I know this could prob go elsewhere in the forum but i thought it best to go in here for more replies...hope thats ok?

Anyway,me and OH privately rent a house which is fine for us...however,we were thinking of putting our names down on the council for a house so that at some point we could buy it( they have a right to buy thingy over here,dunno if they do elsewhere) So i want to wait til we find a nice one that i can make my own with the intention to buy.

But i know the council would want to give us a 2 bed and really we need 3 bed for space as were living in a 2 bed atm and it is far too cramped for us and all our things.

So if i do put our names down how long can i espect to be waiting? and will they let us have a 3 bed house?

I know other people have priority so i know we could be waiting a while but we arnt desperate...just unsure on how long

Oh and our situation is...OH works 40 hours a week and im a student part time with one child(if this helps at all?)

thanks in advance xxx


EDIT: Please dont argue with me on this one....this isnt going down well and i dont know why....
all i wanted was an answer to a question...(hilighted in Bold above)...that was my only question,i havnt come for an argument xx

I have never done it, but I know people who have and I am sorry to say it but the council will put you quite low on the list as you are already fine as far as they can see, and also pretty much no chance on the 3 bed.. you may only get offered a 2 bed flat as there are just the 3 of you, or lucky to get a 2 bed house.

That's how it is in my area anyway - there are so many families with 2 or more children that they get all the 2 and 3 bed houses - so any couples with just 1 child they get a flat most of the time.

As for time - I have known people who are 'comfortable' in the eyes of the council who have been on the list for years.
Also the bidding thing they do for houses, especially the ones in the nicer areas, is so tough that you may end up waiting longer even if you get to bid in the first place.

Sorry to sound so down on it - but it really is not easy to get a council house, especially bigger than what they think you need, in a nice area - when you already have a house.

I hope its different in your area though! Good luck!

Mmm... pretty sure this wont go down well. Lots of mummies on here desperate and waiting, lots of people generally are far more deserving. But, like lisa said, you'll be very far down on the list because of this.

i cant see you getting one any time soon theres plenty of people who need one alot more! as for space my best friend used to live in a councilhouse after there dad left them bankrupt for another woman even though its 3 bed they couldnt fit a bed in the 3rd room not even a signle so her mum had to sleep on the seatee!

why a council house that others really need? if your oh works all them hours why not look into the rent to buy schemes you get a small mortage and rent the other half then you cn buy more till you own it? atr least you can choose the house and area and not using a house others in desperate need mite need?? xxx

To the above 3 posters...i wasnt trying to offend i was just wondering is all.
I know there are people who need it a hell of alot more than i do and i totally understand.
It is just an option for us as our rent is pretty high and we do struggle a little sometimes...so if we put our names down they might come up with something for us in a few years.

Im not complaining about the waiting list,i dont mind that we will be well down the list...my question was how long do you think?...just curious.

But now...im thinking twice on asking a question as i never get involved in arguments on here and it seems that people are going to think im selfish...

My OH does work yes,but we are on a low income as i am a student...
we rent at the moment but its alot for us and we do struggle.

I though this is what the council was there for?
I know im not going to get priority over other families and thats fine,i DO understand this and i dont want to have priority...i just wanted to put my name on the list

Put your name down. There is no reason you cant the council is there to help EVERYONE so if some time in the distant future they can then why not?!
It will take an extremely long time for you to get a place unfortunately though as we are struggling in a TINY 2 bed flat with no2 due soon and i know a lady who had a moderate 2 bed flat with 3 little girls and they wouldn't even move her. Saying that though i know quite a few people who have 1/2 children who live in a 2 bed houses so anything is possible. The hardest bit will be getting the area as they have introduced a new bidding scheme that makes it much harder for you to get somewhere nice!
Anyways like i said it cant hurt to put your name down but bear in mind my uncle (he only has his 2 children at weekends and works full time) has been on the council list 10years in August and STILL hasnt been offered a place as he is 'comfortable' renting privately. HTH xx

Thanks,doncaster council seem to be pretty good with what they give out but as you said,renting comfortably is fine...the council is just an option x

You could put your name down, but I know for certain you would never, ever get a house here. If you can afford to privatly rent, you don't need a council house. They are not cheap-to-buy houses - in fact the reason the list are so long is because so many of the bloody things were sold off!

I would concentrate on using that time to save a little towards a morgage (which you would need to do council or otherwise) and buy a house which won't disadvantage a family who truly needs it. I am not arguing with you, just stating the truth, you are imcredibly unlikely to get one as you are adaquatly housed. Especially not one with more space than they will consider you to need.

In my area you would be classed as wanting not needing and because you would want a 3 bed not a 2 bed (they would only say you need a 2bed) You could expect to wait about 10-12 yrs but thats just my area.