Housing Association Eviction - what can we do?

PlanHappy

Even if I were close enough to do so she wouldn't allow me (or my sister) to open her post and won't open it herself. Big part of the feud.

xylophone

It is then not that she would be sacked but that she is likely to sink into depression and be unable to work?

You indicate that her outgoings should be modest - is it at all possible that she actually has the money just sitting in her bank account and that her mental health has induced a state of inertia that has prevented her from even setting up DDs/SOs for the normal costs of running a household?

PlanHappy

Oh dear please forgive my horrendous typos. Can't edit posts as an on a phone and auto correct doesn't like me today.

I think being without a home generally will pose obstacles to working but yes, any deterioration of her mindset due to all this will not be likely to help.

PlanHappy

The money won't be in her bank account unfortunately - this much I do know. I really don't know what she spends it on. She doesn't buy expensive clothes, food or homeware; she didn't take holidays or go out to films/dinner etc. She seems to live very frugally, only belied by the fact that she earns (or earned, when full time).a very decent wage and was perpetually broke (we found out she had used payday lenders a couple of years back). I wonder about an alcohol or gambling problem perhaps. Or just some really bad debt that she's paying off at too high a level.

theartfullodger

She's been evicted:. for a HA to do this they will have gone through a long court process over many months. Can't see them reversing the decision. The debt remains though. You can ask for reversal but don't raise your hopes.

As she was evicted for rent arrears the council will consider her "intentionally homeless" and won't rehouse.

Getting a private let will be really tough given why she is looking. Any decent landlord will ask for background & landlord reference..... You might get a deal with someone else as a guarantor for her.

Sorry to be gloomy, hope something works out, best wishes.

Norman_Castle

HAs can be very understanding with regards to problems caused by mental health or personal problems but will expect the rent to be paid. Talk to them and explain the situation. A doctors report confirming any conditions may help. They may continue to house your mother but will expect the arrears to be paid in full and possibly their eviction costs. They will certainly need proof that future rent will be paid in full and on time.

PaperDoll

I work in social housing and if presented with such a case, we would be sypathetic. That's not to say that your mother's HA will be quite so sympathetic. From their point of view, they will have made every effort to have communicated with her and offer help/support to maintain her tenancy. Securing an evcition from social housing is a long process and the HA has to fulfil various obligations before the order for eviction will be granted, this includes trying to establish if the tenant has any vulnerabilities and helping them to access appropriate support if they do. A marked lack of engagement can be an indicator of vulnerability in itself but as the HA will be aware that your mother holds down a job and apparently has means to pay, with no contact from your mother, they can only surmise that she has capacity and is making a conscious decision not to pay and proceed accordingly. Hence her current situation.

The HA will accept payment of the arrears from you. However, given that your mother has proven herself to be uncommunicative and unable to take care of her own financial affairs, any pleas for reinstatement of the tenancy should be accompanied with evidence that you mother will be prepared to accept help for her mental health issues and tenancy support from a provider of housing related support (try MIND or any other mental health organisations in her area for advice) as well as a cast iron guarantee that the rent will be paid (can you pay it and recoup from your mother, for example?). You could also request that all mail to your mother is copied to you. This will require your mother's consent though, which, from what you've said, might be more difficult to secure. None of this will guarantee that the HA will reinstate the tenancy but demonstrating a willingness to address her issues might make them consider it more favourably.


If all else fails, your mother can reapply for social housing. While eviction due to non-payment of rent is generally considered as making yourself intentionally homeless her mental health is a mitigating factor in this case and can presumably be backed up with medical evidence? I would expect any assessing officer to take it into account when making a decision.

knightstyle

IF she really won't let you talk to her and help her see if there is a branch of CAP, Christians against Poverty in her area and contact them. For no charge they will talk to her and help her draw up a plan to present to the HA which may help. All this is free.
HAs and other creditors do not like talking to relatives they prefer dealing with professionals.

FBaby

Do you know what the arrears are? Did she miss some payments when times were difficult but paid regularly afterwards but ignored those missed months or did she stop paying all together?

pmlindyloo

PlanHappy wrote: »

Edit: to respond to your additional comments regarding her mental health.

It does indeed interfere with her work. She has been depressed to some degree or another for as long as I can remember and has previously attempted suicide; she frequently makes poor life decisions (like this) because it's always in the back of her head that she will have killed herself within the next few years. (I apologise if that is too blunt.) She has tried, and rejected, both medication and therapy; as far as I know she hasn't even registered with a GP in her area (she moved up north a couple of years ago, via a council house swap). She had a steady job before she moved but was increasingly taking time off sick. After she moved she worked on and off as a supply teacher when she felt up to it and work was available, which is largely how she got into this mess. She now has a temp sickness cover job that becomes permanent in September, but she won't be paid over the summer. That job is of course now at risk due to her housing issues.

I agree she needs bigger help. I am just at a loss over how to get her to take it, and given her history, concerned about how she will react to homelessness.

This now makes more sense when you say 'she worked on and off as a supply teacher when she felt up to it and work was available'.

It is possible that during this time she earned very little money and instead of paying her rent she used any money for daily living expenses.

Because of her mental health problems she is likely to have buried her head in the sand and not opened any post and just hoped it would all 'go away'.

So what can you do?

I, too, agree that she will not get her house back although she will be allowed to go back and get her possessions.

The basis of this problem is that she needs some professional help but, as you say, she has refused this.

It may be that your mother has to reach rock bottom before she allows you to help.

I am enclosing a link for you here:

https://www.rethink.org/carers-family-friends/what-you-need-to-know/worried-about-someones-mental-health

You can also contact them and discuss your 'problem'.

Perhaps your sister's GP might help?

What a horrendous time for you and your sister. Is it possible for you to visit and meet up with your sister to make a plan for the future? She needs your support now so even if your mum refuses to cooperate at least your sister will know that you are there for her.

Please contact rethink and try to formulate some plan for the future.