Disabled and renting a house

babymoo

I have been on the council waiting list for around 2 years, I was recently bumped from the lowest category to the next one up because I am now in receipt of DLA.

Due to my health living in a house with stairs is very difficult. I have explained this to the council and while I realise they can't magically make properties that are suitable for me appear instantly, whenever one such property does become available I am always told that the property is only available for people aged 55+ because they are most in need. I have since told them that just because I am only 23 doesn't mean I am any less in need of a ground floor place.

I am quite happy to take a bungalow or a flat but it has to be ground floor.

I have been told that they have to have a certain number of properties specfically for the elderly but they have nothing that are specifically for the disabled or young disabled.

Are they right in what they are doing and will I just have to wait and get lucky for somewhere that isn't saved for the elderly or should I have as much right to a ground floor property as the elderly?

I currently live in a 2 storey house and find the stairs very difficult on a daily basis.

Any advice appreciated ... sorry if this is in the wrong place.

Babymoo

astronut

Not sure, but you could use the DDA here - they are discriminating because it will take longer to find you a suitable place because of your disability. They need to make 'reasonable adjustments', which should include giving you the same priority as elderly disabled.
As you say, age should not come into it.

You could always use the local press - they are always looking for a good human interest story and sometimes just the mention of it gets things moving...

good luck!

Wee_Willy_Harris

It's not quite that black and white. True, there are fewer properties available to meet your needs, but it is also true that there are fewer applicants with your needs so this may not fall under the DDA unless you can demonstrate that you are waiting longer than the typical applicant is waiting for a suitable property. You already have priority over any general needs applicant for GF accommodation, so this may not be the case.

carefullycautious

I would have thought that someone in a ground floor property would bite your arm off to exchange to a two bed house. Have you looked at the exchange register?

babymoo

Sorry i should have said I live with my parents at the moment and my stepdad owns the house that I currently live in. So exchanging not an option but thanks.

Wee_Willy_Harris

When did your banding get changed?

babymoo

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

When did your banding get changed?

Around 3 months ago.

astronut

If elderly disabled always have priority, she could be waiting until she becomes eligible...

babymoo

astronut wrote: »

If elderly disabled always have priority, she could be waiting until she becomes eligible...

Lol I have argued this with the council aswell. They however didn't find it as amusing as I did.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Then you've only had the higher banding for 3 months. There will be many more in your circumstances who have been waiting longer, I assure you.

However, if you want to push things along, you could try the homeless route. You are homeless as..... "A person who has accommodation is to be treated as homeless where it would not be reasonable for him or her to continue to occupy that accommodation.". The fact that they have given you a priority means that they consider your current arrangements to be unsuitable.

You may struggle to pass the "priority" mark and "vulnerability" is the only avenue I can see open to you. At present, you MAY be regarded as vulnerable due to the nature of your disability. The vulnerability test is..."when homeless, the applicant would be less able to fend for him/herself than an ordinary homeless person so that he or she would suffer injury or detriment, in circumstances where a less vulnerable person would be able to cope without harmful effects.". Not as easy to qualify as it sounds, but worth a punt and will get you re-housed quicker. You can stay at your parents as an interim measure and wouldn't be forced into temporary accommodation such as B+B.

The downside, of course, is that the Council have a duty to re-house and will ensure that this duty is discharged by bidding on ANY available property that meets your needs. So, you will get ground floor, but it may be in an area you wouldn't wish to live in. I guess if it's urgent, you take the first thing offered, if it's not then you wait like everyone else. Only you can judge the urgency.

Wee_Willy_Harris

astronut wrote: »

If elderly disabled always have priority, she could be waiting until she becomes eligible...

But elderly disabled don't always have priority.