Oh heck

Ames

OK, so I've just got back from viewing it.

They wanted a decision there and then, I said I have to speak to my advisor about it first. So they've given me till tomorrow afternoon. The advisor is on annual leave till tomorrow, so I don't know if I'll get to speak to them in time.

Then I have to start the tenancy on Monday :eek:

They said I might be able to get DHP to cover the rent on two places for a short while, thanks to the OT pushing for me to have more time (she's been in my flat and knows what my issues are).

So I'm here looking around thinking how on earth I'm going to manage it - even to the point of thinking about turning the tenancy down. Which is stupid, I know. I asked if there's any support, there isn't. There's an independent living team who could help, but the waiting list means I wont get to see them until months after I have to move.

The flat itself is a bit grotty. One room's painted black and the hallway's a poo brown. Bare grotty floors. Grafitti in one room.

There's not much storage - about a wardrobe worth. My tent and camping gear will take up most of that. But then, as a hoarder storage isn't a good thing for me anyway.

They took meter readings while I was there, there's a debt of nearly £100 on the gas which they're going to get wiped.

There were loads of good points though, it's a decent size, it has heating, it has double glazed windows which open.

I'm just scared and overwhelmed by how much needs doing to be able to move, and in such a short timeframe. Especially since utilities etc want two weeks to be able to move. And I imagine removal costs are going to be higher with such short notice.

Aaargh, I don't know what to do! I think the first step is just to see what my advisor says and if there's any help out there that I haven't thought of.

missbiggles1

What actually needs to be done before you move in apart from some cleaning - perhaps you could treat yourself to having someone do that?

RAS

You can claim an overlap of one months HB on two properties (ask Housing Benefit Officer who inhabits the benefits forum).

CRANKY40

You're not thinking clearly, you've gone into a panic at the thought of moving. It happens to everyone faced with this often enormous task.

point 1- Have a hug

point 2 - ring your solicitor and ask how long before completion which is when your share of the house sale will be transferred immediately to your bank account

point 3 - there is no urgency to give up the flat you are in. If housing benefit stops paying the rent it will be about 3 weeks maximum before you receive the proceeds of the house sale and can clear any rent arrears.

point 4 - whilst actioning the above you could use some of the credit union loan to get the empty flat decorated. Get someone in to measure for carpets, pick your carpets and tell them you will be back in touch when it's decorated (and when you have your money).

point 5 - feel free to ignore all the above, but I hope I've given you another perspective from which to view the whole thing.

Ames

missbiggles1 wrote: »

What actually needs to be done before you move in apart from some cleaning - perhaps you could treat yourself to having someone do that?

I wish it were just some cleaning.

Bedroom's not too bad - stuff piled up to bed height down one side of bed, small pile of stuff on other side of bed, big basket of paperwork to sort through. Plus a few open plastic boxes of stuff, but they can be moved as they are I think.

Hallway - a deep walk in cupboard full to the brim of crap, that can be sorted out after the removal firm's been though. There's stuff piled up between the wall and a bookcase that needs sorting before removal as it will fall over and be a hazard once the bookcase is moved. A big pile of stuff that's blocking the entrance to the shower room. A few piles of stuff along one wall that need moving so that furniture can fit past. A few piles of stuff completely blocking the way into the living room.

Living room - almost entirely covered with piles of stuff, in places up to a couple of feet high.

Kitchen - floor pretty much covered in stuff. Cubpoards full of out of date food, but they can be sorted after the removal's been.

Even if I paid a cleaner, I'd have to do most of the work because I'd have to identify what's rubbish, what's for the charity shop, and what needs keeping.

RAS wrote: »

You can claim an overlap of one months HB on two properties (ask Housing Benefit Officer who inhabits the benefits forum).

That's brilliant. They were talking about DHP and in terms of days, not weeks and certainly not a month. If it is that long then it's doable - get all the crap sorted, move, then deal with the rubbish left behind.

CRANKY40 wrote: »

You're not thinking clearly, you've gone into a panic at the thought of moving. It happens to everyone faced with this often enormous task. Really good to know it's not just me.

point 1- Have a hug Thank you.

point 2 - ring your solicitor and ask how long before completion which is when your share of the house sale will be transferred immediately to your bank account Just emailed her.

point 3 - there is no urgency to give up the flat you are in. If housing benefit stops paying the rent it will be about 3 weeks maximum before you receive the proceeds of the house sale and can clear any rent arrears. That's good to know. They were talking about me giving this up next week.

point 4 - whilst actioning the above you could use some of the credit union loan to get the empty flat decorated. Get someone in to measure for carpets, pick your carpets and tell them you will be back in touch when it's decorated (and when you have your money). Thanks, although if the timescales aren't too bad then hopefully I wont need the loan. Unless the DWP say that buying carpets and decorating would be deprivation of capital. That's one of the things I need to discuss when I get to speak to my adviser.

point 5 - feel free to ignore all the above, but I hope I've given you another perspective from which to view the whole thing.

You've been great, thanks. I think part of what I'm struggling with is the order in which to do everything. Just the scale of it all is really daunting.

Thanks again everyone for your help.

RAS

Carpets and decorating are NOT deprivation of capital. Nor is buying a brand new sofa, a decent bed for both rooms, dining table, good quality white goods.

