vulnerable tenants

help4help2013

hi everyone im looking for some advice please if possible.

CKhalvashi

It may be worth speaking to them regarding a temporary top-up whilst she's in care, however it will be difficult, as I think HB is only payable for 28 days in the circumstances you're allowed.

I will consult the technical manuals tomorrow, however whether I agree with it is a different thing to what will happen.

CK

help4help2013

sorry when i said she was under she is under psychiatric care

CKhalvashi

nitelite2010 wrote: »

sorry when i said she was under she is under psychiatric care i meant to say her visits by her CPN have been increased to twice a week now she is under psychiatric care and not in a psychiatric unit. sorry i should have made that more clearer i apologise for this.

is there anything we can do for her to try and get them to leave her alone until she is stable again or moves into a 1 bed flat we have her MP involved and also her local mayor but the pressure from the landlord and constant phone calls to her is having a serious effect on her mental health

Ask LL to only deal with her in writing, or get something signed to state that you're her appointed representative. I know it's a different setting, but my accountants address is my 'correspondence address' for my personal tax issues and all paperwork, for example.

Speak to the council re top-up (it's called Discretionary Housing Benefit), and this needs to be done quickly, as it's not allowed to be backdated. Mental health is a reason to get this done.

You need to organise for the arrears to be cleared as soon as possible, and as hard as this is to say in the circumstances, as the tenant, it's her responsibility to find the money to clear the arrears.

I was Deputy Mayor last year, and I'm also a Benefits specialist on another council, so speak to the Cllr involved, and it can be pushed via them. My address is used regularly for the council/Housing Association for 2-3 of my former homeless clients, so it's reasonable to ask, with her permission, for this to be directed to you if it's causing distress.

CK

Smith_007

nitelite2010 wrote: »

the landlord seem to be ignoring this and just want the £15.00 a week.

My sympathies.
For the sake of £15, the greed of some landlords and their lack of social responsibility to tenants and their homes never fails to astound me.

Perhaps a word with the landlord pointing out that there are few couples with children renting in your area, and thus, he is very unlikely to fill the extra bedroom and get his precious £15 anyway?

dodger1

Smith_007 wrote: »

My sympathies.
For the sake of £15, the greed of some landlords and their lack of social responsibility to tenants and their homes never fails to astound me.

Perhaps a word with the landlord pointing out that there are few couples with children renting in your area, and thus, he is very unlikely to fill the extra bedroom and get his precious £15 anyway?

The problem arises because social housing is non profit, the books simply balance. So when one person is £15 a week short on the rent then the only way to balance the books is to put the rent up for everyone or reduce the amount of money spent on the property.

terryw

Many councils run an exchange scheme for social housing tenants. Check this out with the council.

Or possibly try a few ads in newsagentsagents' windows or the local free papers to try and find a social housing tenant who wants a larger dwelling.

zzzLazyDaisy

Just looking at this another way - is she claiming all the benefits she is entitled to? If she is not already claiming DLA it might be worth looking at making an application for PIP although I suggest she gets help with that as it is very new and there won't be much experience around of dealing with the forms. Perhaps her CPN could put her in touch with a welfare benefits officer?

I would also second making an application for discretionary housing payment. Her CPN should be able to help with this, or if not put her onto someone who can.

Another possibility is to contact the Vulnerable Adult team at social services. In my area they have someone who expressly deals with housing problems and they may also be able to help.

Good for you for being a good friend.

Dx

anselld

Smith_007 wrote: »

My sympathies.
For the sake of £15, the greed of some landlords and their lack of social responsibility to tenants and their homes never fails to astound me.

Perhaps a word with the landlord pointing out that there are few couples with children renting in your area, and thus, he is very unlikely to fill the extra bedroom and get his precious £15 anyway?

Why is everyone blaming the Landlord? The LL have not increased the rent, it is the government who have decided to cut benefits.

help4help2013

i think ill write t them but im not to sure what to put any one got any ideas? she is going to take £15.00 a week from her food budget thats all she can do for now and she is going to make an offer to them of £6.00 amonth of the arrears will the £6.00 be enough as she is only on esa?

but i want to make a strong point in a letter them saying in a professional yet straight to the pint way that the pressure they have put on her is not right as they know what her mental state is and get my point across that they will now be taking money from her food budget to pay the £15.00 per week

any templates of written help for the letter would be appreciated

RAS

She needs to apply for Discretionary Housing Benefoit as the biggest priority. Have you done that yet?

Then try to find the £15 towards the shortfall.