Is Social Housing an Option?

HappyMJ

Stripeybat wrote: »

Hi all

I was hoping there might be someone on here could offer me some advice on moving out for the first time please.

I'm 28 and still live at home my partner lives with us also. We are both disabled and are on ESA and PIP. My disabilities have a large effect on my housing need, I need suitable access for a wheelchair etc.

We hope to move out at some point in the near future (woo, independence! :j) and have been spending our time learning as much as we can and saving as much as we can so we're ready. The forums have been a huge help with that, thank you everyone

Does anyone have any idea whether we would be eligible for social housing? Our understanding was that we wouldn't qualify unless we were unable to stay at the current property and this isn't the case. Is this correct? We arent being asked to leave, it's more that we are desperate for some independence (its been a long time coming!) and it finally seems doable with my partner living with me. An adapted property would make my life infinitely better as this house isn't absolutely ideal for wheelchair access, however we didn't want to just go ahead and apply to go on the housing register when there would be people in more/urgent need.

We had been looking into the idea of private rent with the understanding that we would never find somewhere completely suitable for me but that we might be able to muddle along with for a few years. There seem to be the odd properties round here with widened bedroom and bathroom doorways so its not completely out of the question

Obviously we're very new and naive so I'd like to be a lot more in the know before we do anything! We arent even sure where we can go for advice on this, so any thoughts or advice on this would be so appreciated x

You can always register.

Adapted housing is very rare. It might take many years or even a decade to get an appropriate property but at least you've got yourself on the "list".

Just an idea...if the house you live is has been adapted to your needs how about you take over the tenancy and your parents move out...if it's owned by your parents you could make an offer to buy it.

marksoton

Peter333 wrote: »

Some people on here would say you are suitably housed if you have a broom cupboard at your nan's house!

And some LA's would apply even stricter criteria based on lack of stock.

And some wonder why RTB manipulation is so disagreed with on this board...

AnnieO1234

It all depends on your area, here there are adapted properties that are new and are not tenanted unless there is a disabled tenant to go in them. There's at least 4 currently.

We could've moved into one when my husband was taken ill but were able to make the adaptions to our own home that he required.

I know someone who has used her anxiety disorder, MP and social services leverage to get priority in an extremely over subscribed area (Sheffield). Now to me she is definitely playing the system, but if she can get it despite not really being in significant need, I'm certain the OP fulfils the requirements for most councils.

Xxx

pmlindyloo

This is a tricky one.

You have secure accommodation and your parents have not 'chucked you out' so you cannot be considered as 'homeless' and therefore have more of a priority.

Having said that you have no legal right to stay in their house (I am presuming - don't know if parents own the house/rent it/you are on the tenancy) and they could write and say they want to out.

Of course your parents would be reluctant to do this which makes everything more difficult as regards social housing.

You might want to google your council's housing allocation policy and see what it says. Apart from legal requirements all councils have made their own policies.

Having read that and seen how you might fare if you applied to go on the housing list then I would make an appointment with your local council and see what they say. CAB might also have a housing specialist who could guide you through the process and help with supporting evidence.

Of course, if your council's housing allocation policy means that you would be accepted to apply then, depending on their 'stock' of social housing you might have a long wait (or not)

In the meantime other options would depend on your parent's home. Have either you or your partner had an adult assessment from social services about your care needs? They may be able to help with aids/adaptations. Your council may have grants to help too.

Then there is private accommodation. You might find something for your needs.

Have you also checked out housing for disabled people in your area? Again there may be housing available to suit your needs.

Time to do a bit of googling to find out what is available in your area!

Best of luck. Personally I feel you have just as much right to lead an independent life as anyone else and I hope you get some help and support to achieve it.

Cheeky_Monkey

The point is that the OP doesn't need social housing - they want it

Stripeybat

Wow, I didn't expect so many replies! Thank you, wonderful people A lot of advice has been given and I really appreciate all of it. Looks like we have some research to do.

I don't know if I made this clear in my original post, so I'd like to emphasise here... We do not expect to just waltz in and find a council property. I am very aware that we are far from a high priority and there are people in more need, my question was more to find out if we were eligible at all. We had been operating under the assumption that we weren't eligible to go on the housing register at all, so I appreciate the advice in all forms - you've given us a lot to think about

Peter333 wrote: »

And so what if the boyfriend has moved in? Maybe they want to be together, and maybe he helps the OP with her disability needs!

Spot on. This is exactly the case. Thank you for all the advice, Peter. I'll definitely look into getting medical evidence together if we go down that road.

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

It can't be that bad, given that the boyfriend has moved in.

For clarity, my partner's disability does not affect their mobility, they do not need adaptions for a wheelchair etc. Thank you for all the advice, Lioness, it's good to hear from someone with some experience in this area.

deannatrois wrote: »

I agree. Find someone who deals with your condition (charity, social worker, support worker - if you don't presently have anyone go to the council see if they have a vulnerable adult team and start from there).

I hadn't even considered this, thank you very much, Deanna.

deannatrois wrote: »

In my area, we get one or two 3 bed houses on the bidding list a month and lots of single bed properties, most of which are adapted or supported. It can be quite frustrating for someone without disabilities lol (ironic humour).

:rotfl: I can see why that's annoying! I hope you find somewhere suitable very soon - preferably somewhere without ramps to climb up and big fat doorways everywhere

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you also checked out housing for disabled people in your area? Again there may be housing available to suit your needs.

Another avenue I hadn't even considered. This is going on the list of things to look into, thank you!

pmlindyloo wrote: »

. Personally I feel you have just as much right to lead an independent life as anyone else and I hope you get some help and support to achieve it.

I appreciate that more than I can say. Thank you for the support

AdrianC

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Personally I feel you have just as much right to lead an independent life as anyone else

Absolutely they do. Nobody's said otherwise.

Equally, they do not have MORE right to lead an independent life than anybody else who cannot afford to leave their parents home...

pmlindyloo

AdrianC wrote: »

Absolutely they do. Nobody's said otherwise.

Equally, they do not have MORE right to lead an independent life than anybody else who cannot afford to leave their parents home...

Except that the majority of people have the option of finding privately rented accommodation.

As a wheelchair user this will probably limit the OP's choice.

AdrianC

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Except that the majority of people have the option of finding privately rented accommodation.

As a wheelchair user this will probably limit the OP's choice.

Of course it will - it will always be a limiting factor for many choices in life. But it (quite rightly) isn't a total and utter block. Wheelchair accessibility to new-build housing has been in Building Regs for years now, so any modern accommodation will be essentially accessible.

Stripeybat

AdrianC wrote: »

Of course it will - it will always be a limiting factor for many choices in life. But it (quite rightly) isn't a total and utter block. Wheelchair accessibility to new-build housing has been in Building Regs for years now, so any modern accommodation will be essentially accessible.

Absolutely. Going for private rent doesn't mean I won't find somewhere that's accessible, and I'd be more than happy to compromise with that. Other people are in more urgent need and I dont for one second feel I deserve somewhere more than these people.

However it's worth pointing out the obvious - that being a wheelchair user needing widened doorways isn't the only differing need I have as a disabled person. My needs are multiple and complex, like many other disabled people. My present situation means my safest option for daily hygiene is a wash on my bed because the bathroom isn't adapted for me completely. Compromising on a private rental where that situation is the same is something I'd be more than willing to do, but naturally a properly adapted property (in this example, a wet room) would make the world of difference to my every day life.