Anyone Work For The Housing Department? Need Advice!

tenmah

Hello

Just wanted to add that at my council we would only allow a parlour/dining room to be used as a bedroom. We also would not allow anyone to sleep downstairs in a room that has a back boiler - this would be disconnected and that might leave the possibility of no heating!!

Also all of our wet rooms have toilets in, so I am surpirsed that you do not have one in yours!

~Chameleon~

tenmah wrote: »

Hello

Just wanted to add that at my council we would only allow a parlour/dining room to be used as a bedroom. We also would not allow anyone to sleep downstairs in a room that has a back boiler - this would be disconnected and that might leave the possibility of no heating!!

Glad you mentioned that as I forgot to put that in my previous post. My nan had the same problem (sleeping in living room with back boiler/gas fire) but all they (the council) did was to disconnect the gas supply to the actual fire front and left the back boiler running to provide heating/hot water. Should this not have been allowed then?

She was eventually moved into a nursing home but lived in the property for almost 5 years in that situation beforehand

tenmah

Hello

Just double checked on that for you - If the room has a back boiler as well as a gas fire, we would shut off the supply to the back boiler. However if it is just a gas fire in there, then there would be no reason to be concerned.

I always assumed that meant no heating at all but it seems that might not be the case!

~Chameleon~

tenmah wrote: »

Hello

Just double checked on that for you - If the room has a back boiler as well as a gas fire, we would shut off the supply to the back boiler. However if it is just a gas fire in there, then there would be no reason to be concerned.

I always assumed that meant no heating at all but it seems that might not be the case!

You are right, I got it the wrong way round. Asked my mum earlier and it was the back boiler they switched off and left her with just the gas fire to use (the only heating in the house) and she had to use the electric emersion (sp) heater for hot water.

ceridwen

tenmah wrote: »

Hello

Just double checked on that for you - If the room has a back boiler as well as a gas fire, we would shut off the supply to the back boiler. However if it is just a gas fire in there, then there would be no reason to be concerned.

I always assumed that meant no heating at all but it seems that might not be the case!

......errrr.....why? I am not following why it would not be allowed to use central/hot water heating from a back boiler if one sleeps in the room? Is there a safety problem with that?

~Chameleon~

ceridwen wrote: »

......errrr.....why? I am not following why it would not be allowed to use central/hot water heating from a back boiler if one sleeps in the room? Is there a safety problem with that?

I think it's something to do with the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as back boilers are more of a risk if there isn't adequate ventilation, or something like that.

skintas_2

they mite give u a 2 bedroom flat, ground floor . i live on a small estate, 24 flats and the ground fllor are mostly for old people or disabled which have been adpated, walk in showers, hand rails,..... etc........ good luck ........

Penny-Pincher!!

tenmah wrote: »

Hello

I am an Adaptations Officer for my borough council, and we do not expect people to stay at their properties for five years after adaptations such as a wet room or stairlift. Usually the five year rule applies to a major adaptation such as an extension.

One of the best things you can do is to contact your Occupational Therapist department and request a Housing Needs Report (different to an assessment). They do a detailed report on what the problem is and what adaptations you would need in the new property.

When we receive one of these, we take our clients to a medical panel where an independent doctor looks at the case and awards you a medical priority to move.

As our council operates a choice based letting scheme, this means that should you then chose to move to a property that is not suitable for you (which I am sure you wouldn't!) we then wouldn't fund the adaptations. We do not use the grant system here for council housing, we fund all adaptations, so this might be different within your council.

I have to agree though, that three bed bungalows are very thin on the ground, as are any adapted properties, so having a housing needs report or a high award to give you priority to move will NOT guarantee you a suitable property and you may still have to wait sometime before you are able to move.

Sorry for the long post, if you need any more info, then let me know.

Thanks my OT was the one who recommended a move as the property is now not suitable. The stairlift and wet room was done last year on a DFG.

PP
xx

HariboJunkie

Hi PenPin

I have a friend who was in your situation and was told she would not be given priority on medical grounds as so many adaptations had been made to her home. Seems like it varies depending on where you live. Would it not be practical for you to change a room downstairs into a bedroom? I hope you don't mind me asking but is there a particular reason for needing a 3rd bedroom? I'm really not sure they'd take the noise of the stairlift and the fact that you want more room into consideration.

All the best with it.

Haribo

Edit...Sorry, I've just read why you need the 3rd bedroom.

Penny-Pincher!!

skintas wrote: »

they mite give u a 2 bedroom flat, ground floor . i live on a small estate, 24 flats and the ground fllor are mostly for old people or disabled which have been adpated, walk in showers, hand rails,..... etc........ good luck ........

....but that wouldnt help with the spare room for my husband to sleep in? As we have a house, our council would not offer a flat unless we asked as they will rehouse like for like if you are in a HA proprty already. I have part filled the form and stipulated that we would only accept a bungalow or possibly a 3 bedroom house if adaptions could be made (like bedroom downstairs or toilet upstairs etc). We are also allowed to state where we are willing to move too within the borough.

Thanks

PP
xx