Can anyone check my grammar on this complaint email please

[GimmieCousCous]

I'm a bit thick when it comes to spag and just need a little proofread if anyone has 5 mins?

Hello,

My name is GimmieCousCous and I have been in temporary accommodation since April of 2016 due to a house fire at my rented property.

In July of 2016 a decision was made that I had made myself intentionally homeless. The reasoning given in this decision was that I did not move back into the property, and wait to be evicted. However, this would not have been possible due to the landlord intending to repair the fire damage and sell the property.

In the same month I received the homeless decision, I submitted a review and have been waiting since July of 2016 for a decision.
From July 2016 until July 2021 I had been receiving extension requests. In July 2021 these requests ceased.
After many emails and phonecalls over many years, I did receive correspondence from SomeWoman, in which they proposed an extension until 06/05/2022. I have had no updates since. I have been told that there is a backlog due to covid but had already been waiting almost 4 years for a decision before the pandemic.

Despite numerous emails and phone calls over the last 7 years I am unable to get anywhere with my case and find myself living in unsuitable accommodation for my children. I can provide more details on why my current living situation is detrimental to both me, and my children if needed.

Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer me.

Kind regards,

GimmieCousCous.

It seems well set out and concise to me.

@SinnerBoy Thank you 😁
I did resist the urge to ramble. I could write a short novel if given the chance!

I think it is fine. I would just say "July 2016", "April 2016" etc throughout not "July of 2016".

You might want to say who made the decision rather than "a decision was made" - "the council decided"? Don't have to though.

Yes, absolutely fine. Sorry to read about this situation OP, I hope you get somewhere with it.

Well written, and also just wanted to say sorry that you're going through this. Hope it gets resolved soon.

The spag is fine, but perhaps you should be clearer about what it is you want. "Any help you maybe able to offer me" is too woolly. "My current accommodation is totally unsuitable for my family and we need to be rehomed" (if that is what you want). Also quote a case number if you have one

Your SPAG looks pretty good to me.

However, this would not have been possible due to the landlord intending to repair the fire damage and sell the property.

Use “was not”, if that is accurate. Would it help to say it was uninhabitable (if true)? Did the landlord sell? Did he terminate your tenancy?

Also - maybe say “I telephoned and emailed you repeatedly on (give addresses and numbers)” - the passive voice makes you sound passive and implies you may not have been the person phoning/emailing.

I’d also briefly list the issues with your current situation in a few bullet points.

Tha k you. Will definitely add the extra information and take out the "ofs"

Also agree with PP, state what you want to happen e.g. response with a plan for rehousing.

I’m sorry for what you are going through. It seems outrageous for them to effectively ignore you.

@traytablestowed & @boringingoring
Thank you. I really hope so too x

You're right. I think I've spent so long being ignored and fobbed off that I dont feel I deserve anything anymore.
I definitely need to be more firm about my needs and what I expect out of this complaint. Thank you.

I'll take this on board too. I was wondering whether to list the reasons why my living situation is so dire but didnt want to bang on or sound too emotional.

Also make it clear it is a complaint letter. Just use it as a heading maybe.

Dear x. (Rather than hello - sir or madam or name of department)

Reference:
Letter of complaint regarding my housing situation

My name is ........

I think you can list coldly and factually? The aim would be to tick some high-risk boxes to maybe get their attention. Re-post if you feel you need help toning down your outrage 🙂

Hey there!
It's really sad to hear about your situation.
I have tried to help with some edits in bold below.

-
Hello,

My name is GimmieCousCous and I have been in temporary accommodation since April of 2016 due to a house fire at my rented property.

In July of 2016, a decision was made (was this decision made by you or by a governing body? Insert whoever made that decision here) that I had made myself intentionally homeless. The reasoning given in this decision by XX was that I did not move back into the property, and apparently, purposely waited to be evicted.
However, I would like to appeal against this notion as it was never possible for me to move back into the property as the landlord intended to repair the fire damage, and then sell the property - meaning that I was no longer able to live there.

In the same month that I received the homeless decision by XX, I submitted a review and have been waiting since July of 2016 for a rectified decision.
From July 2016 until July 2021 I had been receiving extension requests in regards to my review, and then in July 2021 these extension requests ceased.
After many emails and phone calls, over the many years, I did receive correspondence from SomeWoman, in which they proposed an extension of the review until 06/05/2022. Unfortunately, I have had no update since. I have been told that there is a backlog due to covid but had already been waiting almost 4 years for a decision before the pandemic, now surpassing a total wait time of 7 years!

Despite numerous emails and phone calls over this time, I am* unable to get anywhere with my case, and find myself still living in unsuitable, temporary accommodation, of which effects both myself and my children. I can provide more details on why my current living situation is detrimental to both me, and my children if needed, however, I hope that after 7 long years, you will be able to help me and my family get back into a permanent home, and be able to live a more civilized way of living.*

Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer me.

Kind regards,
GimmieCousCous.

You could also forward all of what's happened and your complaint(s) to your local MP as well. They might be able to give your local council a kick up the butt and get things moving for you.

This is amazing thank you. I'm halfway through editing my email and will add your suggestions.

Does anybody know what a residence for prison leavers/drug addicts would be called? Not a HMO as it is one tenant in one flat but a property that leases to vulnerable people?

If I need to explain why the accommodation is unsuitable then I need to explain this but cant find the right words.

I live above one of these and this has been a big part of the problem for a few years now. Think parties and fights into the night that wake me and the kids up. Eldest is taking his gcses and he cant get enough bloody sleep 😑

Mmm.

I’m not sure that the second amend is what you meant at all?

It’s “with regard to” not “in regards to”

It’s “affect” not “effect” (in this context)

Definitely do not use the apostrophe with regard to the 7 year wait. And lose the “7 long years” emotion.

Brilliant I was going to do something similar but yours is even better.

Who are you sending this letter to? The council housing team?

At this stage I would forget that (if that's the case) and I would send a formal complaint to your council using their complaints procedure (this should be available online).

I would also contact your MP or local councillor who can he really helpful in getting things moving when they are stuck.

I would also contact Shelter asap.

I think your letter is much better without Lady's amends. Although I agree you need to be clearer about what you want at the end and I would also add in a (reasonable) timescale by which you want a response.

You don't need to say who the decision was made by if it's going to the housing team as that will be obvious to them.

Do you have any evidence of the landlord telling you that you couldn't move back in after the fire? This may be helpful supporting evidence.

Straight to council now. Have totally given up on getting anywhere with the housing team.

I've had great advice from shelter over the years but just dont get anywhere despite doing everything right.

Making some tweaks 😊