To think that the renters reform bill is going to kill people with allergies?

[Petallergysufferer]

Just that really. I know many people will see this as a good thing. I know too that the severity of allergy to pets which means they can kill you is rare. But it does happen. I am that severely allergic. So if landlords can't give a blanket ban then there are no pet-free properties for me to move into.

For those who don't know - antihistamines make no difference and the only way to get all allergens out of the place is to remove all soft furnishings including carpets and underlay. Deep cleaning things does not work. So unless the landlords change all carpets, curtains, sofas etc. in between tenants, then it still has enough allergens to trigger a life-threatening reaction. For me that reaction is asthma and I already see a hospital specialist so there is no further treatment that can be offered. Avoiding allergens is the key advice. I'm really worried that the full implications have not been thought through.

I'm not sure that helps as the difficulties don't arise as much unless around allergens. I can't move to a place infested with dander and and ask for help as by then it's too late. But I'll look into the disabled persons grant foe future reference though it does say to continue to live there and not before you move in there

My first flat (which I mortgaged) had a condition in the leasehold that no pets were allowed. That applies to all residents whether they rented or bought so presumably any landlords with flats in buildings like this could still state no pets as that is not their decision but a condition of the leasehold.

I wonder whether the proposed changes mean that leaseholds would not be able to have a blanket ban on pets also? Our doesn't. It says unless agreed with the landlord, and then certain stipulations might apply.

@Petallergysufferer

My first post was posted to encourage you to take responsibility in finding solutions for yourself to help with your housing worries. I.e Put your big girl pants on and start trying to find solutions instead of having a 'pity party' about it, and lots of other posters have been trying to give you the same advice.

However you appear hell bent on dismissing 95% of 'suggestions' or 'help' as 'useless' and keep bleating 'you don't get it' or 'you don't understand' etc which isn't helping yourself, is it ?

I apologize if the links were not suitable for you, but they were only the result of a 30 second Google (as I have never had to look for this kind of help for myself, and people who need this kind of financial help either find it themselves (through citizens advice etc who could certainly help you find any help available for you locally), or have social workers etc to signpost them to available resources) I had stated that you would need to put in the 'legwork' to find suitable resources (which are out there) in your area. (As everyone with any kind of 'disability' or housing issue has to do for themselves unfortunately)

I can also reassure you that I DO soo get it (as you put it), and as I am a fellow 'sufferer' of severe allergies, and I also work as a medical professional, I so 'get' the differences between Status/Anaphylaxis etc and understand the differences in 'severity' of cases with 'seconds' to live if not given correct treatment, and more common or 'basic' emergency treatment with IV Aminophylline for a severe exacerbation of symptoms etc

As I said in my previous post, I hope you find a lovely place to live, and that you can source the financial help you need locally.

@gonnascreamsoon Your post is so patronising. Some people have posted ridiculously silly suggestions and not to take them is not evidence of not taking responsibility. You posted unhelpful links and are now hiding behind some silly 'there must be better links out there if you have the time to find them '. Well I have looked and I don't believe there is any help out there though I'd be delighted if someone knew something I didn't and shared actually helpful 'help'. Your assumption that if I've not found anything that means I've not done the work is not pleasant. What makes you assume that suitable resources are out there?

Are you suggesting btw that if someone is living in a place full of allergens and is repeatedly admitted and saved by medical treatment, this makes their situation OK? This means there is no problem in a housing market which does not protect some homes for renters with allergies? Bit of a roger irrelevant comment tbh.

Just because you want to believe there is a simple answer out there and the world is full of people who just refuse to find them, that does not make it true.

Reading between the lines... you've never actually been intubated for allergy or asthma. I believe you that your allergy is severe, but I don't think from what you've described that your actual medical history warrants the level of anxiety you're expressing. Speaking as someone with severe asthma and multiple allergies myself (including anaphylaxis). Of course I agree you need to avoid the allergens, but I would also encourage you to seek some support (maybe a private psychotherapist), because dealing with the stress of conditions like these that you don't have control over is really hard. I wonder if this bill has kind of brought things to a head for you? x

I think this is a kind post, thank you. It has made me hugely anxious. You're right I've never been intubated - I have said that before on this thread but I know it's very long now. I don't think I need therapy. I know I have a condition which could kill me but probably won't as long as I can avoid allergens. That said, my asthma hospital specialist has said that I have been at risk of death before and that I needed to seek treatment more quickly. Apparently those who die most from asthma are not actually the ones who are chronically unwell on a day to day basis but the ones with brittle asthma who have self-managed most symptoms for years and therefore tend to get to hospital too late to do anything. I've been following my asthma plan more closely since hearing that and I think she's right tbh. When you've lived for 40 years with a condition which causes your peak flow to halve on a regular basis, you tend to see that as a run of the mill attack and not the life threatening situation that it is. I.e. my hospital consultant thinks it does level this level of anxiety.

I do this automatically throughout life now and the biggest issue with that is dealing with the 'friends' reactions when it's clear they think I've over-reacting by turning down a dinner invite because they have a cat, for example. However, if I can't find a place to live which is animal free than no amount of therapy is going to make any difference. For me the issue is that society does not see the need to build in some 'blanket ban' places in order to protect tenants. It's not OK imo to rely on tenants being able to find a place which has exemption because of landlord health or to expect us all to move to places where housing stock allows hard floors as run of the mill.

I truly do not mean to suggest therapy as a bad thing, though of course it's also fine to decide against it - I am in therapy myself with a private therapist to help me cope with my conditions, including the impact of how traumatic it can be to have life threatening impacts arise suddenly. I truly know where you're coming from about under estimating the dangers at times because you feel like you can deal with it, as you're used to self managing. That happens to me too and I've also been told I ought to come in sooner. Often I end up feeling really bad (emotionally/mentally) after my admissions when the extent of the danger hits me, so that's part of why I suggested therapy. I'm so sorry if it came off badly because I genuinely didn't mean it in any negative way xx

Oh no it did not come off badly and sorry if my reply made it feel like it did. I think therapy for anyone who is living with a condition which could kill them is never a bad thing to mull over. I just meant that in addition there need to be practical solutions to manage the real risk. I feel guilty more than anything after admissions or outpatient usage as I worry that I could have done something differently and avoided using out stretched NHS as much as I did. It is always a tricky call and I'm glad to have specialists helping me think through when is the time to come in. I just do my best to follow their advice to the letter. My adherence to meds is second to none which is a great start. Nothing like a life-threatening deterioration to keep you on track with that though! I hope your therapy is helpful for you. It sounds like you have a great deal to process.

It sound like they are lucky that your home is ner good graduate jobs - that isn;t true of many people. Also many kids have been brought up to be independent and cannot think of anything worse than living with their parents when they have experienced independent life - in some ways yours are lucky to have been brought up like they have, in others I pity them.

I would blame the deliberate enrichment of the rich at the expense of poor people and the lower and upper middle classes, by the Tories, since 1980, for your children's plight personally.