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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Temporary accommodation refusal.

284 replies

Toomanybrokentarts · 27/02/2018 21:18

I've been living in temporary accommodation for two years now with my two dcs, as the house I lived in before was privately let and the landlord wanted the property back.
Today I have been offered another temporary flat on the 19th floor of a tower block, as again the property I am in is private but let to the council to rent out for temporary accommodation as the flats are being demolished.
Now the council have a duty to house me so have no choice but to find me suitable accommodation, however is this place suitable & am I able to refuse it?

I know there are people who are worse off than me and I shouldn't really complain as I have a roof over my head
But I just can't live that high up, what's pissing me off the most is that my housing officer found a more suitable property two weeks ago, she secured it for me went on holiday and left instructions for a colleague to call me in to sign the tenancy, which she didn't do so I ended up losing out on that flat.
So does anyone know if I refuse it would they still have a duty of care towards me?

OP posts:

RedWineAllMine · 28/02/2018 17:59

And being told to shut up and put up is helpful is it? That's not answering what she came on here for. OP came on here looking for advice, not to be slated and bein spoken down to like she is the dregs of society. A pp even said that she is footing her housing bill. Bollocks. You don't personally foot anyone's housing bill, it's all included in the tax you pay etc. OP can't help if the government decides that that includes housing as well.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 28/02/2018 18:06

I don't think tower blocks are death traps but I also don't think the 19th floor is ideal for young children, even if the lifts are working, which they sometimes are not.

Good luck finding somewhere decent OP, I don't think you are being unreasonable in asking for that.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 18:40

@RedWineAllMine so your answer is to encourage unnecessary hysteria over a reasonable offer?

YellowMakesMeSmile · 28/02/2018 19:09

On what planet is it acceptable for a family to have to accept a 19th floor council flat

On what planet is it acceptable to have a parent work a few hours and wait around for months and months until she says handed a house that she deems good enough for her.

She doesn't want the flat but doesn't want to work more to be able to afford something else. Cake and eat it comes to mind.

Blankuser1992 · 28/02/2018 19:13

I know a high rise flat isn’t essentially what you want but... we don’t get what we want all the time.

If you NEED accommodation and it’s not in a aweful place then...

BeverlyHillsBillie · 28/02/2018 19:19

On what planet is it acceptable for a family to have to accept a 19th floor council flat

Not only is it acceptable on planet Earth, but it's as good as it gets for many people in many countries all across the world, in countries where there is far less money to go around, or at least far less government money dished out to people who don't have much of their own.

While I wouldn't want to have to live in a high rise council block either, it's as much or more than most people on this planet have, and let's not forget it.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 19:27

All those on this thread saying this flat (knowing barely nothing about it) is "substandard" and a "death trap" are really doing the OP a disservice. She's lucky to have been offered a council house in the most overcrowded city in the UK and you're working her up into such a froth she's liable to declare herself and children homeless.

She should be biting the council's hand off. Utter madness and awful entitlement going on.

Bexter801 · 28/02/2018 21:27

@Sutre hardly doing OP a disservice,she seems well clued in on what she wants/needs. Simple question was is she allowed to refuse it....not can people up on their judgemental high horses please tell me their thoughts

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/02/2018 21:37

The attitude in the UK simply astounds me, OP you NEED a home, you may not want to live in a multi storey but that’s what’s available NOW, if you refuse then you are not in NEED of that property, I know many people who would give there own kidney for that property.

100 of millions of people all over the world live in multi storeys, it’s perfectly acceptable on this planet earth for families to live like this.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 21:45

@Bexter801 people have been very emotive about it saying its a death trap and totally unreasonable and substandard. It's just ridiculous! She's in a very fortunate position many people who want to live in London wouldn't get that opportunity. Fine to advise her on her position if she refuses it, but telling her it's a dangerous, substandard property is just nonsense based on the information given.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 21:47

She can be as well clued up about what she wants as she likes but that's irrelevant. When you're not paying for it you get offered the closest, safe thing available to meet your needs if anything is available.

I'm well clued up about my wants, where I actually live is limited by my financial means. That's how the world works.

expatinscotland · 28/02/2018 21:53

I agree Haud and Beverly. This whole 'can't live in there! I have children' is ridiculous. Plenty of people live in high rise or flats with families the world over. Of course then there's 'I have anxiety'. Lots of people do, so do I, but hey, if I'm between a rock and a hard place I'm going to have to make do. That's how the world works.

Bluelady · 28/02/2018 21:55

What a lot of nasty condescending comments this thread has attracted. OP should be grateful for a flat which is clearly unsuitable for a family with small children? Would any of you go and live there with your children? No? Thought not.

