86 year old dad facing eviction

Housing_Benefit_Officer

One of the things we look at is bank statements. Where does the person do their shopping and where are they spending their money. If it is all local shops then on the balance of probability he is living in the area. If all the bank statements show spending in a town 100 miles away then in all probability they aren't living in the area they claim to be living.

Norman_Castle

I would complain to the housing association about the lack of communication. They don't have to speak to family members without the tenants consent or instruction but as your dad is 86 they should have suggested or advised that he can nominate someone to help him with this.

[Deleted User]

My ex is able to speak with the council on my behalf as I can get a bit stressed (its been a long haul with them). I just wrote to them telling them that I authorised <name> to speak with them on my behalf as I had ASD and sometimes found communicating verbally difficult (i.e. keeping calm when they are trying it on).

I just reached a point when this was the best thing to do and has never been questioned.

All you need to do is get your father to sign a similar letter.

SnooksNJ

Londonsu wrote: »

He has a HA house which he has lived in for 30 years and has been falsely accused of subletting it, he had a letter (which I haven't seen yet) saying that he has breached the terms of his tenancy and the HA is seeking a possession order, we don't know why they think this they wont speak to the family about it, however we did find out from the tenants association chairman who has contact with the HA that they seem to think they have proof that from October last year to May this year he wasn't living in his house and was renting it out, the HA sent him a letter in June asking him to confirm that he still lived at the address which he responded to saying yes he did and then the letter telling him they were seeking a PO


This is completely untrue, my sister lives two doors down and cooks his dinner for him everyday and he hasn't gone anywhere in that time, of course we don't expect the HA or the court to take the word of a family member so these are the people who have had regular contact with him at his home address at the time the HA said he had moved out.


The Cinnamon Trust who have been walking his dog every day for over a year, picking the dog up and dropping him off and even in April this year helped him to rescue a new dog and helped him repair the fence in his garden to he could have one.


The cleaning company who come round three times a week and have been doing so during the relevant time.


The Salvation Army who have been picking him up from his address twice a week to take him to a day centre and the Officers who come and see him every 2 or 3 weeks to chat to him again this has been happening during the time the HA say he wasn't living at his address.


And in January this year he cut his leg which became infected so he had District Nurses coming in every day for 3 weeks to dress his wound.


We have contacted the CT and the cleaning company who will be happy to confirm he has been at his address, we phoned the Sally who are sending someone to see him to see if they can help and put in a letter to his GP to get confirmation of the Nurses visits.


We have a solicitors appointment on Tuesday and the idea was not to make a fuss but show all the evidence that will prove the HA has made some sort of mistake and to get it resolved calmly, however events today have made the situation intolerable.


At 7 this morning Dads neighbour knocked at my sisters door telling her to go and see Dad urgently, when she got there he was in the garden in his PJs trying to dig a hole , he collapsed sobbing, he had been trying to dig up Mums ashes because he was afraid he would be thrown out of his home and wouldn't be able to take her with him - the whole family is angry and distressed at this situation and it needs resolving.


I feel that its best to see the Solicitor as planned put all the information we have in front of him and get his advice, everyone else wants to storm the HA and demand they apologise and rescind the possession order.


If anyone has any information or advice they can give me I would be very grateful


Thank you for reading this

OMgosh, I just thought of something. Do you think the council found out about his other property?

agrinnall

It may not be possible to organise quickly enough to handle this situation but I would strongly recommend that your sister, and probably you, should discuss with your dad being granted Lasting Power of Attorney. You'd need the Welfare LPA for this, but I suggest getting the Finance one too.

https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

agrinnall

SnooksNJ wrote: »

OMgosh, I just thought of something. Do you think the council found out about his other property?

What on Earth are you going on about?

Keep_pedalling

SnooksNJ wrote: »

OMgosh, I just thought of something. Do you think the council found out about his other property?

What other property? HA properties are not meant for people who already own threir own property. If he has been living in subsidised accommodation for 30 years without declaring a major asset, then yes he could be in serious difficulty.

NeilCr

Horrible situation for your dad

It doesn't sound like you've seen the letter yet and know all the actual contents?

While the tenants association chairman may well be right I think I'd be clear of the situation myself (I.e what the HA do believe) before going in with all guns blazing. I've seen a few assumptions go wrong

I agree with the others - get your dad to sign an authorisation for you (or your sister who does live closer) to speak on his behalf. And then have a calm conversation with the HA to ascertain the facts

And then go for it, if necessary

Good luck

Lunchbox

agrinnall wrote: »

What on Earth are you going on about?

I assume a reference to another thread from 2011 where the OP says her parents live in a house that's been in the family for over 120 years and is worth over £750k.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3041820

wellynever

Lunchbox wrote: »

I assume a reference to another thread from 2011 where the OP says her parents live in a house that's been in the family for over 120 years and is worth over £750k.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3041820

Deleted link above.