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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

House unfit for human habitation

25 replies

Traxz · 21/08/2023 14:40

what can you do if a house is unfit for human habitation, but the person living there owns not rents

I know with rental there are legal considerations, but what about owner homes?

OP posts:

BMW6 · 21/08/2023 14:42

Social Services? Environmental Health?

DustyLee123 · 21/08/2023 14:43

Council and social services.

Beurla · 21/08/2023 14:48

Not much you can do if the person has capacity, it's up to them how they live.

Also, due to shockingly low benefit rates, many people who are homeowners but now find themselves in the position of attempting to live on UC, can barely even afford to eat, never mind fix their home. I've seen in so many times in my work.

LoonyLois · 21/08/2023 14:49

unfit how?

Are you a friend or relative? If you’re a next of kin of the person/people in question it will be slightly different advice

ClareBlue · 21/08/2023 14:52

If it's impacting on your house or land then Environmental Health at council. If the impact on the person living there then social services if it is a vulnerable person. If children in the house then child services.
If non of above, then not much you can do.
Housing fitness is not the same for owner occupiers. Only interventions when impacting vulnerable people or other land and properties.

loislovesstewie · 21/08/2023 14:53

If you contact your local authority they may have a scheme where they can access grant to do some necessary works. I'm not saying they definitely can , but I do know of occasions where charities make grants available. The alternative is to see if they can apply for sheltered housing on the grounds of serious disrepair.

loislovesstewie · 21/08/2023 14:54

Sorry, if the person is elderly of course.

ClareBlue · 21/08/2023 14:54

But there is potential help through grants for owner occupiers to make housing habitable or adapt for specific needs where they have no resources themselves.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 21/08/2023 14:55

If the person has capacity and hasn’t maintained it because of lack of funds or putting it off… not a lot. If they are elderly or have poor mental health social services may be a port of call

Original poster

Traxz · 21/08/2023 15:18

Person who lives there has mental health issues, where they do not want to fix/move mountains of stuff. They have money, they dont want to move, but they put up mental blockers all the time

There is no heating,no hot water, there is damp, mould, rats - basically horrible. You wouldnt let an animal live there

OP posts:

KinooOrKinog · 21/08/2023 15:44

Traxz · 21/08/2023 15:18

Person who lives there has mental health issues, where they do not want to fix/move mountains of stuff. They have money, they dont want to move, but they put up mental blockers all the time

There is no heating,no hot water, there is damp, mould, rats - basically horrible. You wouldnt let an animal live there

Definitely call environmental health if there's rats

Ylvamoon · 21/08/2023 15:46

Environmental health and social services.

3dogsandarabbit · 21/08/2023 15:50

If there's rats that will have an impact on other people so get in touch with Environmental Health. If they're capable of looking after themselves but just don't want to I'm not sure there's much you can do.

Original poster

Traxz · 21/08/2023 15:51

I have tried environmental health, but they are not interested

They want my details and I am not prepared to give them (various reasons)

OP posts:

LIZS · 21/08/2023 15:56

Adult social care? Safeguarding issue.

Summerrainagain1 · 21/08/2023 15:59

Social services I'd say.

ABeesWings · 21/08/2023 16:01

How is it effecting you? I don’t mean that in a goady way, I mean do you have access to the house? Are you in a position to help fix it up slowly? Or is it a neighbour?

tattygrl · 21/08/2023 16:18

Contact your Adult Social Care dept at the local council. Keep pushing if necessary. That sounds horrendous and definitely not like someone who is very well in themselves.

TinyTeacher · 21/08/2023 16:21

My MIL lived like this for many years.

Unless you get them found to lack capacity there's no much youncan do. DH never wanted to do that to his mum.

PonkyPonky · 21/08/2023 16:26

My neighbours house is like this. I spoke to adult social care and they said there is absolutely nothing they can do unless the people themselves want help. Do you think they’d be receptive to help or not?

ImNotWorthy · 21/08/2023 16:28

Happened to a daughter of someone I used to know. She inherited her DM's house, which was not in good repair. Then did the wrong repairs and ran out of money. Then covid, and by this time she was mentally ill (I believe) through grief.

House got in such a state that the Council told her she could no longer have DC living there. She's sold it now, I don't know where she's gone, and I just hope she's alright.

On another note, please report this person's address to your local Fire Brigade. They keep a record of known hoarding addresses, as it helps them know what they are facing should they be called to an incident of fire at that address, or even next door.

JusthereforXmas · 21/08/2023 17:01

Who decided its 'unfit'?

Someone once reported us as living in an 'unfit house' to social services, the investigators laughed and said our house is perfectly normal. We also have annual inspections due to renting who say our house is perfectly normal despite a particular family member making it out like we live in a swamp.

Granted theres a damp issue in the extension (not our fault its on the cheapskate landlord to fix) but thats not what they moan about.

The people who moan though don't grasp that a house with 5 people (2 of which are pre-school) and 2 pets comes with more stuff and can NOT stay as tidy as the show house of 2 adults who work all day and are barely ever home.

Lots of people don't actually have the ability to judge what constitutes as actionable. If the authorities say its fine and won't involve themselves after you have reported it then they are simply telling you you are wrong in your assessment.

1984Winston · 21/08/2023 17:04

Something similar happened to a friend of mine, he owned his house but was struggling, the outside of the house was a state and I'm sure the council were in the process of kicking him out when he sadly died suddenly. But it was a few years ago and I can't remember all the details

ImNotWorthy · 21/08/2023 19:29

I'm sure the Council are used to vexatious complaints. But my aquaintance's DD's house was worthy of the Council deeming she couldn't have the kids there. I think there are two levels:
very awful, no kids can stay

and very very awful, council can order owner to make improvements.

Jellycats4life · 21/08/2023 19:38

I think more people live like this than we can ever know. Sadly I’m not sure if there are any agencies who have the power to sort it.

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