neepjelly

Yes I do, and if you are truly in this situation then you are justified. To be clear, I'm not attacking you. I'm not saying you don't have the right to a council house. My problem is people saying they're "homeless" when they've not exhausted all options and are putting themselves in that situation out of choosiness. Let me explain... This country will ensure (or do its damnedest to ensure) everyone has a roof over their head. That's something everyone should be thankful for. When you are classified as homeless, you get put to the top of the housing list and made a high priority. You are given temporary accommodation, as you have, and that can be at great expense because there are no other options than private B&Bs. To me being truly homeless is about having exhausted every single option. That covers viewing and applying for houses, flats, rooms, shares in a variety of locations, or moving back to the family home (space permitting). Only when you have no option left and are sleeping on a friend couch, or god forbid contemplating sleeping rough, then you should be classed as homeless in my view. Unfortunately this is an area that can be abused. Anyone can turn up and say they're homeless, and the council has to react. Therefore it becomes a moral responsibility when you declare yourself homeless. You need to respect the situation of every other person on the housing list you are queue jumping. There will be people on that list that have been on it for years, for example: working but still living in the family home, coping those same high rents you're trying to avoid, in overcrowded situations, have had relationship breakdowns but still have to be under the same roof, and countless other situations. They're not homeless or making themselves such, they're waiting their turn patiently. So if you feel you truly count as homeless and should go in front of the above people, then that's your choice. I will say no more on the subject. Agreed, and anybody that is unfortunate enough to find themselves truly homeless would be only too happy to accept accommodation anywhere, regardless of whether it's in sight of the town or not. Otherwise, you take what's available and you work up from there. If you want to live in Lerwick, or anywhere else, for that matter, and there is nothing on offer then you save up or shut up. The world is your oyster, just don't expect society to go out to sea to catch it for you. Are you homeless? Don't tell me what I should be happy to accept. Accepting anywhere else, at this current moment in time, would mean leaving my job. Something that funnily enough, i'm not willing to do.

Because of the law relating to social housing. A local authority isn't under an obligation to meet your 'wants' but your 'need'. Don't get me wrong, I've been homeless and know how difficult and worrying it is to not have a roof over your head. But I'll be honest here, there are more in greater need than you. It's impossible to make that assumption without knowing my circumstances. I'm not going to justify myself anymore.

I put forward this question to you Brian: should an able-bodied working individual be instantly housed by the council or put up in a B&B because of a refusal to share or relocate? Where do you draw the line? The state was never designed to provide housing for everyone, plus they're broke. A single person council house occupancy has also always been a luxury usually only available in the private sector. Additionally, why should I have to accept housing in a random area of Shetland I have no connection with. I have friends and family in Lerwick and it has been home for the last 2 years.

I put forward this question to you Brian: should an able-bodied working individual be instantly housed by the council or put up in a B&B because of a refusal to share or relocate? Where do you draw the line? The state was never designed to provide housing for everyone, plus they're broke. A single person council house occupancy has also always been a luxury usually only available in the private sector. Did you know if there are social issues/ is vulnerable etc. then they are not put in shared accommodation? You don't know the full story so stop attacking me for wanting a place to call home.

Paulb - read what Neepjelly wrote. She has said that there's no job security, that's why they're paying better than average wages. It's because if they didn't ,nobody would touch them with a bargepole as they'd be going down an employment dead-end in Shetland. Nobody on the SGP contract would come all the way up here from the UK for, say, £9.00 an hour. Shorter term jobs always pay higher, the same as at SV, all those guys from Wood Group, OC, Cape etc are on decent money because their manning levels rise and fall with demand. Plus there's no way that Shetland has enough people with the right skills to fill all the positions - so the only answer is to pay well and spread the net further. As for £18k for an admin job, I could argue that you'd be better off not wasting 8 years studying and going and banging out some salmon or crab in the local factories for £8.50 p/h. You'd have been miles in front financially by now TBH, some of the comments in this thread are now going beyond making helpful suggestions and drifting into righteous indignation and demands for explanations regarding her personal life. I'm sure that's not what Neepjelly was asking for...... Thank you!

As I've said, it's not a stable job. I could get a phone call tonight telling me not to come in tomorrow. And have you seen how much people are wanting for a room on here? £600pcm.

