We moved into our own house, complete with mortgage last year but as I am not working due to illness we are finding it hard to pay for everything at the moment. My boyfriend earns a good wage, however what with other bills and loans to pay off we seem to be struggling a little bit and have had to look at our options. My boyfriend was and still is on the waiting list for a council property and has been for about 20 years now since he left school. I just wondered how we go about finding a council property should it come to this and we have to move from our current home.

to be honest, id say go to the property shop in town, as ur bf been on the list 4 20 years or so like u sed, its should be no problem, hope this helps? ;)

The property shop is the best way to have a look at what is currently on offer, but they've changed the system now. You can 'bid' for certain properties, but you can get more information from you local housing office or look the web site for sheffield city council and housing. If all else fails, I would contact your local MP and see if he/she can help.

if your wanting a council house you have to bid for them now they dont just offer you one anymore. im wanting one but either walkley or around that area and its very hard to get one. it will be quick and easy if your wanting one over the other side of town though eg wybourne

Im wanting a council house at hillsbrough, have been for 15 years, but the years count for nothing now its all down to bids and why you need the house etc:
the last house i bid for, had 87 bids on it in 2 days!

its stupid though cause i have a two year old son and need my own house cause i had to ove back to my parents and although there is room for us and things it would be nicer to have my own place with my son and not still have to be with my parents. the council still dont think i urgently need to move though for some reason because im living with my parents in a nice sized house

Originally posted by spyro2000
its stupid though cause i have a two year old son and need my own house cause i had to ove back to my parents and although there is room for us and things it would be nicer to have my own place with my son and not still have to be with my parents. the council still dont think i urgently need to move though for some reason because im living with my parents in a nice sized house i live in a 3 bed house and want a 4 bed house i grew up at hillsbrough and like the area, ive been wanting to move back there for 15 years... its all down to want and needs..... but if someone who is homeless gets the house i want i cant complain if they need it more than me, i just want to move house, i dont (need) a home.

i dont need one either but i dont really get along with my dad so my own home would be nice. they seem to take care of people that havn't been on long instead of getting the people who try every bloody week one. its not fair in my eyes.

i think you have to renew every so often, dont quote me on it but 20 years might be for nothing

When you say you have to "bid" for a council house, what do you have to do, say how much you are prepared to pay in rent or something ?

no you dont bid for for much you want to pay you either get the paper or go on their website and they call it bidding but you just let them know which ones you want and depending on your circumstances you may get it

Depends what you call Hillsborough,there are very few in Hillsborough.Langsett,Stannington,Shirecliffe,Fox Hill yes but I don't know of many actually in Hillsborough.

Anyone can see what kind of properties are currently available by visiting the property shop website which I thinkg is www.sheffieldpropertyshop.co.uk

If this isn't right then go to the council's website at www.sheffield.gov.uk and follow the lonks for social housing.

The website is really useful for info on what you have to do. To bid you will need your partner's registration number and a pin number. I recently registered and they issued this information very quickly.

As mentioned the 'bid' is just your official statement of interest in renting a property - the rent is fixed, and you can prioritise which property you'd prefer if you're bidding for more than one at a time.

I believe they decide who is going to get the property by first looking at whether you are on the priority list, and then by waiting time. As far as I can tell, unless you're on the priority list you don't stand much of a chance of getting anything.

Spot on.

Basically, your waiting till satan skates to work unless you are in the "at risk/in need" category.

This comprises of ammount of kids you got, if anyone has an illness or on regular medication and your employment status "or lack of it in some cases"

So if your just a normal person wantin a house, you don't really have a chance.

The bird at the council office we spoke to basically said, "you'd be better lookin at private renting, as you aren't in any priority position" and also recommended I see my doctor about getting perscriptions/on the sick for stress/depression, as this can be taken into account.

Hope this helps.

