Council housing/homeless?

Question

My partner and I are separating, would I qualify for a council house? Or could I declare myself homeless (as I will be)? I don't earn much a month and I will struggle to pay rent for private lettings in my area.What help, if any, is available to me? We have no children.

Answer 1

You can apply for housing either as a homeless applicant or as a normal applicant. But, you won't be classed as priority homeless as you are not under 18. The fact that you're an owner occ means that you will have to prove what equity or negative equity will be left over once the house is sold.

You may be able to get housing benefit, so if re-housing is urgent it might be better to consider private renting and claiming housing benefit to at least help with the costs of renting. Your local council may also be able to help with the deposit and/or the first months rent.

Good luck, with the credit crunch starting to hit - you won't be on your own, but if you move fast at least you might be ahead of the queue.

Edit: it's not all about how much energy and time you put in as stated by an answerer above; it's down to how many properties there are (not many) and how many people are waiting for them (thousands). It's also down to how "in need" you are, for example if you could stay with relatives, you might not be in as much ned as a family of four/five who are split across three properties due to a repossesion etc.

Answer 2

sign onto council waiting list. in meantime  buy local paper and look at places for rent that are shared. you could make some great friends this way.  

Answer 3

You should claim of the government as benefits. You should also try to save up all your money and don't spend it on unnecessary things that you don't really need. I hope that you will get a home and you are safe. Try and beg the government for a council house. Then you will be able to get back on your feet again.

Answer 4

By all means you can go to the council and sign onto the housing list, but it will take a very long time for you to get a place through the council, probably looking a good year, depending on your area.

Reason for this, as there would be people on the housing list that are in more "need" of housing, such as mums etc.

You wouldnt be classed as homeless either, as technically you are making yourself homeless, and as you are working (even though not bring a lot of money in) so you do have ways and means of paying for your place.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

You haven't said who owned/rented the property you were living in before you separated. Also you must have been living somewhere before you formed your partnership and how long ago was that. It's unfortunate that the different reasons for homelessness aren't separated from one another. They range from intentional homelessnees, through accidental and beyond control homelessness to self inflicted homelessness. In my opinion only the middle category should have priority.

Answer 6

if you had a children then you would likely to get a house. but you should live back with relatives or parents for the time being.  

Answer 7

You need to inform the council that you are going to be homeless, you then get placed into a homeless hostel and will be placed on priority housing, but you will still have to wait months for your own one bed flat.  Depsite popular belief you will not just be given a place straight away or even in weeks.

you probably will be entitled to housing benefit,  You need to start making enquires ASAP.  

good luck.

Answer 8

You may be eligible to join the council waiting list, but as a single person with no dependants the chances of you getting a home are very slim.

You could also phone round housing associations but again, you are unlikely to get something.

Have a look in the local paper for flat shares.  

Answer 9

visit a church and ask for their help just see

God Bless You

Chris W.  

Answer 10

If you are over 18 and have no menal health problems or disabilities you will not be classed as homeless in priority need, so the Council do not have any statutory duty to help you under homeless legislation I'm afraid.  You could apply (as can anyone) and go on a waiting list but it may take a while and won't solve your immediate problem.

Some Councils have a rent deposit/ bond scheme to help you access the private rented sector - if you have nowhere, they will pay the bond for you or issue a certificate of guarantee to the Landlord, so the bond wont be a problem.  Then as you are on a low wage you could get help with rent through housing benefit - to see if you qualify just ring housing benefit up at the Council, or they should have an on-line benefit calculator.  Then if you qualify - even by just a little - ask about discretionary housing payments.  All Councils have a discretionary fund to top up housing benefit if you fall short of the rent level.  Not many people know about this fund as they dont advertise it, but trust me all Councils have this fund. The private rental sector should then be within reach.

Good luck.

Answer 11

The council are **** and unless you are a foreigner you wont get anywhere. soz.

I've been there,

council refused me and my 1year old boy 4years ago!  

Answer 12

having kids is not always the answer to getting a coucil house,i was the housing list for four and half years with a child under six and they left me to just doss around anywhere for that many years. so i went to the council, i went to all the places they sent me, in the end i had to register for homeless, and then to my suprise, or shock if im honest. they left me on homeless with my child homeless for another three years, 7 1/2 years they left me homeless, i slept on peoples sofas, spare beds for years. i had to private rent a few times, but as a single parent and the only one working it was hard to pay the amount required, i work full time. (it wasnt like i was asking to be housed in a posh area, or at least a nice area. i live in sheffield and i come from the most deprived area in sheffield, the houses are boarded up on most streets)

The council will leave you to rot if your a single person in britan. unless you go down there everyday and get people to support yoiu with letters etc, then they wont help you.

we just helped a friend get her house. but she was there every morning, she had supporting letters from doctors, citizens advice centers, plus from us- her freinds. we all have good jobs within the NHS, youth service and community projects, together we collectively wrote letters about her describing her as a person, what she would be like as a tenant and neighbour, her as a friend. they actually said that who ever wrote the letters got her the house. so its all about what energy and how much of it your willing to put in.

good luck.

Answer 13

yeah you can apply but it could be years before you get a home. for the time being as your going to be homeless, they may offer you a BnB or hostel but it will be years before you get a 1 bed flat.

im currently living at my mothers i share a bedroom with my partner, and our daughter. we each work 50 hours a week but we are taxed so much that we cant afford to move out, we have been waiting 3 years for a place so far.