Council house and disability

[Gerrygiraffe]

My cousin has MS, and it has started to mean she is really struggling.

She and her DH own a gorgeous old house and have loads of equity but it is increasingly unsuitable for her.

She was told today that she has been placed at band one for a council house and when a suitable one comes up she will be allocated it and any necessary changes made by the council so she can live there. She doesn't have to sell her house.

She and her DH are really pleased as they were struggling and I am delighted her life will be easier soon.

However, their plan is now to rent out their house echo which will give them a nice income every month. Whilst I understand them being given priority over housing a big part of me thinks that they should have to sell their house and use the equity to buy a more suitable property rather than take a council house which someone else may need

AIBU?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I am embarrassed for you that you posted this tbh.

[PrimalLass]

Just be thankful that you are not the one with MS.

[Booboostoo]

It seems very sad to me that your cousin has MS, that her condition is seriously worsening and that she has to move out of her house and all you can think about is her "gorgeous old house and loads of equity" and how much she should be made to pay. You sound really jealous of your very sick cousin.

[sashh]

They would have adaptations done to their existing property under disabled adaptations scheme, aimed at keeping people in their home

Is that like the 'independent living fund' that was axed last week?

[EurotrashGirl]

Is her house a listed building? This would make modifying it difficult/impossible.

[theywillgrowup]

she has £££££££ in equity to be able to buy a smaller place and adapt

imo she is taking away from a disabled person that dos not have this choice and will be denied a better home for their needs

i say this as a 43year old with a house and no morgage,that is what i would expect if i was in these circumstances

the op's relative has choice,the person on the la list does not have this and will have to wait longer

[WooWooOwl]

I don't see how it would be better for her to sell her home and then have to live on full benefits. At least if she has an income from the house they own then she will be paying rent on the council house and will hopefully be able to afford to live as well.

MS is a horrible and unpredictable illness, I'm amazed that anyone would begrudge someone who has it a council house, especially when they will be paying rent on it.

[GarlicMarchHare]

I don't see the problem. Her disabilities must be severe - would you rather she had to go live in an institution? (Assuming there were any left.) The council would have to pay for that.

Council houses aren't free. They will be paying rent. The point of what they're doing is that it's more efficient than rehousing her permanently in a medical facility, and more practicable than reconfiguring an old house.

YABU.

[PatrickStarisabadbellend]

I must point out that the housing benefit people said that her rent from her home was an income so she has to pay full rent for the HA home.

[PatrickStarisabadbellend]

I know of one person who got a HA retirement flat even though she owned her own home. She is disabled.

The rent she got from her bought house covered the HA rent plus a bit left over.

[Stripyhoglets]

Usually people who own a home would be expected to sell within a certain period of time of getting a. House in these circs. She must live in a generous local authority area!

[BumpyGrindy]

Para I don't think the restrictions apply so much if you're looking due to a disability. For the disabled and also for people over 55 it is easier.

All local authorities are different but the first thing to do is to phone up and ask...it's not hard to apply if you do fit the criteria. Most are managed online nowadays and have a bidding system where you are shown a changing array of properties and you "bid" for them...those with the highest eligibility will be seen to first.

[paragirl1981]

How do you go about seeing if you are eligible for a council/ha house? Is there a restriction on how much you can earn to qualify for one?

[theywillgrowup]

if the details are correct then i think the council's policy is wrong

why cant they sell the house and buy a bungalow or a more suitable house

imo they are denying another disabled person in need a suitable home

[ouryve]

I'm a bit

I wouldn't choose to leave a lovely house I own, with plenty of equity (my own house doesn't count as it's a terraced version of some of the local semi detached HA houses) for a typical council house in a typical council estate unless circumstances were extreme. Are you sure she's not got a place in some sort of warden monitored housing, OP?

[deakymom]

okay so i have heard of this before people are allocated a budget for adaptations for their home if it is not reasonable for there home to be adapted they can go on the list for council housing they can then either sell and buy something more suitable or rent out their home and provide an income for themselves thus minimising their impact on the benefits system

fyi housing associations often have properties easy to adapt or already adapted we had one they simply swapped the shower tray for a bath and it was suitable for a family but if someone disabled had needed it they would have got it first x

[StarGazeyPond]

OP, most councils are taking people OFF the list if they own a house. I think you hae probably got something a little bit wrong.

[BumpyGrindy]

Para but you'd be much better off in a council house...or housing association house. More secure than private rented...and they'd get you what you need in terms of your disability.

[paragirl1981]

I'm in a similar situation, but we are in a private rented house. I'm struggling with the stairs and my OT is looking into getting me a stair lift fitted.
I dream of living in a Bungalow and was wondering what the situation is regarding council housing.
The thing is I live in a 4 bed detached now but I probably would only qualify for a 2 bed council property.

[ISeeYouShiverWithAntici]

They must be truly exceptional circumstances.

They would have adaptations done to their existing property under disabled adaptations scheme, aimed at keeping people in their home.

I suppose if the property had been inspected and it was found to be totally impossible to adapt it, then an alternative would have to be found.

According to an article, 60,000 council tenants own another property. so clearly it is not illegal. here

If they have a home that cannot be adapted and if it is still not illegal to own a home and have a council property and if they are being housed by the council due to disability and needs that cannot be met in any other way, then what is there to say?

[WooWooOwl]

Is there some reason she shouldn't get a council house?

She will be paying rent for it, it won't cost anyone else anything, of course she should get council housing if she needs it. The same as anyone else should.

Council housing was never intended to be only for the poor. It is meant to be there for everyone who needs it, like state schools and the NHS.

[usualsuspect33]

Lots of people want to live in council houses

But I've never heard of anyone who owns their own house be offered one.

[shakinstevenslovechild]

Lots of people want to live in council houses, that's why the lists are so long

Op I think you are lying you may have misunderstood the situation.

[JuniperJones]

I work in housing. It's not a situation I've come across but it depends on the local authority's housing options policy. Each local authority can set their own criteria. If she's "homeless at home" due to her disabilities, they would accept the full housing duty and stick her right up at Band 1. I do think it's unusual and would be interested to know the area - I also assume it's one of these areas with plenty of housing stock!