AIBU to be upset at the council?

[TurtlesAreAwesome]

Sorry, this is likely to sound like a rant, but here goes...

I've been registered as homeless for a year and I've been living in the temporary accommodation that was offered for nearly 6 months. They promised to do the repairs soon after I've moved in. They've not done anything. I've got a 2 month old baby in a severely damp, cold house, where I can't take a shower (due to broken doors, mouldy and broken shower unit). I was meant to be having disability rails installed but they decided they can't be arsed doing that either. The occupational therapist said in September that the house is unsuitable.

The midwives and health visitor weren't happy that I was stuck in a house in such a state of disrepair on top of a massive hill when I've got a disability. So my housing officer offered me somewhere else (another temp) back in November. I've never actually been allowed to move into there, despite her promising it will be definitely before Christmas.

Basically the damp is getting worse and half of my door fell in yesterday. I called up the council before and they said there's another temporary place that they can't get rid of over 10 miles away, but I wouldn't be moved back to the area in which I'm living in and is on quite a rough estate where I'd stick out like a sore thumb and be very isolated.

Am I being unreasonable to be upset that other people are being offered things that would have been suitable for my daughter and I and they're just trying to get rid of somewhere on me and not letting me move into the place where I was offered?

Can all the idiots going on about the father have a think that maybe, just maybe it isn't the OP's fault that he's not paying anything?

My ex h fucked off abroad and I've had nothing from him. It isn't my fault, it's HIS. He's the feckless waste of space. The OP is raising her daughter in difficult circumstances and doing her best. Get off the OP's back ffs.

No, I'm not local, but my family are here. Her dad is a student.

I've thought of that idea, but my homeless officer hardly ever answers the phone. Leaving 5 kids sounds like a funny idea, but she may have ended up with child protection services on her case. But it did make my evening!!

I'd PM the details, I'm just a bit worried about giving away my details online.

I seriously think the homeless officers in this area actively avoid people. Mine actually seems really overworked.

Aww Squirmy, I'm sorry to hear that. Her dad isn't involved and lives on a student loan anyway, so is classed as nil income.

user1484226561 Mon 16-Jan-17 21:12:22
I recently found out about a family who had been left for 8 weeks without heating and hot water including over Christmas.

(due to broken doors, mouldy and broken shower unit)

"I am a single parent and own my own home. Our shower has been broken for around 3 years, and our door for about 4-5

I can't afford to do anything about it.

Until about 3 years ago we were without heating or hot water for 18 months, as that was how long it took to save up for a new boiler when our old one was condemned.

None of this detracts from our happiness or enjoyment of out home.

I think you need to count your blessings and make the best of what you have.

You say the house is damp, this needs to be your priority to sort out, so what have you done about this for yourself?

You can have a perfectly happy life, and so can your daughter without any of the material things you mention.

(although you need to sort the damp out, or get that sorted"

Blimey where do i start with this.

a. a rental property without heating or hot water is a Cat 1 hazard.

b. now if the same attitude that tenants get was directed towards homeowners then homeowners would be told to take personal responsibility by making sure they can also afford things like boiler insurance before taking out a mortgage.

But as the "take some personal responsibility" rhetoric is only for lowly tenants then i guess this cant be said.

One rule for homeowners Another for tenants.

Thats without the attitude of "i cant afford it so why should a tenant have it"

Tenants pay service charges along with the rent. These go towards repairs If you were paying a charge for a service you didnt recieve user i suspect you would kick off.

Pure hypocrisy.

I used to work for a council housing department and you're right they are really overworked and the budget keeps getting cut so hard to keep up with repairs.
They're probably not avoiding you and I can only imagine how tough it is watching other people get accommodation before you.
The letting officers are in a tough position, for each house we had an average of 145 bids and almost all had some additional need/disability/young baby etc

My best advice is be firm but polite, trust me if you're rude it won't do you any favours. When faced with a choice of several families all equally in need, If one treated you bad it sure makes the decision a little easier
Good luck, stay strong for your little one

OP, you really do need a referral to adult social care, even if it is just for an Occupational Therapy assessment. They can assess your mobility and transfers both in and outside your home and then this assessment can be sent to housing as evidence. I work with people in your situation fairly enough, although I'm in England. Please feeel free to message me if you want any advice, although it isn't specific housing advice as my info may not be relevant.

Yes, I'm always polite, but I think they do try and push people to their limits sometimes. I always try to be as pleasant as possible as shouting at them won't help any situation. Unfortunately, it's not a bidding system here, it's allocation. But I suppose at the end of the day, they actually decide who goes where anyway.

