Get dad from one council house borough to another?

margaretn

t0rt0ise wrote: »

I agree with those who have said that homeswapper is the way to go. I got a swap from one area to another through that site. You can swap with any council or Housing Association property of the correct size for needs. When you've found an exchange the council can't refuse unless you have rent debt or have been a problem tenant, as in noisy neighbour etc.

That is very helpful and encouraging to hear - thank you so much. Dad has no rent debt and has always been an ideal tenant. Thank you, I shall check that website out ASAP.

Abcyyymmm wrote: »

These are the properties you need to apply for. The ones that housing associations put on right move. They are the fish that got away from the net but you are going after them whilst everyone else in social housing is using the bidding process!

I dont mind you speaking to me again if you ever need more help.

Hopefully you be ok, i managed to succeed only because i knew that if i failed getting somewhere then things would get worse for my relative.

Just do what i say! Rightmove!

Thank you so much for first off going through the hassle of making an account just to reply to me, I am extremely grateful for that. And thank you for the different spin on how to go about getting dad rehomed - I was honestly not even aware that HA's advertised on Right Move! I will absolutely follow your advice and look. I have taken other's advice as well and I will apply to house swap schemes. I have also contacted the local MP. I feel it's best to have all bases covered and believe all the advice give has been fantastic, including yours. Thank you so much.

margaretn

Morglin wrote: »

You can contact the Adult and Disability Team, where you live, and look into the possibility of getting him into sheltered housing in your area.

If he goes back into hospital, the social work team there may also help, as might the adult and disability team in his area.

Social Services CAN be a better route than housing, although that depends on area.

Sheltered Housing would have the advantages of being adapted for elderly/disabled people.

He has the 'area connection' because of you living there.

However, how long he would wait, and if they will put him on a list will depend very much on supply and demand.

Good luck.

Lin

Thank you, I will definitely contact the Adult & Disability Team. I honestly did not even know such a service existed. I feel very stupid for not knowing a lot of this, but I'm only 24 and not very clued up on this type of information. I will contact everyone mentioned. Thank you so much.

RichardD1970 wrote: »

On the subject of exchanges, I often see requests on our local Facebook group asking.

A long shot, but worth joining your local (and surrounding) group and keeping an eye out?

No, that is a fantastic idea that I would have never thought of. Thank you so much! Is it a group specifically for exchange? Or just general local FB page?

NeilCr wrote: »

I think you should talk to your council to understand their allocation policy and to see if they have a team that can assist with finding housing -even if it is not social housing. As I said we have such a team - they are called housing options.

In addition, your council will likely have their policy on line with information on how to get on the list.

Yes I agree, I am so out of the loop and in the dark about policies and everything. I'm only 24 so never had to educate myself in this information until now. I will check everything mentioned, thank you so much.

NeilCr

Found this online

https://middlesbrough.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Compass%20Allocations%20Policy.pdf

2012 so not sure how up to date it is!. From this, if it covers your area, looks like you may be okay with the local connection.

Definitely still best to have the conversation with the council, though.

Again. Good luck!

I would also like to say thank you to you for your responses on here. I have got a bit jaded with this particular forum for a while because of the cynicism and back biting - and the fact that there are obvious trolls who start spurious threads. It is really nice to see how you have posted and how thoughtful you are

elsien

If you feel the two visits a day aren't enough, then you need to work out what is worrying him/you and be specific about where the shortfalls are. The social worker would be the person to talk to about this.
3 or 4 calls a day are likely to be the maximum they will put in but there may also be assistive technology that could help such as a pendant call alarm system, or falls monitors.
They are unlikely to offer unless you ask, so be very clear about where you think the gaps in his support are and what you think he would benefit from. If he needs more than 4 calls a day then you're likely to be heading into sheltered housing/residential territory.
Has he had any proper assessments for his memory?

[Deleted User]

I hope you are able to do something to help your father.

Social housing is in such short supply, this sort of situation is very difficult and is only made more difficult by our sometimes 'stubborn' parents who can't bear to ask for help (I have a father who is the same, I am sure his attitude keeps him going). I am afraid when I suggested a similar move to my father (from his area to mine) he just couldn't cope with the idea, which is very sad.

I have noticed in my area there are far far more properties available for the over 55's than larger properties for families. Obviously this changes from area to area, so placing him in a 'later' life property might not be impossible if you can get your Local authority to allow it.

I can't quite tie in whether the respondent who says they see HA properties advertised on rightmove all the time lives in a different dimension lolol. Perhaps this does happen in some boroughs, but I haven't lived in one like that yet lol. However it might be worth googling 'over 55 properties' with your area name and seeing if anything comes up. It might lead to a HA without a huge waiting list, who could advise you on how to help your father access such properties from outside the borough.

margaretn

elsien wrote: »

They are unlikely to offer unless you ask, so be very clear about where you think the gaps in his support are and what you think he would benefit from. If he needs more than 4 calls a day then you're likely to be heading into sheltered housing/residential territory.
Has he had any proper assessments for his memory?

