How do people get council housing?

Seriously. I feel like im just hearing everyone get council housing as a single mum.. I really would like one to. I live up north with just my 1 year old baby girl. My work and the family i talk to are all in London and I would really really really like to move back down there. I have average pay and get UC to help with nursery costs and dad pays me a lil every month too. I don’t feel secure where I live atm and would really like to somehow get a council house closer to London or even in London. How do you do it?? What are tricks and tips that people have??

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I was classed as at risk in the situation I was in and was almost homeless that’s how I got a council place so not that helpful to you I’m afraid x

@Aliyah i hear ya, hopefully you’re in a better position now and settled!! When you classed as at risk did it raise you bands?

I think so I’m not entirely sure. I just also had a lovely lady who could tell I was really in need! I think that helped a lot.

Where I live you have to have lived here for 7 years to be able to apply for housing. They've just changed the rules so having family here doesn't count (I'm in Essex). Not sure if all councils are that strict though x

@Bethany 7 years 😭😭😭!! Myth!! My dad lives in Croydon and there’s is like 3 years too :( x

They told me 5 years to get a council house where I am. Just impossible. X

Hackney u have to have been in the borough 3 yrs work or live. Average wait for a 2 bed property is 12 years but from what I've seen I think it's about 6 on a good day

I’m currently homeless living in a hostel with my 9 month old baby, and they said I’ll be in here for at least a year maybe more before anything becomes available for me. Council housing is an absolute state nowadays, it takes over a year just to get your housing application processed where I am it’s ridiculous x

I know most boroughs have a time on how long you’ve lived there to be eligible (most places are 3 years I think). For london it’s gonna defo be harder because it’s overcrowded

Yeap I’ve lost all hope 😭😅 the time restraints just ain’t gonna cut it

@Kaz same situation here, I’m in a hostel with my 18 month old baby don’t know how long I’ll be here, I don’t think it will be any time soon that I get anywhere

i was put in emergency housing as there was physically no where else for me to go. me and my son (both autistic) were put in temporary housing miles away from any kind of support system over a year ago and they’re still saying i’m looking at years before an actual house. so we’re currently in a 1 bed b&b with no garden, no living room and we share a room with no hope of any help. we’ve even had social services, the health visitor, the doctors and the crisis team saying i need to be closer to family but they just say to go rented, which is impossible because no landlords are wanting to accept housing benefits from the council. i live on an awful street known for police, crime and dogs keeping us up every night and when i sent them proof of my son screaming at 5am because of dogs and sirens the council said it is not their responsibility and to just call the police (they also know that due to my autism and situational mutism that i cannot make phone calls no matter the circumstances) LOL