Hi.. my landlord is selling the house I've lived in for 14 years. Im awaiting my official section 21. Im a single parent working 30 hours per week with UC top-up. The council said im not eligible for help as i earn enough to pay private rent. They say i can afford an extra £300 a month, which i can't. Is there a way i can appeal this? I cant take on a new rental contract that i know i cant afford.
Hey , I’m going through domestic violence, and I’m now homeless I also claim pip high rate, I’m moving from one borough to another and I was told that I will not be entitled to a council house because I have not been living in the borough for 5 years and that I will only be entitled to a privet is this true ? Im only entitled housing association or social if I’m out of london or staying in my first borough is this true ?
Thank you for the valuable information sir! I have a question. After being served section 21 no-fault eviction notice, I approached the council for help, I am over 60 years old, I suffer from depression and various physical health problems, however the council didn't put me in priority need. I challenged their decision and asked for a review under s 202, however their review also says 'not in priority need'. In the letter it is written that I have 21 days to appeal the decision in the County Court. Meanwhile I received the possession order and it's a mater of time to be evicted with nowhere to go. Please advice me what should I do? I am terrified...
Hi Mariana, you need to find a competent advocate / solicitor asap - it is likely the non-priority review decision can be challenged, but as you, say the next step for you is through the courts. A local CAB or Shelter might be able to point you in the direction of solicitor firms which get legal aid for homelessness cases. There are some videos on this channel which might help you to understand the definition of priority need better, but that in itself won't be much use at this stage because you'll need a solicitor anyway.
I have been staying in a hostel for 18 months and have been given notice to leave here in two months since my time here has lapsed. I EUPD, Depression, Suicidality, Anxiety and psychosis. I take 20mg Olanzapine, 120mg Propranolol and 150mg Sertraline. I receive LCWRA but not PIP. Do you think I would be considered priority need?
I will take this questions anonymously to the livestream tonight (2nd June 2024). Can you confirm why you are leaving the supported accommodation in two months?
@@DannyMcNamara-mj5nq Is there any efforts to move you into settled accommodation from the supported accommodation? Are you on the housing register already?
So basically I had been offered a privately rented property that’s managed by the council however this offer was withdrawn three days ago due to there being no properties available and that my only option was to source privately rented property myself. As you probably know in London which is where I am it’s near impossible to find a property within the LHA rate that will accept housing benefits.
Does a completely blind person have a good chance of being in priority need? I know it’s common sense and seems a bit obvious but what are your thoughts?
So you said that they can dispute the fact that you are leaving because of domestic abuse? So what can we do to prove this if we do not want to report it to the police? How can we *prove* it without getting perpetrator involved
Have a look at this video to see if it answers your question - note there is a difference in evidential threshold between the homelessness application process and claiming the under 35 exemption for UC LHA. The homelessness application threshold is lower. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iGx9W2nYkjM.html
also I would suggest you approach a DA charity like Women's Aid - social worker's understand of DA is often shocking whereas more DA charities have competent staff who you can explain the situation to.
@@homelessnessbestpractice thank you so much I already In contact with 1 women's aid charity and a Refuge Solace service. I was just wondering what you mean by the exemption for under 35 rate is different? I have been told I am not ellegible for a self contained place despite my case for fleeing DA as I am under 35. what can I do about this? I am worried about having to share accomodation due to my mental health issues and triggers (even just with women), could you please let me know what my rights are to ask for something that is self contained? I've recently left hospital due to my situation I am severely triggered and paranoid by everything going on aeound me right now, I need a self contained space, but I'm not sure if I have the rights to this
@@mathildaflower2388 so the government guidance on claiming the under 35 exemption specifies that the DA be evidenced by a letter from the police, social services, a healthcare professional, employer or any public, voluntary or charitable body which has had direct contact with the claimant in connection with domestic violence. Whereas under the homelessness application process councils' default position should be to believe people who disclose they have been abused, and para 21.24 states that ...In some cases, corroborative evidence of abuse may not be available, for example, because there were no adult witnesses and/or the applicant was too frightened or ashamed to report incidents to family, friends or the police. The housing officer may be the first person that the victim has confided in. Housing authorities should not have a blanket approach toward domestic abuse which requires corroborative or police evidence to be provided.
