Homeless

Madjock

Anti-social behaviour is awful, I have been through it personally, and hear about it every day in my place of work, but you have to report it if you want your HA to do anything about it. I reported it for months to the letting agent for my neighbour, the police, the anti-social behaviour unit, and the council's ASB unit. The neighbour knew very well that it was I who was reporting it and I never suffered anything more than dirty looks in the street.

People really need to take charge of these problems and pay attention to advise they are given. I have no doubt the OP will have been advised to keep diaries and report to the HA when there were incidents. You're not going to get a management move without having provided evidence to the HA of the ASB, and the other poster is right, you're not homeless, sorry, but you're not.

Cheeky_Monkey

dancingfairy wrote: »

Cheeky Monkey:
To be honest I don't like your tone. :rotfl:
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

If the Council investigate the OP's 'allegations' and find them to be substantiated, then it could be they presumably have a duty to re-house the OP.
However, all the time the OP refuses to let them investigate, how on earth is that outcome ever going to happen?

concerned43

Yes, i do work for the CAB but specialise in DLA and other benefits! I spend most of my time in outreach clinics and people's homes.
I and my colleagues do not bring our personal problems to work!
With regards to the council and anti-social behaviour - they have been involved from day one and the council also have the police reports! - enough evidence there without having to go to the neighbours - who will deny everything anyway!!
These neighbours all own their property and therefore would not be evicted.
And yes, we are homeless - one does not need to be living on the streets to be classed as homeless!!

montymud

Call Shelter HERE They are fantastic and will be able to help x

Hump

I'd take Shelter over a CAB with respect to homelessness any day of the week

Madjock

concerned43 wrote: »

With regards to the council and anti-social behaviour - they have been involved from day one and the council also have the police reports! - enough evidence there without having to go to the neighbours - who will deny everything anyway!!
These neighbours all own their property and therefore would not be evicted.
And yes, we are homeless - one does not need to be living on the streets to be classed as homeless!!

You have stated that you would not allow the council to investigate, and now you say they have been involved from day one? So it's more than one neighbour involved as well?

As they are all owner occupiers, the only option for the council would be a management move and they can only do this if your life is in danger, but if you have not "allowed" them to investigate the ASB how can they have evidence of this? ASB is very difficult to take to court and requires a lot of evidence, usually through people keeping diaries, reporting to police, etc, etc.

I appreciate that you say you specialise in another area at the CAB, but I find it difficult to believe that you would not be aware of the issues around ASB peripherally. I amd not a housing officer, but I am aware of many of the issues the housing officers have through discussions in the office, and visits, phone calls and correspondance from customers and others.

I think that the council have taken a housing application form you, not a homeless application, and with all due respect, you need to stop sitting on your hands and do something to help yourself.

Dontknowanymore

Surely if you are that desperate to be rehoused you would let them investigate? If you are not planning on returning to your current property, wht does it matter if the neighbours know you have reported them?

Sorry but housin is stretched to the limit and there are lots of chancers out there, this is why councils like to dig their heels in. Seek advice from SHELTER.

iluvmarmite

As long as you have a roof over your head you will not be classed as homeless, even if you are sleeping on the sofa, plus of course you still have the HA house they provided for you.

I understand how worried you are about possible repercussions from your neighbours, but if its as dangerous as you say, and you feel your life is in danger, how can you even think about letting them get away with it, are they gangsters? do you feel they would hire a hit man to kill you all? Sorry if that sounds sarcastic but thats the only time I would feel I had to keep quiet about someone.

People like your neighbour truly make me shake with anger, they think they are so bloody hard and letting them get away with it makes them think they are even harder! I had a problem neighbour like yours once, she made a big thing about telling us all she was a kick boxer, she would cause so much trouble with her parties and threatening behaviour but eveyone was scared of her and wouldnt report her.

But I had enough of it and told the housing officer, I explained how scared the neighbours were of her and she said how can people let her get away with running the whole street, as thats effectivly how it was. So I put in an official report, she wasnt as big as she made everyone think she was once she was threatened with eviction, she toned everything down and in fact turned into a really helpful person.

I understand its a different situation for you as your neighbour owns her own home and cannot be evicted by the council, but if you want to get out of there then your only chance is to give the council everything they ask for, you are not there now, and unless you are afraid they will find you at your mums, what can they do to you if they dont know where you are, plus if things go your way you wont be returning to your home, so you have no worries on that score. The ball really is in your court now and no one can help you unless you help yourself by giving the council everything they need.

You also have to think about those who will be put into the house if you do get a transfer, its unfair on another family to have to put up with the abuse you have and if the neighbour is allowed to get away with it with you then they will do it to some other poor sod as well.

antrobus

iluvmarmite wrote: »

As long as you have a roof over your head you will not be classed as homeless,

That is not correct. Google 'legal definition of homeless' to confirm. You can, for example, be deemed 'homeless' because "you can't live at home because of violence or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out against you or someone else in your household". However even being homeless doesn't necessarily mean that the LHA will actually do anything.

concerned43

Again thanks for replies.
We lived in a street comprising of 8 families. The trouble came a first from 1 neighbour, but when i got the police involved (after 5 months of abuse) the other neighbours (bar two) got involved as they do not like "a snitch".
The other families then got abusive towards us and told us we would pay for grassing on their 'friend'.
The original abuser then 'hired' men to put my windows in and 'assault me'. So now there were 10 people involved!!!
I reported all incidents to police and to anti-social team at council but did not take further action because when I moved into mum's I discovered that the son of the main abuser lived around the corner from mum's - I discovered this when I walked passed his house and he came out, got in his car and followed me! I had to go into someones house and ask them if they could escort me home as I was being followed. We were followed all the way back home and this was also reported to the police! but having spoke with the police and my mum, the decision was taken not to press charges as we were scared that reprisals would be 'at my mum's door' - she is a disabled 78 year old and I had to protect her!!
So not everything is black and white folks!!
Even the anti-social team advise not investigating as the person being investigated is a known drug dealer/violent man and no one would testify against him!
With regards to CAB - I cannot speak for all who work there but where I work there is hardly any time to draw breath never mind stitting discussing personal issues with other members of staff! nor would I want to, there are a couple of gossips in the office (secretaries) and my problems would be anounced to all and sundry!