Some help for my daughter regarding LHA would be really appreciated!

Wicked_witch

I posted a while back about finding a place for my son's friend (now unofficially our daughter by her own request and ours!) who was homeless and staying with us. We did find her a room in a shared flat, but this has caused more problems than it's solved and now I need some more advice I'm afraid.

There have been some difficulties with the other, male tenants who are older than her and have been trying to get her to do their housework etc from the outset (they come from a culture where this is an acceptable expectation, hope it's okay to say that). At first we thought that it could be handled by a bit of polite firmness, but she has begun to feel quite intimidated as they are older than her and quite forceful. She ended up spending a lot of time at other friend's houses, but didn't tell us as she was worried we'd be annoyed with her (the whole thing had taken several stressful weeks to set up).

The real problem now is that the tenants decided to send all the mail she was receiving at the flat from the council back, marked 'gone away'. Initially she thought it must have been stolen (it included a giro and she was also expecting bank cards) so we contacted the post office as the tenants said they'd never even seen any mail in her name and also the council to report the giro missing.

A day or so after this, one of the tenants started stalking her, following her to the bus stop etc and scowling at her intimidatingly :eek:

Now the council have got back in touch to tell us that all the mail was returned to them and that they have now suspended her claim because they suspect it may be fraudulent. So far she has paid her entire savings and college grant to the LL in rent while waiting for the claim to be finalised, to the tune of £440, all of which *should* be eventually repaid by LHA.

They now want to do a home visit. There are two problems with this- first, she is at music college and currently preparing for a show, which involves being at college from 10am til 9pm (so leave home at 8.30, get back at 10.30) and we have no idea if they will be able or willing to do a late night visit- she won't even be available on the weekend this week as the show will be running by then. Second, she is about to give the LL notice anyway because of the stalking and intimidation and move back in with us (he only requires 2 weeks)! If the council were able to give a time for the visit she could arrange a cpl of hours off, but obviously this would make the whole thing pointless...

So, we are unsure how to prove to the council that she really does live there, but isn't available to be visited there and will be gone soon in any case. This is what my question boils down to really.

Any more details needed, please ask

ceridwen

I don't know the position myself - but I "know a man who can" - well a woman who might be able to....so I won't embarass her by giving her "name" - but I will email her and see if she can be of assistance.

Wicked_witch

Thank you ceridwen!

Also, wrong forum duh- can this possibly be moved to benefits and tax credits, board guides?

ceridwen

E-mail duly done.

Wicked_witch

Once again, thank you. Feeling a bit fraught having everything fall though thanks to other people's bad behaviour.

dseventy

I can see why the benefit was suspended!

We have a young girl who was homeless and had no where to live, now as she has problems where the state pays for her to live, she suddenly find friends where she can spend time at (enough that her fellow lodgers return her mail!, that takes effort!) Where were they when she was homeless?

I suggest she complies with reasonable requests for a home visit. I find it hard to comprehend how a college show can demand 14 hours practice a day, its not the west end!

If she feels she can't comply with a reasonable demand for a home visit (remember, these people are paying for a roof over over her head) then I suggest you speak to her and tell her how important it is, and that she will risk losing the place, and her LHA claim if she does not.

Can't wait for the ceridwen "friend" reply!

D70

Wicked_witch

Her 'fellow lodgers' returned her mail out of spite.

She was sofa surfing originally and will now be staying with us, however we have only 2 bedrooms so she is sharing with my son- obviously not an appropriate long term arrangement. She is eligible for a place at the ymca, unfortunately they have been rebuilding and the date for moving new tenants in has so far moved from the beginning of jan to 'hopefully next week' ie w/e april 17th, so perhaps that makes the reasons for trying to find her a stable place a bit clearer.

Now that she has us to look out for her, her bio-dad has just announced his imminent removal to hastings with his new wife and baby.

Although your post is obviously not intended to be helpful, I can only agree with you regarding the hours the college demands. However, students are being trained to work in the theatre in the real world (where hours like this are not uncommon at all) and she will have a couple of weeks off once the show is over. However, this may be too late as far as the visit is concerned and would you really expect an 18 year old girl with serious emotional problems to sit in a flat with people who have intimidated and stalked her, all day every day until the council person turns up?

This is in no way the council's fault and they have been as helpful as they can be under the circumstances. If this money has to be abandoned, I guess it will be. But I have no intention of not fighting for it, as she shouldn't lose out because of other people's selfish and stupid actions.

Wicked_witch

Oh, on the plus side, at least her landlord, who has been very nice, will not miss out on rent as she has already paid cash up to her leaving date. We were both determined not to 'spoil things' for any future LHA claimants who might apply for one of his rooms.

Quick update, she's spoken to her friends at college and they are prepared to take turns staying at the flat with her over the next week or so. She should also be able to get a letter from her tutor if necc, confirming that she really does work the hours stated atm. Although I didn't 'like' D70's comment, it probably is the easiest way, provided we are sure she will be safe. This doesn't solve the problem of her only being there for 10 hours a day, but at least she will be there!

dseventy

Wicked_witch wrote: »

. But I have no intention of not fighting for it, as she shouldn't lose out because of other people's selfish and stupid actions.

I was meant to be helpful *shrugs*

My point is that you seem to be doing a lot of fighting/sorting out for her.

Perhaps if she fought her own battles she would feel a bit more empowered? Perhaps if she choose her accomodation she would not give it up so easily?

I see now she has "emotional" problems, was putting her in a mixed house with male strangers the best move for her?

Just suggesting you should stand back from it all, supportive yes, fight her battles no.

D70

Wicked_witch

It was a case of having to put her somewhere at the time, and the other tenants seemed quite nice at the initial look round. Yep, she has a lot of problems, which is why she will be getting supported housing when the ymca finally reopen their doors, but there are genuinely no shelter options in this area other than that. She is currently just too shy and insecure to fight her own battles, which is why she had no money or anything when we met her, despite being entitled to basic benefits because of being estranged from her family- their decision, not hers. So yes, I am going to fight for her and so is my husband, because we're not going to see her go under and end up on drugs, on the streets or in a towerblock with a fatherless baby out of desperation. No one else seems interested in telling her about her rights or taking any responsibility for her, including conexxions (sp) or any other agencies.

I do actually appreciate your point of view, I don't agree with it but it is still useful to hear.

Savvy_Sue

Probably a bit late now, but if she'd reported to the council that she was suffering harassment from the other tenants, it might have helped her case, BUT they probably don't count her as vulnerable (even though anyone with half a brain might see that she is) because it's a very tight definition.

So glad she has friends to stick by her, and you WW.

I see you're in London. Is there a GFS Platform anywhere near? Or a Foyer? Keep them in mind for the future ...