LL failing/refusing to provide gas certificate - next steps please?

Fire_Fox

Sorry it's off-topic Daisy, but I've only just picked up on the fact that your son is a smoker, has been hospitalised with pneumonia and is on benefits. Has he been offered the full battery of support from the local stop smoking service? In terms of quality of life this seems to be key to the current situation, but some PCTs are more proactive than others. In my area you can get nicotine replacement completely free (no prescription charge) by attending one-to-one or group counselling sessions. HTH.

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi, thanks for your post.

Yes, he paid a deposit and it is scheme registered - now. But only because I chased it up after a couple of months when I realised we hadn't seen a certificate.

The rent has always been paid by SO on the nose (I know as I'm guarantor and I have no doubt the LL would waste no time in contacting me if there was ever a problem). Son is a model tenant, very quiet, keeps himself to himself, and just wants an easy life. Also letting agency has three empty properties in that street with 'to let' signs up - the rent is on the high side compared to similar properties and the LHA doesn't cover it all, so I'm hoping that you are right and he needs the rent too much to take retaliatory action.

I agree about looking for somewhere else. Ideally he would have a HA adapted flat.... but he would have to get rid of the dog. Sounds an easy answer, but that dog is his constant companion, and gives him a reason to keep going. But I think I'll start looking around.

Thanks

Fire_Fox

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

I agree about looking for somewhere else. Ideally he would have a HA adapted flat.... but he would have to get rid of the dog. Sounds an easy answer, but that dog is his constant companion, and gives him a reason to keep going. But I think I'll start looking around.

Thanks

Lots of people have pets in rented accommodation, it's more likely the combination of dog and smoking that is restricting your son's options to landlords that just don't care. Mental wellbeing is often an consideration in anyone with a long term health condition; research has shown pets have a positive effect and smoking has a negative effect on mental health.

Do all Housing Association places normally restrict dog ownership? Would it make any difference if your son's GP or other support worker wrote explaining that the dog was critical to his wellbeing?

zzzLazyDaisy

Thanks for your replies firefox. Yes he is trying to stop smoking. He has cut down considerably - he is now only spending about £5 a week on tobacco.

All disabled accommodation in our area is administered by one particular HA. I am told their rules are strict about animals in flats, but once things settle down again, I'll make some more enquiries.

Thanks

EDIT: just spoke to the HA - they only have flats to single people below retirement age and they don't allow dogs in flats. No exceptions apart from blind dogs. So it looks like we need to be looking at the private sector again.

prudryden

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Thanks for your replies firefox. Yes he is trying to stop smoking. He has cut down considerably - he is now only spending about £5 a week on tobacco.

All disabled accommodation in our area is administered by one particular HA. I am told their rules are strict about animals in flats, but once things settle down again, I'll make some more enquiries.

Thanks

Champix (from Pfizer) is now available on the NHS. It is not a nicotine replacement therapy like those patches which really don't work very well for dedicated smokers. Champix blocks the neurons in the brain which stops the desire for a ciggy. It is a three month course, but you can stop the pills anytime if you feel you have stopped. My cousin quit the pills after 2 weeks and hasn't smoked for 1 1/2 years now. You will have to request Champix from your Doctor otherwise they go with the cheaper option - the patches etc.

Fire_Fox

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Thanks for your replies firefox. Yes he is trying to stop smoking. He has cut down considerably - he is now only spending about £5 a week on tobacco.

All disabled accommodation in our area is administered by one particular HA. I am told their rules are strict about animals in flats, but once things settle down again, I'll make some more enquiries.

Thanks

Sorry to bang on about this, I am a qualified stop smoking advisor ... According to the research cut down to quit does not work and the NHS does not endorse it. The body has a 'set point' of nicotine in the system to remain comfortable (no withdrawal symptoms) - when you cut down smokers unconsciously tend to draw deeper on the cigarette, hold the smoke in fractionally longer and take more or more frequent puffs. The result is that the smoker can become more addicted to fewer cigarettes.

Fire_Fox

prudryden wrote: »

Champix (from Pfizer) is now available on the NHS. It is not a nicotine replacement therapy like those patches which really don't work very well for dedicated smokers. Champix blocks the neurons in the brain which stops the desire for a ciggy. It is a three month course, but you can stop the pills anytime if you feel you have stopped. My cousin quit the pills after 2 weeks and hasn't smoked for 1 1/2 years now. You will have to request Champix from your Doctor otherwise they go with the cheaper option - the patches etc.

NRT does work for even hardened smokers - I have seen it work for people who are so addicted they smoke in the night! However, the most up to date research suggests the most effective NRT therapy is combination - so patches with an inhalator or gum. A lot of smokers don't choose the right medication, the right dose or don't stick with it for long enough - the NHS recommends three months.

Champix is absolutely excellent for those who get side effects or withdrawal on NRT, in my area the senior stop smoking specialists can recommend Champix to the GP which often means no appointment is necessary, it's more like picking up a repeat prescription from the surgery. IIRC adding in counselling doubles the chances of a successful quit, largely due to planning the quit attempt and to verbalising individual motivations.