesn't make you a scrounger, but I think the point people are trying to make is that it's a lot cheaper to have a council house than to rent or have a mortgage, in this day and age at least..I remember buying my first house for £37,000 !! :rolleyes:

Having a council house doesn't make you a scrounger, but I think the point people are trying to make is that it's a lot cheaper to have a council house than to rent or have a mortgage, in this day and age at least..

...and who makes up the difference in the cost? Council-tax payers?

In what way is that not "scrounging off taxpayers" then?

Hey a lot of these council houses arnt particuly that good. they are not mansions like you must imagine. most like the one I rent was made in the 30's and looks like that was the last time the council spent any money on it at all. this house has been rented I presume all that time and so tennants have paid for this house 3 fold I recon, and the rent has probly gone into proping up council services for years.
They are just getting some government investment (not sure if its just to claw back some of the money we throw at europe every year).

before you try to say well why dont you buy this and buy that think on, is everone earning your income ? some of us have to work low paid jobs, jobs that keep the country ticking over so we dont have the lump sum to put down on a house to get a morgage.
some of you lot want to get your heads from up your arses and stop pulling people down for finding themselves in a particular situation.

ok so I have a load of kids, well Id sooner have them and spend every penny on them and rent a council house no matter how crowded and in need of repair than have a nice house, car and a dog to come home too and the luxary of looking down my nose at everone else.

I feel fortunate to have so many kids, its a pitty some of you lot dont have the same in your sad little lives with not half the joy I get from these lot.

Ill stay crowded to save your imaginary tax money that you think im stealing and when my kids are wiping your back sides when theyre older while living in your loverly homes that you got repossesed to pay for your care due to little of your familly giving a toss about you, Ill laugh my self to sleep everynight glad that I didnt go out and earn skip loads of money instead of having the family ill have.

Yes, but most people's mortgages are more than twice that amount.

Oh my lord..... do you not understand that there is a difference between buying and renting? You buy a house, it's yours to keep, leave your kids or whoever in your will. You rent a crap council house (yes, maybe for a lot less than a mortgage) but once you've gone you've gone... so therefore why should renting not be much cheaper?!
The people on this forum always sniff out threads like this to turn it into an arguement about anyone who rents council needs to be in desperate need of doing so, the rest are scroungers even when a lot of them work like the rest of you 'I am better than you' homeowners?! Most people these days can't afford fo buy, so why go on? Deal with it.

i have a 2 bed dont have loads of kids just two and i live near darnel why do you ask ?

Oh my lord..... do you not understand that there is a difference between buying and renting? You buy a house, it's yours to keep, leave your kids or whoever in your will. You rent a crap council house (yes, maybe for a lot less than a mortgage) but once you've gone you've gone... so therefore why should renting not be much cheaper?!
The people on this forum always sniff out threads like this to turn it into an arguement about anyone who rents council needs to be in desperate need of doing so, the rest are scroungers even when a lot of them work like the rest of you 'I am better than you' homeowners?! Most people these days can't afford fo buy, so why go on? Deal with it.
exactly most people cant afford !!!!!! im not going on i am just stating that i am not a scrounger and certainly its better to buy i would never ever pull anyone down for buying id love to but difrent people have difrent circumstances is all im saying i did once nearly try to buy was ready for sighnin for mortgage and hubby got made redundant that was when houses was more affordable and it really scared me and yes i am saving to buy again so therefore I AM DEALING WITH IT

Hey a lot of these council houses arnt particuly that good. they are not mansions like you must imagine. most like the one I rent was made in the 30's and looks like that was the last time the council spent any money on it at all. this house has been rented I presume all that time and so tennants have paid for this house 3 fold I recon, and the rent has probly gone into proping up council services for years.
They are just getting some government investment (not sure if its just to claw back some of the money we throw at europe every year).

before you try to say well why dont you buy this and buy that think on, is everone earning your income ? some of us have to work low paid jobs, jobs that keep the country ticking over so we dont have the lump sum to put down on a house to get a morgage.
some of you lot want to get your heads from up your arses and stop pulling people down for finding themselves in a particular situation.

ok so I have a load of kids, well Id sooner have them and spend every penny on them and rent a council house no matter how crowded and in need of repair than have a nice house, car and a dog to come home too and the luxary of looking down my nose at everone else.

I feel fortunate to have so many kids, its a pitty some of you lot dont have the same in your sad little lives with not half the joy I get from these lot.

