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Original poster

Lets get Nutty a house .......The battle has started but i'm not sure how to handle it ??

70 replies

Nutcracker · 26/04/2004 18:32

Right as most of you know, there is currently a 4 bed house empty on the estate i live on. I cannot say how much it would mean to me and my family if we were to get the house. Unfortunatly it looks as though we won't get it, as we only have 3 kids and the house has an extra box room ( yeah i know, bags of room).
I am quite angry about the fact that none of my other circumstances seem to be being taken into account (medical poiunts, terrible neighbours e.t.c).
I know a lot about the ins and outs of what has gone on with this house and know that the official eviction is on wednesday (although the house has been empty for weeks). From wednesday the house will officially belong to Sanctuary again (although they will deny it again).
I need to let them know that i am not going to give up on this without a fight and put all of my points across without dropping the estates manager in it (he's told me lots of stuff he shouldn't). I know that there has been lies told, deadlines changed and generally alot of crap told to me about this house to put me off.
I have a very good position on the list and if the house was 3 bed i am pretty sure i would have got it without a fight.
The estates manager has requested that the H/A put a sympathetic tennant in the house so thsat they don't end up with the probs they had before. He has said that we are perfect for the house in terms of that we are very good tennants e.t.c

Am just not sure where to start really, and i'm getting stressed about it. I know my chances are very slim but i can't sit back and do nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nutcracker · 27/04/2004 19:39

Thats terrible Meiow. Wish they would make that kind of mistake with me though

OP posts:
mieow · 27/04/2004 19:40

be good wouldn't it?? I can't work out councils

goodkate · 27/04/2004 19:48

I have no experience in these matters at all, bit all I can say is be persistent..... keep at it everyday until you get the answers you want and as East said be pleasant. Try your local MP or the local press if all else fails. MP's and press working together can force surprising turn arounds sometimes. Especially if the council are not straight with you.

I wish I could help more directly, I am very gobby when it comes to things like this.

Good Luck Nutty.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 10:25

Well todays the day. The eviction is supposed to be at 11/11:30 i think.
I wish i'd brought some binoculars now as the trees have grown alot and i can't see a bloody thing now.
Feel generally quite ill, and as i know i won't find out today who's getting it i will only get worse.

Had a bit of a panic thing i think last night as it wouldn't stop going around and around in my head and i was crying like a baby and couldn't breath. Me thinks i need to get a grip.

I know i should really just have resigned myself to not getting it, but until i know for sure i can't.
I have even prayed, and i'm not religious at all, bit hypocritical really.

Anyway any news and the whole of MN will be the first to know.

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Tortington · 28/04/2004 10:34

nutty i work in housing and if someone has ben deliberatley dishonest to you you should complain. nothing makes a senior manager crap himself more than a formal complaint. please get a complaints pack and list all your complaints. it may help your case for moving if only the senior manager says " give her a house to shut her up" have you been given all the informationto helpyou understand the transfer/ moving process? if not this too is a complaint. we have leaflets and trasfer packs in our office - we give out to enquiring tenants. if lack of information leads to ill judgement and expectation which could have caused ill health or depression that a doctor can verify. then write it all down all get it off to the housing. they will try and deal with your complaint by phone so nothing is written down. do not be swayed, make sure you get a complaints proceedure pack.

hth

snowdrift · 28/04/2004 10:37

I work in a council housing department, nutty, and really sympathise with your plight. I do not know how the allocations team make decisions here, whether they do bend the rules or not. As I've said elsewhere, people who are accepted as homeless with dependents are first in the list. Even if you are top of the points list, homeless people come first, according to the rules. If the housing situation is getting worse in your area, people with lots of points stand less and less chance of getting a new home. It is very frustrating, and many council staff are not happy with this state of affairs either.

I do know that is it soooo diffucult to get straight answers sometimes. I come up against this time and time again, since my work means I have to liase with different teams in the housing department. People just don't want to put their heads on the line.

I agree with you - as it stands, according to the rules, your chances of getting a 4 bed house are slim. I think you have to find a way of accepting this, so you won't be too disappointed if the answer is no. Keep on fighting, tell them what a good tenant you are, write letters, but take your story to other housing associations, look elsewhere. Don't spend all your time and energy fighting for this house.

I don't know whether to recommend this really, but council and housing association staff IME are very worried about attracting bad press. The housing association would not want to risk a critical newspaper report on how their housing is allocated. As you know the house so well, you'll probably know who gets it - how many children they have etc. You could consider telling the HA staff that you will inform the press of your situation if you feel the allocation is unfair. But this might backfire on you, especially if the family who get the house have a better case than yours according to the rules.

Alternatively, what you could do is keep a record of the lies and 'u' turns you have suffered, and threaten to tell the press about this. That might at least stir the staff into giving you a united decision, but it still won't necessariliy get you the house.

