Housing help & advice urgently needed

[CrazyNomad]

Posting here for traffic.

Previously posted on Scotsnet as I’m living and will continue to live in Scotland.

Situation has become more pressingly urgent due to a combination of deteriorating health and also current landlords have contacted me regarding extensive planned maintenance which I will absolutely not be able to cope with happening while I still live in this property.

Looking to move to glasgow preferably.

Housing association most likely option but will consider private if I have to. Shared ownership a slight possibility but the time frame might make this less feasible?

Questions I hope someone here can answer as nowhere open at weekends for me to check with.

1 can I ask current landlord to hold off on maintenance works until I can move out? It’s not a specific date they’ve given, it’s all going to be taking place over a few months I’m thinking they’re doing this in a number of their properties.
Not expecting them to hold off indefinitely or even long term just long enough I can sort somewhere else.

2 any tips/advice on finding/getting a new place, from how certain housing associations like to do things, to which areas are good/to be avoided

3 I was hoping to manage next move in such a way as new place could be properly setup and sorted before I move in as that would be much easier for me mainly due to the health issues (mainly mh). Also having a little time at least to manage moving out of this property which I will need to do in a certain way because of my health issues

Any other advice that you think may be useful in my situation.

I’m also currently under occupying which I hope may be something that helps?

Always pay rent on time, have a little money I can throw at the situation, main difficulties are that I have to do things in a certain sequence.

Happy to receive and answer queries by pm as some stuff I’m a bit wary of posting here as could mean I’m too identifiable. Nc for this post for that reason.

I’m trying desperately not to panic but have nobody available I can talk to and that’s really not helping matters.

So I really really need your help. This is causing me considerably anxiety and distress.

Desperate bump I really need reassurance here or at least a handhold till I can make calls on Monday

is it just you moving?

how long have you been on the HA waiting list and what band are you placed in?

Firstly thank you so much for replying was twisting in the wind here!

Just me.

Not on the list as yet because I thought I had time! Been supposed to get an occ therapy assessment for months which keeps getting postponed which I was advised it would be best to get before doing application.

Now I’m very much regretting that!

Don’t know how the bands work/what one I’d be in been Googling the housing associations and reading allocations policies but it’s about as clear as mud.

In England you may be waiting a while for a housing association property and you might have to get your landlord to evict you to be eligible to apply.

Is there no way you can stay there with the works happening? I think unless you private rent which if you want it all sorted before you move it would mean paying yeo lots of rent.

Would your doctor be able to support you in finding somewhere?

Do you have connections in the Glasgow area? I'm not sure you can just move to a new area if you have no local connections there? Especially with waiting list being so high.

Absolutely would not cope living here while this work was done. I barely cope with visitors at all even if they’re not doing anything. But this would be particularly stressful for me.

Dr not been much help tbh they won’t even do letters or anything for evidence now.

I’m really stressed cos nowhere is open and I can’t get any info or support

I can manage paying 2 lots of rent for a month or so if needed I’m lucky there.

The difficulty is going to be finding a new place fairly quickly and managing the actual move.

I was starting to do better recently and this is a knock I really didn’t need just now (well ever really) just fed up this kinda thing getting sprung on me as a tenant all the time it’s always something

Just would be nice to live somewhere that there wasn’t constant people coming to do stuff

Head spinning

Yes I have connections in glasgow area it’s not a random choice

Glasgow area has long waiting lists op...why Glasgow? do you have a local connection?

i think unfortunately your landlord does have the right for works to be carried out whilst you are living there as long as utilities are kept connected etc...whats being done?

housing association properties have a seemingly endless loop of gas safety checks, smoke alarm checks,maintenence repairs etc etc

you will need to see those as a positive. with covid,they are respectful, wear mask as they move room to room and will remove shoes. thats if you are stressed around covid

housing association can be quite ruthless......empty properties often handed over dirty, scruffy,usually last occupants decor so not freshly painted. no chance to look round and measure up and prepare.

how would you take a shared ownership? what about work? sorry to hear doctor can't give any input

I definitely have connections in glasgow but unfortunately at the moment there aren’t properties in the parts of glasgow where they live so I’m worried I’ll not be helped for that reason.

I understand the landlord has to do the work but I also absolutely know I won’t cope with it being done while I am living here.

Would prefer not to detail the work being done here but happy to pm if that’s ok? It’s major extensive whole property work and several items

It’s far more complex than just concerns re covid

Agree with the CONSTANT something always needing to be done with housing associations, but then private landlords can be very hit and miss too.

There’s no trust pilot equivalent for landlords

Shared ownership might be a possibility but I’m not really sure how that works especially in terms of work being done.

I don’t work I’m not well enough to work.

So I’m on benefits at the moment I have a little in savings (under the threshold) that I may be able to use?

As I say I have no idea how it works

A difficulty with Glasgow is that I imagine the housing association will have lots of demand from people seeking properties. If you are (in their opinion) adequately housed now, you may be quite far down their priority list.

Would you consider any other areas that would have less demand for council housing? For example I know that Shetland often has empty housing association housing - there may well be other areas too where there are empty houses you could easily get, or a shorter list - I know Shetland would be a huge move, that is just an example as I have friends there so I know about their housing! Do you have connections anywhere else you could explore, which may have less demand than Glasgow?

