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Original poster

Council house waiting lists medical

125 replies

panda2023 · 19/02/2023 07:54

Hi. So ive been on waiting list band B for around 500 days now on medical grounds.current property has 4 flights of stairs which cause a struggle every day. Been offered a property which is going to mean i have to get 2 buses and an hour trip to get my disabled child to school , 2 buses to get home again. I am worried if i turn it down i wont get offered another. Also what happens if i move to a rented ( still cannot adapt to suit needs) but eliminates the stair issue. Will they see the need to move as less. Or am i better off staying and waiting. The thought of that kills me as its such a struggle in our current home. What to do

OP posts:
crazyBadger · 19/02/2023 07:57

Would your child not be entitled to transport?

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 08:36

I have two children. One is in a specialist setting and gets transport however is in a routine he has autism and the run would change with new people he doesn’t know. No
the other child who cannot walk because he is in mainstream with no current ehcp he isn’t entitled to transport. As it would be requested i move school closer but I really dont want to do that. I am just wondering if i moved to another rental would that change my band or priority at all? As we would always still need a house that can be adapted which cannot be done to a rental. I just cant cope with these stairs anymore

OP posts:
Sluj · 19/02/2023 08:58

If you moved to a private rental your medical need for alternative housing would go and you would lose your banding.

Are you being realistic about your areas?

Are there lots of social housing properties where you are currently?

I would talk to the council/RSL in the morning, explain your problem and get their advice. I expect they will think its reasonable for your son in mainstream school to change schools. You will need to decide what is more important - not having steps or staying at the same school.

SuperSange · 19/02/2023 09:01

He'll need to move schools, or you'll stay where you are. You're not going to get even you want, so will have to decide what you really need, and that sounds like no stairs to me.

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:18

I agree and fully understand but what about my other child with autism and the changes he would have to face. I was looking into moving within our area to another rental while i wait for a more suitable house to be available. Is that not an option

OP posts:
Sluj · 19/02/2023 09:25

If you move house to a place with no stairs you will lose your medical need to be housed and be reassessed with a lower band or no band at all.
I appreciate what you say about your autistic child but it's bot realistic to think that every little thing in his life will always remain the same. He isn't having to change schools, just drivers , and you will have to manage that with the help of the school.
Is there something else you don't like about this offer as making school changes is a pain but not a deal breaker if the house is suitable in every other way?

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:31

Its not just the stairs. As we need a house with easy access in and out. A downstairs loo and a house for a potential three floor lift. The offer is an area that I wouldn't of looked at as I don't drive and do rely on my parents help with my children as i am single mother. I just wanted to try and illuminate one of the issues as its having an impact on my health carrying my child up and down the stairs. By moving to another rental, it would be eliminating the stairs issue but not the rest.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 19/02/2023 09:36

You've been waiting 500 days so far, there’s not enough social housing to go round so I don’t think you’re going to be able to be fussy about this. Take what you’ve been offered, change your DCs school and manage the travel change for your other DC. You’re very lucky to have been offered a property so take it. Either that or accept that you’ll stay where you are long term.

Overthebow · 19/02/2023 09:38

If you eliminate the stairs in a rental property the mains grounds for medical need will go and you will fall down the priority list. You will likely be waiting at least another 500 days.

cestlavielife · 19/02/2023 09:41

If ds in ms is primary he will at some point chznge school anywsy. Changging now is not massive. Better housing will benefit.
And drivers chsnge tooo.
Better one big change to better housing and settle in and manage the rest like new driver new school

Ilovethewild · 19/02/2023 09:41

Op, your home is long term the schooling is for a few years.

if you go to rented you will loose priority.

find the right home and adjust your lives to suit, as difficult as that can be (have 2 with autism so appreciate change is a challenge), they will have to face change anyway (new home!), teachers change, friends etc.

Get the right home and the rest follows.

take the best offer you can, they can’t magic up the right home in the right street with the right size/toilet etc.

good luck

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:42

Thank you so much. I am not a greedy person and i am fully aware there is a housing crisis. I was just asking the question as that house would go to someone else if i chose to rent for a bit longer. I wasn't sure if it was a possibility. And wondered if moving to a house with one flight of stairs over two levels rather than 4 flights over 3 levels would affect the banding as we would still need adaptions.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 19/02/2023 09:43

Overthebow · 19/02/2023 09:36

You've been waiting 500 days so far, there’s not enough social housing to go round so I don’t think you’re going to be able to be fussy about this. Take what you’ve been offered, change your DCs school and manage the travel change for your other DC. You’re very lucky to have been offered a property so take it. Either that or accept that you’ll stay where you are long term.

good advice

ACynicalDad · 19/02/2023 09:44

Is it worth getting your MP involved?

