Getting a home through council/housing association?

[Jennifurball]

Hi,

In the past, me and OH have only ever rented privately and that was so expensive, so even more impossible with a baby so we are looking into putting our names on a waiting list. Has anyone else done this and how does it work? If you say you are expecting, does it put you up the list?

Also (I know this is a bit early!), what kind of benefits would we be entitled to? (We earn a total of about £30k per year).

We unfortunately aren't in a position to get a mortgage so renting is the only option.

 

[kat2504]

As you have a home you are unlikely to be high priority. People who are living in B&Bs and such are higher up the list. Although are you living with your parents? Perhaps you could say they are not happy to have the baby in their home or there isn't room? Also you do not have a very low income although I know how horrendous rents are in some areas thesedays!
You will get some working tax credits and of course child benefit. Depending on your circumstance you may or may not be entitled to some help with your housing costs.

Really you need to ask your local council what your options are.

 

[redbubble]

Hi Jennifurball - were in the same situation as you!!

Right, you can get a waiting list application from your local council. Its free and they have to accept it!!
They will ask for various proofs of your current tenancy, nationality, pregnancy and so on.
They shouldnt ask about your finances though - not their business!!
Being pregnant will not put you higher up the list.
Being in rented accommodation will also not help your case very much as they will view you as being in settled accommodation already so you will be pretty low on the priority listing.
Most councils are now using choice based lettings, basically they advertise the properties and you bid on them (once youve been registered and received your bidding number). If theyre not running CBL yet then they usually allocate properties on a priority basis so, the higher band youre in and the longer youve been in that band, the more chance you have of being rehoused sooner.

We also privately rent but will be putting our names down as soon as we have "Official" paperwork and scans, etc.

Expect to be on the list for a good few years!!!!!

In respect of benefits, have a look at www.direct.gov.uk . Judging by your combined income of £30k, you should be entitled to some tax credits.

If you look at your councils website they may have the application form for housing on there or they may tell you what proofs you need too.

Hope this helps and feel free to message me if you need to know anything else
x

 

[redbubble]

As you have a home you are unlikely to be high priority. People who are living in B&Bs and such are higher up the list. Although are you living with your parents? Perhaps you could say they are not happy to have the baby in their home or there isn't room? Also you do not have a very low income although I know how horrendous rents are in some areas thesedays!
You will get some working tax credits and of course child benefit. Depending on your circumstance you may or may not be entitled to some help with your housing costs.

Really you need to ask your local council what your options are.

The only thing id say about this is, if somebody has it in for you and youve said your parents cant have you, etc, then they only have to snitch and youll be in a world of trouble! Its fraud and they can prosecute. you have to sign both the waiting list to say that you have given correct information and if you go as "homeless" then you have to sign a declaration for that too.

It really isnt easy.... we already pay over £1000 pm rent and the moneys just "dead money". We even downsized to be able to pay less rent than where we were!!

 

[kat2504]

Surely finances do come into it though? Not everyone is entitled to subsidised housing are they? I thought it was there to help people who can't afford private renting. Lower incomes must surely take priority?
However, what classes as not able to afford private rental is vastly different in different areas.

 

[kat2504]

The parents shouldn't be forced to put them up though. Also in the OPs situation, they will not be able to live together as a family as she won't let her husband in her house!

 

[redbubble]

Nope!! Everybody is entitled to social housing - no matter how much they have in the bank or how much they earn! If youre on a lower income then you can get help with rents, in both private and social housing, but youre still entitled to apply and live in social housing - even if you earn over £100k EACH a year!!
Priority is given to those in different bands, so it could be (for example)
Band 1 - medical priority (current property is not suitable for your medical needs)
Band 2 - Homeless priority (in temporary accommodation or threatened with homelessness within 28 days)
Band 3 - Overcrowding (too many people in your current home)
Band 4 - everyone else in the borough
Band 5 - people from outside the borough

 

[kat2504]

Well I don't think that should be the case. If people who can afford to pay their own rents are taking up social housing, that is leaving other people who can't stuck in temporary accommodation. Social housing should be for the less well off. People who earn lots of money should not be entitled to subsidised rents. That is not what social housing was intended for.

 

[Harleyy]

Hey,
Popped over from baby club!

We had our name on the list for a house/bigger flat, from the day I found out I was pregnant. It didnt put us up the list. When I had bailey, we like gained one band, that was it, still didnt get us a house/flat, at the time, we were living in a one bed flat. we ended up going privet rent, in the end. I dont think we would have ever got something bigger.

 

[redbubble]

Well I don't think that should be the case. If people who can afford to pay their own rents are taking up social housing, that is leaving other people who can't stuck in temporary accommodation. Social housing should be for the less well off. People who earn lots of money should not be entitled to subsidised rents. That is not what social housing was intended for.

Sadly - its the way it is.....

 

[Jennifurball]

Thanks everyone, yes I forgot to say we are both living separarely with parents. My house only has 2 bedrooms, my room wouldn't be big enough for me and baby and as mentioned, my mum won't have him living there lol and also his parents are retired and are moving soon and downsizing so it is genuine. Basically we will be homeless once baby is here!

My only concern would be when I am on maternity, renting privately again would be a problem financially. I like the ones where bills are included in the full price but they tend to be houseshares and really don't fancy that. Most places are over £500 for rent alone, it is ridiculous!

Just annoys me that these chavs pop babies out for a living and get free flats when we work our arses off all week for nothing it seems.

 

[redbubble]

1st things 1st - get your name on the waiting list NOW!!
You can always notify them of a change in circumstances further down the line.

xx

 

[kat2504]

You should get yourself on the waiting list and explain your situation.
I might add that on the same income I was paying 650 a month for a two bed flat and I know obviously a baby is expensive but I could afford the bills on top of that rent and not be impoverished at the end of the month so you may have to look at your budget. I didn't have a lot of money over and only myself to look after, but I don't think 500 is extortionate rent to pay if you are on 30k

Obviously when you are on maternity leave your income may be lower. It might be worth enquiring if you will be entitled to some housing benefit during that time when you are not earning.

 

[Jennifurball]

We are putting away money between us from now, it is just the fact that we will have to buy everything from scratch and it is having that money upfront because I have heard these places come as an empty shell, even without carpet!

You are right actually, it could even be cheaper renting private with a furnished place, a flat would suffice if it was ground floor.

 

[kat2504]

Not sure why it would have to be ground floor unless one of you has a disability. Plenty of people manage to live upstairs!

The last private rental I had came with nice carpets and curtains and all usual white goods. I furnished it super super cheap from Ikea and donations. I didn't have a lot of furniture or anything fancy, but Ikea is a godsend if you don't have a lot of money. Obviously also freecycle. In the long run it is cheaper than paying extra for a furnished rental.

 

[Jennifurball]

We used to live on the 2nd floor and it was a nightmare with shopping and carrying bin bags down, moving furniture etc. I just feel it would be twice as hard with a pram etc.

I do ideally want a house because I missed having a garden, my OH is calling the housing association this afternoon for info. Yes freecycle is a good idea, I will have a nosy through that.

 

[kat2504]

Well yes, I'm sure there are all sort of things we would all like! Doesn't always go that way though and if you are trying to get social housing quickly, or any rental property that you can afford, you will need to be quite flexible if there is not a lot available in your area.

Sometimes if you are entitled due to your income the council will help you out with private rental costs as they don't have enough council houses to go round. A quick google of preston suggests a 2 bed house for around 500 (but I have no idea of the area) and then you might get help with that when you have to give up work. It would be quicker than going low priority on the waiting list.

 

[Missy21386]

Popped over from 2nd trimester. I don't understand why you can't just rent privately like the rest of us. It annoys me that some people seem to expect to get everything given to them as soon as they're pregnant. That's part of the reason there are so many young mums.

council houses/flats are supposed to be there for people in desperate need of accomodation. It shouldn't be for those that just dont want to pay the higher rent. Together, you both earn a half decent wage. Look in the paper for places with cheaper rent. We earn a similar wage and pay £425 a month rent on a 2 bed house. Yes it's a lot of money and we will struggle when i'm on maternity leave, but i don't expect the council to give me somewhere cheaper.

i also believe that council accomodation should be a temporary solution, until the tenants are on their feet and able to rent somewhere else. They shouldn't expect to stay there permenently.

We'd love to be able to get a mortgage, but are unable to thanks to the current financial climate.

 

[Jennifurball]

Thanks for your replies. I don't expect to be put in council accommodation just because I am pregnant, I just thought I would rather pay a reasonable price for somewhere half decent and be able to live comfortable enough to provide for my baby. I know everyone thinks the same but IMO it mostly isn't genuine families with low income who get these places, it is the Jeremy Kyle type of people with no income who won't lift a finger and have no intention of doing so. I live on a council estate now with my parents and see it all the time. We would be paying for it rather than expecting every other tax payer to.

I haven't had good experience with private renting as it has happened twice now where the landlord has been forced to sell up and we was thrown out after already shelling out about £6,000 living there in total, I hate the fact it is dead money.

However, the house you found for £500 is ok, what site was that on?

 

[nautegesocks]

Popped over from 2nd trimester. I don't understand why you can't just rent privately like the rest of us. It annoys me that some people seem to expect to get everything given to them as soon as they're pregnant. That's part of the reason there are so many young mums.

council houses/flats are supposed to be there for people in desperate need of accomodation. It shouldn't be for those that just dont want to pay the higher rent. Together, you both earn a half decent wage. Look in the paper for places with cheaper rent. We earn a similar wage and pay £425 a month rent on a 2 bed house. Yes it's a lot of money and we will struggle when i'm on maternity leave, but i don't expect the council to give me somewhere cheaper.

i also believe that council accomodation should be a temporary solution, until the tenants are on their feet and able to rent somewhere else. They shouldn't expect to stay there permenently.

We'd love to be able to get a mortgage, but are unable to thanks to the current financial climate.

i have no idea why everyone is complaining about 500 being to high rent for 1 or 2bed me and oh pay £550 for a studio flat we have the living room kitchen and bedroom all in 1 box room with only a tiny window that opens my nan and grandad have a holiday caravan bigger than our flat we will be going on the housing list as its £650 £700 for a one bed and £750 £1000 for a 2 bed its over £1000 just to pay for the deposits and agency fees unfortunatly we dont have that kind of money disposable to us we need it all for baby i have been made redundent and oh only earns £16000 a year im pretty sure it says no children on out tenancy agreement so will probly be being made homless once the baby is here hopefully paying reduced rent costs for a few years will enable us to save for a deposit to buy a house in the future and give our child a better life sometimes people just need a little help .

good luck with your housing aplication