Landlord Redeveloping

Annieuk75

My husband is visually impaired and we live in specialised housing with our 2 children. On site are a number of very small 1 bed flats, and we live in a 2 bed bungalow with garden.

The landlord has just revealed that they are redeveloping the site and rebuilding larger 1 bed flats. There has been no mention of our property. When pushed they have said they may provide a 2 bed flat. The new 1 bed flats are going to be a lot larger, and everyone will greatly benefit. For us however, we will be losing a lot.

We have also just been approved for a DFG to extend the bungalow, but obviously that won't be happening now.

We have been to the council, but they have said there is not much that they can do.

We are really not sure what we should do or where to turn to next?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Annieuk75 wrote: »

My husband is visually impaired and we live in specialised housing with our 2 children. On site are a number of very small 1 bed flats, and we live in a 2 bed bungalow with garden.

The landlord has just revealed that they are redeveloping the site and rebuilding larger 1 bed flats. There has been no mention of our property. When pushed they have said they may provide a 2 bed flat. The new 1 bed flats are going to be a lot larger, and everyone will greatly benefit. For us however, we will be losing a lot.

We have also just been approved for a DFG to extend the bungalow, but obviously that won't be happening now.

We have been to the council, but they have said there is not much that they can do.

We are really not sure what we should do or where to turn to next?

Your options would be the usual LA or HA or private disabled housing application elsewhere locally or in other counties, as others in this group will attest they are rare as hens teeth, usually have waiting lists of years and usually any available ones are in undesirable areas.

If your landlord is a Housing Association they are considerably more likely to listen to your plea for a new build 2 bedder, please don't fall out with your current landlord. If you are in a LA or HA dwelling you will have a named individual responsible for your property. Officially and in writing tell them of your plight and enlist where possible positive help from your current landlord to give active consideration to developing a 2 bed within the new build.

NOTE1 : Most bigger HA's and all LA's have a welfare / benefits / officer who may be able to bring some weight to bear from within the organisation on your behalf and remember everyone will fight for the ground floor with access.

NOTE2 : Be aware that, depending on the current age of your 2 children you may by law need to be in a 3 bed dwelling within a few short years, that might affect their decision to offer help.

Savvy_Sue

I agree I think it's key to know whether this is a private let or some kind of social housing - I'm guessing social, in which case I'd go up the chain: Housing Officer, Housing Manager, Area Manager, you could consider using the complaints process - initially about the failure to provide information about your future!

Annieuk75

Thanks guys, the landlord is a large charity. We are hoping that we can work with the landlord and the local housing authority and come to a good decision.

Regarding my children, we have a boy and a girl. My oldest is 4 years old, so it is another 6 years until we can look at that.

Thanks x

Richie-from-the-Boro

If your landlord is registered as a charity [Charitable Registered Social Landlord] they will, as an RSL have agreed as a main objective of their charitable status :

"To carry on for the benefit of the community the business of providing housing and any associated amenities for persons in necessitous circumstances upon terms appropriate to their means", and / or "providing for aged persons in need thereof housing and any associated amenities especially designed or adapted to meet the disabilities and requirements of such persons".

The above jargon simply means that unlike non Charity Commission registered Housing Associations yours has a very specific main objective of their status as a charity to """meet the disabilities and requirements of such persons""" of your husband. Hence their willingness to consider accommodating the needs of one individual user in their development plans.

Best of luck Annieuk75