Being Evicted, Court Costs

silvercar · 30 August 2015 at 9:19AM

bouicca21 wrote: »

OP wants a roof over her head that she can afford, with sufficient back up in the local community to engage positively with her two special needs sons. Her problem is that this currently seems like pie in the sky.

I understand what the ideal situation would be, but as it is pie in the sky, I wanted to know what realistic outcome OP wants.

silvercar wrote: »

I'm a bit confused on what OP wants. Local private rents are too expensive, local council rents are not available and the council seem to house outside the area. Existing rent is too expensive. So what is the desired outcome?

deannatrois wrote: »

Thank you bouicca21. You are right, I'd like to go into social housing, like tens of thousands of people. I can't go into private housing here as it IS too expensive. And well, moving potentially every six months to a year is not going to be good for stability. My experience with this LL has caused so much stress, I find it difficult to contemplate another private LL.

So the aim is to get as high a priority as you can for social housing. You need to find out what criteria you need to get that assessment. Pressure from your local councillor must help.

[Deleted User] · 30 August 2015 at 9:23AM

I think I've said I'm band D.., and although my sons have special needs, and I have various health problems.., these don't increase the priority.., only things related to the house do that.

The council said this, Shelter's legal people said this. My son's social worker said most boroughs don't work this way but mine does. She's consulted her seniors.

So there seems to be nothing I can do. which is frustrating and even more stress making.

I even asked my ex if he knew anyone who'd let us live with them instead of going into emergency housing (because this would leave us short of bedrooms that would put our banding up) but no.

So I'm stuck.

ViolaLass · 30 August 2015 at 9:36AM

If most boroughs don't work in that way, might moving boroughs be a positive thing in the long term?

silvercar · 30 August 2015 at 10:20AM

deannatrois wrote: »

Thank you bouicca21. You are right, I'd like to go into social housing, like tens of thousands of people. I can't go into private housing here as it IS too expensive. And well, moving potentially every six months to a year is not going to be good for stability. My experience with this LL has caused so much stress, I find it difficult to contemplate another private LL.

I had written more but its too emotional. Lets just say the situation isn't improving.

There should be landlords who would want a long term tenant. I can't see why a landlord wouldn't see that as a positive.

It seems your area is against you, because private housing is so expensive and because you social housing isn't giving you the priority that you would get elsewhere. Maybe it is time to consider a move elsewhere?

Does your ex take any responsibility for assisting you find a suitable home for his children?

Somerset · 30 August 2015 at 1:21PM

silvercar wrote: »

There should be landlords who would want a long term tenant. I can't see why a landlord wouldn't see that as a positive.

Because the OP wouldn't be able to pay the going rate. The problem is the area, I think the OP said 21 miles outside London, prime commuter belt. It's either social housing or moving. I've read the difficulties with the 'banding' - somehow the OP needs to get higher priority, not sure how as she seems to have tried everything.

ViolaLass · 30 August 2015 at 1:47PM

Somerset wrote: »

Because the OP wouldn't be able to pay the going rate. The problem is the area, I think the OP said 21 miles outside London, prime commuter belt. It's either social housing or moving. I've read the difficulties with the 'banding' - somehow the OP needs to get higher priority, not sure how as she seems to have tried everything.

Except moving to another area that would treat her more leniently. If these areas exist (and she indicates that they do), such a move could be a good long-term idea.

[Deleted User] · 30 August 2015 at 4:02PM

OK both my sons have ASD. One son is very needy. Have had to wait a year for my older son to have a reassessment which needs to happen. If I move, will lose that and it will be another year.

If I move boroughs, the social worker package which is not much but more than my older son has ever had before will go. 14 week waiting list to even get a specialist social worker. I move and my referal to a diabetologist goes down the drain, my son's referral to psychiatry goes.

And there's the small matter of deposit and first month rent in advance. Finding a property, I can't leave my sons, they aren't good in new places so I can't take them and traipse the streets trying to find somewhere with no local knowledge. Its not easy to find the information I would need to know. We aren't just talking about where are the good schools, is X college good with additional needs young people etc.

I move, and no guarantee next borough will be any better. Some boroughs don't give additional needs any help at all, why I moved four years ago.

But yes, housing here is difficult.

It just seems nothing will help. Im tired and I'm done. There is a point when I can do nothing more for my sons and them watching me hypo makes me a liability with no 'good' bits as I can't make this come out ok. Not even slightly.

