Advice about taking a council property please

JimmyTheWig

AdrianC wrote: »

You say you're "sofa surfing" currently? That sounds fairly homeless to me.

I think they have a home which is unsuitable, and so sofa surf.

Lucy_willow

Thank you.
I am accepted as in urgent need because I can't live in my property. I sofa surf and sometimes sleep out because I am unable to live in an isolated location due to my disability.
I am desperate but I do believe that I would struggle to cope with noisy kids around constantly. I do get aggressive.. Not physically to other people other than myself but I am verbally quite abrupt when I am stressed as I do not have the capacity to judge situations well. And certain noises really grate me..... I am also hypersensitive to them. I have no problem with transport noises or animals. Just loud human noises mostly.. Cant help it. I have always disliked high pitched shrieks. Conversations and laughs etc even as a young child myself...

need_an_answer

Personally I think you should decline this property especially if declining it will not affect your status of being a priority case.

The essence of a playground is a place that young children can relax in,enjoy and invariably make noise.Lots of people choose not to live near them or schools for the very reason that at certain times of the day you will encounter noise. In some respects it could be said that a quiet playground is not doing its job and serving its purpose.


You have been honest and quite rightly stated from your first post onwards that the effect of a playground in your immediate housing vicinity would cause issues and problems not just for you but potentially those using the playground as it was designed.


Let go of this property and wait for the next offer,I don't believe that you would be able to change your ways and neither should you expect others to fall in with your requirements.

If traffic noise doesn't compound your issue then perhaps you could ask to be considered for a more main road property which to some people would be a worse option than a playground,but that just goes to demonstrate how different people deal with different noise levels and situations


Best of luck with your search for somewhere more suitable going forward.

[Deleted User]

If you can manage it, contact the National autistic trust. Get them, if you can, to work out how to suggest strongly to the council that you have problems with noise (which can be a recognised feature with ASD) and this property is unsuitable. You could ask if there is an alternative one bedroom property on the development that is not next to the playground.

If you get help from the NAS (they tend to come up with any laws that apply, and autism is a recognised disability) they may be able to get the council to recognise that you need your need for quiet to be taken into account. However, whether they will depends on your council's policy, mine wouldn't officially (I have ASD too).

"Our lines are open 10am-4pm from Monday-Thursday. On Fridays, we are open from 9am-3pm (excluding Bank Holidays). You can call us on 0808 800 4104."

Do they know you have arthritis? Do they have medical evidence? This might affect affect whether they'd offer another property with stairs although, again, in my case that only meant I could still be offered a property with one case of stairs. Depending on how bad your arthritis is, that could change what sort of property you could be offered but that could also mean you would be waiting longer so you need to weigh all that up.

It might also help to know I have a place right next to a playground as well. The kitchen faces the playground, not the lounge and I very rarely hear any sounds at all from the playground, even when kids are screaming in it (as they were when I went out last night) as long as I keep the double glazed windows closed. I do have wireless headphones I wear most of the time to help me ignore any sounds but haven't had to use them for that in this place. They weren't overly cheap (RS185 or RS195) headphones, they are over ear noise cancelling headphones. They have helped a lot when I have lived in places with outside sound including a couple of dogs barking all day (I listen to tv programmes or music I like).

Once you have a support worker again, I hope they will help you with applying for PIP if you don't already get it. Having enhanced care and mobility PIP has helped me not only with more money but also with getting difficulties I have recognised. Its stressful to apply for, but I just persisted and was awarded it at Tribunal level for five years.

I also have two dogs (one a large GSD) and am able to keep them quiet (they have been known to alert to other people walking their dogs outside the property).

Lucy_willow

Thank you for your detailed response. I reluctantly refused the house today. So no way back. I am top of the refusal list if anyone turns down another property on the estate... I think it will sink in if it snows and I find myself sleeping in my car again like last year.... I did ask my social worker for advice and she advised me to turn it down.. I like my own one bed Bungalow .. But just cannot cope in a village location due to the isolation from my mother and familiar area.. If I wasn't autistic I might be able to manage there.. I just wish I could shift my house 15 miles across Hertfordshire!!. I am still at the top of the housing register so I am just praying something comes up quickly.. My local authority has very few one bed properties that are not for over 50s..and nothing for disability under 50 years.. and they won't budge on the age limit I'm 46.. My arthritis limits me to one set of stairs maximum... Oh well.. Shame and all that.. ☹️

Lucy_willow

I got refused Pip when DLA ended and I have been waiting for 18 month's for tribunal... Finally have court date 1st February.. It's been a hard year...

fairy_lights

Lucy_willow wrote: »

Thank you for your detailed response. I reluctantly refused the house today.

Well done, it must have been a difficult decision but sounds like it was the right one for you. Fingers crossed something else will be offered soon.

[Deleted User]

Lucy_willow wrote: »

I got refused Pip when DLA ended and I have been waiting for 18 month's for tribunal... Finally have court date 1st February.. It's been a hard year...

If you want to PM me about the PIP tribunal feel free. Been through it myself. And housing problems, but not quite the same.

Try the NAS, they can be a good source of support. Might have a local office somewhere near you. You could also try your MP. Variable in how helpful they are but might be of some help.