Originally posted by Jillybabes
We moved into our own house, complete with mortgage last year but as I am not working due to illness we are finding it hard to pay for everything at the moment. My boyfriend earns a good wage, however what with other bills and loans to pay off we seem to be struggling a little bit and have had to look at our options. My boyfriend was and still is on the waiting list for a council property and has been for about 20 years now since he left school. I just wondered how we go about finding a council property should it come to this and we have to move from our current home.

exactly the same as us. we had, had 2 bought houses with no probs at all then i got double pnuemonia and was in ICU they told hubby they dint know if i would make it, so as you can imagine he couldnt work ( we are self employed) i was in hospital for weeks so he was having to have time off all the time to look after the kids etc.. we fell behind, and decided the best thing was to sell the house.
we went through all the rig marole at the council, nothing was offered and we ended up having to move into the back of our shop, which is 2 rooms and a loo. still the council did nothing and said we wernt homeless , i begged them to send someone out and see what we were having to live in and asked if it was classed as over crowding, theres no windows in the back and shane had to put a shower cubicle in. months went past with us keep bidding and hearing nothing, anyway someone gave me the number of north british housing SPOT ON filled form out and with in a month had been offered a 4 bed house :thumbsup:

You may have to give me this number of north british housing thingy as it sounds like 20 years counts for nothing on the waiting list. The system is absolutely pants with a capital P. Tried to get council tax benefit which we were turned down for cos they said our income was too high. Which it isnt really cos im not working and my boyfriend pays the mortgage out of his wage which is over £500, plus other bills and loans etc, they just dont take you into consideration unless you are living out of a box im sure!

Choice based lettings is the new system. There is now no longer a points system. I sit on the council's Neighbourhood's Scrutiny Board, and we have just examined the system in detail.

It works like this. Vacant council properties are advertised on a weekly basis via the Property Shop in the city centre, and other means. Anyone interested in a particular property can make a bid. Whoever has the longest waiting time is first offered the property, and if they decline, an offer is made to the person with the next longest waiting time, and so forth until someone accepts the property.

The council has a legal duty to rehouse people with priority needs, e.g., statutory homeless, medical problems, handicapped. 50% of vacant properties are allocated to those with priority needs, and 50% to those with waiting time.

Properties available to people with priority needs include sheltered accommodation (suitable for the elderly), and adapted accommodation (suitable for disabled people, including wheelchair users).

There is a currently a high demand for council homes.

Hi, I would like the number too, if you could post it on this thread it would be much appreciated as it seems like there are quiet a few of us who would be interested.

Cheers

Piece of ****. Are you a teenage girl? Just get up the duff and you'll get a council house in no time.

Seems to be what a lot of teenage girls think anyway.

Originally posted by antics
Piece of ****. Are you a teenage girl? Just get up the duff and you'll get a council house in no time.

Seems to be what a lot of teenage girls think anyway.

Nope, that 'tactic' doesnt seem to work nowadays either.

When I was at school, girls actually planned to do that... unbelievable!

Originally posted by munky
So if your just a normal person wantin a house, you don't really have a chance.
I don't understand if you are a normal person wanting a house, why not rent or buy one !

I thought council house were only for people who though bad luck (i.e. illness) or bad family situation (i.e.left alone with many kids or wife abuse etc) who would otherwise be homeless.

If you are a normal working adult, shouldn't you be paying your own way in the world ? Including your own housing ?

Originally posted by PIF_Tails
I don't understand if you are a normal person wanting a house, why not rent or buy one !

I thought council house were only for people who though bad luck (i.e. illness) or bad family situation (i.e.left alone with many kids or wife abuse etc) who would otherwise be homeless.

If you are a normal working adult, shouldn't you be paying your own way in the world ? Including your own housing ?

Renting a council home is a normal activity. A lot of working adults do not earn enough to be able to afford buying a house of their own.

Please read my previous post concerning priority applicants (which covers ill health, medical needs, statutory homelessness, etc.).

Originally posted by redrobbo
Renting a council home is a normal activity.
It can not be normal for everyone.

If everyone got a council house who would be paying for them ?

Though I am happy for my tax to go to those who need it though illness or bad family situations. Surly the 'norm' should be people renting/buying for themselves.

If it is the 'norm' to get a council house, maybe I should sell my house and try for one. Maybe if I was just paying council rent, I could actually afford a holiday, as it is all my money goes on my morgage.

So what do you need to go on the list ?

Jilly,
I believe its council policy that if you own your own place, to be allocated a council property, you must first sell and then go to the housing dept., with your receipt or bill of sale and claim to be homeless. You will then be dealt with in the relative way.

Originally posted by PIF_Tails
It can not be normal for everyone.

If everyone got a council house who would be paying for them ?

