‘I’m suffering,’ cries mother as she is forced to live in one-bedroom social housing
A desperate mother talks about the problems she faces when living in social housing.
Charlie Priestely took to social media to share how much effort she had to put into finding social housing that would accommodate her family of three and two pets.
2
2
In the clip she said: “My partner, my almost seven-month-old and I live in a one-bedroom apartment, which is about the size of a postage stamp.”
While recording the video, the mother sat on the stoop of her home, rubbing her face as she talked about her housing problems.
The mother-of-one added that Blackpool Council was supposed to provide her with her own room when her daughter turned one, but she was told she would have to wait at least three years for a new home due to high demand.
According to Sheltera housing charity, the law states: Your home is overcrowded if two people have to sleep in the same room and they: are not a couple, but are of different sexes.
READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES
Children under 10 years old do not count. They can share a room with anyone.
But the mother indicated that there was no room for her child to play, nor for her two cats. She could not even let them outside, because she lived on a main road.
She further said that the council is wasting its money on planting trees to improve tourism in the region, instead of spending the money on housing for people.
“What about the people who actually live here, who really struggle to live in this city, let alone come here for a Nice “Little holiday visit?” she continued.
“It’s like we’re struggling here.
“The cost of living is a huge burden for many people.”
Charlie added that she cannot afford private rental properties as they are too expensive in the area for a two-bedroom property.
The clip she posted on her TikTok account @charliepriestleyxo has gone viral with over 67,000 views and 1,200 likes.
Unfortunately, Charlie wasn’t the only one struggling with it, with many people sharing their own stories in the comments.
Someone wrote: “Do you and your partner work? I’m just trying to understand why private renting wouldn’t be feasible?”
How can I get social housing?
To apply for social housing, you must complete an application form and submit it to your municipality.
To find your municipality, you can simply use the municipality finder on the government website.
Once you have access to your municipality’s website, you will find guidelines there for completing your application.
After you register, you will likely be placed on a waiting list.
Please note that even if you are placed on the waiting list, this does not guarantee an offer of social housing.
Your local authority can also advise you on how to continue living in your current home and resolve any issues, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible for application for social housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK, provided you have not recently lived abroad.
Each municipality has its own local rules about who is eligible to be placed on the housing list for its area, but these rules are based on a system of ‘points’ or ‘bands’.
For example, you will probably be the first to be offered a home if you:
- are homeless
- living in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition that is aggravated by your current home
- trying to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on the municipality’s waiting list, you will be contacted as soon as a home becomes available.
In some municipalities you can submit an application from the age of 18, in other municipalities you can submit an application from the age of 16.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
You will be allocated social housing through a points system. Depending on your housing needs, you may be given low priority.
Once you are high enough on the waiting list, the municipality will contact you about available housing.
There is no limit to how long you will be on the waiting list.
“I worked until I had a child, my partner is a caregiver. That is not feasible because of the inflation of everything you have to pay: deposit, rent and then the rent. next “I pay monthly and pay for water/gas/electricity,” Charlie replied.
Another noted: “If private landlords stopped charging extortionate rents, perhaps more people would be able to rent private homes, but unfortunately greedy landlords are raising rents instead of lowering them.”
“I’ve been waiting for a house for almost 4 years, just like you,” wrote a third.
Meanwhile, a fourth said: “You deserve so much better.”
“It’s the same all over Britain,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “I totally agree with this.”
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Simply email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and put EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.