Ill stay crowded to save your imaginary tax money that you think im stealing and when my kids are wiping your back sides when theyre older while living in your loverly homes that you got repossesed to pay for your care due to little of your familly giving a toss about you, Ill laugh my self to sleep everynight glad that I didnt go out and earn skip loads of money instead of having the family ill have.
WELL SAID MATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AT LEAST SOMEONES ON MY SIDE

Do people think haveing more than say 5+ kids should be a right reserved for the wealthy?

Have as many kids as you can afford without having to resort to benefits.

I like the New York idea, when someone goes onto benefits they get the benefit level set according to the 'kid count', future additions get no more cash.

THose that work have to live within their means, those that don't work should have the same restrictions in this area.

I have no problem with people renting and don't consider them scroungers.
However, I don't agree with the ones who have a nice 3 bedroom and then have more kids and just expect the council to give them a bigger house as if it's a god given right.

...and who makes up the difference in the cost? Council-tax payers?

In what way is that not "scrounging off taxpayers" then?
Good point, we end up subsidising the rents.

And I dont mind people having council houses but IMHO I believe they should be a temporary solution with a fixed time limit giving people enough time to save for bonds for private renting or deposits for mortgages, as this way when people genuinley need a council house they are available.

I'm sure there would be uproar if say I decided to get one on the goal of buying it to sell/rent, purley because I am not in need of one, well the same goes for everyone else who is not in a situation of need, I.e our many homeless people.

Just to re-itterate if they were temporary accommodation when you needed one they would be there, none of this bidding system.

I wish my 'full' rent was £70 a week.

Ill stay crowded to save your imaginary tax money that you think im stealing and when my kids are wiping your back sides when theyre older while living in your loverly homes that you got repossesed to pay for your care due to little of your familly giving a toss about you, Ill laugh my self to sleep everynight glad that I didnt go out and earn skip loads of money instead of having the family ill have.

You clearly do mind staying crowded as your first post was saying you and your wife want a bigger house...

I wish my 'full' rent was £70 a week.

£280 a month rent :-)

Plus do people who live in council houses pay fuel, and council tax or are they excempt.

£280 a month rent :-)

Plus do people who live in council houses pay fuel, and council tax or are they excempt.


Course they do what land are you living in.

£280 a month rent :-)

Plus do people who live in council houses pay fuel, and council tax or are they excempt.

gas and elec they have to pay, but C/T all depends on how many benifits they can claim and weather they work or not, thats why the council tax is higher for ppl who pay it.

yup- bloody £150 a month for where i live, jeez.

Lettings policy, Sheffield council. (http://www.sheffieldpropertyshop.org.uk/resources/Lettings%20Policy%20document.pdf?ID=94BA702B87EE4B CEB5F839CB6A273ECA)

I can't find anything in here that specifies the under-10 rule, either; perhaps it's one of those things that "everyone knows" that isn't actually true. Then again, such evidence as we have suggests it is.


Ah, wait, I found it: page 34. "When working out the number of people sleeping in the property, occupants are counted as follows: Over 10 years old, one person. One to nine, half a person. Under one year old, not counted."

Thanks for that, but not really an answer to the question :)

Gina said that it is the law so I was wondering where I can find that law.
As far as I know a policy does not count as a law (will stand corected on that one though if it is).

So, does anyone know where I can find that law that boys and girls are not allowed to share a bedroom once they have reached a certain age, please?

Sorry,. I know thread has moved on since I originally asked but a girl's got to do other things at times :)

Good point, we end up subsidising the rents.

And I dont mind people having council houses but IMHO I believe they should be a temporary solution with a fixed time limit giving people enough time to save for bonds for private renting or deposits for mortgages, as this way when people genuinley need a council house they are available.


that's all very well for people that earn enough so that there is anything left over at the end of the month. and no, i don't live in a council house, i rent privately, work 40 hours a week, and have little spare from my wages to put towards a deposit for mortgage, or anything else for that matter :(

gas and elec they have to pay, but C/T all depends on how many benifits they can claim and weather they work or not, thats why the council tax is higher for ppl who pay it.

that's an utter fallacy:-

Council Tax is exactly the same, across the city, within each band.

Someone in a band A property in Gleadless will pay the same as someone living in a band A property in High Green, will pay the same as someone in a band A property in Crookesmoor, etc, etc.

Just the same as someone in a band B or C property, wherever they are, in the city, will be liable to pay exactly the same total sum of CT as anyone else in Sheffield whose property is in the same band rating.

