A single-parent friend (+ 2 kids) faces eviction and told no social housing available so will end up in a bed sit. How bad are these properties & are they a waiting option until social housing is available?

Posted by According_Sundae_917@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 43 comments

Essex area. Unable to pay rent on current property (abandoned by ex partner who dumped her, moved out and refuses to pay further - not the father, real father no contact). Low income. Two children 11,13. Told not lived long enough in area to qualify for social housing. Lots of disruption in the children's lives in recent years - I am really concerned at the type of home they'll be living in if it's described as a 'bed sit'. Does anyone know what to expect from these properties? Or advise on alternatives?

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Hoplite68@reddit

Tell her to look into all housing associations in her area. Fill in ever application. Itll increase her odds rather than just going through the council.

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Secret-Pressure-6032@reddit

You can’t apply to Housing Associations anymore. The councils have taken over the applications. I have had a Peabody flat in Covent Garden for 20yrs. I have medical issues. (Arthritis). This gave me more points, which pushed me up the list. But i still had to wait 6 yrs. The waiting lists for Housing Trust flats are triple that now. Eventhough the woman has 2 kids. She will definitely still have to wait.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Okay, that’s really good to know, thank you

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ChaiSpicedDaddy@reddit

Why would the ex pay her rent if hes not the father of the children?

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

On the lease - left prior to first full year of tenancy.

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PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit

Because he's on the lease too I assume.

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ChaiSpicedDaddy@reddit

Good point! Who knows, they left out a lot of details.

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ChocolateSnowflake@reddit

Friend needs to speak to Shelter and the council asap. The living in the area not for long shouldn’t matter when there are vulnerable children who require a home. General advice is not to move out of the current properly under any circumstances. So even if they have a valid eviction order, do not move out. Make the landlord take it all through the courts, which can take months. And make sure friend is claiming all benefits they are entitled to to help with rent.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Got it, thank you. Makes sense

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insomnimax_99@reddit

>So even if they have a valid eviction order, do not move out. Make the landlord take it all through the courts, which can take months. If they have a valid eviction order, then they have gone through the courts, and bailiffs will be removing them, by force if necessary. If they’ve just been served with a S21 or S8 notice, then yeah, they should stay where they are and wait for the landlord to go through the courts and get an eviction order.

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luciesssss@reddit

They will need to wait until the bailiffs forcibly remove them or something authorities will say they voluntarily made themselves homeless

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ConfusedPanda17@reddit

Is she applying for universal credit? She will be entitled to it as a single parent with kids on a lower income..

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

I believe already receives UC - I’ve no idea if that stretches far enough to cover rent or bills - but yes

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ConfusedPanda17@reddit

She will need to update her claim to show that she is the only one living there now and she should get more for housing costs. She'll also get more if it's not a joint claim.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Super helpful, will tell her 👍 Thank you

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Typical_Nebula3227@reddit

A bed sit is basically a share house where you get your own bedroom, but have to share the kitchen and probably bathroom with others. I think how good/bad it is will probably depend a lot on who else lives in the bed sit. If they are other nice people who are also just down on their luck then it might be ok as a temporary situation.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Ok thank you

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isotopesfan@reddit

I knew someone in a similar situation - single parent with three kids under 15. Fled domestic violence from abusive partner. They were put in 'temporary accommodation' which was a studio flat where all 4 lived and slept together in the same room. Shared bathroom facilities with everyone else in the building (including random adult men). Was supposed to be for 6 weeks but they have now been there 3 years and told there are no council houses available. I don't know about Essex but in the borough of London where I live there are 13,000 people on the waiting list for social housing and the council are committed to building 3,000 more social housing units in the next 10 years, so basically its a waiting list you never get off. Contact Shelter and ACORN.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Wow, that’s bleak. The waiting list is insane. Will note Shelter and Acorn - thanks

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Dutch_Slim@reddit

When you say not lived here long enough to qualify for social housing what exactly do you mean? If they are put in temporary accommodation, they can apply for housing benefit. Otherwise should be claim UC.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

They lived in another area (neighbouring county or council) a year or so ago so haven’t built up the ‘local connection” another commenter mentioned (even though they did live in this area previously and would’ve had long enough period accumulated)

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kaveysback@reddit

In my area, you need to have lived or worked in the area 2 years, or have family in the area to qualify for housing. They call it local connection and it's designed to prioritise locals. If you don't have a local connection, you're automatically a lower priority. Some places might not allow applications without it.

