council housing?

Ok, so after looking at our budget compared to where we can afford rent, its nowhere around here (its a very expensive area ). DF doesnt have a job that he can just transfer to somewhere cheaper..right now we live with the in-laws, and when it comes time to move out, can we apply for council housing? I dont know how it all works, if thats against the rules or what, being on a fiancee visa.

And if we can, can we do it where he works vs. what council we are currently in? We need to live near Bath, but now live near Bristol.

From what I've heard, HE can apply for coucil housing, but you cannot.  I could be wrong though.  Also, I think there is a LONG waiting list for council houses in most areas.

From what I've heard, HE can apply for coucil housing, but you cannot.  I could be wrong though.  Also, I think there is a LONG waiting list for council houses in most areas.

BIL just put his name on the list in our area. They told him the wait is currently 5 years!

Yes it is probably like that in most areas.   Your fiance might be able to claim housing benefit to help pay for a private rental, however I'm not sure how that would affect your visa.   Is there really nothing you can afford?  If you look on Rightmove there are 1 brm flats in Bath going for 400-500 pcm.

Does anyone know if it's true that councils are more quick to place families with children into housing?  If so, maybe once the baby is born, it'll be quicker.

I believe there's a point system that is based upon a number of things, so that may be true.

Does anyone know if it's true that councils are more quick to place families with children into housing?  If so, maybe once the baby is born, it'll be quicker.

Not up here they don't.  If the Bath is anything like Edinburgh, there is a extreme shortage of affordable housing to rent.  Priority goes to people who have a disability or families fleeing domestic violence. 

There are all too many families in 'temporary accommodation' b/c there is just no place for them.

The current list for a homeless family is about 6-1 year.  And living w/family doesn't count as homeless.

If it is an emergency IE the house becomes over crowded or you get kicked out then you would with a child but if your in laws have co-sponsored you and said they will provide you with accommodation you can not get them to write a letter asking you to move out as they will prob want to know why they offered you accom in the first place, you may get problems later.

Council housing is in short supply everywhere but once you get on the list they can give you address's of housing associations and put you forward for housing.

Council housing is in short supply everywhere but once you get on the list they can give you address's of housing associations and put you forward for housing.

Do be advised that in many areas of England, council housing and housing association housing are now one and the same thing.  In an increasing number of instances, a council will transfer its remaining housing stock to a housing association in return for the Treasury writing off the council's debt w/regard to that stock. 

It's worth looking into, but it's definitely not the sure fix it once was. 

Children under 10 count as 1/2 a person w/regards to overcrowding, and I'm afraid you'll find many, many families living in technically overcrowded housing who haven't got much of a chance of being rehoused.

Sorry to sound so grim, but we went through this a few years ago ourselves. 

Much of council's quality stock was sold under Right to Buy.  The councils were not allowed to plow the procedes from such sales into replinishing stock, so affordable homes to rent were lost. 

London is terrible when I lived down there with my 2nd exhusband there where 6 of us in a 2 bed bungalow and they said we would have to wait at least 5 years and maybe more on top of the 6 of us he had pa's in and out and staying so there where 7 people 3 adults 4 children and it made not one bit of difference, one  of the reason he is my ex, I had this house and wanted to move back up here the house is 5 bed and we all had space to breath in, plus I figured although there where reasons he wanted to stay in London one being he new where the pot holes where in the roads ( we dont have any up here) I felt guilty knowing we had perfectly good housing up here and he did not work and there where no ties to London and we would have been eventually taking housing someone more desperate needed.

I am not sure having a baby necessarily bumps you up the list.  A couple we know with a young child in one bedroom council flat were told as far as the council is concerned (Westminster council) a child does not need his/her own room until they are at least 3 years old.

I am not sure having a baby necessarily bumps you up the list.  A couple we know with a young child in one bedroom council flat were told as far as the council is concerned (Westminster council) a child does not need his/her own room until they are at least 3 years old.

We were told the same thing, Britwife, when we were in a one bed flat. 

The ways to get bumped up are:  1) develop a disability which makes your present accommodation unsuitable - stuff like dodgy knees or bad backs or depression won't do it, you have to be entirely physically unable to continue residing in your present abode 2) flee your violent partner.  Amazingly enough, a woman here in town who was stabbed viciously by her husband and spent weeks in hospital was only 'silver' star priority upon her release - despite also having 3 kids under 12.  3) rent privately and the landlord decides to sell up after your lease expires, rendering you homeless.   But be prepared to spend some time - potentially months - in a B&B that has a contract to provide temp housing w/the council.

We were told the same thing, Britwife, when we were in a one bed flat. 

The ways to get bumped up are:  1) develop a disability which makes your present accommodation unsuitable - stuff like dodgy knees or bad backs or depression won't do it, you have to be entirely physically unable to continue residing in your present abode 2) flee your violent partner. 


I wish the above where true however it is not if you have a physical disability the only way to get something if A) someone dies leaving appriate housing free or if there where more housing built to suit someone and there family, I tell you what knowing the only way you will get somewhere if is someone dies it horrible I know my ex and I where told this when we where told it could take 5 years and that was if someone died (Lambeth council) not nice really there are not enough properties even for those with a disability and infact it is harder because they have to met certain standards before you can have it not just a ramp or bathroom.

I have met people through the work I used to do who where in care homes for the disabled and they had been waiting years to get even a downstairs flat(appt) and they hated it, I am sure given the choice a person with a disability which makes there choices limited and has to wait years just to be independent would gladly trade places to be able to go to work and be able to rent or buy privately but because of society and its nature this is not always an option and leaves people in vunarable and often inupsetting situations with no control over what they do or where they live.

I have met people through the work I used to do who where in care homes for the disabled and they had been waiting years to get even a downstairs flat(appt) and they hated it, I am sure given the choice a person with a disability which makes there choices limited and has to wait years just to be independent would gladly trade places to be able to go to work and be able to rent or buy privately but because of society and its nature this is not always an option and leaves people in vunarable and often inupsetting situations with no control over what they do or where they live.

Exactly.  Unfortunately, the council/housing association will also offer disabled individuals/families homes in 'hard to let' rough areas and not give them much choice about whether or not to accept them, too, b/c they lose their priority status by refusing housing in really bad areas.   :\\\'(