After divorce, it can be quite pressing and difficult for a single Dad to get a Council House or a Social house. You and your spouse may own your present home together, but what happens to it when you split up, especially the money you have invested in it? Even if you’re renting, you’ll have to deal with certain inconveniences. What is the best path to pursue in terms of where you go, renting or buying another property?
The good news is that, as a single Dad, you can apply and get a Council house. . A council house is a house that is owned by a local council and that people can rent at a low cost. These houses are funded by the public. Though the selection criteria and application procedures can be quite cumbersome, it’s still worth trying.
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Being homeless or at risk of becoming homeless is soul-destroying and terrifying. As a single Dad, you bear sole responsibility for providing a safe haven for your children, so your stress levels are amplified.
Single parents with children are considered to have a high-priority need. Contact your local government. The Council has a legal obligation to provide you with emergency housing while it considers whether or not it has a longer-term obligation to rehouse you.
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If you are unemployed or have a low income, you may be eligible for government assistance with your rent or mortgage. Whether you live in council housing or privately leased accommodation, you can apply for rent assistance.
How To Apply For Council House In Your local Council
Local governments utilize one of two methods for providing a council house for single Dads or single parents:
- A waiting list
- A bidding mechanism also known as “choice-based lettings”.
Some municipalities employ a combination of the two methods.
If your council utilizes a waiting list, you must wait until your council notifies you that a home is available. If your municipality implements a choice-based letting system, you have to bid on properties for which you are eligible. In both circumstances, the council prioritizes those in greatest need – referred to as ”priority need” – before allocating accommodation to others with lesser priority.
Who Can Apply For Local Council Housing?
Who is qualified to apply for council housing is determined by council criteria. Check your local council’s housing policy to determine if you fit the requirements to be placed on a housing list or register in your area. Shelter gives a lot of information on how to apply to be put on the council housing waiting list.
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If you’re homeless or about to become homeless, you can apply for housing through your local council. This is not the same as applying for a spot on the general waiting list. For further information on making a homeless application, contact one of these organizations; Crisis or Shelter.
Check whether you are eligible to apply for council accommodation if you are not a British citizen or do not have the right to remain in the UK. Before submitting an application, always get counsel.
How Can You Make A Council House Application?
A single Dad can apply for a Council house by filling out a regular housing application, being referred by a hostel or voluntary organization (if you’re already living in one of their properties), or applying for housing as a homeless person. For information on how to apply, contact your local council’s housing department. If you’re confused about whether you should make a regular housing application or a homeless application, contact Shelter or Citizens Advice.
What Happens After You Apply?
The council will tell you if you’re eligible to join the housing waiting list and whether you’ll have to wait until you’re notified of a home or if you’ll have to make bids. The council will also inform you of the level of housing need that has been assigned to you.
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The council should be able to tell you how long you’ll have to wait for an offer of housing. The length of your wait will be determined by the priority of your housing requirement and the type of housing that is available.
How Is The Priority Of Your Application Decided?
Although some councils still use points systems or waiting lists to allocate a Council house to a single parent, most utilize priority systems. If you meet the following criteria, you should be given first priority:
- Are you a homeless person?
- Are you housed in unsuitable conditions?
- You must relocate due to your health or well-being.
- You have a pressing need to relocate to a specific location, and failing to do so would put you or others in jeopardy. Because you require specialized medical care, for example.
What Choice Of Accommodation Will You Have?
Even as a single Dad, your choice of a Council house will be influenced by local factors such as the amount and type of homes available. Local council housing is in short supply in several regions.
Before declining an offer of accommodation, make sure you understand your choices and get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice, since refusing an offer could jeopardize your priority status.
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Even if you own and reside in your home, the council would assess your application for council housing in the same way as other applicants. If your home is no longer affordable, or if you have to sell your home due to a relationship breakdown, you may still be at danger of being homeless. You can also apply if you’re living in terrible conditions and wouldn’t be able to afford other housing if you sold your property.
Are You Eligible For Housing Benefit?
As a single Dad, you can also apply for Housing Benefit to assist with your rent payments. Housing Benefit is paid at a monthly flat fee determined by the local authority. Even if the rent is greater, you will not be able to get more than the fixed cost. For renters of the Council or Housing Association, this is paid in full. Remember that if you receive full housing benefit while receiving income support, you must check whether you will be able to afford the rent once you return to work.
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Conclusion
Can a single Dad get a council house? The answer is Yes!. As a single Dad, you are eligible to apply and get a Council house or Social home if you are homeless, living in an unsuitable condition, have health challenges that require you to relocate, etc.
Application for a Council house is made through your local council. If you seek advice or you’re confused about whether you should make a regular housing application or a homeless application, please contact Shelter or Citizens Advice for help. Alternatively, ring the National Shelter Helpline on 0808 800 4444. They will advise you over the phone and find an advice agency that can help you further in your local area.