Is anyone else trapped in expensive private rental property?

[MissLM]

My OH and I have lived in 2 private rented properties since DD1 was born as we couldn't get a council house, we've since had another DD.

At first we were on HB so our rent was paid but obviously OH wanted to work and so we were paying towards our rent, and now he has a better job we are expected to pay £124 per week rent on our property which is only a 2 bedroom whilst everyone else in the street who is with the council pays a maximum of £104.

my mum only pays £104 for a 3 bedroom council house!!

Its really frustrating because if I went out to work too the council would take most of my wages in rent until we paid up to £196 per week in rent whilst everyone seems to get that extra money straight in their back pocket because their rent isn't so high on the council.

I just feel like my daughters are going to be going without because all our money seems to go on rent and rent and council tax.

Does anyone else have this problem with private rent?

 

[aimee-lou]

My OH and I have lived in 2 private rented properties since DD1 was born as we couldn't get a council house, we've since had another DD.

At first we were on HB so our rent was paid but obviously OH wanted to work and so we were paying towards our rent, and now he has a better job we are expected to pay £124 per week rent on our property which is only a 2 bedroom whilst everyone else in the street who is with the council pays a maximum of £104.

my mum only pays £104 for a 3 bedroom council house!!

Its really frustrating because if I went out to work too the council would take most of my wages in rent until we paid up to £196 per week in rent whilst everyone seems to get that extra money straight in their back pocket because their rent isn't so high on the council.

I just feel like my daughters are going to be going without because all our money seems to go on rent and rent and council tax.

Does anyone else have this problem with private rent?

Forgive me for being a bit confused. Where has the £196 come from?

I understand why you'd be upset but there are things like the LHA which means that regardless of how much your landlord is charging, there is a set 'price' for a house with 2 beds. We're lucky - we're in probably the cheapest house for miles around - but we get HB (most of the time). If your OH is working, and is earning more, then yes, you pay more, but if your neighbours aren't working, then they will get more help. I know it's a bitter pill to swallow but if you're not entitled to HB then they should be entitled to WTC which compensates for that loss slightly. I do sympathise though....there is a point where your income and the benefits start to cancel one another out and you feel like you're working for no real increase to your budget.

Always remember that if something appears to be too good to be true, it normally is, and is someone is flaunting the cash who on paper shouldn't be, chances are the money isn't theirs to flaunt.

 

[Kiki1993]

I was in similar situation, I worked full time at the time and OH was made redundant, he wasn't entitled to money because apparently i earned enogh to support us and we weren't entitled to ANY help, my rent was 350, council tax 180, car insurance 100 a month, petrol 50, food, electric and gas would vary and i only had 900 coming in a month, we also had a car to pay for which i needed for work.. when asking for help they basically said to be able to meet ends meet sell the car and bus to work, i explained I need my car in case a client needs transport plus i babysit for the clients sometimes till 3 am which would mean i would have to walk home in the dark? Basically we couldn't afford food one month and ended up moving home while paying for the let until the contract was up because we couldn't afford to put heating on, lights, food nothing.
I just don't understand how the neighbour next door who was unemployed lived qite comfortably while we struggled, he would have parties every week, always had new stuff, apparently he gets more dole money because he is an alcoholic yeah that makes sense, we who are contribute in tax can't afford to eat but he can afford to have parties every week, a new flatscreen etc .. honestly i dont have any advice, we are holding out for council now staying at mums, only have 25 points though, but keeping at that because private was a horrid experience for us, like i said we just had to move home again while still obliging our contract becuse it was our ONLY option Good luck, we are putting in an interest in a council house just now, it is a 1 bedroom across from a friends, the guy was evicted after he lost his job and moved back home but its been empty for 5 months :/ there are empty liveable houses so dont know why they don't give them, there are 3 empty on my street one i know is suitable its a 3 bed and the people who lived there before moved out for a mortgage .. really annoys me, i use to ignore it but im staring to contact them whenever i find out a house s vacant so hopefully if i annoy them enoguh