Is this disability discrimination

[Sweetfa22]

This is my first post (although i do read loads) so please be nice as I'm an emotional wreck. Any friends here will know me and my situation. I need advice on whether you think I may have a case for discrimination against my local housing authority. It's a long one.
My dh and I have 5 kids ranging from 20 to 4. We lived in a lovely council house semi detached in a quiet area which had 6 big stone steps leading up to the front door where there were another 2 large steps to get into the house. I wasn't disabled when we got the house so all was fine. After a year I became registered disabled (I'm 44) due to chronic pain and progressive degenerative sacroilitis. I really struggle to mobilise and have been in and out of hospital loads for pain management. The council managed to adapt the inside of the house to meet my disability needs after much shouting and begging and emails to the chief exec. They installed a wet room into my downstairs bedroom so I could function a bit easier as stairs cripple me. We also spent around £9k landscaping our garden to make it accessible for me to use, with decking area, new lawn etc. It's beautiful. We'd no intention of moving home so we spent the money doing the house up. Now my condition is worsening and I was really struggling to access the house using the wheelie bin ramp that was put in as the stairs are so steep to get bins down. The council have tried everything apparantly to install a metal wheelchair ramp but they say the layour prevents them from getting the proper gradients so it couldn't be done. We were given a letter telling us to find another suitable property either through the home swap system or private rent or bid on other properties. Each option would cost us money we don't have. We've since been offered a property in another town which has level access and we've had no choice but to take it as I'm really struggling to enter/leave my old house. We had literally 2 weeks to move house as we can't afford 2 rents etc. The new place needed fully redecorated and carpeted (our existing carpets wouldn't do and my mum kindy paid for new ones). My issue is that we are now seriously in debt after having to pay for paints brushes new blinds curtains etc. My kitchen has no cooker as we had to buy new integrated oven and separate hob for the old house when it was adapted for me. This new place has no space for any of these appliances and I can't use a normal cooker as I struggle to bend down hence buying the build in oven. These appliances are still in the old house and we need to hand the keys back on Monday. We've had to fork out for a skip for rubbish, pay removal vans and spend a whole heap of money we had to borrow in order to move house. All because I'm disabled and the council couldn't put a wheelchair ramp in. I'm so angry that we get no help no recompense and nothing but debt because of this. As well as having to pay higher rent and double the council tax for a house the same size as we had to leave. If I wasn't disabled then we wouldn't have to move. Aibu to feel really pissed off and discriminated against because I'm now disabled. Do you think I have a case for suing for losses after all the work we've put into the other house, purely because they couldn't make it accessible?

[Nessie71]

Sorry for your situation but i think the council did all they could...so dont think they should pay for moving costs!! Are they going to have to adapt your new house?

[KateDaniels2]

I don't think you ca sue but you could argue that moving costs should be waived as its not your fault you have to move and they should find you a new home that is suitable

But its not the councils fault either?

[Laquila]

Some wise words on here.

[Noodoodle]

Agree with pp, council did all they could to adapt for you. They carried out what they are obligated to do and although it would be preferable for you to stay in the home you love, if a ramp couldn't be done, you can't sue them for that.

Also, installing an outside lift would cost thousands (if it would even be possible for the layout of the road and not get in the way of passersby) and if/when you did eventually move, would also cost a lot to remove. It is more sensible/sustainable/cost effective to help you move to a more suitable home, which they have offered you. And moving home with the council is not a quick thing, there will have been discussions about it, you will have known it was going to happen. Everyone has to pay for moving costs. The only exception I know of is, at least for my LA, is if the person is downsizing, coincil will pay for moving as there is an incentive for them to get the bigger home back in exchange for smaller as bigger homes are in greater need. You've gone to the same size so wouldn't obviously apply. Also most councils have a standard policy for empty properties which is clean and safe, not decorated or with flooring which is tenant responsibility.

