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foxfanazer

Housing Advice

By foxfanazer, in General Chat

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foxfanazer

foxfanazer

Posted
Posted

Just looking for somebody to give me some advice on our housing situation.

Me and my partner have recently had our first born (1 month old). We have been living in a private rent accommodation due to us both being in full time employment this was affordable. My girlfriend got made redundant whilst pregnant (all above board somehow) and currently has no source of income. I'm still working but bring home a little over a grand a month.

Last month our landlord contacted us to say that he needs us out of the house by August 20th because he needs to move in. Since then we have been ringing the council trying to get on the list for housing, thinking we'd be somewhat of a priority due to our circumstances. For a month now we've been continuously fobbed off and messed about. They say we should look for private rents and claim housing allowance but they take our income figures from the last tax year where we were considerably better off because my partner was in a well paid job. This seriously distorts any amount that we can claim.

If anybody could give me an idea of our options I'd appreciate it.

The only people we could live with are her parents who live in Norfolk which would mean me losing my job and then the council will never house us because we'd be deemed as suitably housed.

Sorry for the long post

Rincewind

Rincewind

Posted
Posted

Contact some advisory service. Not sure where it is but on the Shelter site there is a self fill in form that is a guide as to who is priority. From your situation I would say you qualify. I dont think I have the link on this laptop I am using.

Also check out the link and sub page in my sig. DNO give advice on this sort of thing and if they cannot help themselves can point the way to a place that can and will also advise you on your rights. A member of the team has studied law in this sector.

 

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/emergency_housing_rights_checker

Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

Posted
Posted

Has your partner obtained a P45 from her former employer, showing that she is no longer in work?

 

Surely they'd accept that as evidence that you are now the sole wage-earner, with a much lower household income?

Rincewind

Rincewind

Posted
Posted

I have just done a quick calculation  on that checker. The council are obliged to house you.

Dont leave it too late or you may be placed in an undesireable place and its a trap that is hard to get out of.  Star would be a good start. There are organisations trained in this sort of thing.

I have known colleagues at DNO having to return to a housing office when clients have been wrongly told they are not liable for rehousing. They are often busy though so errors can be made which is why these backup services are needed.

foxfanazer

foxfanazer

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Has your partner obtained a P45 from her former employer, showing that she is no longer in work?

Surely they'd accept that as evidence that you are now the sole wage-earner, with a much lower household income?

Everything has been over the phone so far with the council so far. They keep saying they will contact us in the next 48 hours and then never do
Finnegan

Finnegan

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Posted

Agree with the suggestion to go in to STAR and explain. In addition, you've got the housing office also on Aikman Avenue (it's in the same building as the library / customer service centre.)

The staff on the front desk are generic customer services staff and can be unhelpful but if you ask to have a chat with an Estate Management Officer or Tenancy Management Officer (there's not always one present) then hopefully someone would have some time to help you out.

We're really let down by the fact our customer services was condensed and made generic and corporate wide, so they know a little bit about everything and not a lot of much. If you can break through the useless front line and actually talk to someone from housing staff, you'll get much better answers.

Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

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Everything has been over the phone so far with the council so far. They keep saying they will contact us in the next 48 hours and then never do

 

 

I can sympathise. Am having similar issues dealing with various NHS and social services institutions over care for my Dad.

 

Something that can be useful is to get the name of the person you speak to and ask for them by name the next time (e.g. when they fail to contact you within 48 hours, as promised).

This can help move things along, particularly if you identify someone who seems to be efficient and helpful (they often seem like the minority, though I appreciate that they're probably under-staffed).

There's also the chance that, if you make repeat calls, they'll do something about your case just to get you off their backs - though ranting or making an excessive number of calls is probably counter-productive.

 

Good luck!

Finnegan

Finnegan

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Everything has been over the phone so far with the council so far. They keep saying they will contact us in the next 48 hours and then never do

As per my other post, don't phone. Attend. Our customer service staff are all generic call centre staff with no attachment to housing.

Get yourself in STAR (they're a part of housing, in a sense) or the housing office.

foxfanazer

foxfanazer

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  • Author
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As per my other post, don't phone. Attend. Our customer service staff are all generic call centre staff with no attachment to housing.

Get yourself in STAR (they're a part of housing, in a sense) or the housing office.

Definitely will do. Is it a walk in or do you phone for an appointment?
Finnegan

Finnegan

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Posted

Definitely will do. Is it a walk in or do you phone for an appointment?

In either instance just walk in. There's nothing wrong with contacting as many housing associations as possible but remember that we (council) are the biggest landlord in the city and most of brauny Frith, new parks and Braunstone are ours.

I've just had a word with my missus who used to work in property lettings (the team that deal with your bids, once you start bidding on specific houses) - the team that will deal with your initial application are called Housing Options. They used to be based out of phoenix house in town.

You want to fill in the online application form for housing ASAP. You'll want to get as many proofs as you can ready in advance, too. Get letters from your landlord or estate agent confirming you're threatened with homelessness and confirming you have no rent arrears (assuming you don't.)

Get proof of your income, proof of your girlfriends unemployment, proof of her pregnancy, proof you're eligible to live in the country, proof you currently live in Leicester, everything. All of these may or will be checked and to save time you want it all ready as you start.

She's not up to date with their current application turn around but it used to be about twenty eight days so the sooner you've filled in the online form the better.

foxfanazer

foxfanazer

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Cheers Finners. Yeah we've already completed that application so hopefully something comes from that soon. Appreciate you taking the time to help

Frank to be

Frank to be

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If you want my future, forget my past. If you want to get with me, better make it fast. So don't go wasting my precious time, get your act together and we'll be just fine.

foxfanazer

foxfanazer

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  • Author
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If you want my future, forget my past. If you want to get with me, better make it fast. So don't go wasting my precious time, get your act together and we'll be just fine.

I need some love like I've never needed love before, wanna make love to you baby
Finnegan

Finnegan

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Posted

https://leicesterhomechoice.co.uk/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=oh-live/ibsxmlpr.p?docid=home

That's a better link.

According to that Housing Options are still at phoenix house and there's a reception for the public to drop in and talk to them. That might be an even better bet than STAR actually.

If you can get a face to face meeting with a housing options officer than Alf's advice about getting their name for reference is definitely a good idea. Make someone remember you and actually take your case on.

The help and faq sections of that site and the YouTube video might be helpful.

foxfanazer

foxfanazer

Posted
  • Author
Posted

https://leicesterhomechoice.co.uk/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=oh-live/ibsxmlpr.p?docid=home

That's a better link.

According to that Housing Options are still at phoenix house and there's a reception for the public to drop in and talk to them. That might be an even better bet than STAR actually.

If you can get a face to face meeting with a housing options officer than Alf's advice about getting their name for reference is definitely a good idea. Make someone remember you and actually take your case on.

The help and faq sections of that site and the YouTube video might be helpful.

Excellent. As bad as it sounds we'll take our daughter in and tug on their heart strings lol

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