South Tyneside homes

Widelats

I don't know where else to put this i am going to duplicate it in the local forums.

Unbelievable service, I think sometimes the government is just throwing money away leaving matters up to the councils.

Applied in 2005, in all my communication with South Tyneside Homes I am not aware of even ONCE where the person talking to me or the person writing me a letter was accurate, I had around 30 letters altogether and every one of them stated something which was not right! Waited 3 years for a priority banding and this was while being homeless for over 2 years, finally after my roof fell in from my previous rat nest, moth infested, private accommodation, I got priority banding after I proved that the mould spores that were growing inside the ceiling were dangerous to health, my asthma was suffering and I did not know why till that roof fell in.
When I got priority 1 banding I was delighted I could not believe it, then South Tyneside Homes wrote and said “We will have to overlook you if you can not get a reference from your landlord” I followed this up and found out that they were supposed to ask me for a reference on the day I applied way back in 2005!! I scrambled round and got the reference.

I got offered a 1 bedroom flat in September 2008, I had a viewing date on 11th September, I received a letter stating the viewing had been put off for 2 weeks and to phone them then and sort it out, I was assured it would be 2 weeks. So 2 weeks later I phoned, and again she put it back another 2 weeks, so I phoned again in2 weeks, again she put it back for another 2 weeks, well I was getting !!!!ed off by this time and phoned again in 2 weeks, and again ….. Put it off for 2 weeks. I was eventually offered a view date and time, I went to the flat and the viewing person did not turn up - he left a message on my phone saying he could not make it (well, I do not have a phone!!) I was getting very angry, I phoned again and another date was set, this time he turned up and when I asked questions all I got was “I don’t know” those were exact words. I was desperate and took the flat there and then, after 2 months there was a certain cockroach infestation, apparently this has been going on for years in this block and South Tyneside Homes did not mention it.

I am now back to square 1 and desperate to move out into decent private rented accommodation, I am saving for a bond and a months rent in advance. I recently re-applied to South Tyneside Homes to go on their list again for a move, I was registered as band 5 I received the letter today, band 5 is the lowest and will probably take 8 to 12 years of applying, (in the application it said they will send me a form if I think I have special needs - not surprisingly, none arrived) I think I am going to forget it and go private again I would rather live in a caravan than a cockroach infested block of flats where the measures taken to remedy the problem are always temporary. I have found STH to be 100% incompetent in their communication, understanding, timescales, customer service and what they tell people, they send out monthly newsletters saying what a great job they are doing and giving themselves a pat on the back, if they asked the tenants it would be a different story.


Thanks for reading my warnings and rant

lufcgirl

I know it's not exactly South Tyneside, but in Sunderland I've seen loads of studio flats and stuff to rent around the city centre in the Sunderland Echo...not sure on the prices or condition but definitely worth a look.

Widelats

I was homeless in Sunderland i was even at the Salvation Army Hostel there, them studio flats are very expensive and they don't take DSS - thanks though