The title of this blog post is correct, up to a point. But it should be 'home-hunting' but that doesn't really work. Nit-picking, I know, or being pedantic (which is the same thing, or tortological), but does it matter, and do you, or I, really care? Probably not. A flat, bungalow or any sort of one-bedded home would be preferable. I just can't continue to live in this house because the rent is too high and Milton Keynes Council will not pay the full amount, for whatever reason I can't fathom. I rang several agencies this morning, having been given a list when I went to the Council offices yesterday morning. I was told that they couldn't help because I wasn't homeless, which is true up to a point, but I am trying to sort things out before I have problem, which is one reason i went to Citizens' Advice this morning, rather than going to Camphill to work with the drama group as I have done each Tuesday for the past two weeks. I hope to go back next week. I did ring to say I wouldn't be there at 8.30.
I had been given a list of agencies which I began to ring early this morning. Not a great deal of use. The minute you say 'Housing Benefit' they don't always want to help. A couple said that someone would return my call, a person who deals with rental properties, so I waited, and waited, but no call came back. Just annoying and a waste of my time. So it occurred to me that perhaps Citizens' Advice might be more helpful. I just need someone to be a bit more supportive of my situation. I wasn't entirely sure where the CAB office was in Milton Keynes, so I had to go on Google Maps and then, when I drove into the city centre and parked the car, I used my iPhone and the maps app to guide me to the office in Midsummer Boulevard.
I was handed a form to fill in as soon as I arrived, by the lady on the reception desk. So I sat down and began to fill in the form. The usual stuff you have to put on such a form. Why was I there? My age, address, age and goodness knows what else. Did I mind them sharing my details 'with other agencies,' or something. A declaration for G.D.P.R. (General Data Protection Regulations). There weren't many people waiting with me. I also had a card with a number on it, right this moment I can't remember the number, and then I heard someone call out the number. It was behind me. This seems the general procedure in most places, you get given a ticket or card with a number on it and then you have to wait for the number to be called out or appear on a digital screen, as in the case of the doctor's surgery, a clinic at the hospital, the Jobcentre or Council offices.
I was eventually called into an office by one of the advisors. I was surprised how quickly I was seen. Having used C.A.B. when I lived in Bedford, I can remember vividly having to wait around 2-3 hours to be seen. I know there weren't as many other people waiting when I was in the Milton Keynes office, it seemed a good deal more efficiently run than the Bedford branch. Or they have more staff and a better procedure before you get seen by anyone. It doesn't look as if there are many options for alternative accommodation. House prices are sky high in Milton Keynes, probably higher than most parts of Britain, probably because Milton Keynes is such a successful town. It is expanding rapidly and there are plenty of jobs. As a consequence, people will pay higher prices for houses and also rent is higher than the average. Many people rent, particularly when there is a floating population, those who come to work here briefly and don't intend buying a property. So as a result of all this I'm finding it difficult to find somewhere else to live. I was given a list of housing association telephone numbers to try. Probably they would have somewhere for me to move to and, because they aren't run to make a profit, they would look after their tenants better than an organisation which is profit-based and have shareholders.
On arriving home I began to ring some of the numbers on the list I had been given. One of the housing associations is Bedford Pilgrim's. I didn't realise they had properties in Milton Keynes. I used to live in one of their flats when I lived at Beauchamp Court in Bedford. I discover that I can't approach them directly to be put on a waiting list for a property. I have to go through the Council. I have to send an email to them and I soon get a reply. I have to be homeless to apply. What is going on here? I'm going out of my way to avoid being homeless. They won't help me, as I was told when I visited the Council offices on Monday. I feel really annoyed. It seems that nobody wants to help me. One suggestion made when I was at the C.A.B. office yesterday was, would I consider having a lodger, who would pay rent which would make up the difference that I'm not getting in Housing Benefit? This has crossed my mind. There is a largish spare room, which was Daniel's when he lived with us. I'm not so sure it's such a good idea. It would have to be a male lodger, someone I trusted and anyway, I'd have to have my landlord's approval and I'm not sure he would agree to having a lodger. This person would pay his rent directly to the landlord and he'd have to interview any prospective candidates. It would seem to be one solution to this problem, but I still can't think why the Council can't pay all of my rent.