The only difference in what a person is charged in any property across the bandings is if the house is only occupied by one person, so, whatever band they're in, they'll get a 25% discount for single occupation.

gas and elec they have to pay, but C/T all depends on how many benifits they can claim and weather they work or not, thats why the council tax is higher for ppl who pay it.if you are working and earning low wages then you can apply for some benefits,not exactly scrounging is it ? more a case of low wages that cant give you a decent standard of living,the government realise this,hence the benefit help

@ the OP. Just a thought. I dunno how much a council house costs to rent, but would renting a non-council home that's big enough for you not be an option?

Its amazing how little the people on here that come on and pull people down actually know or realise the full facts.

People who live in council houses all dont claim benifits, get discounts for council tax, get free gas and electric thrown in, get bigger homes without paying for the extra space.
I cannot remember the last time a new council house was actually built so no your tax isnt going into funding new builds for families to rent at a cheap rate, its old housing stock that none of has come out of YOUR tax money to build and has been rented for generations so more than paid for itself and is STILL owned by the councils.

If everyone opted to get out of council homes and buy there own houses where do you think these houses are going to come from ? are you proposing that we build millions of new homes in green belt ? or that everyone should take advantage of the right to buy scheme and purchase sub standard houses and then have to build new anyhow for the homeless ect ect that you keep rattling on about ?

The people you want us to vacate these properties for is ACTULLY us who rent them. do you think that we would choose to rent these houses even if the rent was slightly lower than a morgage than actually purchacing our own homes ?
you must think that there is a mass of homless people that we are keeping out of a house or something, while most homless people actually choose to be homless (either that or listen to the rubbish you lot spew out about them actually having a house)

I cannot work out exactly what peoples point is. are you against us having to pay less than you pay for your morgage? or social housing in general ? do you not think that the housing associations your trying to get us to move over too are not subsidiced in some way by taxes? or the council giving land for social housing for nothing or at a pittance ?

why dont you find other things that the government waiste your taxes on rarther than trying to pick on families that happen to be worse off than yourselves. how about moaning about the money we throw at europe to be in the union or the money we used to invade iraq and afganistan and the money its costing to rebuild it ?

because those issus are not an easy enough target for you, because no one wants to here your views on anything that is concidered above you so you feel the need to look down at people that you think you DO have the right to moan and winge about, people who are just trying to make there own cicomstances a little easier than they are. :rant:

I only got to page 3 of this & had to stop reading as it was making my blood boil.

Why i someone who lives in a council house a scrounger?? Where does that assocation come from? Small minded idiots thats where.

Basically according to some if you work & live in a council house you are a scrounger who is taking up a house which some other scrounger on benefits should be getting???? I was thinking of Irenewildes comments in particular. Who exactly should be able to live in a council house in your opinion? Is everyone on any sort of benefit a scrounger regardless of their circumstances?

The OP never mentioned benefits or rent - he was just asking a question re overcrowding. Why does it have to descend to a slanging match. I work with single parents, most of whom are on some sort of benefit. Regardless if what some small minded people think most of them did not chose to be on their own, raising children on very low incomes.

Not everyone earns enough to purchase their own home.

"More than 69% earn just £15,825 or less a year - around £8,000 less than the national average.

These include home care workers, teaching assistants, environmental health officers, park and street wardens, housing officers, librarians, refuse collectors, school cooks and many other unsung workers. And these poorly paid staff face steep living cost rises that have far outweighed their annual pay"

Who are we to judge, we never know what's around the corner...

come on for gods sake people everyone is in the same situation at the mo it seems regarding housing its VERY expensive to buy and private rent is also very expensive, and some council rents and i mean the full rents are expensive also!

now if you bought a house as we did before the big increase then ok you may be better off in terms of being able to sel then buy a bigger house, even though we will have a big deposit when we sell ours our morgage on the new house will be about double the one we have now.

every option seems to have its good points and its bad.

And unfortunately people who live in council properties seem to be stereo typed its a sad but true fact.

i myself dont mind people who live in council houses before anyone starts lol!

...and who makes up the difference in the cost? Council-tax payers?

