Council flat "unannounced home visit"

gettingready

NOt sure where to post this, if this is wrong place - please let me know where can I ask?

I live in a council flat, around 5 years at current address. I pay my rent, do not get any HB or CTB.

Last year my daughter moved out for a while and I took on a temporary lodger (with Council's permission of course).

Now the lodger moved out, daughter moved back in, notified the council and got this email:

Thanks for providing us with an update regarding your former lodger. This has been noted in our records.

Please note that I will be carrying out an unannounced home visit at some point in time to confirm your daughter's residence.

I have replied that i am out of the flat between 07:30 am and 7:00 pm on weekdays but I am happy for anyone to come at any time that I am at home (can not possibly take time off and the visit will be "unannounced" anyway).

What happens when someone comes and there is nobody at home?

My daughter has lived here for few years before moving out last year and coming back this year, she is on the flat's paperwork so not sure what that is about?

Can anyone advise please?

Even renting privately the landlord needs to give 48 hours notice to come into house/flat - is they council any different?

My daughter is not very well at the moment and I do not want anyone coming here when I am not at home. She is 23 yo but I really do not want anyone to come in here when I am not at home.

Any advise please?

Thanks a lot.

AnnieO1234

At a guess, to ensure your daughter is really resident now in the event of right to buy discounts or your death to be blunt and tenancy being passed on.

X

witchy1066

its not unusual , and unless your daughter has any mental health issues they will not see any reason why they can not talk to her

if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to worry about,

tell them you are only available in the evenings and at weekends because of work commitments

the sooner they come the sooner its over with

gettingready

Thanks - wish they replied to my email when I sent it out (2 weeks ago) as this whole week I am at home and I rather be here for any "visits".

Yes, emailed them that I am at home after 7pm every evening weekdays and any time at weekends BUT nobody is at home all the time so not sure why that "visit" has to be unannounced?

My daughter is here with all her paperwork so why "unannounced"?

chanz4

is it todo with bedroom tax

gettingready

If so - this is a 2 bedroom flat, 2 of us living here so no problems.

I do not claim any benefits, I thought the extra bedroom tax only applies to people who receive HB.

I do not get any HB, I pay all my rent myself.

Was I wrong?

All info I can find on Internet talks about extra bedroom and HB cuts but I do not get any HB so?

Do not have an extra bedroom either as my daughter was only temporarily not here.

Sorry, not up to date with benefits info.. working full time.

witchy1066

you need to ring them ,or better
speak to an actual person
do you not have a local office near you
some councils have a drop in centre where you can call in and have a chat with an adviser

ask them what the problem is and why they are wanting to visit unannounced ,

do not get emotional, be polite ,

i know you are working but it might be worth you taking an hour or so off to get the issue sorted

HTH

gazter

chanz4 wrote: »

is it todo with bedroom tax

Why?
1) there is no such thing
2) the landlord will know how many bedrooms the property has
3) the OP is not in receipt of housing benefit so minor changes to the housing benefit rules will have no impact.

Mojisola

gettingready wrote: »

I have replied that i am out of the flat between 07:30 am and 7:00 pm on weekdays but I am happy for anyone to come at any time that I am at home (can not possibly take time off and the visit will be "unannounced" anyway).

What happens when someone comes and there is nobody at home?

They'll have to go away and come back another time? They don't have the right to force their way into your home.

bouicca21

I think Annie 01234 is correct. It has to be unannounced so that they can be sure your daughter really lives there and hasn't just come round for the purpose of fooling them.

gettingready

Gazter - thanks, exactly my thinking.

Why?

I do not claim ANY benefits and frankly this just simply feels wrong.

I am starting a new job on Monday, there is absolutely no way I can take any time off in the next 6 months and why should I? I am NOT happy for anyone (and I mean anyone-that includes friends/family) to just turn up unannounced at all - ever.

As I said before, I pay my rent, I am happy for them to pop round any time that I am at home - with a notice. Even if it is a 1 hour notice.


I am absolutely not happy for them to turn up unannounced when my daughter is home alone (sorry, will not get into details/reasons about that here).