Very concerned and I want to try to do something now

[thisisasurvivor]

Hello all

I am really really worried about my friend

She is in a one bed flat in east London
She has twins who are severely autistic
Non verbal
Screaming shouting all day long

She asked me to pop by this morning to help and I'm utterly shocked at her living conditions

Her DP , herself and twins are in one bed in the bed room
There is damp everywhere
Electric wires exposed

No hot water
Most of last winter boiler did not work

She has resigned herself to Ah it is this way and not much can be done
The school have been amazing and wrote to the housing authority
They didn't do much
They are paying privately
Landlord does not care and gets away with so much

Is there much I can do as a worried friend or a way to signpost?

I am utterly devastated by what I saw

Those poor kids
They don't sleep so the family all can't sleep each night
No garden

They run off when out and about so parents worried about taking them out

Best way for me to signpost family?

And thanks all in advance 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/is_your_home_fit_for_habitation

Do the twins have a disability social worker, who may be able to help?

Has the family applied for social housing? The conditions they are living in plus the children's disability may be enough to bump the family up the priority list.

She has not told me a huge amount re outside porofessionals

She does have a social worker yes

She said they are not eligible for social housing as they both work

That's exactly what I thought

They said no !!!

What action can ne taken re landlord?

My only knowledge is on the housing situation - first port of call would be to log with Environmental Health, they will then put her through to Housing Safety Standards who will definitely help. They usually contact the landlord right away and tell them to sort the property out within 3 weeks, before they themselves come out and assess/repair.
Tell her to arm herself with plenty of evidence - pictures, short videos, any emails to and from the EA/landlord, put a date to everything. Do this now so the landlord can't deny anything once it's sorted.
Your friend will be in for a nice claim at the end of it hopefully, if that's any consolation to her. X

Wow ok

That is good to know !!!

Thank you all as always xxxx

Yes, she contacts Environmental Health who will arrange for a full inspection of the property. They will then take whatever action is required , which can include forcing the landlord to carry out repairs, doing the repairs in default and placing a charge on the property, or even placing a closing order on the property so it cannot be used. I would also suggest that she contacts Shelter for some support, or if it exists where she lives , a Housing Advice or Law Centre.

Excellent

Just fabulous

Making a list now and will email her shortly xxxx

I can't put into words just how bad it is

Do you know what their income is?
I think it's highly unlikely that they wouldn't be accepted on the social housing waiting list due to children's needs and condition of current housing.
There may be a long wait maybe. But they should get housing advice/support in the meantime.
Name and shame that landlord. Do you know anyone with a decent social media presence?

I don't know income

I do know other people who can get on social media re this

Im so so upset for them

She has depression and is not very proactive

Could I contact environmental health to share my concerns ?

Ask her permission and just pretend to be her and contact environmental health. I went through this and it was all done by email so set up an email address for her. I moved into a house where the landlord was very clever in hiding the serious issues with it. It was full of mould, the boiler was broken and the downstairs toilet used to back up raw sewage. I was renting through an agency (landlord lived abroad), as soon as I complained to the agency the landlord dropped them so I could only deal with him, he then basically ignored me. I emailed environmental health and they sent someone round to do an inspection (she’ll need to be willing to let someone in). They issued the landlord a 6 week notice to fix everything and he ignored it. The notice then went ‘live’ and environmental health basically forced the repairs and sent him the bill.

Wow

Ok

So sorry you had this too xxxx

Have you got anywhere yet op?

Hello
Thanks so much

I wrote down everything and I am letting my friend know that if she can't call I can call them with her beside me

Just broken and exhausted and I don't blame her 💔💔

And thanks all

I always appreciate the help on here and I'm sorry for those who have been through this utter hell also xxxxxx

I believe you can raise a safeguarding alert with the council (it is social services who look into them round here). Worth a try.

I can't offer advice with the housing situation, but is your friend aware of Twins Trust (used to be called TAMBA)? They offer support for families with a huge range of issues including special needs.

Your friend is so lucky to have you.

Excellent thank you both xxxx