GoAgainstNicki · 19/02/2023 09:44

panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:18

I agree and fully understand but what about my other child with autism and the changes he would have to face. I was looking into moving within our area to another rental while i wait for a more suitable house to be available. Is that not an option

Not sure where you are in the UK but I’m in SW London.

I’m pretty certain that if you move to a rental the council will assume that you don’t need a council property because you can afford to private rent. You’ll change your circumstances once you move house but I’m sure your banding will drop and you’ll no longer be in band b.

Can you contact the council and ask them for advice? It may be that you can rent somewhere now and still stay in band b. Better to double check tbh

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:45

cestlavielife · 19/02/2023 09:41

If ds in ms is primary he will at some point chznge school anywsy. Changging now is not massive. Better housing will benefit.
And drivers chsnge tooo.
Better one big change to better housing and settle in and manage the rest like new driver new school

I agree with you. My DC is in final school so has there would be no change there. I was only seeking advice if i was happy to wait a bit longer just in a different rental

OP posts:
GoAgainstNicki · 19/02/2023 09:47

If you move house to a place with no stairs you will lose your medical need to be housed and be reassessed with a lower band or no band at all.

Exactly this^ another poster put it much more clearly then I could. If you move to somewhere with no stairs then you don’t have a medical need anymore. Your best bet is taking the property as beggers can’t be choosers.

I say that as a mum of two in band b and just bidded for a flat with a wet room (no bath). I need the bath for my kids but separately my son has a genetic disorder and he needs to be in a property with easy access. It’s difficult but not much you can do

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:49

No Mp is useless.
There are very limited houses as we need one that can be adaptable. There are 100,s of social housing new builds in my area but we aren't entitled as they cant be adapted. Have to wait for an old build where alot of work and money ( which i dont have ) needs to be spent. As opposed to a new build everything is fresh and you can move straight in. Crazy really !! they have offered me something thats in an awful state and the furthest postcode away possible. I guess ill have to take it and work through it

OP posts:
lopsees · 19/02/2023 09:52

If the offered house is suitable for your medical needs I think you need to take it. You may be waiting forever for the right house in the right area to come up.

Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:52

GoAgainstNicki · 19/02/2023 09:47

If you move house to a place with no stairs you will lose your medical need to be housed and be reassessed with a lower band or no band at all.

Exactly this^ another poster put it much more clearly then I could. If you move to somewhere with no stairs then you don’t have a medical need anymore. Your best bet is taking the property as beggers can’t be choosers.

I say that as a mum of two in band b and just bidded for a flat with a wet room (no bath). I need the bath for my kids but separately my son has a genetic disorder and he needs to be in a property with easy access. It’s difficult but not much you can do

I fully understand and its tough going. I also need a bath for the autistic child but the council say we only need a wet room / walk in shower. But i have two kids with opposite needs. I would be happy to wait for the right home for us and rent a two story house for a while but if that means we loose band i wont

OP posts:
Original poster
panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:55

lopsees · 19/02/2023 09:52

If the offered house is suitable for your medical needs I think you need to take it. You may be waiting forever for the right house in the right area to come up.

Thank you

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 19/02/2023 09:57

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MichelleScarn · 19/02/2023 10:02

As we need a house with easy access in and out. A downstairs loo and a house for a potential three floor lift.
Do you mean you're looking for a house over 3 floors or would you accept anywhere that had a lift?

Overthebow · 19/02/2023 10:02

panda2023 · 19/02/2023 09:52

I fully understand and its tough going. I also need a bath for the autistic child but the council say we only need a wet room / walk in shower. But i have two kids with opposite needs. I would be happy to wait for the right home for us and rent a two story house for a while but if that means we loose band i wont

Show quote history

Why do you need a bath? Surely a wet room/walk in would be fine. If not there are plenty of blow up travel bath options you can use instead. Really, you’re in no position to be picky.

LIZS · 19/02/2023 10:03

Are you currently in social housing or private rental?