Loosing the will to live

outofmoney

We are eligible for the 4 bed whether she is with us or not.

No family here really and those that are couldn't/wouldn't have her.

It's not a case of cannot offer us, but a case of won't because we don't meet their criteria of having children under ten and working.

PasturesNew

Do you have a driveway? Many years ago I had a friend, aged 13, who was sleeping behind two wardrobes in her parents' bedroom - and, during spring/summer/autumn she'd go out and sleep in the touring caravan in their driveway. As you've two 18 year olds, that might be a solution for one of them, and/or just if a caravan outside could be used as a homework or play space.

kinger101

The lack of concern shown by your MP is appalling. What's the point of getting into public office if you're not going to campaign on behalf of your constituents.

You might consider writing to the local or national press. Unfortunately, those in power are more likely to do something to avoid embarrassment that act out of any sense of justice.

outofmoney

Pastures New - yes, we have a drive. So not a bad idea. Our youngest has already spent many Summer nights in a tent in our back garden in his bid for some space and privacy.

As for our MP, she is in her last few months. Not sure if this is why she cannot be bothered or if she just is like that. She seems active in other areas though.

agrinnall

outofmoney wrote: »

We tried our MP three times and she was more than useless.

Name and shame please. With an election in the offing she may be more keen to do something to offset bad publicity about her lack of assistance.

Bogof_Babe

You're not allowed to sleep in a living room if it has a gas supply to a fire or boiler. I'd have hoped councils would know that.

silvercar

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

You're not allowed to sleep in a living room if it has a gas supply to a fire or boiler. I'd have hoped councils would know that.

Source for that.

I have seen many new build properties with the boiler in one of the bedrooms, so I doubt it is true.

Bogof_Babe

silvercar wrote: »

Source for that.

I have seen many new build properties with the boiler in one of the bedrooms, so I doubt it is true.

Source would be various British Gas engineers we've had in over the years, servicing our old back boiler in the living room. When we got rid of it and replaced it with a wall-mounted boiler in the kitchen, I quipped that we'd now be able to sleep in the living room, only to be told that as long as there was a gas pipe into the room, even capped off, strictly speaking we shouldn't sleep in there.

But that's British Gas for you...

xylophone

You're not allowed to sleep in a living room if it has a gas supply to a fire or boiler. I'd have hoped councils would know that.

Not wholly accurate?

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqownerocc.htm

"Since 31 October 1998, any room converted to use as sleeping accommodation should not contain the following types of gas appliances:

"A gas fire, gas space heater or a gas water heater (including a gas boiler) over 14 kilowatts gross input unless it is room sealed.
A gas fire, gas space heater, or a gas water heater (including a gas boiler) of 14 kilowatts gross input or less or any instantaneous water heater unless it is room sealed or has an atmosphere-sensing device.
If a room contains one or more of the above appliances and was used as a bedroom prior to 1998 then you will need to do a risk assessment to determine if it can still be used as a bedroom. If you are unsure of the safety of any gas appliance you should get a Gas Safe registered link to external website engineer to check it for you."

NobodysChild

jaylee3 wrote: »

Really??? Since when? That's the first I've heard of it! How on earth can the living room be classed as a bedroom?!

Not having a go BTW, or saying you're wrong; it just sounds ridiculous if it IS true. What if the living room is a gateway to the kitchen and the rest of the downstairs?

In our first house, you had to pass through the living room to get out of the front door AND back door (as the stairs came down into the living room.) I can honestly say that I have never, ever heard this before.

It is partly true yes.

If you have 2 reception rooms (which would be a lounge and a dining room in most cases,) then the dining room could be classed as a room that can be used as a bedroom, (if you do not need to go through it to access other rooms, for example a bathroom, or the kitchen, or the back door.)

But if you only have one reception room (which would be your lounge,) then no.

My mother and father have an old council house built in the 1930s, and they have a lounge and a dining room, but the dining room is completely separate to everything, and no other room goes off it. So that can be classed as a bedroom.

Our house however, has a dining room and kitchen in one, with a bit of an archway, but basically it's all in one, and the archway is 8 feet wide, and the dining room has the patio doors to the back garden in it. So it would be difficult to use that as a bedroom really!

Re the OP; your living situation does sound awful! I know some people who have 3 kids, and they have a bedroom for each child! How can they let you live like this?!

I suggest you tell the forum the MP's name too. She may take action then. Have you thought about contacting the media?