Bromley home seekers

Hello, In need of some advice. I have been in temporary accommodation for about a year now, I’m happy here and was happy to stay here until I either got a direct offer or accepted for a bid. I’m aware this could take 5-6 years and I wasn’t fussed, I was prepared to wait for MY forever home. However, the council have decided to start contacting me with regards to private rented properties, where my rent is covered by housing benefits. I have received emails stating that if I do not accept a rented property offered to me that they could bin my claim. But what I don’t understand is why now? Why have they put me in temporary, added me to the bidding system, let me bid for a year and now want me to rent? Can someone help? Scared I’m going to be forced out of my temporary and then I’m back living in a home that’s never going to be mine. I just want security for my child, private renting is too unreliable and unaffordable.

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Ignore them, they are just trying to scare you. I had all this and they just want you to private rent so they haven't got to help you no more. Just say you've been looking to private rent, but landlords are saying they don't want tenants that are in receipt of benefits and won't accept people who don't earn 30 x the rent x

that's a scare tactic i've had it happen to me don't bother looking cause once your in private that's it they won't help i'd suggest looking at there allocations scheme and pointing out points to them from it they can not do that that's what i had to do with greenwich council they ended up leaving me alone

There are not a lot of social housing so it’s there way of seeing who actually needs the help, (most people) The cost of private rent is ridiculous! And hardly any accept housing benefit I’d say as long as you can prove you can afford private they can’t force you anywhere otherwise you’ll be homeless 🤷🏽‍♀️ this government is so backwards it’s unreal, find the loopholes where you can x

I was in temporary and got offered a rented accommodation and HAD to accept otherwise would be taken of list xx

@Leanne that's just a scare tactic xx

@Hayley really! I accepted because felt like I had to they said I’ll be making myself intentionally homeless if I didn’t 😭 x

@Leanne we had all that, but stood our ground and said we needed stability and couldn't afford private rent xx

@Hayley really wish I did. I’ve spoke to them and said how is this right as my lease is two years and LL said he wants to move back in after so it’s pretty much temporary accommodation but in they have said no it fine and I cannot go back on the list. Is there anyone higher that I can speak to do you know? I’m kicking myself! X

@Leanne sadly I don't think you can do anything now 😥 The council do not care about stability. This is what they hope most people do (so you aren't their problem any longer) and use the threat of "closing the file" We ignored that for 18 months and they never bothered us xx