[Sweetfa22]

You said you've been given a new (2 yrs old) house that meets your requirements. If it is in band E I'm guessing you have a 4 bed house on a somewhat executive estate, part of the obligations house builders have, providing roughly 10% of the estate to social housing.

You really don't know how lucky you are to have your families needs catered for.

Sorry to disappoint your totally low view of me but it's a full council built new group all social housing full of terraced houses and 2 up 2 downs. I've no idea why the band is so high either but there you go.

I DO realise I'm lucky to be housed in thus new one and as I mentioned in the OP my head is a mess atm so pls be gentle with me.

I guess as per pp that I was focusing my anger at the situation we're in now at the wrong people. My post was a spur of the moment thing as I needed to vent somewhere. Obviously I chose the wrong words (and the wrong place) to vent.

Thank you to the very kind posters who sympathised with my situation and wished us well. #Thecatsmother report it? Really? Dear god.
Hindsight is great if you have the foresight to use it. We didn't. And yes we had 4 kids and a mortgage thank you for asking however dh lost his job so we couldn't afford the mortgage and like many others at that time we lost our house. We applied for social housing, as anyone can, and after a year we got one. Contraception failure resulted in the last baby which left me disabled. I don't believe in abortion so that was never an option and I'm not prepared to be judged for it. So yes very unlucky I suppose in the hand I've been dealt but I suppose many of you will just say it's karma or my own fault etc. I mean who goes into a pg wanting to come out disabled at the end of it? However I know I now need to focus on the future and not dwell on the past. It's also made me realise that although there are still some genuine lovely people in the world who do read between the lines and understand the angry and pain behind them, there are hundreds more who just want to bash you with hurtful words and make you feel even lower than you already do.

Thanks for your opinions folks. My thoughts and prayers are with those who need them most.

[x2boys]

Well we dont all live in London or the South East ,Buster, council housing rent where i live is comparable to private here in the northwest and where i live it wasent difficult to get a council house anybody could go on the list as long as they had a right to live in the uk and had connections to the town i have no idea where the op lives but maybe its similar where she lives i got my house two years ago so not too long ago and its not free either.

[BusterGonad]

X2boys I'm not in London or the South East. I just don't think you should moan about the council when they've done so much for you as a tenant, crust if I needed all that done I'd have to pay out if my own pocket. It sounds to me that the council has gone above and beyond for the Op and yet they're getting slated....it's not good form imo.

[BusterGonad]

• shouldn't
  *christ not crust!!!

[Cantstopeatingchocolate]

Will the council not help to adapt your new kitchen baring in mind they did your previous home and understand your needs.
Other than that I have no good advice for you. Unfortunately if the council did everything they were able to do I don't think you'd have a case to sue them though.
I wish you all the best, moving home is one of the most stressful things ever and your disability doesn't help. I hope things work out ok for you. X

[Sweetpotatoaddict]

felicity - the council managed a bin ramp
I'm unsure how this relates to alterations made for OPs disability

[PageStillNotFound404]

There are people out there who would love to be in your shoes.

Yeah, loads of people would love a council house and secure tenancy.

Probably not so many queuing up to take the OP's disability though...

[MrsPinkCock]

They only need to consider "reasonable" adjustments. They're unable to convert your current property so have offered to move you.

It isn't discrimination. Just a pain in the ass.

[MatildaTheCat]

I'm disabled and have also had to make a lot of life adjustments which I didn't wish to do. It sucks. However I do think that you are directing your anger at the wrong people. The council clearly did try to assist.

Try to view the move positively. If you get get in and out more easily that's got to be good? Your dh sounds a hands on and practical man so get the new house as good, or better than the old one and enjoy life there. Being with family is what makes a home. Much as you loved your old house it wasn't any use to you if you couldn't get in or out safely.

Best wishes.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Sweetpotatoaddict - how many people do you think get a bin ramp put into the house free of charge? OP specifically mentions it as an adaptation.

But nice job picking out the one sentence that you feel deserves the