AIBU to think the council is failing to keep us safe?

[Crazyhousewife23]

I am currently in a council house and unfortunately due to how bad the area is with drugs and theft I have built up a months worth of arrears due to having to stay at b&bs or travel to relatives to stay. It’s been a dangerous situation many times. My youngest has scarlet fever and was running a temperature so high that we had to take her in the car as the ambulance wouldn’t have been able to access our door due to the entrance being locked by vehicles by one of the drug dealers. The council have stated they won’t move me until the arrears are cleared. This was set to be reviewed at 6 months but when I checked online the terms were 3 months so I’m not sure why they extended it to 6 months. It seems the council don’t want to deal with the problems in the area and they have even blocked me from attending local meetings about housing problems in the area. They purposely booked an appointment whilst I was away and had to rush back from a trip 70 miles away to attend the appointment and cut out holiday short. They have stated that if the police say it’s too dangerous to live her they will move me, but the police aren’t going to say that as they would have to move everyone if that was the case. My youngest child has a lot of disabilities (mobility, deafness, speech delay, toileting issues and autism and sensory issues) and we will need to apply again for the disabilities facility grant for a wet room amongst other things. My worry is the council will refuse this but won’t move us also and struggling to get a private house with the demand being so high. My mental health is struggling so badly with everything with the house,.

Pay your arrears rather than going on holiday.

The council aren't booking appointments when you are away on purpose, don't be ridiculous.

If your door was blocked meaning the ambulance couldn't access, how did you get out?

It sounds like a lot of excuses to me.

What actual danger have you experienced? As all you’ve said is that drug dealers live there and lock the doors sometimes and there’s some theft.

None of it sounds ideal, but what about it is more unsafe than anywhere else (drug dealers and theft are relatively common unfortunately, especially in lower income areas)?

If you can demonstrate / report actual threats, acts of violence etc they’ll be more likely to listen.

Well you really shouldn't be going on holiday if you have rent arrears. And trust me, the Council won't do anything for you until those are cleared. In fact you run the risk of eviction, even with a disabled child. I can't imagine an ambulance refusing to attend. They're used to visiting estates where drug dealers live and all sorts of nightmare scenarios. How did you get out of the building if the door was blocked? I'm also pretty sure the Council wouldn't have deliberately booked an appointment whilst you were on holiday.

On Holiday
Rent arrears

erm....

excuses excuses.

I didn’t book the holiday a family member did as I have been paying off the arrears. This was my first priority however the arrears have been built up due to me having to live out of the property on several occasions. So theft of property, several times we have had the local drug addicts get the wrong house bang on the door and refuse to leave until the police have been called and moved them along( they are always very aggressive and trying to put the door through- the councils advice is just to keep reporting). Also, yes the council were aware that I was away and notified by 24 hours before about the appointment and I even stated they knew the situation but a missed appointment is a charge so I had to attend as I can’t afford charges for missed appointments. Had to use the other exit in the cul de sac to get out but an ambulance can’t access that way; hence my main exit being blocked. The arrears are nearly paid off but so many in my street are struggling to move (no one will swap unless they are already in this area and the council won’t put you on the list). The council have regular meetings with the police and had several consultations about the problems in the area. The appointment seems to have been made to prevent me from attending the consultation about the problems in the area as the housing officer is not documenting them so I’m having to formally complain to those above the officer to get anything logged.

Ask the family member that paid for the holiday if they can pay the arrears for you.

So nothing is your fault then?

Are you a product of gentle parenting by any chance?

I did and was greeted with the councils reply of I still won’t be housed as I’m adequately housed. So borrowing money isn’t going to change the situation. The housing say adequately housed and social services say I’m not. When my arrears are paid off this month nothings going to change regarding the situation

So many questions.

You didn't call an ambulance because the paramedics couldn't enter the very same building that you managed to exit?

And if you're in arrears, why was spending money on a holiday wise?

So many answers above that you did not read. I didn’t spend the money

for the gentle parenting nonsense comment

why didn’t the family member help pay off the arrears instead of wasting money on a hoilday? It’s all rather backwards. The arrears is your one priority

Yeah I cross posted.

That's what sometimes happens when you take your time with what you type, and add paragraphs and things.

The ambulance crew could've parked anywhere and taken your daughter to the ambulance.

With the best will in the world, if you want to move then you need to pay your rent as having arrears will prevent you from being considered for another property or getting a reference. Priority bills come first always, especially when you have children to take care of.

I would be if I complained like the others in my area for the reasons mentioned but as stated I didn’t claim entitlement and opted to concentrate on my situation

It didn't take long for the reform voter in you to come out, did it.

@Crazyhousewife23
How big are your arrears, and when can you pay them off?

You do need to understand the policies on arrears can't be overruled by a council worker - the policies were democratically approved and apply to all tenants.

Gearing up for Saturday night on Mumsnet I expect.

Why did you spend money on B&Bs, staying away from home if it meant you couldn't pay your rent? What was happening that made it too unsafe to lock the windows/doors and stay inside but was safe enough to get out with disabled child and luggage in tow?

You need to pay your rent like everyone else, woman!
Whether they agree to rehouse you or not, you’re living there - you pay rent. Where’s the confusion around this coming from?

due to how bad the area is with drugs and theft I have built up a months worth of arrears due to having to stay at b&bs or travel to relatives to stay

Why does this stop you paying your rent?

I'm afraid I find it hard to believe that an ambulance won't attend because they can't get the ambulance to the most easily accessible entrance. I know of estates where the only access to any property other than ground floor flats is via walkways or alleyways, and the paramedics park up and run to the property where they are needed.

If you don't think your complaints etc are being properly addressed or documented, make sure you copy every complaint and issue that you raise to your ward councillors. That way, you will have a record of what happened and when. They should have a target time for responding to complaints, it should be on their website somewhere. Keep a note of when you raised each issue, and follow it up if you haven't had a satisfactory response. If the issues aren't resolved in a reasonable time, make a complaint to the local government ombudsman and/or get your MP involved.

If the council are having meetings with tenants, it sounds as though they are trying to improve things. And I very much doubt that they deliberately chose a date you couldn't attend; whatever date they chose would have been difficult for someone to attend, especially if councillors, as well as council officers, were attending.

Rent (or mortgage) is the first bill you pay because that is your home. You chose to vacate your home and spend your rent money on B&B instead. This makes no sense.

You have to pay your rent OP. If they let you ignore arrears and move on then you'd never pay it.