Housing association

[vanessacm94]

I'm wondering if any one has been in the same boat, I checked my homeseekers to see I has been refused for a property I phone up the housing association the same one I already resided with to find out why, they said it was because of rent arrears! These arrears are what my housing benefit will pay next week so I offered to pay this instead of waiting for my housing benefit to be paid, I was asked if I worked I told them I can't as I'm a full time carer for my son, the lady on the phone told me that this property was high in rent so she didn't think i would be able to afford it and to keep bidding! I put in a complaint because there was never a financial assessment check done to say this and never asked about any income I received. Another lady phoned and basically saying to me I wouldn't be able to top the rent up and I would be benefit capped because I dont work,but i know because my son is on high rate DLA the cap doesn't apply to me so i would have full rent paid for. I have got my councillor involved and they are saying they never suggested I couldn't afford the rent and the decision was solely base on the arrears. I know that they said and did everything possible to not give me the house even told me that they are looking for someone who can guaranteed to pay the rent. I think I have been treated unfairly and discriminated against for not being able to work because my son needs full time care. They are currently no responding to my local councillor but I have asked him to try and receive all the phone calls i have had with them. I dont want to be unreasonable and cause stress for anyone if i am over thinking it but at the same time my son needed a suitable home for his needs.

You’ll probably get more responses if you ask for this to be moved from Home Education OP (likely posted on here in error?).

That does seem very unfair. Were you 1st on the list? I used to work for our council and rent arrears had to be over £1000 with no repayment plan agreed before they’d refuse you a property. Obviously you did have a payment plan if you were just about to oay yours off.

Did you put a complaint in writing? Best way to deal with the council is always to put it in writing (email?) as they have to give you an response that aligns with policy. Often if you speak to someone on the phone or in person, they can give you completely wrong information or outright lie!

I imagine they have allocated the property to someone else now and they can’t undo that. Definitely continue with the complaints policy and go to your MP if they don’t give a reasoned response.