I’m a mum in temporary council accommodation & it’s like being in JAIL – there’s 4 strict rules & I’m judged so harshly
A MUM has bravely opened up about the prison-like conditions in the temporary council accommodation she shares with her daughter.
Katie Prior, who lives in Camden, London, realised she would no longer be able to afford her private rented property after unexpectedly losing her job due to childcare letting her ”down”.
Although the dark-haired beauty desperately tried looking for remote work to make ends meet, her efforts proved to be futile – and in April, she had her first notice that the landlord was putting their home back on the market.
With no options left, the young mum-of-one reached out to the council and soon Katie was told she would have to vacate her home by mid-September.
Although there was plenty of stuff the mum had out put in storage, as well as suitcases to pack, Katie did her best to make the most out of the rest of summer.
The move-in date finally arrived – and Katie was immediately struck by a number of new rules she had to abide by.
”We finally moved, was making the most of it and finding our whereabouts in the new area, not knowing how long we’re going to her for, and having to sign every day to ensure we were staying there,” she claimed in the video.
According to the young mum, who posts under the username @katieepriorr, their current living situation has led to a change in how others perceive them.
The stunner claimed that she constantly gets judged and receives ”looks” whenever she tells people the duo live in a hotel.
Meanwhile, although life in a hotel may sound posh, Katie said it was essentially ”like living in jail”.
Not only is she required ”to sign in every single day”, Katie is also not allowed to have any visitors and ”not really supposed to sleep out unless informing the council first”.
In the video, the mother-of-one, who described the situation ”a joke”, also alleged that there are ”weekly room checks”.
”I have been lucky enough not to but a lot of people have to share bathrooms and kitchens,” she added.
Katie added that despite the prison-like feel, she does her best to ”make it feel as homey as possible”, whether that’s by adding new candles, fairy lights or cosy rugs.
”It makes all the difference for you and your children.”
She went on in the comments: ”It’s so dead honestly.
”Honestly they treat you like your [you’re] in prison, is so bad.”
How can I get a council house?
To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority.
To find your local authority, simply use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Once you have access to your local council’s website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application.
After applying, you’ll most likely have to join a waiting list.
Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn’t guarantee you a council house offer.
Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently.
Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on “points” or a “banding” system.
For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:
- are homeless
- live in cramped conditions
- have a medical condition made worse by your current home
- are seeking to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on a council’s waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available.
Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds.
EU workers and their families and refugees may also be eligible.
A council house is reached through a points system, so depending on your housing needs, you may be considered low priority.
The council will contact you about any available property once you are high enough on the waiting list.
There is no limit on how long you can expect to be on the waiting list.
Since being posted on the platform, the video has racked up more tan 100k views and touched the hearts of dozens.
A fellow mum said: ”Same boat in a shared house, but we’re not allowed candles, rugs, lights etc as well as checks and no visitors not even my 16 yr old is allowed in.”
Another was shocked: ”No visitors?? I’m allowed visitors until 11pm that’s not fair.”
A third chimed in: ”Same boat mama, been in hotel since June last year with my disabled daughter.. moved the length of the UK in hotels too.. hopefully gets better.”