So why don't you house share to split the cost? Because I don't want to house share. I want my own space. I've been in halls, lived with a partner, but now I need my own space. I've lived away from my parents since I was 16 years old (i'm 22), and this is the first time I've approached the council for help.

This figure is not correct. 1 - there was a 20% pay cut in February 2 - general administrators were only on £100 per day before the cut, and technical clerks £120. And any way, this is only true for Petrofac. I do not work for Petrofac. Another point, none of us know when we will lose our job, it would be irresponsible to take on a flat at £1000 a month (shared or not) as tomorrow I could lose my job. There is no security here.

Most short assured tenancies give you a 1 or (more usually) 2 month notice period, which is considered a fair enough amount of time to find somewhere else in the private sector, and I assume this is what you've been given? By refusing to compromise and consider outside of Lerwick, or look at a smaller property, you are effectively making yourself homeless. This shouldn't be the council's problem and they aren't obligated to house you in your desired area/house size in such circumstances. I received 2 months notice and immediately got myself on the council list and began searching for private rental, however.. as stated all over this website, it's far to expensive to consider. I'm going to hazard a guess and say you're not willing to pay £1000 + a month for rent? Well, neither am I... it's completely unrealistic. I'm not refusing to compromise. I don't drive, and can't rely on someone to get me to work as everyone works different rotations. On my housing form I'm willing to accept any size of property at present, because at the moment I'm in a b&b and my belongings are spread far and wide across Shetland. It's easy to make assumptions when you're not in the position of someone else, and people should maybe take that into consideration when writing their comments. I have all number of reasons for staying in Lerwick and don't owe anyone a justification for that. The council look into your case to make sure you are not "making yourself homeless" and they did not feel this was the case. My case is a particularly popular one at the moment as rent prices are soaring and landlords see this as a business opportunity, tenants are getting their notice to quit, and have no other option but to approach the council.

Thats the best piece of advice I've heard come out of the Housing Office. Unless of course a mediocre property and mediocre service, delivered with patronising dictatorial arrogance, backed up by jumped to conclusions based on nothing but their own prejudices and fantasies is what a person expects from a landlord, especially a social one. Then I'm sure being with them instead of a private let would be just swell. If I could by any means afford private rent I would Ghostrider! But it's utterly impossible unless you're earning silly bucks. Unfortunately my the only option I can afford is of the "mediocre property and mediocre service, delivered with patronising dictatorial arrogance" variety. I'm a young, hard working girl who's found herself in hardship and I needed a platform to vent my frustration at the system. You're being very condensing, all in all quite nasty towards me, and there's really no need. Actions of a bully. Neepjelly, obviously your under pressure just now, but read ghosties post again, at no time was he having a go at you, he was clearly hitting out at the housing department, with whom he's had some experience. I feel for young people today, who are struggling to find somewhere to live at a reasonable price. It can't be easy and I understand this must be a worrying time for you. I do hope you manage to find something suitable. Ghostrider i owe you and apology, I misread your comment and jumped to conclusions.

I agree with you there but da lass maybe wants to keep her current job. However I don't fully get why she needs to stay in Lerwick to work at the Gas Plant? With the sheer multitude of vehicles going there every day (as well as SVT and Sellaness where the site bus leaves from) I am sure she would be able to sort herself a lift to Sellaness with somebody? Currently I get a bus at 5.45am every morning from the barge. This is a lift I can rely on. If I was living elsewhere I'd have to rely on other folk, and people work different rotations etc. it's just a hassle and I don't want to be worrying every day how I'm going to get to work.

How is it voluntary if i received a notice to quit for today? Had i not had the b&b arranged I don't know what I would have done tonight. Yes i have family and friends, but i don't think i'm their problem.

Sorry for any confusions.. i just mean that with the housing situation, private and social, people are being forced to leave the island.

Thats the best piece of advice I've heard come out of the Housing Office. Unless of course a mediocre property and mediocre service, delivered with patronising dictatorial arrogance, backed up by jumped to conclusions based on nothing but their own prejudices and fantasies is what a person expects from a landlord, especially a social one. Then I'm sure being with them instead of a private let would be just swell. If I could by any means afford private rent I would Ghostrider! But it's utterly impossible unless you're earning silly bucks. Unfortunately my the only option I can afford is of the "mediocre property and mediocre service, delivered with patronising dictatorial arrogance" variety. I'm a young, hard working girl who's found herself in hardship and I needed a platform to vent my frustration at the system. You're being very condensing, all in all quite nasty towards me, and there's really no need. Actions of a bully.