In what way is that not "scrounging off taxpayers" then?

well i pay full rent and full council tax and full evrything else also including tax ect so derrrgghhh therefore i am scrounging from myself aparently enough said for your information my council tax bill is exactly the same as a person who owns there own home NO DIFRENT THANKYOU

exactly most people cant afford !!!!!! im not going on i am just stating that i am not a scrounger and certainly its better to buy i would never ever pull anyone down for buying id love to but difrent people have difrent circumstances is all im saying i did once nearly try to buy was ready for sighnin for mortgage and hubby got made redundant that was when houses was more affordable and it really scared me and yes i am saving to buy again so therefore I AM DEALING WITH IT

Ehhh???? WTF! Erm.. I am on your side, speaking against the snobs on here who hijack all hosues threads to put people down. Sorry if it came across other way. I live in council flat and work, pay full-rent etc. and get sick of htese idiots!

Ehhh???? WTF! Erm.. I am on your side, speaking against the snobs on here who hijack all hosues threads to put people down. Sorry if it came across other way. I live in council flat and work, pay full-rent etc. and get sick of htese idiots!

apologies !!!! i obviously misunderstood what you put sorry see evryone was having a go at me was prob a bit defensive hope you accept my apologies mate :blush:

i have a 2 bed dont have loads of kids just two and i live near darnel why do you ask ?

It's relevant in determining whether you, specifically, are a scrounger ;)

Your own personal circs. notwithstanding, if you're paying in council rent, what other people would need to pay in mortgage/private rent for a similar property in a similar area, then you cannot be accused of scrounging from anybody. If the council rent is only one-third what private letters have to pay, then you are being subsidized by someone, which can legitimately be called "scrounging" if someone wants to be offensive.

All of which said, I have no idea what the market rate is around the Darnell district. If you'd turned out to be paying £270 a month for a five-bedroomed house in Fulwood, I'd have no hesitation in labelling you a scrounger, but clearly that is not the case :D

Thanks for that, but not really an answer to the question :)

Gina said that it is the law so I was wondering where I can find that law.
As far as I know a policy does not count as a law (will stand corected on that one though if it is).

So, does anyone know where I can find that law that boys and girls are not allowed to share a bedroom once they have reached a certain age, please?

Sorry,. I know thread has moved on since I originally asked but a girl's got to do other things at times :)

Apology accepted - and not really necessary anyway, but never mind.


I don't think that anyone meant to imply it's illegal for a boy and a girl, both over 10, to share a bedroom; I think (although I could be wrong) that the point under discussion was whether the council would allow it in one of their homes. I very much doubt there's an actual law forbidding it, and if in fact the original claim was meant to be that there is such a law, I'm pretty sure they're wrong.

Sometimes people say "the law" when they mean "the rules." I've done it myself before now.


PS: According to these guys (http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=182&threadid=30674), there is no law which forbids children of opposite sexes sharing a room. This is not an official, definitive-answer website, any more than our own forum; but it's the best I could do.

apologies !!!! i obviously misunderstood what you put sorry see evryone was having a go at me was prob a bit defensive hope you accept my apologies mate :blush:

Of course I do, I am a mum of one, living in council flat at mo (1 bed, LO is 15 months old and there is no room at all for anything).. I pay £65ish a week rent and council tax as I work, and am currently being victimised I think by some neighbour on the block who keeps filing complaints about me for noise nuisance when I make no noise?! And for leaving rubbish in the lifts when in fact I kicked it back the lift twice and put a note to ask whoever it was to stop kickgin it out onto my floor to stop as I have a baby, it's disgusting etc. I then comes back to a note saying 'prob. no. ****, always blasting out loud music and partying! Get 'em out'!!!' .... god I LOVE living here... but let's not moan, as because we are council house scroungers, we should shut up and put up, eh!!! I would LOVE to have a house with garden, but even when I was with someone the total mortgage he could afford on full wage was less than £50k and I will be out of work next year as will be a student nurse so I have no choice, even private renting is way above what I can afford.. I really need a bigger place but am having to wait for one and even then could get offered a house/maisonette that is IMO a dump, in an area miles away from family/babysitter, but will probably still have to take it or wait several more years to get something using waiting time.
Sorry, turned into a slightly off topic rant but these idiots on here really annoy me. Probably say it's my fault I am crowded because I am a dirty little so and so who should never have bred because I am not rich enough to afford to buy so therefore should not complain that I am overcrowded here. Ho hum :-) xx

yup- bloody £150 a month for where i live, jeez.
mines £120 and aparently im one of the scroungers jeeez lol you know the scroungers who live in council houses acording to most on here

