Homeless

concerned43

Hi, I need some advice...
I have a local authority house and through abusive/violent neighbours who have made my family's life hell - we had to move in with my mother (for our own safety)! I still have the house but cannot live there.
Through the advice from the Council's anti social team I placed a homeless application with the local council 35 days ago. I have also had to get social services involved as my son has mental health problems and learning difficulties.
I was advised by social services that the council has 28 days to investigate my application - i went down to the housing office last week to get an update on my application and was told they are still investigating!
I also had a meeting with social services today who also telephoned the housing office and was told I would not be getting housing points as I refused to let the Council investigate the anti social behavour from my neighbours! I did refuse as I fully believe that the reprecussions of having the council visiting neighbours would put my family in danger - I did however give the council all the police incident numbers and diary of everything that has happened.
The anti social team are also supporting my decision and apllication for housing but the Housing Office are holding me to ransom i.e. no investigation - no points!!! I feel this tantamounts to blackmail and don't know were else to turn for help with this one .... can anyone help?

Xiderpunk

I recommend writing a letter directly to your MP explaining what you have written here. Alternatively to the head of your local council. I am afraid that is all I can suggest, wish you good luck.

Loretta

Points don't come into it, you are not safe living in your own home, they know what you mean but are not giving you the correct advice. Forget about the people at the Housing Department send emails to your MP, local Councillor, Leader of the Council anyone like that and get this moving. Does your son have a social worker or anyone like that?

concerned43

Yes he does have a social worker but she is useless! met her today and she called housing while I was there and was very annoyed by their response and said she was going to get the head of social work involved - came back after speaking to the head and said it was up to me to resolve matter - I am putting in a complaint against them too - once I know their complaint procedure!

Hump

Councils used to have a 33 day target to process homelessness applications (a government performance indicator which was scrapped years ago) - essentially they must make a decision in a timely manner and not unduly delay. Your home should be available for your occupation and affordable which only leaves the council to decide whether it is reasonable for you to live there. The problem is that one man's harassment is another man's low level anti-social behaviour. There needs to be a realistic prospect or risk of you (or household member) suffering violence if you continue to live there for the council to have to take action and rehouse you. Talk to Shelter or another advice agency - social workers tend to have little grasp of homelessness or housing law (in the same way as housing officers have little grasp of social care legislation)

squinty

concerned43 wrote: »

Through the advice from the Council's anti social team I placed a homeless application with the local council 35 days ago.

Are you sure about this? Some councils will just take an application from someone - this is not a homlessness application. A homlessness application will involve a long interview with a housing officer, and will go into quite a lot of detail about your situation / when it happened / what you have done about it etc. In most cases I would also expect the officer to give you their details, and more details about waht to expect.

If you are not sure ask them if your application is 'an application as homeless person under the 1996 Housing Act". Eveyone has the right to make an application - but some councils have a tendency to 'gatekeep'

concerned43 wrote: »

I was advised by social services that the council has 28 days to investigate my application - !

No - the code of Guidance says "Wherever possible, it is recommended that housing authorities aim to complete their inquiries and notify the applicant of their decision within 33 working days of accepting a duty to make inquiries under s.184. In many cases it should be possible for authorities to complete the inquiries significantly earlier.

concerned43

Yes, I did put in a homeless application and did meet with a housing officer to go through the application and discuss my housing options. the housing officer said my application would be based on needs rather than points (unlike my original application 2 years ago).
I have written to my councellor as my MP said he does not deal with housing! and I putting in a formal complaint to the Council.

poppysarah

concerned43 wrote: »

Yes, I did put in a homeless application and did meet with a housing officer to go through the application and discuss my housing options. the housing officer said my application would be based on needs rather than points (unlike my original application 2 years ago).
I have written to my councellor as my MP said he does not deal with housing! and I putting in a formal complaint to the Council.

Your MP deals with his constituents problems!

I'd get him on tape saying that and then get the local press to publicise what a waste of space he is.

(What flavour MP is he?)

Cheeky_Monkey

concerned43 wrote: »

Hi, I need some advice...
I have a local authority house and through abusive/violent neighbours who have made my family's life hell - we had to move in with my mother (for our own safety)! I still have the house but cannot live there.
Through the advice from the Council's anti social team I placed a homeless application with the local council 35 days ago. I have also had to get social services involved as my son has mental health problems and learning difficulties.
I was advised by social services that the council has 28 days to investigate my application - i went down to the housing office last week to get an update on my application and was told they are still investigating!
I also had a meeting with social services today who also telephoned the housing office and was told I would not be getting housing points as I refused to let the Council investigate the anti social behavour from my neighbours! I did refuse as I fully believe that the reprecussions of having the council visiting neighbours would put my family in danger - I did however give the council all the police incident numbers and diary of everything that has happened.
The anti social team are also supporting my decision and apllication for housing but the Housing Office are holding me to ransom i.e. no investigation - no points!!! I feel this tantamounts to blackmail and don't know were else to turn for help with this one .... can anyone help?

But you work for the Citizens Advice Bureau yourself don't you?
It strikes me as a bit odd that someone who spends their working life advising other people should feel it necessary to ask for advice from an internet forum!
Besides, you're not homeless are you. You've not only got somewhere to live in your mother's home but you also have your own house.
If the situation is as bad as you say, I can't understand why you wouldn't let the Council investigate. Afterall, as far as they're concerned, they only have your word for it and, without proof, I would've thought that they are powerless to act.
Don't Councils normally evict the anti-social families rather than re-house the victims?
Have you tried putting in for a transfer to another area?

dancingfairy

Cheeky Monkey:
To be honest I don't like your tone. Perhaps the OP is ashamed at asking her colleagues for advice and having everyone know her business? perhaps she works with finance at the CAB rather than with housing issues?
Frankly if there is a real issue with violence then the OP cant live in their home anymore can they? Living with the mother is clearly only a temporary solution.
I can totally understand why the OP does not want the situation investigated due to fear of violence.
df

silverchair

This forum is available for everyone who wants to ask for help & advice regardless of where they work. Your comment "Cheeky Monkey" is extremely unhelpful & pointless