Adaptation request in privately rented house

Yorkie006

The problem with moving is the money. Our only income is from my job. My partner has got good days and bad days. On a bad day, he can barely get out of bed (and definitively would not be safe behind the wheel) so can't rely on him for transport every day. If I can't get to work, I don't get paid. And if I don't get paid, we have no money. If I lose my job due to bad time-keeping, we have no income whatsoever and will be behind with bills/rent.
We do not get any benefits whatsoever. My partner was made redundant 3 years ago and couldn't even claim jobseekers. These days government considers the whole household when applying for benefits. I'm not British and the type of visa I'm on (I do not have 'infinitive leave to remain') doesn't allow me (or anyone living with me in the same household) to claim any means tested benefits regardless of our household income (so no help with housing, jobseekers, council tax, prescription costs etc). We are 2 adults living on one wage. I earn £7.55/hour so after paying all bills, there isn't much left.
There are no suitable properties in our area (east yorkshire, so one of the cheaper part of the country). There are no flats or bungalows available (and if there are, they are too expensive for us).
Council housing is means tested here (ie people on low income/with children have higher priority than those earning more/childless) and my immigration status put us right at the back of the line (it would be different if I had ILR).

-taff

Then I'm afraid you will have to put up with what you are currently living with or rent separately.
They are still not obliged to adapt the house for you, beyond what was outlined in eh links above [which are themselves a bit wishy washy]

If you are that worried about his quality of life your only choice is to let him register himself for social housing and see what happens.

The kind of stress you youself are under being the main wage earner and carer is not going to be good for you either. Love does not conquer all, economics plays a big part too

seven-day-weekend

cloo wrote: »

This thread makes one realise what a problem we are going to have as more older people have to rent in the private sector, who will have more healthcare needs than the classic profile of renters. I think there will have to be a rethink of expectations of landlords. It's all very well to say 'move somewhere more suitable' at the moment, but can you imagine how few such properties there must be in the private rented sector?[/QUOTE]


Plenty of flats and also some bungalows.

ETA: But obviously not where the OP lives.

FBaby

Yorkie, are you sure your OH couldn't claim PIP? It is not dependent on household income and I would have thought excluded from your visa limitations as this is purely for the costs associated with disability which is exactly what you need it for.

It still leave the issue as to whether your LL would allow the work to be done but maybe you could contact them and discuss this, maybe come up with a 50/50 costs (although you would then need to agree what would happen if/when you go).

At least it's one option to consider.

LandyAndy

yorkie006 wrote: »

the problem is the my partner's health has worsened in the last 2 years quite dramatically (he's currently in the process of applying for pip) and the house in it's current state is not suitable anymore.
.

fbaby wrote: »

yorkie, are you sure your oh couldn't claim pip? It is not dependent on household income and i would have thought excluded from your visa limitations as this is purely for the costs associated with disability which is exactly what you need it for.

.

. .

AnotherJoe

Why can’t you learn to drive ?

Margot123

This thread has prompted me to look at the availability of housing, as it's easy for us to tell the OP to move to somewhere more suitable.

The social housing sector is in crisis, especially with regard to disabled and elderly people.
Here in the Midlands, each bungalow has on average 83 applicants. The last one I looked at on the website, the person had been on the waiting list for nearly 20 years and was in the top priority band.

I am shocked and appalled by what I have seen, I didn't know it was this bad.

martindow

Is claiming attendance allowance a possibility? That is not means tested.

I agree with others that the real problem is stairs rather than handrails.

pmlindyloo

I am going to disagree somewhat with replies so far.

I believe that the landlord should be providing a handrail (maybe two depending on width for the stairs.)

OP, I would make sure that you notify your LL in writing that you believe that not having a handrail is a potential safety/hazard issue.

Disregarding your OH's health problems for a moment, if you fell down the stairs I believe that your LL could be potentially sued for personal injury under this act.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1972/35/section/4jury

Having said that, the bath is a different issue and you could investigate other devices which may help with this problem which do not require permanent fixing.

Of course, if you are on monthly to monthly tenancy now then the LL can seek possession of the property which is not want you want at the moment.

I would speak to CAB about your residency issues. Can you not apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

unforeseen

My thinking was that there is already a handrail, probably the bannister, and they want an additional one on the other side.

in which case LL is meeting the legislation.