Legal responsibility

nlj1520

My son has learning difficulties and autism. His adult placement is a supported living environment which is health funded. The lease has come to and end and we are under severe time pressure to find a new property to rent. My question is, if we are unable to do so in the time...who would be legally responsible if he were to become homeless. He has a care provider and we rented this place through a housing association, but no-one seems to know the legal position and I am trying to establish where to put pressure on.
thanks to anyone who can help.

DomRavioli

He may be classed as statutory homeless, dependent on why the HA has ended the agreement, but if you have been given 'sufficient time; - varies through local authorities - then it is likely that he will not gain the status. He would be legally responsible for himself unless a POA~ (power of attorney~) or a CPO ~(Court of protection order) had been both applied for and granted. In the case where he is unable to be legally responsible for himself, social services may gain a POA or CPO over your son, to ensure both the safety of the public and your son also.

nlj1520

Thanks Dom Ravioli, the landlady has not renewed the lease with the HA, the HA are involved in the look for a new property (they specialise in finding properties for people with Learning Difficulties). In theory we do have enough time (8 weeks) but actually this place took us 4 months to find and negotiate so I am worried that the same time frame may occur again.
From what you write it looks like I may need to talk to the funding body (the local Primary Care Trust) about a CPO. I have a CPO over his finances, but not his Care and Welfare.
Thanks