I’ve got 5 kids & live in a 2-bed council house – me & my partner have to sleep in the living room but we make it work
A WOMAN has revealed that her family of seven live in a two-bedroom council house, meaning that she and her partner have to sleep in the living room.
Lauren, and her fiance Chris both have two children from previous relationships, and one child which they share.
Not all of the children live with them all of the time, but they all have their own bed, wardrobe and belongings, which are crammed into the two-bedroom house.
To give the children more privacy, Lauren has split one of the bedrooms in two, to create a third room.
In one room, the couple’s two sons sleep on bunk beds, whilst in another room, their two older daughters also sleep on bunk beds.
In the third room, their three-year-old daughter has the space to herself.
Lauren revealed that she has been criticised online for having another child when her house is so small, but said that she and Chris are currently saving up for a bigger house.
“We both work and are putting everything we’ve got into the savings to hopefully move out in the next year or so!”, she said in a TikTok video, revealing that she is hoping to use the TikTok creator fund to help pay for the move.
To allow their children to have more space, Lauren and Chris have sacrificed their own bedroom, and sleep on a sofa bed downstairs.
“The children deserve to have space,” she said.
Lauren revealed that she loves being a step-mum and having a blended family and loves taking care of all of the children.
“We have made this space work for our family,” she said.
Her video, posted under the username @laurenamyt, has gone viral, racking up over 800,000 views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts.
One person said: “I honestly think people should have the same amount of kids as they have bedrooms.
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.
“I say that as someone who had to always share. No privacy at all.”
A second person said: “You’re doing your best for all five kids.
“Well done mum.”
A third person said: “My parents also sacrificed having a bedroom so me and my brother could have separate rooms. and I’m very thankful for that every day!”
A fourth added: “As a kid who went to my dads not knowing if I’d be on the sofa, a blow-up bed, or if I’d be ‘allowed’ on my brother’s bunk beds, thank you for giving them their space.”