Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

No local connection to any housing

39 replies

overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 17:26

Hello I have been in hospital for 21 months and my care team are looking at slowly discharging me with speaclist support to the area I am in. The council have said I can't be on the council housing list here due to not having a local connection as being in hospital doesn't count. I have been NFA for the whole 21 months I have no local connection to any area due to being in hospital so long. The hospital have not really come across this problem before and are getting some advice. I'm just stressed it's one thing after another. Any advice ?

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 09/01/2024 17:46

Where did you live before you were in hospital? I guess this would be the area you have a connection to.

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 17:56

Already spoken to that council. As I have not had an address there for over 12 months including gp etc I don't.

OP posts:
anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 09/01/2024 18:01

I'm pretty sure in your case it's your last address assuming you were in that area for at least 12 months - they won't be keen to take responsibility so persistence is required. If you don't get anywhere, that mp is a good option to get things moving

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Care homes
LIZS · 09/01/2024 18:04

Does the discharge team have any provision for accommodation?

Shithole101 · 09/01/2024 18:09

overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 17:56

Already spoken to that council. As I have not had an address there for over 12 months including gp etc I don't.

It seems to me you have been told wrong. Example of I lived on my area for 5 years . Then I went out of my area for 18 months . I then became homeless for what ever reason. The area I lived in for 5 years would be the one for my local connection. They are fobbing you off. They can't say you don't have a local connection because you are not registered with gp

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 18:11

You have to have lived in that area for 3 years I haven't. I literally don't have a local connection.
My care team want me to stay in this area so I'm hoping they can ring and an exemption made.

OP posts:
Enterthewolves · 09/01/2024 18:13

If you don’t have a local connection anywhere then you can apply as homeless anywhere! I am a former housing advisor, that is definitely what the law says. Also you can’t be compelled to move be somewhere you have a family local connection if you don’t want to.

Akire · 09/01/2024 18:18

Are they expecting you to stay in hospital until you get your own social housing long term tenancy? Is the plan not to put you into support living or private rent with the right support? You can get housing allownce to cover the rent based on income no local connection needed.

If they are holding out with no connection, then join the list when you able too.

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 18:21

Thank you @Enterthewolves I have communicated this to housing department, my mums passed away 6 months ago, my dad has been dead since childhood so I have no family they can tie a local connection to anyway.
I've spoken to a nurse and they will get the discharge facilitator to get in contact with the council as they want me to stay in this area so I think it's sortable it's just so stressful.

OP posts:
Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 18:22

No supported living I'm going home with carers. Private rent is to expensive as only so much is covered by UC.

OP posts:
Dacadactyl · 09/01/2024 18:27

In your shoes I would write to the MP for the area you want to move to and explain the full situation as you understand it.

They will get in touch with the housing people in your area, who will draft a response for the MP and get back to you.

You will also go to the top of the pile and someone will get onto it in a more timely fashion then if you just wrote to housing yourself.

The MP will get the full story and get back to you with your options.

Dacadactyl · 09/01/2024 18:28

https://members.parliament.uk/findyourmp

Ilovethewild · 09/01/2024 18:30

Op, I urge you to get specialist advice.
the LA you are in are responsible but social housing is on its knees in most areas there is little or no housing available AND your needs might mean temporary housing is not suitable.

if you are over 55 (or close to it), sheltered housing is your go to, it’s much more readily available. (Social rents, 1 bed flats)

otherwise private rented is likely and UC should cover all or most of it.

it all depends where you are (not saying you should tell us), your health needs and someone pushing the council. The hospital need to argue that you will be bed blocking and council need to house you. Good luck

VesperLind · 09/01/2024 18:32

A friend of ours who lived in the USA for more than 20 years returned home and was given social housing in the town where he was born and lived until adulthood, despite all his remaining family members having moved away or died. It was relatively straightforward and he had paid NI all the time he was abroad so claims benefits and will shortly reach state pension age.

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 18:34

UC does only cover so much and I need a 3 bed to. The cheapest was £700 I could ever find UC will cover about £400 I have very high medical needs and have already had many letters sent saying I'm bed blocking and need housing sorted and I can't leave hospital due to medical needs until this is sorted.
I have sent more evidence tonight that I don't have a local connection to anywhere else and care needs to continue here

OP posts:
TheYearOfSmallThings · 09/01/2024 18:41

You can certainly show a connection to the place you lived in up to the point you went into hospital. Also you should still be registered with your GP there unless you asked them to take you off their list. If you contact your MP's office they should assist you - your situation is similar to that of prisoners (sorry) and your old area can not shrug and refuse to house you.

The area your hospital is in may not be so obliged, and if that is where you really want to live you would do well to seek legal advice from a firm that has lots of experience of housing issues.

Nocturna · 09/01/2024 18:47

Why do you need a 3 bed??

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 18:49

My gp has been registered to the ward I am in so is local. Its is similar to a prisoners you are right. I didnt live in that area long enough to have a local connection either though

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 09/01/2024 19:00

If by any chance you are on a section 3 of the MHA Section 117 includes ongoing needs until section ends
Don't answer if not relevant
You can register as homeless anywhere and have the right to a safe discharge
Is there a hospital social worker?
Otherwise try your MP

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 19:03

I am on a section 3 so will be entitled to 117. The hospital has a discharge facilitor who is the one arranging discharge I will speak to them further. I've never lived in an area longer than 12 months unfortunately after this hospital admission all I want is stability

OP posts:
ThePure · 09/01/2024 19:08

S117 unfortunately does not pay housing costs though. It will pay care costs but not housing

ThePure · 09/01/2024 19:11

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housingadvice/homelessness/locall_connection

This looks useful
It suggests that they can't turn you away if you don't have a local connection in another area

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 19:25

Yes I didn't think 117 did housing costs.

OP posts:
BlueWhale47 · 09/01/2024 19:28

In my experience working with those who have been homeless some councils say the person must have been living in the area in either 6 of the last 12 months or 3 of last 5 years. I'm not a housing expert but may be worth checking?

Other than this I would say write to MP too as surely you can't just have no local connection anywhere due to being in hospital.

Original poster
overthehill23 · 09/01/2024 19:37

It's also because I've moved around a lot. Well I've been without an address for well over 12 months. As after being in hospital a few months I lost my house I did have. Care is being arranged in this area so moving back would be tricky. From what I can see but I'll contact shelter tommrow if you have no local connection to any area and are statory homeless they have to accept your application. There policy didn't stipulate that it court be in hospital whilst others do which is why it's only just come up.

OP posts: