Council move, not entitled to HB and running up huge debts!

lauzellen

ekkygirl wrote: »

I see what you are saying but if the council moves someone for their own safety it shouldn't cost the victim. If someone was moved because os asbestos for example and placed somewhere that cost the 3 times as much it is the same thing and unjust. If the OP wanted to move because she was unhappy/didn't like the area I would agreee that she should just get on with it but she was moved for her own safety by the council.

Didn't say it wasn't unjust - I said OP was in the situation and needed to deal with it accordingly. OP could have stayed where she was until a new house was found but chose to move - the reasons for which I can understand. If it were not for the dogs i'm sure OP could afford to temporarily pay the higher rent but it is OPs choice to stay in the temporary accomodation when she could have a private let and to keep the dogs...

FBaby

Since when is council housing and therefore cheap rent a reward for hard work? Many people work hard, that doesn't mean the council gives them housing. The only reason you got it is because at one point you were on benefits, the fact you are now working doesn't mean that you deserve to still have it. I am a single mum of two and my income is the same as yours, but my outgoings are more. I pay £730 a month for my mortgage. Should I have the right to go and complain to the council that I think my outgoings are too much and therefore request they rehouse me? Of course not, I earn a decent salary and I don't need assistance. If I can't manage my budget, I need to make changes to my life.

The truth is you were very lucky to still have your home, but instead of being grateful for getting something you didn't NEED any longer, you are moaning because you can't have it for a limited time. Incredible....

debrag

Council housing for under £300! Would love that. 3 beds was £109 a week, 2 beds not much cheeper.

Me & my partner earn less than you combined but qualify for nothing in benefits and have no way of getting a council house.

Jowo_2

Fife council, like many I suspect, does not take into account the income of the person/household applying for it - it does not influence how an application is processed.

The OP is currently a council tenant anyway and there is no obligation for a tenant with a secure tenancy to surrender it when their economic circumstances improve.

So while people on this forum may be indignant that the OP has a comfortable income, and is less needy now than when she first gained her assured tenancy, it it completely irrelevant to the council.

If you want to debate policy, do it on the Discussion time forum.

Alleycat

It may be that you have a case against the council as they have a responsibility as the landlords to deal with any antisocial behaviour by their tenants. The Tenancy Agreement should state that the tenant should not act in an antisocial manner and nor should any guests in their property. If the tenant breaches these terms they would be liable for eviction. If the landlord refuses to evict then they can be held accountable.

If I were in your situation, I would swiftly get a copy of the council housing dept's complaints procedure and follow it. I am assuming that the same procedures apply in Scotland (I am a Housing Advisor in England) and if they are, you should write a complaint letter to your Housing Officer entitled Stage One Complaint. There will be a published timescale for them to reply. If they do not reply or it is unsatisfactory, as soon as the deadline to respond is up write another letter entitled Stage Two Complaint. This would go to the manager of your Housing Officer. As above, if the complaint is not dealt with satisfactorily you issue a Stage Three Complaint sent to the Executive Director of the Housing Department. Failing all this, the next stage would be to write to the Scottish Housing Ombudsman (http://www.spso.org.uk/).

Whilst I do agree that with your income you should not be entitled to Housing Benefit and could easily consider private renting or buying somewhere, you should not be forced out of your home in this way. It should be a choice you make freely as opposed to being backed into the corner you are in. As you quite rightly say, why should another family be forced to move due to this tenant and his friends actions. You have obviously worked hard to get where you are now and been good tenants. You should not be penalised and the council should be taking their responsibilities as a landlord seriously.

FBaby

Jowo wrote: »

Fife council, like many I suspect, does not take into account the income of the person/household applying for it - it does not influence how an application is processed.

The OP is currently a council tenant anyway and there is no obligation for a tenant with a secure tenancy to surrender it when their economic circumstances improve.

So while people on this forum may be indignant that the OP has a comfortable income, and is less needy now than when she first gained her assured tenancy, it it completely irrelevant to the council.

If you want to debate policy, do it on the Discussion time forum.

But surely when you get to take advantage of a policy that benefits you against others more in need, you are grateful for it and don't go about moaning when the system suddenly doesn't go your way?

Alleycat

From the Fife council website...

Good neighbour charter

Anti-social behaviour policy

Council complaints procedure

Make interesting reading! Can be used as part of your complaint in that they are not following their own procedures to deal with this nuisance neighbour.

mickey54

ekkygirl wrote: »

I would be bl**dy livid if I were you. The council should be paying the extra cost to you if they moved you. Do you have Supporting People funding in Scotland? If you were in England they would be paying the majority of the rent and you would pay the remainder. I work in supported housing where the rent is 370pw around 270pw is paid by Supporting People and the rest by HB.
If one of out tenants works then they pay their own contribution instead of claiming HB depending how much they earn of course.

Some of the posts on here are a bit unfair, Why cant people see that she has her rent trippled through no fault of her own. Whether the council need to address the housing policy is another matter all together and nothing to do with this situation

Be nice

Hi...The OP is not in supported accommodation. She is in homeless accommodation...where the rental is a lot higher. This is based on fact that the amount of staff required to give 24 hr cover is a lot. We do have supporting people in Scotland - but she is a different criteria.

OP - have you requested Council move you to other temp accommodation where there is no support in place? I know that here there are flats available - and they are approx. same as council rented properties.

As others have suggested - contact Shelter....and any other agencies out there. I would even give consideration about going to local newspaper!! Have you written or attempted to contact senior staff in the council - ie...Chief Exec or Head of service for Homeless?

Good luck in getting another Council flat. Just as an aside - do Fife Council not have some mid-market rental properties that you can access meantime - and still keep your homeless application going?

Sorry - do not remember from what I have read - do you still have to pay rent on the two homes? If so - because you were moved because of harassment, you MAY - just MAY... be able to claim a two homes payment.

Person_one

I don't think its on for people to keep suggesting that the OP 'get rid' of her dogs. She took on that responsibility and she owes it to them to care for them. Also, dogs are a part of the family, they aren't just 'stuff' lying around that you can stick on ebay for a bit of extra cash!

I'd live off value beans and do without hot water before I 'got rid' of a pet.

Jowo_2

FBaby wrote: »

But surely when you get to take advantage of a policy that benefits you against others more in need, you are grateful for it and don't go about moaning when the system suddenly doesn't go your way?

The OP was harassed out of her home through no fault of her own and her disposable income was halved overnight. The council is clearly failing in its responsibilities to her. She is encountering high personal expenses because of the council's incompetence.

She fulfills the terms of having a secure tenancy. She fulfilled it at the outset when she was given it and fulfills it now, it's unconditional. Blame the system, not the individual.