Anyone had successful help from MP over housing issues ?

[inthedarkx]

Has anyone successful had things changed or helped after writing to your local MP? Or is it a waste of time? And nothing changes ? It's related to housing issues

What sort of housing issues? Presumably this is regarding social housing? MP letters can force your landlord to review or prioritise your case as the MP will ask them for a response and description of their actions on your case. They can be useful if you have e.g. an ongoing repair issue, if a neighbour’s ASB isn’t being dealt with properly, or if you believe your landlord hasn’t followed policy correctly. An MP letter won’t have much effect if e.g. you want to be rehoused in a larger property but you are not considered statutorily overcrowded and have thus been refused, or you disagree with a decision which is their (lawful) policy.

MPs have a staff team of around 6 who mostly deal with helping constituents with problems like this.

They will check you are getting your legal entitlements. They can help you fill out forms. They can write a supportive letter on your behalf.

They can use your case as evidence as part of a speech in parliament or as evidence in a committee.

But if you are getting treated in a non discriminatory way and having all your rights met there isn't much they can do if for example you don't have many points so are low down on a housing waiting list.

They can only help if the law isn't being applied properly/fairly. Is this the case? They can't help push you up the queue or change band otherwise

Hiya thanks for all replies
My issue is I've lived in my housing association property for 10 years now, since the first winter I've had in this house I've had a mould issue. I've done everything I possibly can to keep mould down by doing everything they tell me to, opening windows whilst cooking and after baths. I do put my heating on ( who doesn't ?) and I bought and expensive dehumidifier myself to help, nothing works, the mould is so bad in some rooms and my children are either breathing in mould or chemicals I've used to spray the walls! The only thing the could did was put some extra insulation in the roof but it's made the problem worse
They did admit that work can be done to the structure of the ceilings to reduce it but it would cost them a lot of money so they refuse to do it. I asked them to rehouse me if they can't make this situation better and the ignored that request. I have been in the housing list for 6 years anyway for overcrowding but I never budge after bidding for every house that comes up' hurt fed up because I can't decorate of have carpets and im constantly scrubbing mould off walls, ceilings and furniture ! This didn't good for our health. I have written to my MP and made another formal complaint but not sure where this will get me 🤷🏻‍♀️

They should help with this.

There should be some mechanism to get someone to come out to assess the mould.

If it's very bad it could be classed as uninhabitable and you would be classed as homeless. This would get you much higher on the lists.

If the MP doesn't work I'd go down the media route. Takes photos of the mould and send them to the local paper with a sad story. Say you have asked the HA, council and MP for help but are stuck.

If the issue is with the council waiting list you should also contact your councillor directly (they are often the ones who also work as MP staffers!)

Have you made a formal complaint to the housing association? If they don't deal with that to your satisfaction you can escalate to the Housing Ombudsman

What do environmental health say?

@chisum hiya

Because it's housing association environmental health can't do anything, they only take action for private rented properties

Yes MP involvement does help some Housing associations do things.

However I’d advise you to also start the complaints process and escalate to ombudsman when you’ve had your final response.

What damp and mould surveys have been done?

An MP's office can write to the HA asking for repairs to be done etc, but they cannot make them do anything.

You need to tune in to BBC 6 o'clock news. Coroner has ruled that the tragic death of toddler was due to HA ignoring mould. Sorry OP as this is v concerning and awful so i really hope you get help. Also contact Shelter as well as your MP. Good luck

Also you have two potential complaints.

1. lack of action to damp and mould esp when they’ve identified a structural issues. Do your neighbours have the same.

2. they should have responded to your response to a managed move/transfer and if declined why. Tbh it’s unlikely they’ll move you for this unless their policy states they will. You need to request their policy.

This was tragic.

Also this.

www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spotlight-report-Damp-and-mould-final.pdf

damp and mould is firmly in the ombudsman’s gaze at the moment. Remind your HA of that

I worked for a HA for decades. Environmental health will get involved if it's bad enough

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