threat of eviction, anyone know how easy/hard it is to get up to Band A?

faerielight

I posted in a different area of the forum, I only just noticed this section. To recap, I'm in a privately rented flat, I am disabled with mental health issues.(BPD and PTSD) I have a sewage problem, I have to bag up loo roll so that I don't have sewage in my shower and patio. I've had no hot water for 2 1/2 months, and water pressure is a dribble. I struggle to shower anyway even when I did have hot water, as it's too small for a seat. Plus it has 10 steep, narrow, dark, slippery stairs to the basement flat that I find really hard to do.

The agency/landlord refuses to fix any of it. To do the sewage would mean digging up the whole of my flat floor.
My landlord died recently, and they sent a suveyor the other day. He said they were remortgaging and wanted the going rate of around £9.50 PCM. My rent is £700. One of 2 things will happen, either the rent will go up massively and HBwon't pay or I'll get evicted which is the likely option, so they do the repairs and get the market rent. I am desperately bidding for a ground floor council flat with either a bath or walk in shower with seat, but they are few and far between. I'm band B, but all the flats I bid on go to band A.

I really need to get out of here, I'm desperate to be able to wash, as I have double incontinence. This flat is having such a big impact om both physical and mental health, but Shelter reacon it is really hard to get to band A. I can get supportive evidence for my disabilities, but don't have a mental health support worker, so I don't have supporting evidence that the impact this has on my mental health.

I am terrified of ending up homeless in a hostel and having to give my cats away, as they give me a reason to keep going. I've been homeless before in a hostel, and it really damaged my mental health. I had life saving major surgery recently, and have an 18 month recovery ahead.
Environmental health said they would put pressure on the landlord, but warned that it is likely I'll be served with a section 21 notice, I'm too scared to antagonise him, as I'm trying to stay under the radar and keep a roof above my head .
Does anyone here have any experience of getting up to band A? Any advice would be appreciated.

marksoton

You need to either contact your caseworker at your local council or establish one.

faerielight

I rang housing options but they would only give me a worker once the landlord was getting prepossession from the courts

[Deleted User]

Do you have a community mental health unit in your area? These are the people I accessed to get help with housing. My unit wasn't too good but I was just unlucky with the person and timing. Its worth a try.

Can your GP write a letter explaining your past mental health problems and how they were affected by housing?

See if your council has a vulnerable adult unit.., they may be able to help.

I hope that this is of some assistance.

I have two children with ASD.., I am presently being diagnosed myself (and with ADHD and anxiety). Using this, I was able to get the council to put us straight into council stock (a two bed maisonette) as emergency housing rather than shared lettings one room accommodation. Sheer luck that its also ground floor (as I can't manage the three flights of stairs to the upper maisonettes). Its still emergency accommodation but its a lot better than what I lived in in private rental and shared lettings. We were even given permission to have our dog here after a couple of weeks.

However, my council has one set of policies and way of doing things. Other councils have other ways. Keep asking questions, keep pushing. I know this is hard and I'm very sorry you are having to live as you are.

faerielight

thank you so much for your considered responce. I am on the waiting list for a specialist personality disorder and trauma day centre place, but I'm nowhere near the top of the list. I am going to ask my dr tomorrow to see a psychiatrist, as it's over a year since I saw one. It will take a few weeks though.
I don't have a great relationship with my dr, she has a 1950's "pull your socks up" approach to mental health. I will tell her that the Shelter lady will be contacting her next week to make sure she is as through as possible with her supporting evidence letter. It's a shame I don't have a mental health worker though, I haven't for 5 years and getting desperate for some help.

AdrianC

faerielight wrote: »

I don't have a great relationship with my dr, she has a 1950's "pull your socks up" approach to mental health.

Speak to your GP practice manager or senior partner, and ask to transfer to another GP - or even just book an appt with a different GP.

If they are the only GP, or they're the senior partner, then just change practice... It HAS to be better than dealing with such a muppet.

pmlindyloo

To answer your original question about band A - you need to look at your local councils housing allocation policy (Google for this)

Councils have their own housing allocation policies and how they band..

Once you know this you can see whether there is a way you can meet the criteria for Band A.

faerielight

Changing drs is def on my l;ist of important things to do. IO looked at the criteria today, it says you have to prove the flat is having a critical impact on mental or physical health. I def think it is, but whether the council think so , I guess I won't know till they reassess me.Since the hot water went and I cant wash, things have to come to a head with this flat , I really have had enough!

[Deleted User]

Please also look for the vulnerable adult assessment team in your local council and see if there is a community mental health team in your district - it can be a quick way of getting help. Mine has a housing officer and I'm told they can be quite good.

faerielight

thanks deannatrois.. I looked it up, there's a servie of support for those with mental health issues and mental health probs. Looks like they can offer one to one support and can come to my home.. I will ring them tomorrow .. can I ask what housing problems you had?

[Deleted User]

My situation is not the same as yours but has some similarities. I have two children (one of the children is 20!) with diagnosed ASD. The older child and myself are also being assessed for ADHD and anxiety. I also have depression and a number of health difficulties which affect my mobility but not as severely as yourself. My asthma is also affecting me quite severely right now because I am a bit run down after all the stress of the last year. My mental health difficulties make dealing with health services quite difficult. Plus I've actually got to get to the GP and wait for four hours to be seen unless I make an appointment a month in advance lol. But this is no different to anyone else nowadays. Hospital appointments..,well that's another story lol. Last time I went for a diabetes appointment I blew up at the registrar I saw who told me I needed to learn how to count carbohydrates in order to get an insulin pump (I've been counting carbs since I was 4) - who then said I had a personality disorder lolol. Apparently its quite common with people with ASD that this happens!

I was being evicted by my LL after four years of not doing repairs. Again the situation was not as severe as yours but was bad enough to make our living conditions quite stressful. I was scared to death of being evicted but its actually been a step up for us. However I do realise we have been lucky. I don't officially have mobility problems so was not looking for the specialised accommodation that you require (well not yet).