Local authority restricting bungalows on age basis

[SimplySteve]

I've considered that my local authority restricting bungalows to over 55s (regardless if they have any disabilities etc, age is the sole eligibility criteria) is ageism? Being restricted from one when we are both carrying serious disability is shocking, even have support from GP, social worker, medical specialist nurse. We fall numerous times a week in current property too. This is discriminatory surely?

I have read the thread, Steve, I can see no reason why it has to be a bungalow, other than it's what you want. Or why you haven''t looked at the private sector.

I'll leave you to your ill-tempered self righteous tantrum.

It doesn't have to be. We've accepted four offers, then removed by HA/LA due disability reasons following consultation and their personally going to view the property.

That's with zero of anything else said.

Nah @Eliza9917 , institutions cost too much, hence food banks, UC etc etc.

Very true.

Not just for myself, but for everyone else nationwide suffering the same discriminatory stances

You can make as much noise as you like, but wanting isn’t getting. We have a full-blown housing crisis on our hands. We can’t even house people at the moment, let alone house them ideally. What do you actually hope to achieve?

Ariadne are you a bit hard of thinking? Which part of THE GFFs AVAILABLE ARE NOT SUITABLE AS DECUDED BY THE LA are you not getting? Jesus wept this thread....if I were Steve I’d be a damn sight more aggressive given the total bullshit some of you are doggedly repeating. All the man wants is a house that is suitable. an unsuitable home is tantamount to no home because the HA won’t allow them to live in it. That’s not a hard concept to grasp

I'll say this really, really slowly for you, as it's clearly not going in, Ariadne.

Restricting. Access (to bungalows). Or. Refusing. To. Make. A. Reasonable. Adjustment (access to bungalows/adjustments outside/inside ground floor flats). Under. The. Equality. Act. Regarding. A. Protected. Characteristic. Is. Discrimination. On. Two. Said. Characteristics.

Note: HAs/LAs are allowed to instigate age-specific guidelines, but from a top ERA "must cede in specific circumstance regarding (a) protected characteristic(s),"

That better? Or would you like me to walk you through the direct, relevant parts, of the Act?

@OwlBeThere

Yeah, I got that bit, thanks!

I was referring specifically to the lines I quoted. Hope that helps you.

@MrsAriadneOliver - thought I'd tag you so you don't miss it this time.

A previous post of mine. I'd apologise for following bold, but not sorry.

• Discrimination is defined as treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic.

The Equality Act allows for age discrimination when it can be ‘objectively justified’. That means the employer or service provider must show that they have a good reason for discriminating on the basis of age.

Disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010). Both myself, and DP, have substantial, long-term, disability as defined by the act.

Therefore I will be asking the LA/HAs along with MP, Councillor, local housing company whom control housing stock allocation, for their objective justification in denying access to a bungalow under age grounds.

Disability means the LA/HAs are required, under the Equality Act, to make a reasonable adjustment. Offering us, to date, four ground-floor flats without ease-of-access, as detailed in my prior posts in detail, is NOT reasonable adjustment. Offering properties with steps, or long distance to access, is NOT reasonable adjustment. Offering properties with a bath we cannot access, and refusing to modify, is NOT reasonable adjustment.

It's arguable the stance shown is discriminatory under the Equality Act, and refusing access to a bungalow is both age discrimination AND not a reasonable adjustment under disability discrimination.

As provided by an agency I dealt with yesterday.*

No need to apologise, not bold in the slightest.

By challenging the discrimination presumably?

On a nationwide scale?

Thanks for replying Steve - on pinpoint I saw a bungalow in Bolton which didn't have an age restriction so not a GM wide policy (or Bolton are applying a local lettings policy in that particular area) I think its reasonable for a LA to have a lettings policy that says homes for older people have an age restriction but probably worth questioning if all of one type of property (say bungalow) fall into the category of housing for older people/retirement properties...

Hope you and DP find a suitable home as soon as possible.

