Obviously I've registered with my local authority, filled out the online homeless form,contacted who I need to. My privately rented house was sold. New landlord managed to get this house repossessed within a year of buying it. First I knew about it was having to prove my right to stay by Receiver. Took 6 months, but they accepted my right to stay. Rent stayed the same thank God.
Had a visit from a new falls prevention group regarding Husband; designed to help out folks to stay safe at home and provide help when needed. Three weeks ago. Decided we needed to get out of this house and finally go into a one bed flat. Private sector outrageous rents, plus we don't have a guarantor.
So I registered with our local social housing "catch all" place. They basically decide which band you're in. Expected to have a few months to find somewhere, as you do. Applied for 1 housing association, 1 specific complex. Anchor Housing. They did not need me to be registered with local social housing officialdom to go on the list, (which I was waiting for as it takes 2 weeks to be processed). So am on list already for there, 2 couples are ahead of me.
Today, had appointment to go on list for another, Housing 21, over 55s complex. Viewed a one bed flat that was under offer (manager said let's have a look then you can see the layout of the place, there's nobody in, so no harm, it was promised but hey, have a gander). Loved the place, she did the form online, longish waiting list but well, we'll wait and hope.
Literally get home, and I go into my emails so I can send the manager the name of my landlord, address etc which she needed for the form, and I didn't know earlier on when we were there. She left it blank and put the application through anyway, but I thought, get it done, have some lunch.
Logged into emails, there was an email from the Receiver saying sorry about this but you've got 2 months to get out, from today, the letter's in the post.
Talk about a string of coincidences. Blown my mind!
I am going down to the council first thing to make sure they put me in band 1 (as the guy from local council said they would, but time is crucial so must make sure they alter the status of the banding quickly).
I have questions you good people might know the answers to in the meantime. Here goes.
- Husband and I are still on legacy benefits. If we can find a home within the boundary of our local authority will this trigger universal credit, or do they accept you have had no choice but to move, quickly, and you can just deal with the housing benefit/council tax as usual?
- Is it the case that if the local authority can't find anything at all for us we can move out of the local authority boundary; rent privately OR by some miracle find a housing association property and not have to claim UC?
- Is there anything more complex about it; I thought if you were under threat of being homeless you could move to any area into private or housing association without triggering UC? I know one landlord just over the boundary who'd take us without a guarantor (same people that sold this place, but it's not their fault the new owner messed up!) but really really do not want to deal with UC until I have to. Plus more unsuitable housing with stairs Husband can't deal with and more rooms than we need, plus the extra in rent…..
It's a lot; I've tried to be as clear as possible. Thanks for reading. Any advice relating to all this welcome. Forgive the wordiness, I tried to be precise!!