I have a few questions I was told by my case worker from my homeless application that due to moving from a “stable” home in leeds, moved down to London due to constant neighbour disturbance (which I made a formal complaint to the housing at the time, more than once) sexual assault in leeds (which I will be attending court next month) family support with my 6year old, job opportunity (better pay) , continues rent arrears in leeds housing association… the list goes on but these were the main causes for me to leave leeds to London! I’ve became homeless because my mother was given a council house and now I’m staying at the property I’ve asked for help as I’m not the primary tenant and my mother and I can’t live together due to disagreements during the period I moved in. I’ve looked for home swap , private renting before my mother was given a council house! I’m unsure if the decision was made correct but could you give me some advice as I was told I could only be helped with rent advance from the council. Thank you very much
Okay, the council are essentially saying that despite the issues, it was reasonable to continue to occupy the Leeds property. Did you get a job in London when you moved? How big was your mum's property (as in, how many bedrooms did it have), and how long did you think you could remain there?
@@homelessnessbestpractice Yes got the job when I moved to London it’s the same company as the leeds but better hours to accommodate my lifestyle with childcare plus pay rise, the house had 2 bedrooms (overcrowded) but I did leave 8 years with my mum prior to moving to leeds, I had been looking for a property before moving to my mums so as soon as I found a place I would of moved! Unfortunately 5 months down the line she was offered accommodation and I couldn’t get a place that accepted dss .
@@marisainacio5437 Okay, you might need a solicitor to fight this one - there is an argument to be made but it's not straight forward. There have been similar cases. You have at least two lines to argue - one is that the accommodation you left in Leeds was not reasonable to continue to occupy, the other is that you you moved in with your mum believing you could remain with here much longer than you were actually able to (assuming that is what happened). If you are intentionally homeless the council still need to house you for a period of time that gives you reasonable prospect of finding something else, and they still need to take reasonable steps to help you find something, but that could be simply saying they'll help with rent in advance (which sounds like it is the case)
I've been homeless for 4 weeks and my case is being reviewed but i feel like im banging my head against a brick wall. Im on ESA and PIP for mental health but the council dont want to know. Not even offered temporary accommodation 😢
In my opinion if you're on PIP and ESA it would be difficult to imagine a set of circumstances where there would not be reason to believe you may be in priority need. Which council is it? Have a look at this video for more detail on priority need through vulnerability: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t8h1OT7WbhM.html
Wow so if you have served time in prison your seen as vulnerable and a priority need. Great I'm a non priority single 37 year old male with no criminal record. Now I know how to get rewarded with housing... commit a crime go to prison for a little bit and come out. Then get priority need status. Great system in the UK... do bad and be rewarded and do good and be punished.
In reality very few get priority need status that way, but it's technically possible. Much more likely to get it through mental health issues including depression and anxiety etc.
@homelessnessbestpractice thanks for the reply I left my left place in Wandsworth due to many contributing factors like heating couldn't get fixed then landlord wouldn't allow me to make space in the tiny room I had by removing the double bed. The final and main reason I left was because it was a tiny shared flat between 4 people and 1 toilet and kitchen. Others started bringing intimidating guests etc music and smoking weed etc landlord never cared as he was getting rent from all tenants. Never felt comfortable and on edge it was horrible place man. Now my appointment is coming up and I know I will definitely be a non priority client. I do have ptsd but it has never been diagnosed only was prescribed anti depression pills that I never took because I researched the side effects. Any advice on upcoming interview with Wandsworth council? I know they will just think I left the last place I had so that my fault but was many legitimate reasons I left. Safety being main reason
@homelessnessbestpractice thanks for the reply I left my left place in Wandsworth due to many contributing factors like heating couldn't get fixed then landlord wouldn't allow me to make space in the tiny room I had by removing the double bed. The final and main reason I left was because it was a tiny shared flat between 4 people and 1 toilet and kitchen. Others started bringing intimidating guests etc music and smoking weed etc landlord never cared as he was getting rent from all tenants. Never felt comfortable and on edge it was horrible place man. Now my appointment is coming up and I know I will definitely be a non priority client. I do have ptsd but it has never been diagnosed only was prescribed anti depression pills that I never took because I researched the side effects. Any advice on upcoming interview with Wandsworth council? I know they will just think I left the last place I had so that my fault but was many legitimate reasons I left. Safety being main reason
There's still an argument to be made that you're in priority need, but it will be a big uphill struggle. I would suggest going to see you GP to update them of your current wellbeing - the fact you didn't take the meds doesn't mean you don't have mental health issues, so it's about being as open as you can be with your GP about it. They can also refer you to therapies but from the point of view of the homelessness application, the GP needs to have had recent contact with you to give their opinion about the impact of homelessness on your health.