Of course I do, I am a mum of one, living in council flat at mo (1 bed, LO is 15 months old and there is no room at all for anything).. I pay £65ish a week rent and council tax as I work, and am currently being victimised I think by some neighbour on the block who keeps filing complaints about me for noise nuisance when I make no noise?! And for leaving rubbish in the lifts when in fact I kicked it back the lift twice and put a note to ask whoever it was to stop kickgin it out onto my floor to stop as I have a baby, it's disgusting etc. I then comes back to a note saying 'prob. no. ****, always blasting out loud music and partying! Get 'em out'!!!' .... god I LOVE living here... but let's not moan, as because we are council house scroungers, we should shut up and put up, eh!!! I would LOVE to have a house with garden, but even when I was with someone the total mortgage he could afford on full wage was less than £50k and I will be out of work next year as will be a student nurse so I have no choice, even private renting is way above what I can afford.. I really need a bigger place but am having to wait for one and even then could get offered a house/maisonette that is IMO a dump, in an area miles away from family/babysitter, but will probably still have to take it or wait several more years to get something using waiting time.
Sorry, turned into a slightly off topic rant but these idiots on here really annoy me. Probably say it's my fault I am crowded because I am a dirty little so and so who should never have bred because I am not rich enough to afford to buy so therefore should not complain that I am overcrowded here. Ho hum :-) xx
well said !!!!!!!!!!! go girl your right hugs XX

mines £120 and aparently im one of the scroungers jeeez lol you know the scroungers who live in council hoses acording to most on here

It's generally believed (and so far as I can tell from being on the council-house waiting list, it appears to be true) that council rents are far lower than private rents for similar buildings in similar areas.


If this is, in fact, true, than it follows automatically that someone besides you is paying for the difference between your rent bill, and the going rate. Whether or not this is fair, is a whole other point; but that it would be a fact is indisputable.

It's relevant in determining whether you, specifically, are a scrounger ;)

Your own personal circs. notwithstanding, if you're paying in council rent, what other people would need to pay in mortgage/private rent for a similar property in a similar area, then you cannot be accused of scrounging from anybody. If the council rent is only one-third what private letters have to pay, then you are being subsidized by someone, which can legitimately be called "scrounging" if someone wants to be offensive.

All of which said, I have no idea what the market rate is around the Darnell district. If you'd turned out to be paying £270 a month for a five-bedroomed house in Fulwood, I'd have no hesitation in labelling you a scrounger, but clearly that is not the case :D
thankyou x

It's generally believed (and so far as I can tell from being on the council-house waiting list, it appears to be true) that council rents are far lower than private rents for similar buildings in similar areas.


If this is, in fact, true, than it follows automatically that someone besides you is paying for the difference between your rent bill, and the going rate. Whether or not this is fair, is a whole other point; but that it would be a fact is indisputable.

Landlords are just screwing the system. people who moan about people on benifits should moan about gready landlords that are pumping money from the housing benifits for places that are not worth the money and falsley inflating the rent prices on these properties that makes it look like council housing is subsidised.
the thing is with social housing and the landlord is the council are not out to make a profit and are not using the money to pay the morgage and get a drink out of it at the end of the week.

Social housing is to provide a servies to tho's that are worse off than others , people not in a possition to have parents sub them the first few grand to get on the property ladder for instance.
I could understand people maybe up in arms about smokers that harm there health and then the tax payers through our health care system picked up the tab when they are ill , I bet you lot just love topics on people who have found themselves ill with drug or alcohol adiction.

we live in a country (TF) that looks after its citizans. It has only just been since the 80's that people have had the oppertunity to climb the social ladder and earn decent incomes but yet if this is what it turns you into then I cant wait untill we get a big recetion and people start loosing theyre homes due to not being able to pay the morgage and the likes. lets see how many of you would sooner kip on the streets rarther than be a drain on the system.

I really think, and this is just a guess, that most of you lot shouting "scroungers" are having problems with morgage payments, think that council estates close by are lowering your house prices in some way or that if people would leave social housing to buy then it would give the housing market a kick up the backside and put a few quid in your selfish pockets.

Im happy with syphoning off your tax money anyhow if thats what you think, so get some sleep because I wont be loosing any over it.

Landlords are just screwing the system. people who moan about people on benifits should moan about gready landlords that are pumping money from the housing benifits for places that are not worth the money and falsley inflating the rent prices on these properties that makes it look like council housing is subsidised.


If it were logically possible for landlords to do so, you'd have a point. But it isn't, and you don't. Landlords can't, no matter how much they want to, charge more than people are prepared to pay; and what people are prepared to pay, IS the going rate.

