my children are having to share a room even though they are all boys?

Question

my partner and i have 4 children between us and are currently living in a 2 bedroom property even though we are paying our rent arrears left by a former partner.
when should the boys be separated and why should we have to live like this.
my partner and i are sleeping in the front room

Answer 1

If you are living in a council house unfortunately they wont rehouse you unless your rent account is clear.

If at least 1 of your boys is over 9 then you should be entitled to at least 3 bedrooms.

You could try applying to local housing associations, otherwise i am afraid you will have to wait until you clear all your arrears.

I wish you well.

Answer 2

You are being responsible. You two are not abandoning your commitment on your property even though it doesn't fit you anymore. You are also being very selfless by sleeping in the front room and letting the boys have the bedrooms. I would advise you that as soon as your arrears are paid, consider saving for a bigger place to comfortably accommodate the six of you. In the mean time, hang in there. This will no last forever and the boys will be ok in the mean time.

Answer 3

I don't understand why you've given up your own room for the kids??? Kids are not the number one priority in a relationship; the couple is primary. I would buy two bunk beds and put them all in the same room and move myself and my partner into the other room. You're doing some quality "whining" about "having to live like this"...look, honey, you're barking up the wrong tree! Where I live, people were living on top of each other because Hurricane Katrina leveled their homes. They were just grateful to have a roof over their heads. So..stop whining and do something about the situation. Get another job to pay the back rent. You created the problem....FIX IT!!! Godloveya.

Answer 4

Its not an ideal situation but it could be much worse.....best thing is to think of people who are much worse off than you ( I know this can be hard sometimes) and it won't seem so bad. Are your kids all healthy??? I'd say that weighs up sleeping in the front room and the boys sharing. Just be patient it'll get better soon!!!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

Hi RACHEL

Had to share with 4 brother and 4 sisters in one room when I was younger. Some where still bedwetting and I ask my mum if I could sleep in the shallow end of the room

Answer 6

You didn't mention the boys ages, I should think its ok, the problem I could see would be if a 2 year old was having to share with a teenager, then it would be tricky, what with different bed times etc. But apart from that I can't see any problem, As my dad says, when he was a boy he had to share a bed with his siblings!

Answer 7

my daughter has 4 kids 1 boy and 3 girls, she,s in a 2 bedroomed house as well, she,s been told she has to wait until her son is 10 before they will rehouse her, he,s 8 now. i think the council need a good shake up.

Answer 8

Well, if you can't afford anything better you will just have to make do with what you got until you can afford to move. It can't be the end of the world if they are all say under the age of 13. I hope things improve for you soon though! Good luck!

Answer 9

It always amuses me that these days people expect that their children shouldn't have to share a bedroom. Years ago not only did children share a bedroom, very often they had to share a bed! My mother and her sister had to, right up to the day that my aunt got married. My husband had to share a bedroom with his two brothers up to the day I married him! Boy that was one cramped bedroom and wardrobe space was virtually nil.

Answer 10

you gotta do what ya' gotta do....set a plan and include everyone to try and set a date when you can move into something bigger...maybe try tucking away some money, getting the kids to help, have a yard sale with all the stuff ya'll don't need or have out grown, and start planning for a bigger place, as a family.