Accessible housing is a real issue, only a teeny % are truly wheelchair accessible, the rest is 'the best that can be done' Many HA bungalows were not built with wheelchairs in mind, they were for Mrs Smith to downsize to if a house was too big and the stairs a struggle. First hint of significant illness/disability and she was off to the local residential home. Times have changed but the housing stock hasn't.

It is ridiculous that people are berating the OP about a flat, many flats are not suitable for a wheelchair, a lot have heavy self closing internal fire doors.

At no point has the OP said he wants a 'perfect' property, he just wants a property he can safely access and meets his needs. How the hell have we ended up when this viewed as 'grabby'? Some people are very unrealistic in what they want in a property, I don't think the OP is.

OP from my (limited) knowledge I think this is a less usual criteria, many HA's allocate on age or medical need, though there may still be specific sites that have an age restriction (usually sheltered)

Is it only council houses available or are there other HA's in the area?

OP I don’t ynderstand why it’s restricted on age not disability. There are over 55s with no access needs just as there are under 55 with them.

I’m in a (bought) GFF which has step access - it’s difficult because I can’t easily get rails etc put on the external building.

It is unfair of the council. And just because it’s social housing doesn’t mean the OP shouldn’t be given housing which meets her needs.

I still can't see why you insist that there are suitable housing options available when OP knows their needs and is able to investigate what housing options are potentially available.

If you don’t get anywhere with the MP, is it worth trying Shelter?

Why don’t people believe that there isn’t an available property which is suitable? Do you really think that if a suitable ground floor flat or even a properly accessible upper floor flat had been available, considering the OPs current circumstances, that he wouldn’t have flipping jumped at the chance and been sorted by now. Do you really think that disabled people stuck in a property that is causing them to struggle even more than they have to and putting them at risk would really hold out because they fancy the idea of a bungalow? The OP is doing something to help the other people struggling by fighting this and posting here to raise awareness of the situation and what he’s done about it. Again good luck @SimplySteve

"Why don’t people believe that there isn’t an available property which is suitable"

Because believing it would interfere with their ingrained belief that social housing tenants are entitled and get everything for free.

And since Grenfell its actually got worse.

People can be really shit @HelenaDove, I’m really sorry that you or anyone else has to deal with that.

Ta @Secretsquirrelisfedup

If it were age 70, I might think differently, but 55 seems a very low age to seem a bungalow essential, so I have to agree with the OP. I'm 48, disabled and live in a bungalow to avoid steps. My 75 year old dad is more spritely than I am and manages stairs just fine. To put such a young age 'limit' seems wrong when it should be done on a case by case basis, with need being the number one factor.

Physical disability is an awful thing. Please don't dismiss it.

It would be 70 if that was needed. The reality is that warden aided bungalow age limits are normally 55 or 60 because there are people who need this help and it saves money on social care. This is the cheapest way to meet needs.

Remember as well that many people with chronic health or disability issues manage fine when younger, but struggle when they get older. I have seen this again and again. So friend born with a hole in the heart, had operations, worked full time and lived without any help until early 50s. Then had to work part time. By late 50s retired on grounds of ill health, and no longer able to do "heavier" housework like hoovering.

Other friend who uses wheelchair all her life found by early to mid 50s was struggling much more.

People with quite major physical challenges usually find these easier to overcome when younger. It does get harder when you get older.

Also in many areas warden aided bungalows are not in high demand. You have to pay for the care element, so rent is relatively high. So it tends to be only people who really need it, but don't need a residential home level of care, who use them. It is a fairly narrow range of need they meet.

@MrsAriadneOliver initially no, of course not. steve fights his own case, which then might set precedent for other cases. Why is that so difficult to believe/understand? I don’t understand why you are angry and set on abusing this man for wanting a home he can access properly.
Let’s put it this way, would YOU accept a house with no bath or shower in it? Or a house without a staircase? Which is essentially what you are saying is ok for this couple.... It’s a house right? Who cares if you can’t access parts of it.