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MikeyButch17@reddit

In my experience, it usually ends up being somewhere like a Travelodge. Nominally, it is a wait for Social Housing, but it is normally a very long waiting time. I would warn your friend to expect to be there for the foreseeable future. They’re also obliged to take the first offer the Council gives them, otherwise the Council is under no more obligation to offer any help.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Okay, I hadn’t imagined a travelodge. Yes she needs to be aware she’d be expected to take what they offer

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nannyplum@reddit

Second this. I was a local councillor for years and would be called regularly about social housing. 99% of these calls were from people who had been essentially "downgraded" from the priority list because they refused a property in an area they didn't like/property wasn't quite what they had in mind (offered a flat when wanting a house etc). My advice was, and still is, take what property they offer you. Once you are in, and have the keys, you can join local swap groups and have your swap preferences logged with the housing authority. Some folk would complain that the offered property was further away that they liked (within the borough) or that they wanted a garden etc etc. The logic applied by the HA will be that if you aren't willing to accept the place they're giving you, then your circumstances can't be justified for priority housing. I know it's shite when you have children and they offer you a 2 bed flat, but please take it. Swaps can be applied for once you're an established tenant. My borough is in Wales, so the waiting list is probably shorter than where you are, but some people were in temporary accommodation for over a year.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Right, that’s incredibly helpful to know. Thanks very much

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pajamakitten@reddit

I believe it is meant to be six weeks at most officially, however families can realistically expect to be their for months or years because of a shortage of houses in some councils.

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alancake@reddit

My friend with a special needs child was suddenly evicted and her landlady refused to file the proper eviction paperwork. Instead of the council helping her with the process and forcing the landlady to do it properly- at their initial meeting they said my friend would be bumped up the housing priority list if she was served the right papers- they let the landlady evict her EARLY and have shoved my friend in the first of at least two temporary accommodations, where she could be for months. It's been absolutely horrible for her

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

That sounds absolutely awful, I can’t imagine going through that with children in tow

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pezzlingpod@reddit

On top of other adive, she needs to be the Child Mainstenace Service involved. The real father needs to be paying for his children. They can trace him and garnish his wages at source.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Yes I think so too

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Derries_bluestack@reddit

Yes, I thought this. Original father to pay for his children via CMS, UC, child benefit, potential housing benefit. That ought to be enough to keep a roof over them. She should check the EntitledTo calculator.

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____JustBrowsing@reddit

You sound like a great friend 🙂 It’s reading posts like this that make me realise I need to be more grateful for what I have and not to moan like I do. I hope your friend and her kids are helped swiftly.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Thanks so much, I hope so too

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StereotypicallBarbie@reddit

It’s a huge issue everywhere unfortunately. Lack of affordable and suitable social housing is sadly a huge issue. The local council (once she becomes homeless) will put her up in some kind of accommodation but that could be a bedsit, hotel or a BnB until they find them somewhere. But they won’t do that until she is actually homeless! She needs to go into citizens advice and ask for help! They will help her.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Thank you, yes she’s in contact with CA but it seems you’re right she actually has to become homeless first.

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dupersuperduper@reddit

She should check she is getting all the benefits she’s entitled to such as possibly uc, esa, child benefit, if she’s unwell pip etc. CAB or the social prescriber at the gp can be helpful for this. And they can also often do food bank vouchers

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

That’s helpful to know Thank you

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GenerallyDull@reddit

The council will do everything they can to push them into a private rental over giving them social housing.

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According_Sundae_917@reddit (OP)

Ok that’s helpful to know, thanks

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ComprehensiveAd8815@reddit

There is an apartment hotel (large room, kitchen, bathroom) in my building complex that has been entirely bought out for the next 5 years by another council (not even my council) to house people in the same situation. It’s a massive issue everywhere.

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**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - When repling to submission/post please **make genuine efforts to answer the question given**. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*

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