Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the council should help this couple and baby with housing

27 replies

livedtotellthetale · 30/04/2014 14:12

I have a friend who had a baby dd 11 weeks ago, due to serious health issues the baby has not been able to leave hospital, so mum and dad have been staying at the hospital although mainly mum as the dad has returned to work.
They live in a one bed rented flat and although not ideal they could have copied with living there with baby for a year when hoping to move to a two bed when mum returned to work and saved more money.
But because of the health issues the duty of care at the hospital have said its not recommended that the baby can go home to a one bedroom flat as my friends dd will need her own room for all the equipment that she will need, also they have said that they will need respite nurse to stay over nights to help with the medical care.
The hospital will not let the family go home till they have adequate housing.
The family have been to the council who have said that they wont help them and that they should turn their living room into a bedroom for themselves and their dd has her bedroom. I don't see how this would work as the my friends partner works shifts including some nights.
To add that its highly unlikely that my friend will be able to return to work as their dd will have long term health issues.
Its a really stressful time at the moment as their dd is having further tests to see the full picture on her health issues.
AIBU in thinking that this is surely what council affordable hosing should be for.

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 30/04/2014 14:15

there must be some kind of council liaison officer at the hospital, as there was for my friend when he could not return to his upstairs flat after an accident, and he was allocated a council flat.
or they could rent a 2 bed place privately.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/04/2014 14:15

Yes I think they should, circumstances have changed and they need a two bed accommodation.

Aeroflotgirl · 30/04/2014 14:17

Do they have a SW, us there someone from the hospital that could relay this to the council.

DelGirl · 30/04/2014 14:17

Can they ask the local housing association or is that the same thing? I would think if the baby is not allwed home then surely someone can help unless they're circumstances show they could easily afford to rent a bigger home.

deakymom · 30/04/2014 14:18

they need to do as they were suggested then go to the council/HA and tell them there home is inadequate for their needs they will get assessed and moved

or go private

DelGirl · 30/04/2014 14:18

Their not they're!

HecatePropylaea · 30/04/2014 14:19

Will they get medical points to help them get further up the list? Is there any way the hospital can write that the baby cannot be discharged into a one bed for medical reasons? What about contacting social services and asking for their support and input if there's a housing need based on severe medical issues?

Is that even enforceable anyway? The hospital refusing to let the baby leave, I mean? Does the hospital have that authority? They're going to keep the baby in there for 6 months? A year? 5 years? What will they do if the parents say sorry, there is no way we can get a bigger home for the foreseeable future?

They should find out what they are entitled to based on medical need and talk to the CAB and shelter to see what help is available.

stargirl1701 · 30/04/2014 14:19

I would get in touch with the MP or MSP whose ward they are in. They need a little external pressure on the local authority.

lifeuncanny · 30/04/2014 14:21

Have they sought help from Shelter? Their helpline is very good.

I was in a similar situation when I was pg, council refused to help at first although I was in unsuitable housing. I had a social worker dealing with my case who pushed the housing application through. Councils will often say no at first but medical issues is one area which can put people in a higher priority.

Your friend should also call Contact a Family who can give advice on things like benefits, housing rights in this situation.

Original poster
livedtotellthetale · 30/04/2014 14:26

Its the sw at the hospital who told them to get in touch with the council as there one bedroom will not be adequate sent reports to the housing office, the council have got back to them to say that they can convert there one bedroom.
My friend just wants to take her baby home

OP posts:
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 30/04/2014 14:28

Whereabouts are they living? In this area, they would be helped and given priority because DD cannot leave hospital until they have an extra bedroom, which they cannot (I assume?) afford privately?

Definitely they should tell the hospital what the Council have said & see if someone there (probably SS) can help plead their case. They must be going through hell enough seeing their new baby that poorly, let alone not having anywhere they are allowed to bring her home to Sad.

Raeray · 30/04/2014 14:30

Hello, i have a few questions sorry for firing them at you!
Are they already in council rented accommodation or private rented? Are they on council housing list already?
They will receive (or should receive) medical points if hospital have said baby will need nursing care at home.
There will be a specialist housing officer in their local council who can help them.
Is baby likely to have long term needs - i.e. will they need a ground floor home for access in the future?
I've got some experience and knowledge in this through my job so feel free to PM and hopefully I can help a little.
Hope your friends and their lovely baby are doing ok- sounds like a tough ride for them Thanks

justtoomessy · 30/04/2014 14:37

I agree with raeray about the specialist housing officer and all the rest. They need to start kicking up a fuss really and get onto their local MP. Get the Dr to start pushing to from a 'free'ing bed up' situation.

Hope your friends are okay. tell them to get onto their local council website and search it for information and also to go CAB.

Original poster
livedtotellthetale · 30/04/2014 14:59

Thank you for your replys, they havnt been on the council list before but really do need some help now they are holding together very well at the moment but this has knocked them back a bit that they will not get help in housing to get there lovely dd home. I will help them as much as I can thank you for all your suggestions

OP posts:
caruthers · 30/04/2014 15:07

Shelter was close to useless when myself and the wife were in accommodation with exposed wires and access to seeing the kitchen from the upstairs loo through a missing floorboard.

I hope the young couple get themselves sorted and the quickest way is probably private.

Purplepoodle · 30/04/2014 15:33

Is there much difference between a one bed and a two bed private lease where they are?

Purplepoodle · 30/04/2014 15:34

Plus they need to look into carers allowance, disability allowance. Get some advice on benefits to see if it would boost their income.

WooWooOwl · 30/04/2014 15:36

Why can't they rent their own two bed place? They could always look for a cheaper area.

Babyroobs · 30/04/2014 15:38

if the baby has a lot of extra health needs could they claim DLA ( I think the baby may need to be 6 months before they can do this so may ned to wait a couple of months ) Even middle rate care would be an extra £250+ a month and then extra tax credits also if they get them. This could go a long way towards being able to afford the 2 bed accomodation they neeed. DLA is meant to help with the extra costs that disability brings .

MaoamMuncher · 30/04/2014 15:42

It's not as simple as that woowoo, the friends husband will probably find his wages hit due to having to take on a caring role, I imagine her friend will have to.delay going back to work, DLA/ carers really isnt that much when a full wage has been lost. Plus the new accomodation will need to be up to a certain standard, extra sockets for equipment etc and any adaptations can be done.

This can't happen in private rented, so in this case a council house will be the best thing.

fidelineish · 30/04/2014 15:43

Ask the disabled child team at their local council for a child in need assessment?

MrsDeVere · 30/04/2014 15:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Plateofcrumbs · 30/04/2014 15:48

Lots will depend on the circumstances of the family - current accommodation, income etc. I definitely second contacting Shelter - they are good at helping people navigate the mire of access to housing.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/04/2014 15:51

Surely if the SW has assessed a need for a two bed, and put that in their assessment, then SS have to make sure that need is met. Unless the SW just said it and didn't do a proper needs assessment. If so, the friend needs to push for a proper assessment.

Original poster
livedtotellthetale · 30/04/2014 15:56

We are in London, so the rents are really high the jump from one bed to two would be at least £350.00 a month, my friend is on maternity leave at the moment and I really cant see how she will be able to return to work.
She really needs to stay in the same borough as that's where she has lived her whole life so has back up here.

It just makes me mad as my friends wouldn't expect hand outs and to me surely this why we have social housing to help people who really need it

OP posts: