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What's the likelihood of getting a council property?

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As she has a child her family is considered automatically vulnerable. Yes there would be other things the council have to consider such as “intentionality” and I could get technical, but it’s not really appropriate in this arena. I don’t have a misconception.

 

I think it is reasonable enough to tell the OP that she should be able to get assistance from the council and that she should take additional advice from a CAB. Especially considering all the other post’s said that she had no chance of getting council accommodation. They were more miss informed.

 

I have 3 children, my landlord has nearly blown us up and drives round our house every day and has his drunk friends banging on my door. My doctor has put me on antidepressants and according to the council we are not vulnerable enough. So no I don't think they would be too helpful.

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contact every single person that might be able to help, from your doctor to Shelter and CAB office (as was suggested before) Also your health visitor and also your MP and local paper. I hope you get it sorted out, it's not nice to live like that.

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I have 3 children, my landlord has nearly blown us up and drives round our house every day and has his drunk friends banging on my door. My doctor has put me on antidepressants and according to the council we are not vulnerable enough. So no I don't think they would be too helpful.

 

Your situation is differant from being homeless like the OP is going to be.

 

Have you taken advice from a CAB or solicitor? What it might be possible to argue with the council in your case is that it is unreasonable to remain in your home and are therefore technically homeless. If that was accepted, then, as you have children, the council would have to house you as a priority as you are considered vulnerable.

 

Or you could ask the council for priority rehousing because your prescent accomodation is making your mental health worse.

 

Or you could ask for priority rehousing by the council because it is unsafe for you to remain in your home. All of these stratergies will necessitate you having a lot of evidence, such as reports from the police, private rented standards, doctors and so on.

 

Houing law and systems are complicated and that is why it is really inportant that people take proper advice from CAB's or solicitors.

 

Just because some people find that they have been frustrated by the council housing system does not mean that another person will be. Just tiny differances in the circumstances of people can mean that one can get help through some rules and others not.

 

People wouldn't take other legal advice from people on this forum so they shouldn't take advice on housing on here either. But time after time people come on here wanting housing advice. People need to get individual advice from a specialist who can take into account all the individual's circumstances.

Edited by Amyvictoria
Spelling.

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Lots of good stuff from amyvictoria, and its true, lots of stuff on here about getting a council house could apply to some but not others. Some of it is just completely wrong. You might try Shelter for advice, they have a free helpline, and are impartial - details:

 

Ring 0808 800 4444

 

8am-8pm Monday-Friday

8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday

 

Lots of info on their website too.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/how_we_can_help/housing_advice_helpline

Edited by Ms Macbeth

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Your situation is differant from being homeless like the OP is going to be.

 

Have you taken advice from a CAB or solicitor? What it might be possible to argue with the council in your case is that it is unreasonable to remain in your home and are therefore technically homeless. If that was accepted, then, as you have children, the council would have to house you as a priority as you are considered vulnerable.

 

Or you could ask the council for priority rehousing because your prescent accomodation is making your mental health worse.

 

Or you could ask for priority rehousing by the council because it is unsafe for you to remain in your home. All of these stratergies will necessitate you having a lot of evidence, such as reports from the police, private rented standards, doctors and so on.

 

Houing law and systems are complicated and that is why it is really inportant that people take proper advice from CAB's or solicitors.

 

Just because some people find that they have been frustrated by the council housing system does not mean that another person will be. Just tiny differances in the circumstances of people can mean that one can get help through some rules and others not.

 

People wouldn't take other legal advice from people on this forum so they shouldn't take advice on housing on here either. But time after time people come on here wanting housing advice. People need to get individual advice from a specialist who can take into account all the individual's circumstances.

 

 

We are going to be homeless as the landlord has sought back possession of the house after we went to the council about him not doing the gas safety checks. This is how we found out we had a major gas leak caused by meter tampering. The council have also had a letter from my counsellor and my doctor has also agreed she will write a letter to them. They are not interested in doing anything. They want us to wait for him to take us to court while in the mean time it makes me and my partner more ill living in limbo in an unsafe house never mind the affects on the children.

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We are going to be homeless as the landlord has sought back possession of the house after we went to the council about him not doing the gas safety checks. This is how we found out we had a major gas leak caused by meter tampering. The council have also had a letter from my counsellor and my doctor has also agreed she will write a letter to them. They are not interested in doing anything. They want us to wait for him to take us to court while in the mean time it makes me and my partner more ill living in limbo in an unsafe house never mind the affects on the children.

 

 

It is usual for Sheffield city council to expect people to wait until they are evicted by the courts until they accept a homelessness case. When you are evicted they will have a duty to house you. The Homelessness Code of Practice (you can Google it and download it for free) does say that councils should consider people homeless when they have been evicted. Some councils choose to interpret that to mean that people are homeless when their landlords issue a notice seeking possession. Sheffield city council (and other council’s) chooses to interpret it to mean that people are only homeless when all court action has taken place.

 

I would advise you to consult a solicitor because they could argue with the council that it is unreasonable for you to remain in your home and they should accept a homelessness case now.

 

This is what I mean about every case being subtly different. You are saying that the council aren’t helping you – but they will, at the point that they consider (or are persuaded) that their legal duty kicks in.

 

It is better if people get proper legal advice about their own situations because otherwise they can end up floundering feeling that no one is helping them.

 

As I’ve said before, housing law is very complex.

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From my own experience being a homeless family between December 2007 and April 2008:

 

If you have children, the council have a duty of care to rehome the children in suitable accomodation. Seeing as you come along with the children, they have to home you as well.

 

Suitable accomodation does not mean a four bedroom house, it can be any property with enough bedrooms for you and you children to sleep in, house or flat.

 

You do not have to be taken to court and evicted before the council award you homeless priority. You just need the written notice, which has to be legal and giving the correct period of notice and under which acts etc. you are being evicted. The council will check the legality of the notice for you.

 

You do not have to be unemployed to be classed as homeless. The council do not care how much money you earn, or how much money you owe, as long as you don't owe money to them. They will ask for a bank statement, but only so you can prove that it is you that receives the child benefit.

 

As soon as you have the notice, go straight to Howden House (First Point) and get an interview. Be prepared to wait a long time to see someone, but you can be seen on the same day you get the notice to get the ball rolling asap.

 

Take as much ID as you can, for you and your kids, try and get everything done there and then without needing to go back another day because you forgot something.

 

Expect to be treat terribly, and looked down upon, as they patronise you and ask if you are able to write your own signature on a form. Think I am joking? I'm not.

 

After a week or so, you will be given homeless priority and have to start the process of bidding on houses. If you can do this online, then do so, if not you can do it via the phone or in person.

 

The first property you win, you will have to take as part of the deal - after all, if you are homeless, anywhere is better than the street. I bidded on 100+ properties and got something after four months of being homeless. We got a flat - if you want a house, you'll be bidding for longer.

 

Don't expect a palace. I was told that properties that are available for people on waiting lists are cleaned properly, recarpeted and repainted before the winning bidder moves in. As homeless properties need a quicker turnaround from the point the previous tenant leaves and you need to move in, this level of renovation will not be done. Standard practice is to gut the place of all furniture, carpets, light fittings and curtains then give it a quick clean. After seeing the differing levels of treatment other flats in my block get when people move out, I have no reason not to believe this either.

 

When we moved into our flat we were presented with a place with bare (broken) tiled floors, yellow warning tape in a big X on the toilet seat and a family of mice living in the kitchen. But hey, it was better than the ex-neighbours caravan..

 

Good luck though, its quite possibly the worst thing for anyone who has any self respect to have to go through.

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Thank you everyone for your replies. I've managed to scrape the money together for a private rent (no agency fees, thank god!), so hoping to move in the next month or so. There are some terrible situations on here, and I actually think I'm in a pretty good position compared to some, so I'll leave the council properties for people who need them more than I do.

 

Good luck everyone.

 

A x

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http://www.isouthyorkshire.com/profile/122915/Sheffield/Housing-Aid-Centre/

 

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/housing-services/homelessandhousingoptions

 

 

Aqua, was in the same situation some years ago, it was my local MP that got me sorted out plus Housing Aids department within the council. Good Luck

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