in private let awaiting council house (scotland)

amberz

Homeless Single woman is advised to seek a private let until she becomes eligeable for a council house. Two years later she is still in a private let which is over-run with dampness, sharing with every bug you can think of. Inviramental Health officer visited premises and instantly remembered being called to the same address in the past. He told the owner he had to get the place habital before anyone else would be able to live there. The owner simply added a false wall to hide the damp.While this lady awaits a house on seems like a non moving list for a house, all around her there are single boys/girls being put into a temp homeless flat then within 12 weeks given a 3apt flat/house. Before this lady presented herself homeless 2 yrs ago she had been a council tenant for 25yrs without being any problem to anyone. After her divorce and a nervous breakdown her daughter moved in to help care for her but this proved to be a huge mistake therefore when she asked council for advise and/or help to remedy the situation they advised that as her daughter was now joint tennant with children it would be best as she was single with no dependants she would be better off doing it this way. Any advise will be passed on to this lady who is nearing another break down. Thankyou for reading. AmberZ

hollydays

Contact Shelter for advice x
http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/

hollydays

so are you saying she voluntarily gave up the tenancy of her council house and let her daughter stay in the house? Because she thought she would get on the housing list quicker?

Why was her daughter moving in a huge mistake?

What was the situation she asked the council for advice to remedy?

Has she been classed as making herself homeless?
Where is her daughter in all this now?

amberz

Hi hollydays, thankyou for answering. The womans daughter moved in with two children, although it was firstly thought the best thing to do, I dont think anyone realised just how bad a breakdown the woman had taken, she just could'nt cope with all the noise, busy husstle and busstle in her house, she could hardly put her daughter out as she had given her house up to move in with her mum. She made herself homeless on the advise of the council, who advised her that as they felt she wouldnt like the temp homeless housing accommodation and may not be able to cope with that, she should maybe consider a private let until something became available for her, she chose to try it out. In her area this was the wrong choice to make, but she was not aware of this at the time. If she had went into temp homeless accommodation she would have been housed within 3/6mths, and at times less. Meanwhile her daughter is still in the home they had been joint tenants in. Through all this time their relationship has became strained, I feel partly guilt on daughters side is to blame for this. The woman hardly sleeps never eats in this place she is in as she cant get rid of the insects caused by the dampness. The council have awarded her just 50 points because of medical reasons and thats it. She is as I type away for a meeting with a place named CHAP, hopefully they will be able to help her. I just wondered if there is anything else she could do or visit for help and to be honest it does not matter how much I scoure the web, it has always been in here I have been given speedy answer's and suggestions to pass onto others. I will have her phone shelter when she returns today. AmberZ

hollydays

Hope others will be along soon who can give advice.I don't know the significance of 50 points.Can she not get more points because of the unhealthy environment?

That is a terribly sad situation you describe,the poor lady.Sounds like she needs an advocate to support her in this.Does she have a nurse involved in her care?

amberz

Hello hollydays, sorry for the late answer but after this ladies appointment today she has been very down. I have sat with her as long as I could bare it, I now have her tucked up in my daughters bed lol. She did not get much help today other than being advised to find another private let to get away from the "dive" she is presently in. I continually have to hold myself back in matters like this. I live in a north ayrshire (scotland) area where if you are not knowledgeable enough when dealing with housing issues this is exactly what happens time and time again. If she went homeless and refused temp accom, she would be out of this nightmare situation within 12 weeks roughly as she would have been housed. If in temp accom, you cannot set a time limit you have to wait, as you are no longer homeless. Other than doing what others do and offer money for the landlord to say he is selling the temp so you have to leave(homeless) this lady has done everything by the book. In this instance being honest, broken, can see no way out stands for nothing. 50 points is rediculous, she has a nurse from mental health team but I really dont see where they have helped her in any way. She is desperate to work but cant as she wouldnt afford the rent. Her life is on a definate standstill but nearing the slippery slope downhill.The council have allowed her £400 per month for renting a place. In this hard time for all, all it gets is what she is in right now and not much else. I am looking right now for a place for her, but hell knows how long she will wait for a house. Really gets my back up that when so many so called mp's who ask us to vote for them are using tax payers money for their bought houses payed for them by whatever means possible then they have the nerve to treat someone like this. It's almost criminal in my mind. My friends son split from his girlfriend, went homeless and is now awaiting a house in the next few weeks!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the on and on and on rant,I am just very angry and feel really sorry for this woman. Always the life and soul and a really caring person, she hardly uttered a word tonight, anyone who has not seen her for a while would walk past her if they were to meet. I am going to call shelter tomorrow with her and also call her nurse to see just why she visits her, as nothing is moving to enable her to look to the future, she is begining to accept that as fact.

hollydays

Could you maybe call Shelter yourself first, on your own, to run the situation by them before she rings?In addition you may want to post a question on the housing board here.Good luck x

amberz

How long in North Ayrshire Scotland you usually wait for a council house while in temp accommodation, and also is there a set guideline/law for how long you wait. Also need to know how much per month the council allows for rented accommodation and also again is there a set guideline/law for this.

To Hollydays: Thanks again for your kind words and suggestions, I will phone shelter myself as you suggest as I dont think she is up to going over everything again. I'll wait till she has gone back to the "Dive" lol.

laney85

my local counciller helped me get my council house. didnt stay in it for long but she was a fantastic help at the time

melorablack

If you make yourself voluntarily homeless you are not eligible for a council house and go to the bottom of the waiting list.