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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:
RedWineAllMine · 28/02/2018 00:24

OP is getting a undeserved bashing on here. I would hate to live in one of those tower blocks, they are a major fire hazard, and are an eyesore, and they just have a council look about them.
I wouldn't be able to sleep at night on my own, never mind with kids as well that high up. All it takes is for someone below you to drop a fag or leave the gas on accidentally and your screwed.
Also the flats can't be that nice either if the look of any high rise tower block is anything to go by. I couldn't think of anything worse. Good luck in your quest to find alternative accommodation. I hope it gets accepted, you don't deserve to be put in one of those, in fact no one does.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:26

Think of it as a penthouse OP.

You will get used to it, you won't know what floor you're on once you're inside.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:27

If you can't afford to rent privately and someone else is footing the bill you can't be too picky.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:28

What's the issue with children on the 19th floor? The windows won't open far enough for there to be a danger.

mojito55 · 28/02/2018 00:29

Sutre thank you, exactly what I was getting at. There's a whole world out there if you're willing to pay for yourself OP, if not then it's tough luck where you get placed.

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:29

I agree Red Wine. There aren't any high rise tower blocks in my area, at least none that I'm aware of anyway, but I wouldn't like to live in one - and I don't even have any kids. I wouldn't even like to live in a 2 or 3 storey block of flats to be honest. Your quality of live is too dependent on your neighbours and visa versa.

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:33

And I really hate the "beggars can't be choosers" mentality, not just on this thread, but in real life too.

Some people simply don't have the means to better themselves. Often people who are entitled to social housing are very vulnerable. It doesn't mean they should put up with any old shit.

safariboot · 28/02/2018 00:34

Sure, trying to get them up or down 19 floors of stairs when the lift breaks down - which it will - comes to mind.

Original poster
Toomanybrokentarts · 28/02/2018 00:35

You know what this is really starting to piss me off, who is footing the bill? I have worked full time since leaving school 18 years ago, I was in a relationship with the father of my children which failed, due to him cheating, he subsequently left me with two children.
I work part time and get nothing back from others that I haven't put in. So if those of you who are to stuck up to give advice please do me a favour and keep your vile judgemental comments to yourselves.

OP posts:
teaiseverything · 28/02/2018 00:36

I'm entirely sure OP didn't plan on being a single parent.

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:38

^ Exactly. It's always those who are lucky enough to have never fallen on hard times or those who have, but have very short memories.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:39

@Leontine

Are you saying if you weren't earning enough to support and house yourself and your children you wouldn't want to live in a flat on the second or third floor of a building as you don't want neighbours? In your ideology who pays for your garden flat/ detached house? Or is it just plucked from the stock of attractive vacant council housing?

Time for a reality check people- we can't afford it.

Original poster
Toomanybrokentarts · 28/02/2018 00:40

I am more than willing and do pay for myself.

OP posts:
Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:45

@Sutre

No of course not. Living in a block of flats is very different to living in a terrace or a semi. I don't have children and am not in receipt of housing benefit and am not on the social housing register, so I'll be paying for things myself, but that doesn't mean to say that other people who are should have to put up with substandard housing that doesn't meet their needs.

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:46

Also, there would be a lot less need for social housing if private rentals were more accessible.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:46

In that case OP you need to speak to your housing officer and appeal to them and hope they will be able to offer you something else. Appeal to them on he grounds of your anxiety. Ask them if it's a possibility before giving your answer to this property. Avoid being listed as "voluntarily homeless".

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:47

@Leontine

I agree no one should have substandard housing.

There's a difference between "needs" and "wants".

CaviarAndCigarettes · 28/02/2018 00:48

Bloody hell the aggression on this post?! OP. Please speak to your housing officer about the earlier mess up and hope they can work with you to a suitable resolution.
Please don't take on board the nastiness that has been spread tonight. Good luck

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:50

@sutre But living on the 19th floor with two small children is substandard and doesn't meet OPs needs at this time.

Sutre · 28/02/2018 00:52

@Leontine

But it's not substandard- on what grounds do you think it is? I'm not saying it's great. But according to the council and the law is not substandard. It will meet all the legal criteria for acceptable housing for OP and her family.

If the OP wants to raise her fear of heights as an issue to the housing officer they will then decide whether or not it is appropriate.

Leontine · 28/02/2018 00:58

@sutre

Obviously it's not very helpful with the OPs situation but I think the law needs to change. I think the council and the law can have a very messed up attitude of what counts as substandard when it comes to social housing.

ModernContinental · 28/02/2018 01:07

Remember it is temporary, not ideal, but not forever.
Good luck.

To the dickhead who said about the flats worth millions equally highrise I know that escape routes, stairwells with emergency lighting, sprinklers, alarms etc for ‘in the event of fire’ are incomparable with the death trap social housing blocks.

SpareASquare · 28/02/2018 01:20

I'm entirely sure OP didn't plan on being a single parent

Not many of us do but there is no choice but to adapt and make the best of what you have. That includes sucking it up sometimes and accepting things you may not 'like'.
Then you work on getting to where you WANT to be as opposed to where you HAVE to be right now.

What you don't do is complain that things being handed to you aren't entirely to your liking. Sure, no one WANTS to live on the 19th floor of anywhere but much better putting ones energy into making sure it's a TEMPORARY situation rather than into whinging about it and jeopardising actually having that help

BunloafAndCrumpets · 28/02/2018 01:38

OP if your children are so small they couldn't manage stairs to escape in a fire I think that might be an argument?

Thisimmortalcurl · 28/02/2018 01:40

Many year ago I was offered an 8 th floor flat, when the housing officer was showing me the flat I had a full on panic attack as soon as I walked in and looked out the window . I really struggle with heights although to other people it is probably not rational.
Anyway he noted down that I was not to be offered anything above the second floor .
So hopefully there is still some sort of system like that .
For a lot of people as PP show the 19 th or 2nd make no odds but to me and you it is very anxiety provoking.
I hope you get it sorted.