Though I am happy for my tax to go to those who need it though illness or bad family situations. Surly the 'norm' should be people renting/buying for themselves.

If it is the 'norm' to get a council house, maybe I should sell my house and try for one. Maybe if I was just paying council rent, I could actually afford a holiday, as it is all my money goes on my morgage.

So what do you need to go on the list ?

Indeed having a council house is normal. Nothing wrong with it. And being in a property is the same as renting, just that you are renting off the council instead of privately, no real difference. So I dont see your point as to "why dont they just rent", you are already renting if you are in a council property.

I personally would love to have a mortgate and my own home but at this present moment in time I just cant afford it right now.

Originally posted by spyro2000
I personally would love to have a mortgate and my own home but at this present moment in time I just cant afford it right now.
It is very hard, but I didn't even realise there was an alternative. I was brought up and taught you either work and buy/rent yourself or you are homeless.

I didn't know until tonight that there was any alternatives. I had no idea that you could work and apply for a council housing at the same time.

I had to spend several years living in a one room bedsit, before my partner and I were lucky enough to have afford our morgage.

I hope you are lucky enough to get your own morgage one day soon.

Originally posted by PIF_Tails
It is very hard, but I didn't even realise there was an alternative. I was brought up and taught you either work and buy/rent yourself or you are homeless.

I didn't know until tonight that there was any alternatives. I had no idea that you could work and apply for a council housing at the same time.

I had to spend several years living in a one room bedsit, before my partner and I were lucky enough to have afford our morgage.

I hope you are lucky enough to get your own morgage one day soon.

Yes thanks, i mean i could in theory afford to get a mortgage, in fact i went for one last year, but it can be a long process. And as I am at uni, I can only go for it in the summer holidays, so ive got to work full time in the holiday, so that I can tell the Mortgage people that i am in full time employment. I done this last year, but it all fell through at the end.A terrible end result. Which is why I personally want to live in a council house for now and once ive finished uni and got a decent job, try again for a mortgage. Makes sense to me.

Originally posted by SCENIC
Jilly,
I believe its council policy that if you own your own place, to be allocated a council property, you must first sell and then go to the housing dept., with your receipt or bill of sale and claim to be homeless. You will then be dealt with in the relative way.

Not so SCENIC. Anyone who sells their house in order to secure a council home would be classified as intentionally homeless, and they would be refused council housing.

If you became unintentionally homeless, e.g., through domestic violence, fire, flood, etc., then you may be eligible for at least temporary emergency accommodation, and eventually - depending on all your circumstances - a secure tenancy.

All claims of homelessness are checked and scrutinised, and the majority of claimants are not accepted for council housing. This is not to say that some folk are not homeless, but by law, the council is only bound to assist those who are deemed statutorily homeless. Selling your house and claiming you are homeless doesn't fit the criteria. Anyone doing such a foolish thing would be given a list of private landlords, and advised to make their own arrangements for accommodation.

Originally posted by redrobbo
Not so SCENIC. Anyone who sells their house in order to secure a council home would be classified as intentionally homeless, and they would be refused council housing.

All claims of homelessness are checked and scrutinised, and the majority of claimants are not accepted for council housing. This is not to say that some folk are not homeless, but by law, the council is only bound to assist those who are deemed statutorily homeless. Selling your house and claiming you are homeless doesn't fit the criteria. Anyone doing such a foolish thing would be given a list of private landlords, and advised to make their own arrangements for accommodation.

Redrobbo, i have my own home and have done so for the last few years paying out on a large mortgage. I work hard, pay all my taxes and if the situation rose where i could no longer pay my mortgage and had to sell i'd hope that i could find a council home (seems not the case now). Maybe if i was a chav out of work i'd stand a chance :D

I know it's not your choice but in some ways it does seem unfair although admitidly i cant think of the solution.

I know going away from the topic, my other moan is at those who buy the council home for next to nothing and sell it in a few years for a large profit. But again, that's for another thread

Originally posted by PIF_Tails
I don't understand if you are a normal person wanting a house, why not rent or buy one !

I thought council house were only for people who though bad luck (i.e. illness) or bad family situation (i.e.left alone with many kids or wife abuse etc) who would otherwise be homeless.

If you are a normal working adult, shouldn't you be paying your own way in the world ? Including your own housing ?

