Housing

[plinkyblonk]

My DD (2.5years) has just been diagnosed with cerebral palsy affecting her legs. We live on a second floor shared ownership flat and have been struggling the last 6 months or so with getting her up and down the stairs. Now we have a diagnosis's to what's wrong we feel it's best we move from the flat to a more suitable home long term for my DD as we really don't know how well she'll fair waking-wise long term. The building is not suitable for my daughter as she can't walk at all unassisted at the moment

Has anyone dealt with selling their SO home due to a disability/health, are the HA more likely to buy back or will we still need to sell on open market?

I would get a professional like the health visitor to write a supporting letter to advocate for you. See what the housing association say, they are suppose to consider people’s social situation.

@KissyThief thanks I did suspect they'd need a letter from a health professional to support our claim. I've been to the GP about the strain and pain with lifting my DD so much so will maybe get a letter from them also.

@plinkyblonk good luck, stay strong mama ! I’m in a similar position we’re my two year old isn’t walking, it’s putting strain on my back and housing isn’t suitable so I hope you get it sorted x.

@KissyThief I'll keep you updated. I'm sure there are plenty others in this situation. I'm hoping to phone today just to see what evidence we need to give for them to consider a buy back.

Has your LO been diagnosed or are they waiting to see if they walk?

I spoke to my HV and she said that we would be priority for social housing now that we have a registered disability. Either way I need my flat sold whether it's to release equity to buy something more suitable or to move in to social housing I can't be paying for two properties. Oh my head haha.

I know bloody nightmare! It sounds like they’re going to seriously consider it. We’re on the list for social housing but not a very high banding :/ once he’s deemed as having something we can go up the list.

My ds1 hasn’t got a diagnosis yet, the consultant is hesitant to give a diagnosis and wants to talk to our HV because he’s managing to gain skills. To me there are other red flags in his development that the consultant is overlooking like him not waving or pointing but I just need to wait until the cogs get into motion.

@KissyThief so I phoned my HA and think I'm going to have a battle on my hands. They basically said they won't buy back. I said what if my flat doesn't sell what then I have to live in a property that's unsuitable for my child. They said they'd review it every few months. I can't even go down leasing my property out route as that's not allowed.

I'm going to ring my mp on Monday see if they can do anything.

Hopefully you get an answer soon or even better your LO walks, it's the not knowing thats hard! I feel like we've had our life on hold until recently.

@plinkyblonk oh that really sucks. I think your just going to have to put it on the market and see what happens. I don’t really know a lot the housing market etc . Maybe ring citizens advice?

If it's not your HA's policy to buy back SO properties (it's not usually), then you'd need to sell it by the prescribed method. Your child's health needs won't change that decision, the HA don't have the same obligations to your as a non SO tenant.

In some circumstances the HA will allow you to let out the property, usually after a period where it has failed to sell.

Have you looked into the process for selling? With mine I just got a valuation and it was sold by a normal estate agent.

@NoBaggyPants I found a government policy that states they need to seriously consider a buy back if there is a change in circumstances e.g. health or financial hardship.

I know it might come down to having to sell on the open market but because it's my daughter that I need the move for due to a disability, I will be putting major pressure on the HA to help sell or buy back if it doesn't sell.

As much as I know things are different for SO we are still technically tenants, so surely they have a duty of care to us also?