Shared housing being taken advantage of

[Finchlet2]

I am a bits n Bob's type labourer (people sometimes do a double take but for a smallish woman of 5"7 lifting heavy shits like a free self defence class) and with that often comes funny hours. I have always lived with other people from just people who need somewhere to stay to colleagues. Right now though me n the hubby are having a spell of bad luck when it comes to housemates. We spent a few months back on the streets after a large female housemate at our last gaff attacked my hubby when he caught her stealing our food (I will give anyone food if they ask but we were skint and had gone to serious lengths to acquire that food ) and the same woman stole my underwear and taunted me dangling it above my head. This place is getting exhausperating now. Will finish post later when got more time but any experiences of shared housing?

 

[anonymous]

I've kicked out many a bad housemate. Sometimes it's difficult to oust them, but it's never as difficult as it seems beforehand. I've done everything from writing a letter explaining my feelings and why they should GTFO to storming a residence with back up in case things got ugly. It's the legally binding agreements that are the toughest, but really, it only takes time to mount a good argument that would stand up to the bored, uninterested scrutiny of a busy landlord. Whether you require a rent/utility contribution is where it becomes truly a matter of wondering whether it's worth it, though your last roommate doesn't sound worth it at all. Then again, I've never been in a position where I needed extra support for those things that badly.

 

[Finchlet2]

TBH we''re on the other side of the situation. We ( me n hubby) smoke weed but we always walk down the street to do so. The other housemates are aware we do this and have used this and the fact that we work unpredictable hours coupled with my ptsd induced erratic sleeping hours as a basis to form their opinion that we're basically scum. We are respectful of noise levels at all times especially evenings and night time so they haven't had a go at us for noise but despite the fact that I am the only one that cleans the communal areas and takes the bins out (down four flights of stairs ) we get blamed for other people's menial crap. The lady in the room next to us leaves piles of washing up in the kitchen for weeks which doesn't bother me in the slightest cos I'm live and let live completely (unless u r hurting someone then it's f*ck you ) it only bothers me that we've been reported to the landlord as the source of her mess. Our shits going missing too and because its well known in the house that we were homeless prior to moving in here people assume its our fault. I've tried so so hard to fit in and make friends here and just keep getting treated like a piece of shit someone's scraped off the bottom of their shoe. Am planning to apply for a council place tmrw and the waiting list should be fun lol!

 

[illusionist]

Hope you are not expecting anything before 5 years plus, on the waiting list.

Have you tried charities such as crisis or shelter who will be able to give you advice?

 

[Finchlet2]

Yep and they can't do Jack shit. There's just no affordable housing all crisis and shelter can do is put your name down for a floor space in a night shelter and most areas have a serious waiting list to boot. Your right about the council though, we might try private rent with housing benefit it just means another four or five months of food banking Iit and going without smoke or f*ck all and generally ripping the shit out of each other cos we're so pissed of with a situation that we've already put over a year's worth of blood sweat and tears into only to be back in square one yet again because housing benefit doesn't cover a penny u ntill you've got a tenancy agreement and u can't get one u ntill u pay deposit and first months rent. The reality is me and my hubby both used means of surviving and earning money before we met each other that we can't use now we have but I would live out the rest of my life skint and by his side over having disposable money but not him and if we keep at it we'll get financially stable eventually.

 

[illusionist]

Have you tried looking on gumtree?....I got a nice little flat on there via a private landlord for £350 with a months deposit.....he was willing to wait a month for the rent....all he required was proof of earnings and character references. He was a social worker and just wanted to give folks like myself a chance.....they are out there, I couldn't believe my luck.

 

[illusionist]

I totally understand the feeling of being back to square one....it's hard. Giving up smokes is a small price to pay for having a roof over your head...needs must and all that.

 

[illusionist]

Sorry, I'm not understanding about using means of surviving that you can't use now..don't feel obliged to disclose..please.

Are the two of you working?....contracts?

 

[Finchlet2]

You're bang on about the council but after over eleven years of intermittent homelessness I thought it might be wise to get out names down on the register for the sake of the longer haul. In the meantime its a case of foodbanking it, going without smoke (collecting dog ends when desperate ) and just being utterly skit to the point I end up stealing loo roll for the next for months in order to save a deposit and the first months rent for a private rental. We get housing benefit but they don't cover shit until you have a tenancy agreement and you can't get one of those u ntill you pay for that crap. What's more we''ve done this so many times before and being back to square one again due to incessant bullying from stuck up housemates is likely gonna result in us tearing lumps out of each other. We'll patch each other up again though like we always do. The reality is both me and my hubby had ways of surviving and earning money prior to meeting each other that our relationship means we can't keep doing but I would rather be in the shit with him than well off with ought else and if we keep working our bollocks off eventually we will get financially stable. Crisis and shelter can't do Jack shit. There's just no affordable housing (and yet f*ck loads of empty house! ). All they can do is put you on a predictably long waiting list for a floor space at a night shelter wher you invariably get your bum squeezed by fourty/fifty somthing old men whove spent the last decade of their life hooked on brown and point you in the direction of the nearest soup kitchen.where you generally bump in to the same dudes who know think cos they recognise you they can go for the tits. Most where lucky i didn't go for the jugular.

 

[Finchlet2]

My hubby smokes weed for his raynards and i smoke it for cold induced joint dysmorphia so that small price to pay results in both my hobbies hands clawing an locking and me being his carer for all daily tasks whilst in severe pain myself as the lack of weed makes my joints excruciatingly pain full. Yaws we r working but on projects as they come up not contract. My hubbies run stores before he met me and earned decent money but it made him so miserable he tried to end things. I was a slut who'd take ten quid for a blow job, twenty quid for a f*ck. Not trying to be offensive just answering your questions honestly. I had my children to think of and would do absolutely anything to afford what they need.

 

[illusionist]

Thanks for your honesty...totally understand doing what you had to do. Having no contract does make it a lot harder to get a tenancy....known a lot of people caught in that situation....also understand the weed for pain.

I know you have probably considered it, but have you applied for carers allowance, don't know what it's called now?...Having that may help with getting housing?....just thinking out loud.

 

[Finchlet2]

We found a really open minded agency that's taken on a hotel and turned the rooms into living spaces for permanent residents. There's loads of empty rooms and they are happy with our references. It's cheap as chips as its a bit dilapidated but we like that sort of shit. We are viewing a room there tomorrow. We are very relieved as we've been shut out our own kitchen tonight so can't even get our food out the fridge. Thankyou so much for your support and understanding illusionist you legend