I won't post again. Thank you for trying to help, I do appreciate it , in spite of the way it sounds. System has defeated me, not anyone on here. I've tried what I can. There just is nothing.

Thank you again.

outofmoney · 31 August 2015 at 2:09PM

Deannatrois - You've had some good advice (and some not so good). We were in your situation a few years back and the council never helped us. At the last minute a Private rent came up that we could afford but in no way big enough but we ended up taking it.

9 years on and we are desperately fighting to get help from the council. MP was useless. After going higher we have finally had someone come out and actually assess the house plus OT. We are now in Band B and hope this will move us to A. We are in B due to the children's ages, like you, having two disabled children and a medical condition myself has made no difference. Three children in a single bedroom with one sleeping on the floor just doesn't count!

My advice would be to take Private rent you can afford, even if it is too small. Then go back to the council and ask them to assess you (keep pushing) They will have to accept you are overcrowded and this should move you up the list. It will mean another couple of moves but the second should hopefully be more permanent. Plus you will at least have a roof over your head.

Lord_Baltimore · 2 September 2015 at 12:23AM

Just saw this thread and found it pretty disturbing. Surely there are officials in Councils to help people who find themselves up against it?

The pressures upon the OP are a virtually unmanageable crisis for anyone let alone someone trying to bear the responsibilities of caring and personal health issues.

Deannatrois - please update us if you feel up to it.

[Deleted User] · 2 September 2015 at 1:23AM

Still around. I was advised to tell my son's social worker how bad I felt. They are going to try and get something happening with Housing. Was told to ask for emergency help under the 2014 Care Act. Tried that and was just told to phone another department. Don't really feel secure whining to strangers who may or may not make judgements so haven't done that.

Have written a long letter explaining why the family will do badly in shared housing but need to gather evidence from whoever I can so will take a while to actually send it off. Not sure will be able to get it off in time to do any good but will send off what i have in a week and send the rest of the stuff off afterwards. My S21 notice ends 29th September. Depends on how long Housing fiddles with my letter. Bidding on houses still but my D banding doesn't give me a chance.

Been having problems with crazy uncontrollable blood sugars, in spite of my best efforts to stabilise them. Did some research and it seems extreme stress CAN induce insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity. So don't give myself long acting insulin anymore, just a sliding scale of the quick acting (i.e. give myself different doses depending purely on blood sugar). And thank god it worked, this morning I was on a high dose of insulin with high blood sugars, over the day my need for insulin dropped but sliding scale worked so no hypos. This morning I was on triple the amount of insulin I'm on now. But no hypo's so I don't feel so incapable - not putting my sons through those hypos.Frustratingly tried to get GP appointment today but could only go to walk in clinic and can't have my younger son in GP's surgery for four hours., fortunately I seem to be managing at the moment though. Its not a long term solution as other things can go wrong with me just injecting quick acting insulin (particularly small doses as I am today) but right now, its ok. GP's surgery probably wouldn't be able to help though.., what I'm experiencing/doing is pretty specialised. Hoping to goodness the Diabetologist, if ever I get to see them doesn't say I need to be stabilised in hospital cause I won't be able to do that. Shouldn't though. But majorly relieved about the hypo's.

Had contact from National Autistic Society.., both my older sons college and younger son's school ARE breaking the law by refusing to support my sons so have been advised on a plan of action with that.

The letter writing hasn't stopped, so pretty busy but did manage to get some more sorting of stuff in the house done. Still very slow because of back problems unfortunately.

Still got my ex playing mind games (didn't say much about that) but blocked him from my phone, so peace on that score too! He was making me feel pretty worthless. Still got problems on that score but can play holding action for now and see what happens.

Older son is with his dad for a week so at least he didn't have to see me go downhill (harder to hide it from him). Think I managed to cover it up enough for my younger son. He did ask a few questions yesterday as to why I seemed sad but hopefully I managed to give answers that didn't worry him more. Had a long conversation yesterday evening about school that he seemed to love. He just wants someone to take what he feels about school seriously. To be honest, I could go with a hammer to the school, but of course, we don't behave like that in civilised society lol. I will just have to ignore their smug faces and be firm.

Hopefully back on track.

Today I have to write letter to school and college about sons, and letters to people asking for evidence. Wish David Cameron and his friend Duncan could see what their cuts do to the systems people depend on.

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Being Evicted, Court Costs

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