Wherever you move, the landlord may do further work in future. Once the work is done on your current home would that mean you are less likely to be disturbed in the near future, as everything done? Rather than moving into a different house which may then need work doing in a year. Is there anywhere you can stay whilst the work is being done - with a friend, an Airbnb, a hotel? What time period is it being done over? Just wondering if finding temporary alternative accommodation would be cheaper and easier than relocating, then once this work is complete you may be unlikely to be disturbed again.

I am open to looking pretty much anywhere but I also know I stand a better chance of getting somewhere that I do have connections and at the moment that’s only glasgow.

I have friends in other parts of Uk but not family and they don’t usually include friends as allowed connections for applications.

Shetland is tempting in one respect - quite isolated and I’m quite fed up of bad neighbours!

Temporarily moving out honestly wouldn’t work for me - don’t want to go into detail here but happy to explain by pm it’s complicated

Seems to be every blooming month there’s something! I just wanna be left alone.

You could ask the landlord, but regardless of how amenable they are it will depend on the nature of the work, if it's maintenance that will cost more in the long term if it's left, or something that can only temporarily delayed the answer will understandably be no. Can't hurt to ask.
No advice on housing associations or shared ownership, but unless you're going to buy a top spec new build, any home you rent or own could need work doing when you're living there.

i think you need a mortgage for shared ownership

you will always have people coming/going...always. no matter where you live. but you might have to learn to cope with the work done to your current home....can you set up a room like a bedsit type accommodation so you dont have to see the tradesmen or work in progress?

@TrainspottingWelsh yea I’m not expecting them not to do the work I just am very much hoping they can delay until I can facilitate a move elsewhere.

I know there will always be occasions when work needs to be done but it’s honestly blooming constant with this lot! It’s driving me nuts!

I can manage certain things with enough notice and support but this is HUGE. Potentially weeks/months worth of work.

@gardeninggirl68 your suggestion not an option the work is through the whole house every room.

who supports you? you have help?

I know Shetland would be a huge move

Dramatic suggestion! Very poor mental health care provision in Shetland. 12 hour ferry or expensive flights. And more than likely that any social housing allocated would be in housing estates where there could be bad neighbours - just like anywhere else.

It's not a place to relocate to without very careful consideration first.

I wasn't suggesting op relocate to Shetland specifically, just giving an example of an area I'm a bit familiar with that has empty social housing. In contrast to Glasgow where there will probably be a long list of people waiting for housing. Op may have some connections/ links to other less in-demand areas where she may be able to secure housing more easily than Glasgow.

I have known some people where affordable stable housing is their most pressing problem, and they chose the area they lived in from looking for places with available social housing (and then of course checking other things like transport, crime, local services before choosing from that shortlist).

OP, if you do have personal support of some sort (maybe a crisis team) I would contact them on Monday. Focus on the need for personal support with your anxiety rather than moving home just now, and don't rush into a major decision about moving based on potential work to your current home.

I have no real support to speak of - another reason I’m wanting away from where I am

I don’t have connections anywhere but glasgow

@ChicChaos I am trying to focus on not reacting at the moment. Very difficult. Dreading Monday. Got a list of people I’ll call Monday to start getting things organised.

Just really hate this, hate feeling like this

I was already trying not to rush into a major decision I was trying to do things the right way and so make sure next move went smoothly I’m scared I won’t be able to manage that now and it’ll be another rush job meaning yet another address that actually isn’t really best option for my needs

I’m in England so not sure if this would apply to you. But here the advice would be get on the housing list, don’t wait for OT. To be honest if a house came up the housing association may have links to OT or be able to get you bumped up the list.

I use a wheelchair, it was a few years ago now but the HA offered me a flat. I viewed it and said yes, they said an OT needed to sign it off and they got one out to meet me there two days later.

Also, (again, in England) there are slightly different rules around local connection if you have a disability. You can be considered for an area with no connection if it would benefit your disability. So if moving closer to friends would be helpful you could give that a shot. I’d expect the council to want the friends to put something in writing about supporting you though.

Do Shelter work in Scotland or is there a scottish equivalent?

@PleaseStopExplaining nobody has said this to me! Thank you I’ll be checking tomorrow If thats the case here then I’ve been badly advised.

I’m not quite at mobility aid stage but I fear it’s getting close. I feel unsafe and unsteady a lot of the time. Legs weak rather than totally ineffective. Hard to explain

It’s shelter scotland up here because the laws are different here. They’ve been good for me in the past but I’ve had trouble getting through recently.

Will be dialling and dialling tomorrow though

Stomach still in knots. It’s cos I can’t do anything! I don’t do well anxiety wise when I can’t take action.

Oh so you have a physical disability, didn't see that!

So you need an adapted property?

Please be aware op that many people e d up on the social housing wait list for many months if not years.

There is just not enough housing, especially in Glasgow. You would very likely be housed in a B&B or hostel while waiting.

It is very unlikely that they will be immediately able to house you.

I would look into a plan B in the meantime.