Hundreds of millions of people all over the world live in insanitary slums, does that make it right or desirable?

Incidentally, Eliza, perhaps you could read a little more carefully. I said lifts are unusable in case of fire. Exactly the same as you.

Bigbarnowl · 28/02/2018 22:00

Why are you getting bounced around so much and not offered something permanent?

How long are the Temporarys for?

VioletCharlotte · 28/02/2018 22:01

There's some really horrid responses on this thread. I'd personally hate to live on the 19th floor of a tower block with 2 DC. Yes, there are people who are worse off, but it's not a race to the bottom, is it??

OP, I believe you can refuse 2 properties, but check with your LA of Shelter.

Bexter801 · 28/02/2018 22:11

@Sutre to some people it may seem like a deathtrap(who are you or I to tell them their being nonsical)it's not ridiculous,for various reasons,people have their own genuine thoughts for feeling this way! And how do you know she's fortunate(we don't know her personal circumstances/fears,her kids circumstances/fears),so why on earth is the question that she simply asked,been replied with 'you should be grateful','people on here giving you a disservice'....etc. And are you joking,what she wants is Irrelevant?? Sorry you see the world as such a bad place

Sutre · 28/02/2018 22:14

@Bexter801

What I'm saying is in that position you are offered housing based on your needs as viewed by the council. Your wants are irrelevant to them. They may see living lower as a need, they may see it as a want, it depends on the council.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 22:16

I see the world and this country as a very good place as we actually have a welfare system and housing system for those who cannot support themselves. I'm just outlining its limitations.

Bexter801 · 28/02/2018 22:24

@Sutre your saying she should be grateful(as if her needs for herself and kids are irrelevant) not for you,I,or the council to decide. And I disagree with she should take it,as that's her only choice....

Dilligaf81 · 28/02/2018 22:28

For people saying tough there's people worse off than you. This is why people end up living in shitty accommodation because it's better than nothing. If it's temporary accommodation offer then my local council will let you refuse with no implications and the 3 sticks is just for permanent accommodation.

Eliza9917 · 05/03/2018 13:26

Bluelady Wed 28-Feb-18 21:55:47
What a lot of nasty condescending comments this thread has attracted. OP should be grateful for a flat which is clearly unsuitable for a family with small children? Would any of you go and live there with your children? No? Thought not.

Yes she should be grateful, many, many people are turned away from the council every day as they are 'not eligible' for help. And how exactly is a flat unsuitable for children??

If I was homeless, couldn't afford to provide my children with a roof over their heads, then yes, I would live in a flat. And be grateful for the help, not turning round and saying its not good enough.

Bluelady · 05/03/2018 14:52

It's unsuitable for children because it's on the 19th floor. When the lift breaks - which will be often and for days at a time - they will have to walk up and down flights and flights of stairs. In case of a fire, small children will have to be evacuated down those same stairs.

Anyone unable to see that it's unsuitable is badly lacking in any common sense. And you forgot to quote part of what I asked which is if you would live in a 19th floor flat with your children. If not, why should anyone else?

Eliza9917 · 05/03/2018 16:07

@BlueLady
they will have to walk up and down flights and flights of stairs

And that will harm them how? When I was born we lived on the 22nd or 24th floor for a year until my mum bought her house. When the lift broke, the kids playing downstairs would offer to help my mum carry shopping and the pram and me up the stairs.

Despite all the hysteria about the risks, house fires are rare now, and tower block fires even rarer. What happened in Grenfell only happened because of the cladding, which has now been removed from blocks that had it. I'd imagine its quite hard for a fire to spread in a concrete building. With all the H&S checks & precautions etc I'd imagine a tower block that the council are involved in is probably one of the safest places to live atm.

And I would live in a council block with my kids if I was being provided for by the state and that was what they were offering me. As I provide for myself, I live in a house with a garden which is my prerogative as myself and DP are paying for it.

Bombardier25966 · 05/03/2018 16:14

For those saying a 19th storey flat is unsuitable for a family, I wonder who you do deem it suitable for? Very few people could manage 19 storeys of stairs, which is why repairs are done as a priority and there will almost always be an alternative lift. But if you believe that people are put in situations where they are reliant on stairs "often" and "for days at a time", who do you suggest should take this accommodation?

Bluelady · 05/03/2018 16:35

I personally don't think they're appropriate for anyone in social housing. High rise apartments are fine in the private sector where hefty maintenance charges keep lifts and fire precautions in perfect condition. Clearly (to me at any rate), they're unsuitable for families with young children and older people. Housing experts agree with me, incidentally.

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