I CAN’T GET ON THE HOUSING LIST BECAUSE I’M NOT IN ENOUGH DEBT – STRUGGLING WOMAN

A woman says she’s been told she cannot join Salford city council’s waiting list for social housing because she’s not in enough debt or in danger of eviction.

Partially-sighted Maxine Ford, 51, lives in a privately rented flat in Peel Green, but has been told her rent will rise by £25 a month from £675 to £700.

Single Maxine works as an occupational health scheduler but says after outgoings, she’s left with only £200 a month to pay for travel-to-work costs and groceries.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):

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“After I received the letter to say my rent was going up, I thought with the cost of living and everying else, I can’t afford to maintain my flat the way it’s going. 

“I thought if I applied for the Salford housing list, I might be able to get a cheaper home.

“I took my document to the office at the council offices and thought I was on the list. 

“But when I went back a couple of weeks later, I found I had been removed. The told me I can’t go on the emergency housing list because I’m not in danger of eviction and I’m not in serious debt.”

 

She went on:

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“The whole point of me applying for social housing was to try to avoid getting into serious debt. This doesn’t seem fair.”

Deputy city mayor and lead member for housing, property and regeneration, Coun Tracy Kelly said:

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“These are very difficult times for residents with the rising cost of living and my sympathies go out to everyone who is struggling at present. 

“There is a lot of support available for residents which is listed on our website at www.salford.gov.uk/costofliving or they can visit our Gateway centres at Eccles, Swinton, Pendleton and Walkden or the Broughton Hub and ask about our Better Off service to check if there are benefits they could be claiming and find out about other sources of help. 

“Every request to join Salford’s housing register is assessed in line with government guidance about eligibility for social housing and an affordability assessment is carried out to see what level of rent people can manage. If people are deemed to be adequately housed then we do not accept them onto the housing register. 

“Even if someone is accepted onto the register it could be many months before they are able to secure a property due to the national shortage of affordable housing. We already have 3704 people on the register. Salford city council is trying to address the shortage of affordable housing by building new homes and working with partners but sadly, there is no quick fix for this.”