It's generally believed (and so far as I can tell from being on the council-house waiting list, it appears to be true) that council rents are far lower than private rents for similar buildings in similar areas.


If this is, in fact, true, than it follows automatically that someone besides you is paying for the difference between your rent bill, and the going rate. Whether or not this is fair, is a whole other point; but that it would be a fact is indisputable.

council house rents are rapidly approaching the level of Housing Association and Private rents. Council rents aren't a huge anount cheaper than HA or Private these days.

My rent on my last council property was £50 a week, plus my water rates. I moved into this Housing Association property, and the rent, when I moved in was £76, plus water bill costs.

It's currently about £80 a week.

My previous HA property was £80 a week excluding water rates, when we moved from there almost 10 years ago. Goodness knows what it is now!

....Anyhoo, going back to your original question:
Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 is what governs todays overcrowding standards. It can be calculated in two ways, the Room Standard or the Space Standard. The act itself can be seen on the UK Statute Law website, if you're bored enough to want to read it.

just tell em to **** off........intererfering *****......go and sit behind there net curtains and do some "twichin"........

I think its amazing how people look at things differently to others.
I was asking a question in my original post not complaining about things. Im not a idle layabout or do things to sponge off the state, I work on average 55 hours a week to reply to jonhansons post and the reason I dont buy a house is because I have a family and dont want to commit to a 25+ year morgatage due security and worries even if its supposed to be cheaper to buy than rent in most cases.
Im very very thankful for what Ive got and was asking out of curiosity as a neighbour of mine lives with her partner in a 3 bedroom council house and havent had any kids yet others are struggling with space.
The system seems wrong to me on that basis and a innocent question has been taken by some totally out of context.

I have a funny feeling you are refering to my sister in this post

she has lived there for 20yrs and has got 2 children who were brought up there and now has a grandchild that stays

so why should her and her husband give up there house so you can have a larger one

Me and my wife 16 year old daughter , 12 year old son, 3 other sons and a daughter under 10 andanother baby due in march , all in a 3 bedroom house and fighting to try and get a larger property.

I was also told when I moved into this property that the parlour was classed as a 4th bedroom and was in fact even on the rent as a fourth bedroom until it was pointed out that it was ajacent the kitchen and didnt have a fire door. it got put back to 3 bedroom and told we couldnt use it.

I got in touch with the over crowding dept to see if they could convert the door way to have a fire door so we could use this parlour room as a bedroom , they told use that they couldnt do it because its got to be officially classed as a 4 bedroom house before they can do it, but, it cannot be classed as a 4 bedroom house because it doesnt have the firedoor !!! chicken and the egg ? :loopy:

So, let me get this straight:

You keep having children in an already overcrowded situation, then you expect the Council to sort out your mess for you?

In my most humble of opinions, they should let properties based on intelligence, which means you're right at the bottom of the list my friend!

gas and elec they have to pay, but C/T all depends on how many benifits they can claim and weather they work or not, thats why the council tax is higher for ppl who pay it.same for people who own there own house as well
not just people in council houses homeowners can be on benefits as well you know!!

Well I have to say thet I can't beleive how many narrow minded, snobs there are on here! :rant::rant:

-I live in a (2 bed) council house with my partner.
-I have 1 child.
-I pay £60 per wk Rent
-I Pay £90 per month council tax (so just to put the fact over that if you pay full rent, you also pay full council tax so you're 'subsidising' your own rent) :huh:
-In my 2 bedroom (scrounger city) house there is not enough room to swing a cat!
-My partner & I can't afford to buy privately because even though he works (FULL TIME) , I have had to give up work (not readily) to look after my son (he is currently being assessed for adhd, aspergers, dyslexia & dyspraxia)
-My partner has spina bifida (& No he doesn't get DLA etc) & will have to go in to hospital for surgery within the next 18 months, at which point we will be unable to share a bed for anything between 4 - 12 months (AT LEAST).

I have contacted SH to find out where we stand with regards to getting a bigger house as all the rooms in the house are not as I said previously big enough to swing a cat.
I have been told that as there are only 3 of us living in the house & the law says 5 ppl can live in my house (WHERE??????:suspect::huh::suspect::huh::confused: ) & that we are not entitled to a bigger house!

When I explained that my bedroom is not big enough for more than one bed, there is only just room in my son's room for him & his stuff, that I wold have to turn my living room into a 3rd bedroom!!!! there's JUST enough room for my sofas & tv & considering my partner will have just had major spinal surgery, I don't think THATS very safe do you??

