Do I have a case against the council?

[communication1]

I am looking for a lawyer who deals with council queries.

A little back story: 1 year of antisocial behaviour. Council didn't move us in time. The guy set our flat on fire deliberately and tried to kill us while we slept. Sadly someone passed away. The guy has been charged with arson with the potential to cause injury and manslaughter.

I would like to take the council to court for negligence, physical and mental trauma.

Ps. We escaped by jumping from 2nd floor flat, threw my then 3 and 4 year old children out of the window. We also lost everything.

"Have you suffered financial loss?" This is a wild question! The op has stated that she has lost everything. Their furniture, phones, lap top, business records, books, crockery, beds, clothes , bags, jewellery, teddies, photos, ornaments, trophies, birth certificates, love letters, make up, ticket stubs from their first gig- everything! Use your bloody imagination!

Op I hope you get some compensation from the council. I think you deserve it, and more. And I hope you get some resolution from your trauma. I'm so glad you survived and hope this awful awful person suffers in jail for his actions.

I know honestly, makes no sense when they write replies like this.

In the original message the OP says, "
I would like to take the council to court for negligence, physical and mental trauma". I was clarifying what other losses she might have incurred.

I know! They will try worm their way out of it. They've already denied liability when the MP approached them with my complaint.

they literally say there's a housing shortage so where did you think they should put you? As awful as it is what you went through the council are not to blame for the neighbours actions. Had you yourself been searching private properties to rent?

Do you have Twitter Tag a few papers in They might be interested particularly now

That's so lovely of you. Thank you so much. I'm working with victim support. I don't think it's something we'll ever get over. It's a permanent mental sentence now :'(

We've been all over the news before the trial. I have ITV coming tomorrow and I think soon BBC will follow. I hope a lawyer will reach out and help us.

Well only because there would be no case against the council.

What you went through is horrific Op,c whatever happens, I hope you manage to move on and find some peace. I can't imagine how terrified you must have been.

Wow! That's all I've got to say to you. Very heartless. The council are entirely at fault for putting someone like that in the first place knowing very well the kind of person they were and the potential risk to our lives they possess. I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy.

Thank you.

Often isn’t that simple. Some can’t afford private rent, and though they might be entitled to housing benefit, there is such a shortage of rental properties that a lot of LL can just choose someone who isn’t on HB.

They ARE responsible for allocating the home in the first place. Of course they are partly to blame. I repeat If the recently released prisoners get allocated flats as Khan suggests and cause trouble should all their neighbours then private rent. If it was a street full of home owners would you be giving them all the advice to sell up and move. Or would you be expecting the police to do something Because the fact that its not seen as their problem as said upthread THATS true two tier policing!

Have you got legal cover with your contents insurance?

Sadly not, as I wouldn't in my wildest dream thought something like this would happen.

I think the council need taken to task over their inadequate handling of antisocial behaviour and the damage it causes to people. They either do nothing or let the situation go on for far longer than necessary.

I honestly think that if you've been found guilty of antisocial behaviour then should the council need to house you, there should be estates solely for people who are antisocial. Let them live amongst their own and allow decent people to live in peace.

I couldn't agree more. Thank you for this.

I’ve just read (what I assume) is the conclusion of the trial. I would think that, yes you certainly have a case, I’m not a lawyer though. Those suggesting OP move - why should she? If anything, the person causing the ASB should be evicted.

Its because SH tenants are hated on here

Thank you, really appreciate it.

Yes.
You do.

A public body has a duty of care.

They failed every single turn it seems.

Your basic human rights were breached by the councils inaction.

Take this higher, you can complain to the Housing Ombudsman but I think this is out of their scope so you may need to sue.

But get legal advice.

Your basic human rights were breached by the councils inaction.
How so? They had no other properties available.

Out of interest was the preceding antisocial behaviour aimed only at you OP as I assumed it was specific to you so they surely could have put someone else in your flat within a few months and found you an unknown, unrelated new address?

Or was the person a risk in general as this makes it harder to know .
above all I feel so frightened for you no one helped in time. Thank absolute goodness you and the children got out .

I wish I would have known this. My knowledge of the law isn't very good. Thank you

I really hope someone fights this for you OP as you absolutely shouldn't have been left vulnerable for any time let alone 12 months