I need advice from all you lovely ppl about housing...pls!

[caija]

Hiya everyone, bn a while since I have bn on here, I am mummy to two kids, Caitlin 9, and Jack, 3 and a half, who has severe special needs. He has a rare genetic disorder, which has no name, but Jack is doing really well, hs epilepsy has bn pretty much controlled for 7 mnths! He is at mainstream nursery, n is starting to try and stand up now

The council want to rehouse us, as the OT said the house we are in is unsuitable for Jack n tht we cannot have a stairlift as Jack moves around lots n it would b dangerous for him to be in one.

So...I am in a mid-terraced house atm, and have a massive back garden, so would like them to extend from my bathroom out into my back garden, just enough to build on a bedroom/bathroom. My house is a council house...but the council apparently won't put an extension on....I desperately do not wanna move, where do I stand with ths?? Cn I maybe get funding?? Thanks a lot in advance xxxx

A Disabled Facilities Grant might help. I think Social Services administer them so not at all sure how easy they are to get.

Info here: www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HomeAndHousingOptions/YourHome/DG_4000642

Maybe they see moving as a cheaper option? I know my friend who is a local authority house wants her attic converted but they won't let her.

Have you asked the OT about an extension? I would try and get a clear reason as to why the council won't do it as you are obviously happy and settled there.

Getting a SSG for adaptations requires the owner / landlord's consent. For some odd reason, councils don't usually seem to like giving that consent. My neighbour had the same problem over 20 years ago, so it's not a new thing. Might it be worth getting your local councillor involved?

I wonder whether you could throw the DDA at them? Seems discriminatory if they would do in on a home owners or private rented property.

Hi I know of at least 3 people who live in housing ass./council houses who have managed to get funding for extensions.I think they have done it through dis. fac. grants-you do need to get an O.T involved; and there's a department in our council called'care and repair'who were helpful with contacts when we had some work done-I've never felt that our h.A don't want us to have work done...they just don't want to pay for it