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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
YellowMakesMeSmile · 27/02/2018 22:09

Then improve your financial situation instead of waiting for life to be handed to you on a plate.

You've been offered something, that's their duty taken care of.

Original poster
Toomanybrokentarts · 27/02/2018 22:10

fairenuff if you see the place I live in now and were to see and hear the neighbours I have you would see that I'm not being ungrateful.

I also don't know why I should just put up shut up and be "grateful"
I asked for some advice and yet again the council bashing go and get a private rental crew are out in force.

OP posts:
OurMiracle1106 · 27/02/2018 22:11

As you are already in temp if you refuse a reasonable offer which this is as long as it has a lift the council will have no further duty to house you or your children.

PointlessUsername · 27/02/2018 22:11

I think you will need to explain about your anxiety and maybe get something from your GP to show to the council.

I am afraid of hights and cannot get in a lift so no way would i take a flat on the 19th floor.

MadMags · 27/02/2018 22:13

Not everyone is bashing, OP. But you’ve limited options.

Weebo · 27/02/2018 22:13

Please don't fall for the 'Take what you are given and shut up' nonsense.

If you are worried and unhappy with the offer talk to your housing officer.

StaplesCorner · 27/02/2018 22:14

Bloody hell the Daily Mail must be deserted tonight! Jesus how fucking rude, the OP isn't the dregs of society because she's in need of social housing Angry - don't speak to her like that.

Vlad said earlier that you might have some recourse to complain on the grounds of their cock up a few weeks ago when you lost the original accommodation you were meant to be offered through no fault of our own. You must ring Shelter or get housing advice tomorrow though - as you can see, posting on here isn't going to help. Good luck.

OurMiracle1106 · 27/02/2018 22:15

OP have you looked into agents that take housing benefit? For suitable properties, then present them to your housing officer. If you are actively trying to help yourself they will try even more to help you

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 27/02/2018 22:15

Nobody would want to live on the 19th floor of a towerblock with two young children. I get that she'll probably have little choice, but why are you all saying but why don't you want to, there's a lift!!
She knows there's a lift.

Original poster
Toomanybrokentarts · 27/02/2018 22:17

I'm sorry but what makes you so sure I'm waiting for "life" to be handed to me on a plate? YellowMakesMeSmile

Not that I should have to justify myself to any of you. I'm now a single working mum, I also study part time. So I'm not just sitting around waiting for anyone to give me nothing I haven't worked my damned hardest to get.

OP posts:
escorpion · 27/02/2018 22:18

I wouldn`t want to be on the 19th floor with 2 kids either OP, hopefully you can find something more suitable x

manicinsomniac · 27/02/2018 22:20

I don't think it take a huge amount of imagination to understand not wanting to move into the 19th floor of a council tower block tbh!

I don't think many people would particularly want it.

I have no idea of the legalities, OP and I suspect that, unfortunately, YABU - but I don't blame you. Just because you don't have much money right now doesn't mean you don't get to be upset about where you may have to live.

If I was homeless I'd be grateful for a decent garden shed - but I wouldn't like it and be happy about it! There's a difference.

ThisLittleKitty · 27/02/2018 22:21

I wouldn't want to live up there either, no way. But then I'm terrified of heights and my dd is terrified of lifts.

Original poster
Toomanybrokentarts · 27/02/2018 22:21

staples Thank you, yes I will give shelter and my housing officer a call tomorrow just to see if there's anything she can do.

I went to the property today and almost cried and had a panic attack whilst going up in the lift.

OP posts:
purplepandas · 27/02/2018 22:22

Definitely worth having a chat with them op. I don't know the rules but I can see why you are not keen. I do think that you are getting a hard time.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2018 22:22

@Toomanybrokentarts - forgive me, I am no expert, but could you go to the housing office and ask their advice on this? Tell them that you are afraid of living that high up, but also afraid of the repercussions if you refuse this flat, and see what they say.

They may say that, if you refuse, they will discharge their responsibility to house you - but at least then you know the worst case scenario, and can make a decision based on the facts.

It sounds like a horribly stressful situation, and I hope you get a more permanent solution soon.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2018 22:23

Apologies - cross posted.

Snowysky20009 · 27/02/2018 22:24

OP I can fully understand why you
do not want to go there. I would be gutted to be offered a 19th floor flat.
However it will depend on your LA, ours give you one choice and if you turn it down you are back at the bottom of the list.
Reasons like having children means nothing unfortunately as they say you can use a lift. They won't be able to fall out of a window as the windows have resteictors on. Even my ground floor flat have them!
So please tread with caution, until you know the rules of your LA. Good Luck.

GreenTulips · 27/02/2018 22:27

I think your anxiety is made worse by the fact you don't know the facts.

IF you speak to the housing officer and ask the straight forward questions on your choices, you'll feel better knowing how to go forward.

What was you being offered previously? When do you need to move? How long do you have?

Duck90 · 27/02/2018 22:30

I can understand why you don’t want to take the offer.

You obviously live in an area with lots of high rise? I live in a town where nothing is higher than 3, and nobody wants those flats.

I think when it come to a rational conversation about why it’s not suitable, you will need to clarify at what floor would be unreasonable.

If you could live on the 10th floor, for example, then the council may say it’s the same level of danger??

Willswife · 27/02/2018 22:30

I think I would feel the same as you OP. I hope your housing officer can sort something for you.

AhhhhThatsBass · 27/02/2018 22:33

What would you do if the tax payer wasn’t around to subsidise your accommodation?
I’m aware it seems harsh but until you’re funding your own lifestyle and accommodation, in my opinion you have to take what you’re given. —being grateful sounds like a step too far though—

Runninglateeveryday · 27/02/2018 22:34

Have you been on the housing register 2 years? Are you priority? Do they have any rough timescale of when a permanent propert will be available?

Just ask them what happens if you don't want to, explain how anxious you feel about it, then at least you'd know your rights and whether you can decline. If it's a case that you'll lose your place on register then you might not have much choice :(

MadMags · 27/02/2018 22:36

Are you working full time? If not, is that possible so that you can rent privately?

Situations like this just highlight how flawed the whole system is.

But if you have to take what you can get or risk losing help, then it’s not worth relying on if you can possibly do anything to help it!

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 27/02/2018 22:37

Ex homeless team person here.

If you were one of my service users I can see a couple of angles that I might be able use to get you another flat however it would depend on how busy we were/whether we had any other flats to offer.

  1. If they have a duty to house you, why are you still in temporary accommodation 2 years later? In our team that would have been well nigh unacceptable.
  2. Would your Housing officer back up the fact that she offered you another property, you viewed(?) and accepted and someone made an error meaning you weren't given it?
  3. Your anxiety, especially if backed up by a history of mental health problems. Certainly I got one person another flat for a similar reason in the past as they were also offered a 19th floor flat.

Basically though it will come down to the people you are dealing with. Most of our clients didn't want to live in the high rise flats full stop and unfortunately a decent chunk of our housing stock was comprised of it so we had to put some people there. I second Shelter, CAB might also be useful.

You're not in Scotland by any chance are you?

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