A knock on the door at around lunchtime yesterday. I rush to answer and two people standing on the doorstep, a young man and a girl, with clipboards in their hands. From some power provider. I say, 'oh no, not more!' They turn tale and walk away. It's getting annoying, this. It was P.P.I. I'd get telephone about, but now it seems every power company under the sun is out touting for custom. That's three i've had in the past couple of weeks, several offering to install a smart meter. I know they are only doing their job, but I'm getting heartily sick of them coming to the door or telephoning me.
I had been given a list of agencies which I began to ring early this morning. Not a great deal of use. The minute you say 'Housing Benefit' they don't always want to help. A couple said that someone would return my call, a person who deals with rental properties, so I waited, and waited, but no call came back. Just annoying and a waste of my time. So it occurred to me that perhaps Citizens' Advice might be more helpful. I just need someone to be a bit more supportive of my situation. I wasn't entirely sure where the CAB office was in Milton Keynes, so I had to go on Google Maps and then, when I drove into the city centre and parked the car, I used my iPhone and the maps app to guide me to the office in Midsummer Boulevard.
I was handed a form to fill in as soon as I arrived, by the lady on the reception desk. So I sat down and began to fill in the form. The usual stuff you have to put on such a form. Why was I there? My age, address, age and goodness knows what else. Did I mind them sharing my details 'with other agencies,' or something. A declaration for G.D.P.R. (General Data Protection Regulations). There weren't many people waiting with me. I also had a card with a number on it, right this moment I can't remember the number, and then I heard someone call out the number. It was behind me. This seems the general procedure in most places, you get given a ticket or card with a number on it and then you have to wait for the number to be called out or appear on a digital screen, as in the case of the doctor's surgery, a clinic at the hospital, the Jobcentre or Council offices.
I was eventually called into an office by one of the advisors. I was surprised how quickly I was seen. Having used C.A.B. when I lived in Bedford, I can remember vividly having to wait around 2-3 hours to be seen. I know there weren't as many other people waiting when I was in the Milton Keynes office, it seemed a good deal more efficiently run than the Bedford branch. Or they have more staff and a better procedure before you get seen by anyone. It doesn't look as if there are many options for alternative accommodation. House prices are sky high in Milton Keynes, probably higher than most parts of Britain, probably because Milton Keynes is such a successful town. It is expanding rapidly and there are plenty of jobs. As a consequence, people will pay higher prices for houses and also rent is higher than the average. Many people rent, particularly when there is a floating population, those who come to work here briefly and don't intend buying a property. So as a result of all this I'm finding it difficult to find somewhere else to live. I was given a list of housing association telephone numbers to try. Probably they would have somewhere for me to move to and, because they aren't run to make a profit, they would look after their tenants better than an organisation which is profit-based and have shareholders.
On arriving home I began to ring some of the numbers on the list I had been given. One of the housing associations is Bedford Pilgrim's. I didn't realise they had properties in Milton Keynes. I used to live in one of their flats when I lived at Beauchamp Court in Bedford. I discover that I can't approach them directly to be put on a waiting list for a property. I have to go through the Council. I have to send an email to them and I soon get a reply. I have to be homeless to apply. What is going on here? I'm going out of my way to avoid being homeless. They won't help me, as I was told when I visited the Council offices on Monday. I feel really annoyed. It seems that nobody wants to help me. One suggestion made when I was at the C.A.B. office yesterday was, would I consider having a lodger, who would pay rent which would make up the difference that I'm not getting in Housing Benefit? This has crossed my mind. There is a largish spare room, which was Daniel's when he lived with us. I'm not so sure it's such a good idea. It would have to be a male lodger, someone I trusted and anyway, I'd have to have my landlord's approval and I'm not sure he would agree to having a lodger. This person would pay his rent directly to the landlord and he'd have to interview any prospective candidates. It would seem to be one solution to this problem, but I still can't think why the Council can't pay all of my rent.
A knock on the door at around lunchtime yesterday. I rush to answer and two people standing on the doorstep, a young man and a girl, with clipboards in their hands. From some power provider. I say, 'oh no, not more!' They turn tale and walk away. It's getting annoying, this. It was P.P.I. I'd get telephone about, but now it seems every power company under the sun is out touting for custom. That's three i've had in the past couple of weeks, several offering to install a smart meter. I know they are only doing their job, but I'm getting heartily sick of them coming to the door or telephoning me.
No comments:
Post a Comment