The only thing I can do about it is appeal for a home visit from a housing officer & go through those motions (wish me luck on that one!!), citizens advice, lobbying MPs etc.

If SH CANNOT provide me with a bigger house then I will have to move into private rentad which we will be unable to afford (as more often than not it's more expensive than buying) & subsequently will have to claim housing & CT benefit, Thus resulting in me 'scrounging' from everyone else! Catch 22 methinks!

I have found a website that gives some fantastic advice on housing issues: http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/
& they have a helpline number too: 020 79444400

Good luck too all those stuck in a never ending battle with SH.

To all those who don't seem to have a clue GET A CLUE, it's not always about 'spongers, scroungers & people who 'pop out sprogs'. I CHOSE (oh my god YES I CHOSE) to be a SH tenant, the council Tax subsidaries go on housing & council tax benefits, not on the houses that have the full rent & CT being paid on.

If ppl are so bothered about ppl who 'sponge' ie those fraudulently claiming benefits, on JSA & obviously not looking for work etc then my advise for you would be, if you have proof of this, call the benefit fraud line & shop em.#

SH is a landlord, Yes you can get right to buy but you have to have lived in a property (or been a tenant of SH) for a certain peroid of time & you have to stay living in a property for a certain period of time AFTER you bought it, otherwise you have to pay back your discounts & then some.

stressed mum...
see my comments earlier about my neighbour who had a wife and three children in a one bedroomed property, and were still not classed as overcrowded.

if your hubby needs/is entitled to DLA, and doesn't claim, then, sorry, but the more fool him. If nothing else it might help you get HB and possibly help toward proof if you are wishing to move to somewhere that's more suitable.

Currently, I can't quite see the issue where your complaint comes from:- husband and wife, plus one child in a 2-bedroom/ five person house, under the housing legislation is fine.

If your hubby is having surgery, and will need a separate bedroom, then yes, I can see that you'd need a medical priority. Med Priority is something that you will need to pursue:- it won't come in search of you. The rehousing visitors aren't psychic, and won't know you need help unless you apply.

There's also the Disability Housing Service here in Sheffield, who can help advise what adaptions you may need, or whether you will need housing in a new property. They may even help by nominating you to a housing association or Sheffield Homes, for an adapted/ accessible property.

stressed mum...
see my comments earlier about my neighbour who had a wife and three children in a one bedroomed property, and were still not classed as overcrowded.

if your hubby needs/is entitled to DLA, and doesn't claim, then, sorry, but the more fool him. If nothing else it might help you get HB and possibly help toward proof if you are wishing to move to somewhere that's more suitable.

Currently, I can't quite see the issue where your complaint comes from:- husband and wife, plus one child in a 2-bedroom/ five person house, under the housing legislation is fine.

If your hubby is having surgery, and will need a separate bedroom, then yes, I can see that you'd need a medical priority. Med Priority is something that you will need to pursue:- it won't come in search of you. The rehousing visitors aren't psychic, and won't know you need help unless you apply.

There's also the Disability Housing Service here in Sheffield, who can help advise what adaptions you may need, or whether you will need housing in a new property. They may even help by nominating you to a housing association or Sheffield Homes, for an adapted/ accessible property.

He's not entitled to DLA due to the fact that he is capable of working,

I have tried to apply but have been told that because it is only 'temporary' at the moment we wouldn't be entitled to help until we can prove that it would be a permanant issue.

The point I was trying to get across is tha IMO the housing system stinks & was also very annoyed about some of the comments made by the self righteous ones re council tenants! ( I was agreeing with you hunni)

this is the frustrating bit though.........when I was offered this property (in the days before bidding) it was just me & my son. I was offered 2 choices one was a 3 bed & the other this a 2 bed.
Based on the fact that that I new somone in a very similar situation to your neighbour I took the 2 bed as it was all I needed at the time (I'm not the type pf person to take a 3 bed knowing that there is someone out there with more need for it than me, slate me for it if you like but it's how I was brought up!)

Because my partner is mobile & other than when his legs start playing up & his symptoms really start to kick in you wouldn't beleive me that there is anything wrong, basically he isn't considered to be disabled (I'm not sure how much stoooopid male pride kicks in there TBH)

I have had some good news though not long after putting the post on, the very nice lady from SH tenant support has has called me back & said she will try to help us & given me a list of stuff to do & get together so that she can put a special circumstances case forward. See if we can get anywhere from there (fingers crossed)!!!!!!!!

