Council flat possibly being sub-let- how can we find out?

Spendless

My Grandmother lives in the upstairs flat in a property very similar to this one

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/sale/yorkshire-and-the-humber/south-yorkshire/bawtry/2-bedroom-flat-sale/18340-4699348.html

In the summer the downstairs neighbour, a council tenant died. Some new people (a young couple) have moved in and there has been problems with noise (extremely loud music) coming from their property. The next door neighbour (as in the next block of flats) has also complained.

I *think* there is a possibility that the flat is sub-let. The reason I think this is every week the local rag publishes the council properties to be bid, with their address, a brief description, photo and what band it is prority to for the peoople bidding eg bronze, silver, gold, platinum. Any properties that have had people housed immediately for whatever reason also go in the paper but it says the address and 'allocated by direct match'. My Grandmother's downstairs neighbours flat has never appeared in it and I buy the paper every week and look through it, so I know it's not just I've missed it.

Is there any way of finding out if the flat has been let out by the council or if someone is there when they're not meant to be?

Jowo_2

Not sure you can. If you have any suspicions, report them to the council.

Are you sure all vacant properties are advertised? Surely the council must keep a small stock set aside for emergency housing, for example, for families that are victims of fires or structural problems?

For noise problems, contact the environmental health dept - see the advice on the council website for dealing with noise nuisances. Some new tenancies for social housing have probationary periods before awarding a secure tenancy which don't get offered if there are reports of anti social behaviour.

If its a property that's been bought under the right to buy scheme, the owners details will be on the land registry website - reports are downloadable for £4.

muskoka

I'd speak to the Council definitely - Housing dept. As for emergency housing, I think? these people are put into temporary accommodation for a period, not given a Council place immediately, but I could be wrong. Good luck

poppysarah

Ring the council and complain about the tenants.
Doesn't matter if they're genuine or not if they're making a noise

Spendless

Thanks for your help. Yes I'm sure all properties are advertised, in the case of someone being put in a property due to fire for example it would say in their feedback column

1 Acacia Avenue- allocated by Direct Match 0 bids.

rather than

1 Elm Street registrations date x/x/xx effective date x/x/xx # of bids 53

So if we want to write in and query this, to which department just housing? Sorry if I'm being dense here, never had this situation before.

Debt_Free_Chick

Spendless wrote: »

My Grandmother lives in the upstairs flat in a property very similar to this one

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/sale/yorkshire-and-the-humber/south-yorkshire/bawtry/2-bedroom-flat-sale/18340-4699348.html

In the summer the downstairs neighbour, a council tenant died. Some new people (a young couple) have moved in and there has been problems with noise (extremely loud music) coming from their property. The next door neighbour (as in the next block of flats) has also complained.

I *think* there is a possibility that the flat is sub-let. The reason I think this is every week the local rag publishes the council properties to be bid, with their address, a brief description, photo and what band it is prority to for the peoople bidding eg bronze, silver, gold, platinum. Any properties that have had people housed immediately for whatever reason also go in the paper but it says the address and 'allocated by direct match'. My Grandmother's downstairs neighbours flat has never appeared in it and I buy the paper every week and look through it, so I know it's not just I've missed it.

Is there any way of finding out if the flat has been let out by the council or if someone is there when they're not meant to be?

I'm not sure what you want to achieve. If the flat has been sub-let or let to someone not eligible, then how does that affect you or your Grandma?

I'm not being difficult, honestly. It's just that if your GMa has a complaint she (you) needs to stick to the valid grounds of that complaint and not veer off in to an area that is not for her to enforce.

So ... is this a noise complaint?

Fire_Fox

Who have you complained about the noise to? Have you completed a noise diary for Environmental Health?

Spendless

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

I'm not sure what you want to achieve. If the flat has been sub-let or let to someone not eligible, then how does that affect you or your Grandma?

I'm not being difficult, honestly. It's just that if your GMa has a complaint she (you) needs to stick to the valid grounds of that complaint and not veer off in to an area that is not for her to enforce.

So ... is this a noise complaint?

It is a noise complaint but are we at the same time saying oh and do you know that possibly you should have a property vacant as the tenant died in the summer.

My grandmother says that when she bought her flat it is in her paperwork that the flat (a downstairs one) should only be let to elderly or ill (disabled). Yes it may be that this young couple may be disabled, but if they aren't and my Grandmother is right (and I accept she may not be) then someone may be being denied a property for which they are eligible.

I realise my Grandmother can't enforce anything if it is sub-let, but if it is how can the council do anything unless they are told.

It affects me not at all -other than having to listen to my Grandmother moan.

chambta

When I rented a council flat from my local authority there was absolutely nothing in the tenancy agreement to stop it being sub let.

sulkisu

It will be there somewhere in the small print. The whole point of social housing is to provide housing for those in need - it is not provided so that a tenant caan go and live elsewhere while sub-letting their home. Subletting is always a breach of social housing tenancy agreements.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

chambta wrote: »

When I rented a council flat from my local authority there was absolutely nothing in the tenancy agreement to stop it being sub let.

It may not specifically mention subletting but if you look closer, I reckon there will be some clause saying that you aren't allowed to go away for an extended period.