brother-in-law homeless....

bobsa1

You could have your brother in law to stay with you as long as you declared this to the Housing Benefit/Council Tax dept.

They would then deduct a non dependant charge from your benefit which he would then be expected to pay.

Off the top of my head can't remember how much but probably approx £10 a week, however if he is on benefit and under 25yrs this would be nil.

Locana

Also, you haven't said whether your brother has been given a decison letter, just that he has been asked to leave his temp accomodation by 15th. If he hasn't been given a decision, the he will just need to go back to the Homeless unit and ask his caseworker to rebook him into another temp accomodation. It might just be that the landlord wants the property back (as they have evry right to). If he has been given a decision, let us know what it is. It sounds like the council have already decided that they have 'a duty' (accepted) him by offering him a flat in the first place.

Alleycat

Hi,

Just to add my tuppence! I am a Homelessness Officer and basically do what the person who placed your brother into temporary accommodation (and is subsequently telling him to leave) does. If they have accepted a duty to rehouse him, which it sounds like they have or they would not have placed him into bed and breakfast, then dependent on the policy/supply of properties of the local authority he would get one offer of 'suitable' accommodation. If he refuses said accommodation then duty can be discharged. They are required to put this in writing to your brother and advise him that his homeless case has been closed. He will still be able to access council/housing association property, but will have no priority over other applicants. If your brother is disputing that the offer was suitable due to medical needs, he should put in an appeal. Other posters are correct in saying that whilst an independent review is being carried out the local authority would have a duty to continue to provide temporary accommodation. He should provide as much medical evidence as he can as that will support his claim that the flat was unsuitable. If he is currently under a CPN, giving their details as contact will also help. I am unsure how other local authorities work, but at least with us, when we send out the duty discharge letter, we enclose a consent to review form which needs to be filled in and submitted with a letter advising of the reason for the appeal.

One thing to note though, at least in our department, we do not take a great deal of heed of M.P.s trying to overturn decisions using their positions. As long as your brother puts in a review in time, then the case will be looked at by an independent person/s who will re-examine the case and offer of accommodation.

Good luck in getting things sorted out!

bobsa1

I've got to agree with alleycat, I get approx 10 MP's letters a week and they cut very little ice with me. The best thing for your BIL to do is follow all appeal channels, however given anxiety etc is it the best thing for him to be rehoused alone?

mandy_moo_1

thanx 4 all your replies. I've just got a letter off his doc, and also the contact details of his cpn so i'm gonna ring the homeless section with these in the morning. they've now sent the letter saying that they DO find him homeless but they dnt class him as priority ie) mentally ill, so hopefully the doc's letter and info from his cpn shold help things, as they have said they don't have a duty to house him

Locana

mandy_moo_1 wrote:

thanx 4 all your replies. I've just got a letter off his doc, and also the contact details of his cpn so i'm gonna ring the homeless section with these in the morning. they've now sent the letter saying that they DO find him homeless but they dnt class him as priority ie) mentally ill, so hopefully the doc's letter and info from his cpn shold help things, as they have said they don't have a duty to house him

If he has been found to not be in priority need, then submit a review asap.

mandy_moo_1

I've just sent them a doc's letter detailing how ill he is, and they've said they wil review it....so we shall see