To try to help friend argue for Council house move and how?

[Isabeller]

She’s desperate but I’ve no idea if it’s realistic to even try for a move.

She has two children with additional needs, the older with EHCP at special school, the younger preschool.

They live in a flat where every sound travels through floors and ceilings and her neighbours are being very unpleasant, even abusive, including mocking the children and ringing the doorbell in the middle of the night.

I don’t know if it’s even slightly realistic for her to try and get rehoused into a house or flat with outdoor space. Her GP and kids school have written letters of support but the whole thing seems like a big tangle. She’s a housing association tenant via her borough.

I can’t remember the details of her flat as I haven’t been there in 2 years, I’m not sure where to start in trying to find out what needs to happen to facilitate a move.

I can hear how badly she and the children are being affected but as I’ve got my hands full I don’t want to start a doomed project.

Thank you for reading.

Is she on more than one list so council and HA?

She needs to contact either her housing officer or the housing association about the ndn anti social behaviour and they need to investigate and intervene if she and her DC are feeling threatened. Does she record the bullying, has she informed the police.

Agree the harassment could be the one thing that works in her favour. She should be logging each incident and include prove if has any. The problem is if you are housed and not over crowded then you will not score high enough against homeless or other overcrowded families. When it comes to getting a new home. Does she have a socia worker? If she doesn’t then that could be a place to start.

Unfortunately Housing Officer is not on her side (in particular saying need to move unrelated to neighbour conflict)and she’s been told she hasn’t got proper evidence of bullying and neighbours are making counter complaints.

Start by reading the local authority housing allocation policy to see what kind of priority she would be given for medical needs and/or harassment. Policies vary. Once you’ve worked out how she fares under the local policy, you will be able to weigh up if it’s a worthwhile route forward.

@MichelleScarn

Is she on more than one list so council and HA?

Many areas just have one amalgamated council list.

@Akire

Agree the harassment could be the one thing that works in her favour. She should be logging each incident and include prove if has any. The problem is if you are housed and not over crowded then you will not score high enough against homeless or other overcrowded families. When it comes to getting a new home. Does she have a socia worker? If she doesn’t then that could be a place to start.

A “Ring” doorbell might be an idea, for proof gathering.

I agree she needs proof and to involve the police when she has it.

If anything's going to carry weight regarding a move, it's probably that.

Has she tried using the HA or council exchange system for transfers? Perhaps someone wants a flat in her area in exchange for a house further out. Apart from schools, is she attached to the area for her job?

If both sides are being accused of threatening and harassing each other it seems the housing officer needs to take this seriously as it's not a situation either party should be in. I would go to someone more senior, childrens safeguarding at the Council and the police. I agree to a ring doorbell and recording any abuse.

Tell her to email her MP as they can liaise directly with the council, HA and police to work towards a resolution.

Does the older child with an EHCP have a social worker? In not they might be eligible for support from one. They might be able to influence HA ( I work in a related field)

Ring doorbell. Online anti social behaviour complaints to the police. Every single time..

Also really depends where she lives. The likes of London - I'd say nope.

She should look for a swap. Quicker than fighting for a transfer. She might have to be 'realistic' about the type of place she accepts - ie it might not be well decorated, not good location etc

The housing officer should be in favour of a move as sounds like they will have loads of noise complaints to deal with from the other tenants so would solve two problems with one move.
Is there other reasons that might prevent a move- eg rent arrears?

Log incidents with police where appropriate. Keep a diary. Email local councillor. Email MP.

Many thanks for all the suggestions and advice. I could read but couldn’t post yesterday evening.

I had a long chat with her last night, she really wants to make a complaint about the housing officer. I’m not convinced it’s a good move but want to be supportive.

If there is mocking of the children then this is a hate crime and should be reported to the police who should work in hand with the Housing Officer. Unlikely to get a move on harassment grounds unless police support which rarely happens unless a threat to life maybe a medical move due to the additional needs of the children they may need a ground floor property or house? Google definition of a hate crime.

Other than the neighbours,is there any reason why the flat isn't suitable for the disabled child? I'm just thinking it might be easier and quicker to go down the unsuitability route with an OT assessment if it's relevant? For example although we were not moved my housing association had to put up six foot fencing in my garden after my son ( who also has an EHCP and is at a special school) was continually trying to climb over the very low fencing,we also got window restrictors as he kept trying to climb through the windows , after an OT assessment.

Her best bet would be to involve the local mp after reporting the harrassment as hate crimes.

She can go above her housing officer or to someone else at ha and they do have a complaints procedure but she will have to follow the ha guidelines on reporting they will likely have one.
Its hard when a ha has 2 tenants both blaming without proof, even if moved it may just be another flat with no outside space if thats all they have .
Maybe she should call the ha and speak to someone else for advice on how she proceeds with this, is she entitled to be moved as well for any other reasons? Maybe she meets for other criteria as well

Slightly off topic but do those advising to contact MP think it makes a difference?

I used to work in a public facing organisation and have never known either MP or the press to have had any influence so would be interested to hear where they have done

A neighbour here recently moved in (exchanged) under a year later had a falling out with her not so pleasant neighbours, she left that day and didn't come back, not sure what happened, but she was rehoused, she feared for her safety.

I work for an MP. This is the bread and butter of what I do as a caseworker and we can't fix everything but I know I've been involved in numerous cases where people have been rehoused or had their priority banding increased.

What I would say is that a complaint about a housing officer is unlikely to be the way forward. The problem is the system, not the individuals within it.

Thank you, this is all really helpful.