In Social Housing, but asked some personal questions as part of a tenancy check.

trinidadone

Hello All,

A friend of mine lives in social housing. She recently experienced a "tenancy" check inwhich a member of staff arrived at the home unannouced.

She gave the member of staff access to her flat, and was asked for the following:

current bill
passport
tenancy agreement

she was asked a number of questions relating to the structure of the flat.

The member of staff started asking a number of personal questions:

ethnicity
religian
next of kin details
landline / mobile
needs /disabilites
GP details.

This followed a brief inspection of each room. Is this all normal in social housing?

my friend refused to answer some of the questions, as she felt it was unrelated to her tenancy.

sandsni

Did the member of staff have photo id to confirm she was genuine?

G_M

Seems strange but:

trinidadone wrote: »

was asked for the following:

current bill
passport
tenancy agreement
So confirming she was who she claimed to be? Fairly standard ways to check.

Perhaps the council/Housing Association has had problems with tenants sub-letting properties to people not etitled to Social Housing?
Or perhaps more specifically someone has reported that her property ws being sub-let??

she was asked a number of questions relating to the structure of the flat.
Like what?
Perhaps asking if there were repairing issues that needed fixing?
Or if the property was suitable (eg appropriate for disabled/blind/!!!!!! etc tenants - [sorry folks, probably politically incorrect terminology...)

The member of staff started asking a number of personal questions:

ethnicity - routine (if intrusive) question to monitor numbers of each ethnic group, and monitor equality blah blah
religian as above
next of kin details in case tenant dies
landline / mobile in case they need to follow up. Saves Council Tax payers' money if they can phone rather than visit again...
needs /disabilites - in case modifications are needed to the property?
GP details. errrr... in case, umm. errr...

This followed a brief inspection of each room. Is this all normal in social housing?

To be honest I don't see a problem. Does your friend have any reason to not answer any of these?

When she declined to answer, was pressure put on her?

Oh, and is she the named tenant or does she illegally sub-rent......:rotfl:

MamaMoo_2

Not something that comes as standard, but is usual procedure where the council have reason to suspect there may be subletting or a change of lead tenant or similar.
Sounds like they just wanted to confirm ID and whatnot.

freezspirit

Possibly a standardised from if you feel uncomfortable normally there is a box for prefer not to say.


Odd to ask about structure of property to a tenant more of a question to ask property owner.


Not really council doing but if they know about ethnicity/religion and if you pass away in the property they can consul the correct faith and do the right service and if its burial or cremation.

CKhalvashi

freezspirit wrote: »

Possibly a standardised from if you feel uncomfortable normally there is a box for prefer not to say.

This is a box that has to be included, as it's optional.

Odd to ask about structure of property to a tenant more of a question to ask property owner.

Unless it's the makeup, as part of a check to find out how many people to rooms, or something similar.

Not really council doing but if they know about ethnicity/religion and if you pass away in the property they can consul the correct faith and do the right service and if its burial or cremation.

Surely the only thing to be done in this situation is to inform NoK, and let them deal with it.

I have specific funeral arrangements detailed in my house should anything happen, and I'd imagine that many people will have a similar setup too.

freezspirit

Sorry I reread the thread when you say structure of flat you meant layout, as in how many bedrooms.


Sometimes people in social housing don't have NoK or for whatever reason have kept no contact with their NoK so I think the information is for backup that could be provided to NoK in that situation.


I saw a tv programme awhile back how I want to say local organisations (as in housing associations/council) were working with national organisations (as in immigration/benefit/police) to combine their information so was wondering if they could use information from the passport, current bill etc to run checks.