Because, in case you haven't noticed, the cost of buying a house has shot through the roof, and is getting to be out of reach for most people on an average salary. The average salary in Sheffield is £19k, whereas the average house price is £120k. Even with two people on average salary you can only usually raise £85k on a standard mortgage. And because house prices are going sky high so are private rents. Landlords have to cover the mortgage, so rents are high - and those landlords who bought property years ago just match the other rents because they know they can.

Originally posted by SCENIC
Jilly,
I believe its council policy that if you own your own place, to be allocated a council property, you must first sell and then go to the housing dept., with your receipt or bill of sale and claim to be homeless. You will then be dealt with in the relative way.

My parents were recently given a council property even though they owned their own house. Because my dad has mobility needs, is registered disabled and was finding it increasingly difficult to cope in their old terrace with it's steep stairs, they were put on the priority list, as private bungalows were way out of their price range. When they were offered a property they were told they would have to sell their house within 6 months - which sounds fair enough to me.

Originally posted by redrobbo
There is a currently a high demand for council homes.

We are too aware of the high demand for council homes. We are living in an upper floor 2 bed property and need a 3 bed one, but sheffield homes tell us that we should turn the living room into a bedroom. Even though the sheffield property website says that our property is unsuitable for our family.

If there is such a shortage of council homes why, when the council demolishes estates (ie St Georges), does it always sell the land for expensive private properties to rent or buy instead of only allowing Council or Housing Association to build affordable homes on the land?

Its FAR EASIER to rent a private house than a council house, and prices for rental in Sheffield are very cheap compared to other cities. A decent 3/4 bedroomed house in a reasonable area will only cost about £450-500 PCM, just been looking thro the property agents pages, no shortage of houses to rent. If you are on benefits you get all your rent paid by the Council anyway, or at least 80% of it?

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Its FAR EASIER to rent a private house than a council house, and prices for rental in Sheffield are very cheap compared to other cities. A decent 3/4 bedroomed house in a reasonable area will only cost about £450-500 PCM, just been looking thro the property agents pages, no shortage of houses to rent.

Which websites are you looking at? An ex-council 3 bed-house round the corner from us is going for £650 per month, and it is a very small house.

Originally posted by goldenfleece
Its FAR EASIER to rent a private house than a council house, and prices for rental in Sheffield are very cheap compared to other cities. A decent 3/4 bedroomed house in a reasonable area will only cost about £450-500 PCM, just been looking thro the property agents pages, no shortage of houses to rent. If you are on benefits you get all your rent paid by the Council anyway, or at least 80% of it?

Ok now you've told me that, tell me who and where takes DSS, no-one does anymore (well hardly anyone!) so no benefits won't pay your rent as you'd never be offered the property in the first place. I'm stuck in a 1 bedroomed upper floor council flat with my son and we won't be re-housed in Sheffield in the not too distant future so we're leaving Sheffield because other cities house you sooner. The council here stink!

Originally posted by tinkabel
Ok now you've told me that, tell me who and where takes DSS, no-one does anymore (well hardly anyone!) so no benefits won't pay your rent as you'd never be offered the property in the first place.

That's very true. When looking for a new flat last year I noticed that every letting agent and every ad always said 'no DSS'. If you go through a letting agent they always want to take an employer reference to check you can afford the rent without assistance.

Originally posted by banesmabes
That's very true. When looking for a new flat last year I noticed that every letting agent and every ad always said 'no DSS'. If you go through a letting agent they always want to take an employer reference to check you can afford the rent without assistance.

Exactly and then the ones i found which did except DSS or part DSS (if you worked part time) wouldn't offer me the house/flat because i'm only young and i'm on my own with a baby (must think babies are untidy or something!) Oh and before people start thinking i planned to get pregnant to get a council place (i was 19 when i was pregnant) i already had my flat and a full time job before i got pregnant, just thought i'd add that bit so folks didn't think i was a chav, teenage lay-about! Oh well nevermind!

sorry i took ages to reply
heres the number for the north british housing
0114 2525932
it was a fella called rob bradey who we delt with.

good luck

Litha

Thanks for the number Litha, have wrote it down in case I need it. My bloke rang the housing office today and spoke with someone who said he will be given priority as he has been on the housing list for such a long time, nearly 20 years and that someone will help us start looking straight away. We are going to see someone at the housing office on thursday so we shall see what happens.