Move from Council House to Care Home

SPARKSWILLFLY

ess0two wrote: »

Worse case you can lift them yourself,saves getting billed by council.

I wouldn't dare tackle anything like this because of health conditions so would get someone else involved if it comes to it. Just want all this over now..been hellish two months.

SPARKSWILLFLY

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

I know how you feel, coping with this is very stressful, although in my case the move to a care home was a mighty relief, and she is now much happier, safer, no longer lonely and has made new friends.

I think it was stressful for me most at the start of it all because I was doing everything myself as well as working full time because then she was a hospital admission to start with then went into respite care pending care home admission. The move to the care home was the best bit of the lot and knowing she is safe, with company and getting all the help she needs is just music to my ears and has given me the greatest peace of mind. And she looks great and has gained weight, something money cannot buy!

DaftyDuck

If there are other very similar or identical council house properties near, knock on a few doors. There may be several folk that would like a pre-cut carpet that's nearly new. They may help with removal.

I'm aware it might not fit their room perfectly; your choice whether to point this out at the time.

Sad times, these. Went through it five years ago, so you have my sympathy. Good luck!

TheGardener

If the carpets are good - the council may be happy for them to stay - that can be decided at the meeting.
If not - then given that council housing is not funded by 'the tax payer' in the way many people think, but actually by the other rent paying tenants - then think of it as like asking a neighbour to stand the cost of removing them?
Housing Revenue Accounts are ring fenced money - they are self financing organisations.

If the council don't want the carpets and blinds then pull them up and take them to the tip - if you get an odd job man to do it - then check they have a waste carriers licence and that they will be disposed of responsibly.

As another poster has said, your Mum being vulnerable and your mum having the funds to pay to clear her house out are 2 separate issues.

Its unusual for a council tenant not to have had a revised tenancy agreement in all that time - most councils regularly update tenancy agreements and certainly over the last few years. However, clearing out everything from a CH when you leave is fairly standard procedure.

Keep_pedalling

SPARKSWILLFLY wrote: »

I think it was stressful for me most at the start of it all because I was doing everything myself as well as working full time because then she was a hospital admission to start with then went into respite care pending care home admission. The move to the care home was the best bit of the lot and knowing she is safe, with company and getting all the help she needs is just music to my ears and has given me the greatest peace of mind. And she looks great and has gained weight, something money cannot buy!

That is good, I know that a lot of people want to stay out of care at all costs, and my mother resisted the enevitable for far to long, which severely effected her (and my) well being and quality of life. She has now been in for 10 months and although still very frail, her health has improved greatly and I am convinced that had she stayed in her bungalow she would have been dead by now despite carers coming in 4 times a day plus regular visits from me.

She still occasional says she wishes she could go home, but I have to gentle remind her how miserable and lonely she was when she was there.

[Deleted User]

Yes I've got this situation with my father (82, Parkinsons along with other problems), I'd be soooo happy if he'd consider a home as I can't get to his easily if something goes wrong.

I think its just such a difficult time generally, this was probably the last straw. Hopefully it will be decided that the carpets can be left (I think they'd be insane to decide otherwise) but if not, just do what you can to get them up. I can guarantee letting the council do it will be at least twice as expensive as arranging someone to do it yourself, I'm afraid. I've done laying and removing with arthritis, back problems and asthma lol. Just took me a little longer (a week rather than in one go, I did it bit by bit).

SPARKSWILLFLY

Just want to say thank you very much to everyone who responded to my post of last night. I valued the comments, advice and guidance from each and every one of you and was moved by the kind words made by some. I have never been in a situation like this before so felf like as I was fumbling in the dark at times. My frustration and confusion wasn't helped by the fact that I was given various conflicting pieces of information from council housing officers, depending on who you spoke to, really.

Anyway, I already feel better getting things off my chest just by posting my poser. Onwards and upwards, as they say, so will report back with the outcome of tomorrow's inspection.

But for the moment, thank you, one and all.

martindow

Anything and everything seems to be in demand on Freegle or Freecycle. The carpets sound good and if the council want you to take them up I think you would have no trouble getting someone to take them for you.

You may have to get an odd job man to take up the grippers, but the person taking the carpet may be happy to take those too.

p00hsticks

SPARKSWILLFLY wrote: »

The carpets are only 2 years old, weren't cheap and look in really lovely condition to me and many others who have seen them recently. I am maybe getting worked up over nothing, but I wasn't expecting the council to be quite so merciless and demanding given the situation and knowing my mum has been in there since 1968 (when it started as a family home). One thing, though, she made sure it was kept in really beautiful shape and was made sure she got the decorators in every so often and had replaced her carpets every 5 or so years. It was her pride and joy. I am hoping that this will stand her in good stead.

In that case I hope you are worrying unnecessarily.
We were in a similar situation with my partner's mother a couple of years back. The carpets and blinds were in very good condition and we weren't in a position to be able to easily remove them, so just left them although we were aware that the council might then remove them and bill his mum for the cost off doing so.

In fact this didn't happen and we can see that the current tenants still have the same blinds (and presumably carpets), so hopefully this will have saved them some costs.

Whilst the council may seem heartless in making this decision, I can see the logic behind it. Your mother, like my partners, sounds to be very houseproud and took great care of her home. But you do get some tenants who don't care and let a place go to rack and ruin. If curtains / carpets left are in a terrible state, or the house is generally unclean or flea-ridden, why should the incoming tenant / council tax payers / other council renters pay for clearing up the outgoing tenants mess ?

teddysmum

Our council used to have a policy that no carpet, no matter how good, could be left, presumably so there would be no comeback from possible infestation or the new tenants not wanting the carpet and objecting to having to dispose of it.


If the carpet is quality and in good condition, someone along the road with the same house design and handedness would probably be delighted for a freebie ready to lay carpet and be willing to collect.