I've had an assessment with the OT who has given me a report which states the house isn't suitable and that I need rails in the interim. Where do you suggest I go from there?

Could you afford a 1-bed place? As you're on your own and your baby would be in your room anyway, this should be fine for your needs for a while at least and may help you on a stepping stone to getting where you eventually want to be.

Have you also checked on the benefit entitlement calculators online that you are getting everything you can? What about child tax credit? I think this could be around the £64 a week mark. Have you looked into the Sure Start Maternity Grant? If you are on income based esa you should be entitled to it. However, you have to claim it within 3 months of the birth of your baby. I also assume that you haven't worked enough to be able to be entitled to maternity allowance or SMP because you haven't mentioned either.

At the least I think you should be getting child tax credit, child benefit, housing benefit plus whatever you get for esa.

Can any of the family you moved to be close to help and support you? It doesn't sound like they are at the moment and that you're doing everything yourself. Even if it's a few hours help to clean the mould up and put things in place to help stop it coming back. Often it's a condensation and venting issue that's causing it so a dehumidifier may help.

Op if you were to privately re t a one bed you would still revive the two bed allowance.

Receive

Another thing you could claim, which whilst doesn't help with your housing issues will help with money on a day to day basis, is the Healthy Start vouchers. Again, this is if you are on income based esa. You could also get it if you get child tax credits.

If you aren't on income based esa, it may be worth looking into income support again because even if it may not give you as much on the face of it, receiving income support often means you can claim other things that you wouldn't otherwise be able to.

I would think about seeing what Bedsits, room only type thing vacancies are around in your area. Not perfect for you and baby but it would get you out of the current property. Also if you needed a bond to move somewhere new, have a look for bond board. They will lend you the money and you can pay it back at a manageable rate. Also what some other posters are saying, keep nagging the council, everyone who can help you.

The problem is that if I move into a 1 bed place, I'd be ending my duty and I just can't afford a 2 bed place when she'll be going in her own room. If I could find somewhere suitable private rent that my daughter and I could call our forever home, I'd be really happy and grateful. I'd still have to put money towards a 1 bed place, even if I receive the 2 bed rate. Being in a student area really shoves the rents up, astromically.

Yes, I'm entitled to child tax credits but not receiving yet.

I wouldn't cope well in a bedsit, it would be a huge struggle. Mind you, I've never actually seen one around here that takes DSS. The council sorts out help with deposits around here, if you're deemed to be homeless.

Op but if it just you and one child then could you not sleep in the lounge or dining room when your dd needs her own room?

I got the maternity grant and I got a pram, her car seat and her baby bath with it. My family aren't a huge help, but it's better than nothing.

Have you tried applying for temp jobs? You could be in work in 48 hours.

No, if I get work, it needs to be permanent. But my baby is only 2 months anyway. I'm looking for permanent work, but it's difficult as I'm competing with students and graduates.

When you first found out you were pregnant, what was your plan? You must have had some kind of budget, done some sums. What were you going to live off? How were you going to live? What has changed in the meantime?

Tippexy What is the job you have in mind where the OP could be in work in 48 hours with the childcare to back it up.

Im sure many of the parents on here would like to know what this is.

Although i think i have got some idea!

Younique or something like that?

I'm not sure what you mean by "ending my duty" by getting a 1-bed place rather than a 2-bed. Could you explain?

Once you are getting your tax credits, that will obviously help.

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but now is not the time to be thinking forever homes. I'm knocking on 40 with a 6 year old and I can't afford the forever home yet! We all have dreams and want the best but sometimes circumstances mean we have to put that on hold.

At the moment, you sound like you are in desperate measures so the best thing would be to get yourself out of that in the most affordable way. Now it may not be where you ultimately want to be but that's not really what you need right now. You can share your room with your baby for a year, 2 years, more even, if you have to in order to have a safe and healthy environment to live in. That should be your main concern for yourself and especially your baby. In that time, who knows where you will be and what you can afford.

How much is a one bed place, £350/£400 a month? If you would get £91 a week housing benefit that should cover most or all of the rent, which should make it manageable.

hellsbells Yes everyone has dreams but not everyone has disabilities. The OP needs a place that can be adapted.

How many times do you think these adaptations can be done in each place the OP moves too.

Just had a look on Zoopla. There aren't any ground floor flats, 1 or 2 bedroom to rent at the moment. The cheapest house is £127pw.