Housing Issues ahead :(

[LJaydow]

Hey,

So when me and OH split up, I stayed in out privately rented house. The landlords didnt want to accept housing benefit, but didnt really have a choice. When OH was paying the rent, he was giving it to them in cash and they were not paying tax on it. Now I am living here, they had to accept housing benefit else the inland revenue would have investigated etc etc. The rent has been put up to £1120, and the housing benefit is £950. My tenancy agreement is until the 31st July, and until then the council are giving me a discretionary housing payment on top of the HB of £950 to top the amount up to the full rental amount. After the 31st of July, I very very much doubt that they will want me to stay here, as a) I wont be able to afford it and b) they can have someone who is paying more, and isnt paying via housing benefit.

I have spoken to the council and they are not interested until its the 31st July, and I am "homeless" so to speak. I have 3 cats, and me and LO living here, and although they can put me in a B&B, I dont know how long that is for and where and what happens with my cats etc. The only advice they have given in the meantime is to try and find privately rented housing elsewhere.

I have looked in my area, and there is literally nothing at all. No landlord wants to take HB, and no pets either. I have emailed so many estate agents, but there is no one

The only places that seem to accept housing benefit are lots of miles away, and I dont really want to move away from my support network here. Ive recently been diagnosed with having bipolar, and honestly sometimes things are a huge struggle and I really value and rely upon the emotional support of family and friends.

I cant get enough together for a deposit for anywhere else, and even if I could there would be nowhere for me to go.

So my question is....what on earth can I do?! When the 31st comes, where am I meant to go with LO and cats in tow? I dont know if I should speak to the landlords and get them to start the eviction process now just to get me some time with a roof over my head to the ball can start rolling with the council? I know it sounds silly with the cats, and everyone says I should get rid of them. They have been with me the entire time I have lived in this house, and when LO goes to bed and I am sitting there on my lonesome and am upset, they give me great pleasure and lots of cuddles etc and I really dont want to get rid of them

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This uncertainty in a couple of months is making everything else feel ten times worse

xxxx

 

[Jinty]

The quickest way to find somewhere would be to go homeless. Yes they will put you in hostel/B&B/shelter area but it is the quickest. I went homeless to get my flat and the place i went to weren't the best but i was hardly ever there. I was there for 3 months, i would of got out a lot quicker is i wasn't just bidding on houses. As for your cats, couldn't you get someone to look after them until you found somewhere? I know what you mean about private. I tried to look private and no landlords wanted HB which in my opinion is much more stable than people in work...?

How come your rent is so expensive?! My rent is only £375 2 bed flat.
Hope you find somewhere soon xx

 

[DaisyDoodles]

You should be able to get help with a deposit and another option to consider is to get yourself a social worker... A friend of mine has bipolar and her social worker sorted out her housing problems, helped her with benefits ect and it's her social worker so her kids aren't affected!

As for the cats, I understand completely, I stayed in an over priced dump that I couldn't afford for years because nowhere else would take my dog... But surely a friend would look after them for a while? And I personally would consider not mentioning them - as long as they're not likely to cause damage you could always pop them in a carrier and leave at a friends when inspections are due!

 

[LJaydow]

The quickest way to find somewhere would be to go homeless. Yes they will put you in hostel/B&B/shelter area but it is the quickest. I went homeless to get my flat and the place i went to weren't the best but i was hardly ever there. I was there for 3 months, i would of got out a lot quicker is i wasn't just bidding on houses. As for your cats, couldn't you get someone to look after them until you found somewhere? I know what you mean about private. I tried to look private and no landlords wanted HB which in my opinion is much more stable than people in work...?

How come your rent is so expensive?! My rent is only £375 2 bed flat.
Hope you find somewhere soon xx

My rent is so much because im close to london central, and its a 2 bedroom house with offstreet parking and garden etc

 

[Jinty]

That makes sense! Hope you find somewhere soon xx

 

[rubyttc]

Thats a really tough situation, I dont have much advice about housing but you should try and contact the cats protection league in your area, I used to do volunteer work for them here in Scotland and I know sometimes the other volunteers would foster kittys for people who had to go into hospital or who had housing issues on a temporary basis.

I really hope they can help you, I would be lost without my kitty cats too

 

[xxsteffyxx]

you know that housing benefit can pay you directly rather then the landlord? If you get housing benefit to pay into your account and then landlord takes rent from your account they will never know.

Ask to get DSA paid direct to you rather then the landlord.

 

[LJaydow]

you know that housing benefit can pay you directly rather then the landlord? If you get housing benefit to pay into your account and then landlord takes rent from your account they will never know.

Ask to get DSA paid direct to you rather then the landlord.

I had the housing benefit paid directly to me, but I am changing it so it goes to the landlord. I had a bailiff come round last week and its left me £400 down on this months rent and I am properly screwed because of it!

 

[Dream.dream]

i have bipolar as well so if you ever need to talk about it feel free to meassage me privatly. i was diagnosed at 13 .

as for housing, getting a social worker would be a good idea they may have other resources that arnt available to you that they can use to find you a place.