Jaybee · 28/04/2004 10:39

Could you go round to the neighbouring houses of the 4 bed and introduce yourself and your children. Have a chat with them and tell them how desperately you want to move in - it sounds as though the previous occupants have made their lives a misery so they may do all they can to get a 'normal' family into the house.

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 10:39

Thanks Custardo. If i don't get the house i am definatly going to complain and was wondering what i'd have to do as they do try and fob you off.
Thing is i have no proof that they have mislead me or lied to me. They know they have treated me badly and messed me about but i'm not sure that would admitt it to anyone else.

The one complaint i have is that the lettings policy has now changed and although i have been advised of my new 'banding', i have no leaflets or anything explaining what it all needs.

I am going to ring them today what ever happens, so i'll ask them about it.

OP posts:
Lisa78 · 28/04/2004 10:41

Am keeping everything crossed for you nutty, let us know how it goes

Think the MP / Press suggestion is a very good one too

Twinkie · 28/04/2004 10:46

Nutty you need to out all of this in a letter to the Chairman of the housing association copy to your local MP and to the head of housing at your local council - what is the housing association called - maybe we can put some pressure with regards to their dishonesty on them through other businesses attached to them or their shareholders/owners or regulatory bodies??

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 10:47

Snowdrift - If the house is given to someone with 4 or more kids then obviously i can't do a thing about it but i will still complain about the way my case has been handled. I was originally told the house was 3 bed. My DD was there when i told my mom it was 3 bed, and she also knew that we had been told that all we had to do was wait for a house to become empty. As far as a 6 yr old is concerned, that means we get the house. She looked so sad when i told her that they had got it wrong (again) and we coudn't have it after all.
Then all of a sudden i'm not top of the list any more, and it's not an urgent case that is in front of me either.

They could of made this simple, by saying 'well it's 4 bed so no you won't get it'.
Instead they have mislead me, given me incorrect info, called me a liar and refused to let me speak to any one higher up.
I can't apply to any other H/A's either because i'm already a H/A tennant so they won't accept me.
The council are supposed to nominate me to other H/A but nothing has ever come of that either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 10:49

It is Sanctuary Housing Association Twinkie

Am resorting to standing on a chair to see whats going on at the mo

OP posts:
Lisa78 · 28/04/2004 10:50

Private eye Nutty

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 10:51

LOL Lisa, i can't see a bloody thing. Will probably end up falling out the window at this rate.

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Twinkie · 28/04/2004 11:01

Have a look on the website - they have a Governing Board and a Management Borad and other crap - send them all a letter detailing what has been said/done to you and make sure you cc it to everyone on that list so they all know that they are getting a copy - make sure that you put that you think you have been treated dishonestly and unfairly and say that you are going to keep a close eye on who gets this property and will not let this matter rest if you find out that someone has been able to jump infront of you or has used any sort of influence or coersion to obtain the property.

Include everything that has happened to you and everything that you have gone through as well as your good points and reasons why you think you should get this house and if I were you I would also make a veiled threat that you will contact the local/national press and name and shame them!!

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 11:03

Thanks Twinkie, i will go on their site now.

OP posts:
Lisa78 · 28/04/2004 11:05

Don't think 2 broken legs will get you any extra points Nutty

Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 11:12

The police have just arrived at the estate office. Can't see sight or sound of the estates manager though, or the anti social; behaviour officer (lying cow).
God if i get through today without crying it will be a bloody miracle.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nutcracker · 28/04/2004 11:14

The police have gone again. What the hell is going on. God if i find out they haven't done it today i'll explode.

OP posts:
Sonnet · 28/04/2004 11:17

Oh Nutty - i'm so sorry that you are going throug all this hassel day after day - the fact that you are being lied to would really p**s me off!

I'd do what Custardo said - get hold of that pack ASAP and once you have got hold of it inform the HA that you feel you have been nadly treated and you wantesd them to know you will be putting in an official complaint - very calm and controlled. II would also send a copy to local paper and MP

I am thinking of you today Nutty - and your DD

Sonnet · 28/04/2004 11:19

nutty - do what twinkie said - great Twinkie...

mummytojames · 28/04/2004 11:22

got everything crossed for you nutty and feeling for you big time hope this is the one and they stop messing you about

fairydust · 28/04/2004 12:49

any news nut???

Twinkie · 28/04/2004 12:51

Nutty on the site they got awards for things and gave out awards - can you write to the groups/people who gave them/received awards too or even mentiont hat you might as you don't think they deserved these awards/were in the position to give out these awards - go for the throat honey they are just pissing you about, bet the house goes to a friends, neighbours son of one of the HA employees or something like that it all stinks if you ask me!!

Lisa78 · 28/04/2004 13:55

Any news nutty?