OK - if you buy from Harrods - maybe. But good quality stuff that will last is not regarded as DoA. There have been lots of queries on the benefits forum and the naysayers have been corrected by those who assess it.

Not least as with disabilities, it is reasonable to buy stuff that support you properly rather than basic IKEA or second hand.

missbiggles1

Ames wrote: »

I wish it were just some cleaning.

Bedroom's not too bad - stuff piled up to bed height down one side of bed, small pile of stuff on other side of bed, big basket of paperwork to sort through. Plus a few open plastic boxes of stuff, but they can be moved as they are I think.

Hallway - a deep walk in cupboard full to the brim of crap, that can be sorted out after the removal firm's been though. There's stuff piled up between the wall and a bookcase that needs sorting before removal as it will fall over and be a hazard once the bookcase is moved. A big pile of stuff that's blocking the entrance to the shower room. A few piles of stuff along one wall that need moving so that furniture can fit past. A few piles of stuff completely blocking the way into the living room.

Living room - almost entirely covered with piles of stuff, in places up to a couple of feet high.

Kitchen - floor pretty much covered in stuff. Cubpoards full of out of date food, but they can be sorted after the removal's been.

Even if I paid a cleaner, I'd have to do most of the work because I'd have to identify what's rubbish, what's for the charity shop, and what needs keeping.



That's brilliant. They were talking about DHP and in terms of days, not weeks and certainly not a month. If it is that long then it's doable - get all the crap sorted, move, then deal with the rubbish left behind.



You've been great, thanks. I think part of what I'm struggling with is the order in which to do everything. Just the scale of it all is really daunting.

Thanks again everyone for your help.

I meant cleaning the new place!

Buzzybee90

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I meant cleaning the new place!

As a private renter I've had to pay double rent twice so consider yourself very lucky that's not the case for you. I think the fact it has heating should take precedence, you need to consider your health above everything else.

Sorry for quoting above post specifically.

Ames

RAS wrote: »

Carpets and decorating are NOT deprivation of capital. Nor is buying a brand new sofa, a decent bed for both rooms, dining table, good quality white goods.

OK - if you buy from Harrods - maybe. But good quality stuff that will last is not regarded as DoA. There have been lots of queries on the benefits forum and the naysayers have been corrected by those who assess it.

Not least as with disabilities, it is reasonable to buy stuff that support you properly rather than basic IKEA or second hand.

That's good to know. I'm just worried how it'll look getting the money and straight away spending a couple of thousans. Plus, I might need to get the 6k I'm owed as soon as the money becomes available and wait for the rest, which might look odd especially given it being the 'magic' sum of 6k.

I would prefer to get some good quality new stuff.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I meant cleaning the new place!

Oh. I don't know - they were cleaning it when I was there this afternoon, but they seemed to have just poured a load of water on the floor and were pushing it around with a mop. The OT went mad because it was dangerous on cement floors.

It's not so much cleaning as decorating and getting carpets down. Obviously it makes sense to do that before moving in, but because of the financial timescale it'll probably be a couple of weeks after moving.

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

As a private renter I've had to pay double rent twice so consider yourself very lucky that's not the case for you. I think the fact it has heating should take precedence, you need to consider your health above everything else.

Sorry for quoting above post specifically.

I am counting myself very lucky. I will probably end up paying some of the rent myself, and I'm happy to do that. My issue is with how long I'm allowed to have a dual tenancy for. The guy today was talking about it being for a few days, when it seems it's for a month.


Overall I think my problem is the order in which to do things, especially as the order that things should be done probably isn't possible.

Pollycat

Ames wrote: »

The flat itself is a bit grotty. One room's painted black and the hallway's a poo brown. Bare grotty floors. Grafitti in one room.

That's just cosmetic and can be sorted.

There were loads of good points though, it's a decent size, it has heating, it has double glazed windows which open.

Compare this to where you are living now.

Ames wrote: »

I wish it were just some cleaning.

Bedroom's not too bad - stuff piled up to bed height down one side of bed, small pile of stuff on other side of bed, big basket of paperwork to sort through. Plus a few open plastic boxes of stuff, but they can be moved as they are I think.

Hallway - a deep walk in cupboard full to the brim of crap, that can be sorted out after the removal firm's been though. There's stuff piled up between the wall and a bookcase that needs sorting before removal as it will fall over and be a hazard once the bookcase is moved. A big pile of stuff that's blocking the entrance to the shower room. A few piles of stuff along one wall that need moving so that furniture can fit past. A few piles of stuff completely blocking the way into the living room.

Living room - almost entirely covered with piles of stuff, in places up to a couple of feet high.

Kitchen - floor pretty much covered in stuff. Cubpoards full of out of date food, but they can be sorted after the removal's been.

Even if I paid a cleaner, I'd have to do most of the work because I'd have to identify what's rubbish, what's for the charity shop, and what needs keeping.

OK, you've obviously got some work to do before you can move.

Do you think you might be putting things off because you're not ready to get rid of this stuff?
for example, is it not possible to just sweep all the out-of-date food into a bin bag right now instead of waiting until the removal people have been?

I know it can't be easy but if this move is going to go ahead, you know that you have to deal with this 'stuff'.
Are you in a place in your head that will let you deal with it?

Do you have anyone who can motivate you to start this clearout?
Somebody who can sit you down with the first box, make you a coffee and then bin what you don't want and give you box number 2?

Sorry if you think I've been too direct, I don't mean to be.