The housing situation is driving me nuts right now. I'm being made homeless through no fault of my own, and as of the 8th I will have nowhere to live. I filled out my housing application as soon as I could and they have known about my situation for about 2 and a half months. However, they would not see me and let me present my case until last week. I'm now in a very stressful situation whereby I'm having to pack up my flat with no idea where I'm going. The best the council can offer me is a B&B for the time being.They're also charging me to put my stuff in storage (for the foreseeable future). To me, this is truly appalling. I've always paid my bills and rent on time and i'm a hard working local. Due to work commitments, and not driving Lerwick is really the only area I can consider right now. The council keep asking me to look into private rent.. but unless you're earning silly, silly money.. it's just impossible. The cheapest property I've found (that suits my needs.. a 2 bed unfurnished flat) is £975 PLUS bills. I work on the gas plant, and while my wages are good this far extends what i can reasonably afford. Contract work is not permanent and anyone of us could lose our jobs at any point so simply cannot risk taking on a property with rent like this! I understand that people want to make the money while it's there to be made, but people should be ashamed of themselves. Landlords are kicking out long-standing tenants so that they can up the rent. These people then have to declare themselves homeless. Adding pressure to the council list. Couples are "separating" to gain another council property and then renting it out. I've been told I'll be on the homeless list waiting for a house for the next 3 years! Locals, who speak the local dialect, follow local traditions, are leaving and taking Shetland with them. Something needs to be done.

Hi, I've managed to start a debate in my office by stating that there are more trees in Shetland than people. (I'm sure I've been told this before... and no, i'm not confused with the saying "more sheep than people". I'm very aware that Shetland is more known for it's lack of trees.. however I think there are a lot more than we give credit too! Scatsta, Voxter, Brae, Voe, Kergord, Nesting, Girlsta, Tingwall and Lerwick all have a large number of trees. Can anybody back this up, or am I wrong!? (Note - next time you're driving anywhere keep your eyes open for trees, there are far more than we let our selves think!!!!)

With so many people calling the workers "travellers" it's hard to keep tabs of what people mean.

To be honest I'm disgusted at everybodys attitude towards the work men. We're supposed to be a lovely and welcoming isle yet all that has happened since day one is moaning about them. They are here trying to provide for their families and earn a good wage. They need a bit of down time too. I work at the gas plant and the majority of the workers are the lovliest souls you could hope to meet. They definitely have a better attitude towards us than we do them. There's nothing that can be done about their being here, so we mights as well embrace it and make some new friends!

Isbister Leaper String Quartet @ the fiddle frenzy in fetlar. Andrew Leaper, Ashley Leaper, Haldan Isbister and Stewart Isbister. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tv4Au-HM4ow

I've had the strangest updates from talktalk over the past few days from "a ship has been scheduled to fix the cable" to "it's been sent" then to be followed by "a decision on which ship to be sent will be made" Nobody over there seems to know what the hells going on. I keep speaking to really unhelpful people who keep repeating "there's an outage in your area"... YES, I am aware of this!!! Have been told it's due to be back on at 8pm tomorrow night, if it isn't then i will definitely be changing providers. I don't understand how they can value us so little.

Trying to decide on the best internet service provider to go for, so need a bit of help. Who is your provider? And how would you rate the internet service?

I thought that too trout, but all wanted ads are ending up there too. :/

Having issues with things not being sorted in the right categories. For example if someone puts a wanted ad on, it goes into the accommodation section. Someone is looking for a foreman in accommodation.. is this human error or shetlink? Otherwise, no problems. Loving the new layout.

Classifieds doesn't appear to be working.. just keeps telling me the webpage is unavailable.. any ideas?

I'm 20, and trying to find a house with my boyfriend... this is proving more difficult than expected. We both have secure jobs and have lived here most of our lives, moving away only to go to college. If we were applying for housing with Hjatland there's no way we could get anything remotely close to Lerwick, Scalloway or Tingwall (which is where we'd like to move). Even getting houses further away proves difficult. And looking at private rental is proving just as difficult. For example one bedroom flats going for £1000 a month! It's no wonder more and more young people are leaving the isle... they can't find anywhere to live up here! People are getting just a bit to greedy. I can understand why they're charging so much, I probably would myself given the opportunity... but somebody needs to give us young ones a chance. Rant over.