Thank you very much for the advice. I have actually started looking into sheltered housing today and I really do feel like that would be a great move for him. I have contacted multiple local associations and hope to hear from them soon. For his memory - yes. He has had CT scans and has mild cognitive impairment due to mini-strokes. He has also been seen by a memory specialist and that is on-going.

Penitent wrote: »

I actually agree with this and do try to keep my responses in this corner of MSE neutral or postive, so I've removed my grumpy response to another poster's poor manners. Sorry for the disruption, margaretn.

Please do not apologise! I am very grateful for everyone's contribution here, I really am.

deannatrois wrote: »

I hope you are able to do something to help your father.

Social housing is in such short supply, this sort of situation is very difficult and is only made more difficult by our sometimes 'stubborn' parents who can't bear to ask for help (I have a father who is the same, I am sure his attitude keeps him going). I am afraid when I suggested a similar move to my father (from his area to mine) he just couldn't cope with the idea, which is very sad.

I have noticed in my area there are far far more properties available for the over 55's than larger properties for families. Obviously this changes from area to area, so placing him in a 'later' life property might not be impossible if you can get your Local authority to allow it.

I can't quite tie in whether the respondent who says they see HA properties advertised on rightmove all the time lives in a different dimension lolol. Perhaps this does happen in some boroughs, but I haven't lived in one like that yet lol. However it might be worth googling 'over 55 properties' with your area name and seeing if anything comes up. It might lead to a HA without a huge waiting list, who could advise you on how to help your father access such properties from outside the borough.

Thank you very much for this advice. I feel like I have had a light bulb moment upon finding sheltered housing/retirement housing. This is, again, something I did not even know existed and was available so I have all of you on this forum to thank for that. I have contacted multiple local organisations and hopefully I'll hear back from them after the weekend. I feel hopeful. Thank you all so much for this.

margaretn

NeilCr wrote: »

Found this online
2012 so not sure how up to date it is!. From this, if it covers your area, looks like you may be okay with the local connection.

Definitely still best to have the conversation with the council, though.

Again. Good luck!

I would also like to say thank you to you for your responses on here. I have got a bit jaded with this particular forum for a while because of the cynicism and back biting - and the fact that there are obvious trolls who start spurious threads. It is really nice to see how you have posted and how thoughtful you are

Wow - thank you SO much for sourcing that for me. I doubt I would have been able to find that myself. Thank you again. I really appreciate it. As for my responses, I honestly can't even express how grateful I am for every single person who has taken time to comment and advise me here. For the first time, I am feeling hopeful about the situation, thanks to all of you. You have all suggested things I either did not know existed or wouldn't think to approach. I already feel like I've taken steps forwards in helping my dad. I just needed a helping hand and sometimes that's scary to ask for, especially on a pretty anonymous forum board, but everyone has been amazing, you included. Thanks again.

Ames

I've never heard of social housing being advertised on Right Move. If they do advertise properties on there that no-one on the housing list wants then I highly doubt they'd be suitable for a vulnerable person with the various health problems the OPs dad has.

OP you asked about accepting properties as they are, that's in regard to decoration and repairs. It's kind of like 'sold as seen', you won't be entitled to help redecorating or updating although I'd expect basic maintenance issues could be raised.

If he's planning to move then you need to talk to the social worker about the bathroom, they might not want to pay for it to be done if he's not going to benefit.

[Deleted User]

I think about 15 years ago a friend got a HA house through an estate agent. It was on an estate no one wanted to live on, although a very nice new build house in itself. I really doubt it happens now though when even councils are looking to private rental in many areas to find properties for people on their housing register.

But it looks like the OP is exploring options and finding possible ways to succeed. Get social services back up (if you have a good social worker they sometimes see sideways in options we don't because they know the Local authority). Even if the HAs say they can't help, ask as many questions as you can think of. A solution might appear (I've found solutions that way sometimes to things the council said couldn't possibly ever happen).

Like, I couldn't get the LA to do repairs on my house. Really essential stuff. My social worker organised an OT assessment and I am now getting a shower and new adapted kitchen so at least those will be in a good state. Otherwise I'd be waiting 18 months with a kitchen literally falling apart that I couldn't use (the normal route).

Not_a_clue

Just to second putting a hold on the shower works, with your dad's agreement. I think that if a property has been adapted the council may only allow swops by people who need the adaptations. You could check with your dad's council, if he is happy with this, but it could stymy the works. As the works not until May you wouldn't need to do this immediately.

Sheltered housing tends to be easier to get into, but just a warning that they may feel that your dad's level of needs make a care home more suitable in which case he won't be offered sheltered. Also depending on his level of MCI he could find the move confusing, though overall it may be a good thing, and if a care home is needed later it makes it more likely it will be near you.

I'd be reluctant to rent a shared larger place with him as you would then run the risk of at some point being left alone to pay a rent that you could not afford.

Hope all goes well in any move.