He's not entitled to DLA due to the fact that he is capable of working,

I have tried to apply but have been told that because it is only 'temporary' at the moment we wouldn't be entitled to help until we can prove that it would be a permanant issue.

The point I was trying to get across is tha IMO the housing system stinks & was also very annoyed about some of the comments made by the self righteous ones re council tenants! ( I was agreeing with you hunni)

this is the frustrating bit though.........when I was offered this property (in the days before bidding) it was just me & my son. I was offered 2 choices one was a 3 bed & the other this a 2 bed.
Based on the fact that that I new somone in a very similar situation to your neighbour I took the 2 bed as it was all I needed at the time (I'm not the type pf person to take a 3 bed knowing that there is someone out there with more need for it than me, slate me for it if you like but it's how I was brought up!)

Because my partner is mobile & other than when his legs start playing up & his symptoms really start to kick in you wouldn't beleive me that there is anything wrong, basically he isn't considered to be disabled (I'm not sure how much stoooopid male pride kicks in there TBH)

I have had some good news though not long after putting the post on, the very nice lady from SH tenant support has has called me back & said she will try to help us & given me a list of stuff to do & get together so that she can put a special circumstances case forward. See if we can get anywhere from there (fingers crossed)!!!!!!!!

My bold:-

You are labouring under a misconception.

You are entitled to claim DLA irrespective of whether you are working/ capable of working.

You can have mobility difficulties, and still be capable of work, you can need care, and still be capable of work:-being disabled or using a wheelchair does not equal being incapable of work.

If your hubby does not have mobility probs or care, and need to claim DLA, all well and good. But if he DOES have those needs and doesn't claim it, then he is foolish.

The criterion is that the conditon must have existed for something like three months prior, and is expected to last at least six months after the claim for DLA.

And, no I don't slate you for taking the smaller property rather than the larger one. it was very thoughtful of you.

And I hope that this effort from the SH representative bears fruit for you.

My bold:-

You are labouring under a misconception.

You are entitled to claim DLA irrespective of whether you are working/ capable of working.

You can have mobility difficulties, and still be capable of work, you can need care, and still be capable of work:-being disabled or using a wheelchair does not equal being incapable of work.

If your hubby does not have mobility probs or care, and need to claim DLA, all well and good. But if he DOES have those needs and doesn't claim it, then he is foolish.

The criterion is that the conditon must have existed for something like three months prior, and is expected to last at least six months after the claim for DLA.


When we called about DLA they told us that chances were that he wouldn't be entitled to it, as his mobility is fine & he needs no care, AT THE MOMENT but he does suffer from pains when he's walking most of the time (this is due to tethering around the spinal cord) I'll tell him to put a claim in anyway whats the worst they can say??!! he's had the condition for 30 years so far & will have it for the rest of his life!!

Thanks for the info Hun.

When we called about DLA they told us that chances were that he wouldn't be entitled to it, as his mobility is fine & he needs no care, AT THE MOMENT but he does suffer from pains when he's walking most of the time (this is due to tethering around the spinal cord) I'll tell him to put a claim in anyway whats the worst they can say??!! he's had the condition for 30 years so far & will have it for the rest of his life!!

Thanks for the info Hun.

Happy to help.

That's the point, SM... if you don't apply, you don't get..

iI you do apply, they can give you one of two answers, they can say "Yea" or "Nay", and it's surely better in your pocket than theirs, if you are entitled.

if your hubby presses for even the lowest mobility money, it's a start, isn't it?

If he does suffer pain on walking, then I'd say he possibly would/should be entitled.

As has been said in the DLA thread on the disability section, get help filling those interminable forms in, from your local CAB, and make an hour apointment with them for it, cos those forms are flippin' meaty!

and get him to press on how bad he is on a bad day, and not a good day.

When we called about DLA they told us that chances were that he wouldn't be entitled to it, as his mobility is fine & he needs no care, AT THE MOMENT but he does suffer from pains when he's walking most of the time (this is due to tethering around the spinal cord) I'll tell him to put a claim in anyway whats the worst they can say??!! he's had the condition for 30 years so far & will have it for the rest of his life!!

Thanks for the info Hun.

stressed_mum, have a look through some of the threads in the link in my signature ....... there are others' experiences of this, and more on there ....... I'm shocked that someone from the DLA unit would say such a thing, as I'm certain they wouldn't even be at a level to make a decision, let alone advise as to entitlement over the phone.