Housing Association tenancy

Matt230

Looking for any advice. Lived in our former council house all my life. I have been my mums career for last ten years and am now 58. Mum got dementia and is now going into care. Housing association say I can’t inherit tenancy. After four weeks I will be given notice to quit. This will be two months notice . I am on universal credit and not in good health. It’s a for bed house so don’t want to stay their.  At the moment housing officer not offering any options. Told me I had to bid for new tenancy like anyone else. Anyone know who can help.

scorpiolady

Just do what they are telling you to do , sign up and bid, you will more than likely be at the top of the list because of becoming homeless and will get a property

Mrsn

You might wish to post this on the housing board to get a wider response. There are some posters on there that either work for housing associations or have done in the past. 

wolfehouse

Sign up and bid  and also call shelter and get some advice from them.
It may be that you need to present to the council as ‘homeless’ officially.  Shelter should be able to tell you. https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness
(there is a different website and number in Scotland)

Matt230

Thanks have started to read Shelter. Lots about if tenant has passed away, can’t find anything if tenant goes into a home. Ps where do I find housing board

Matt230

Thanks have started to read Shelter. Lots about if tenant has passed away, can’t find anything if tenant goes into a home. Ps where do I find housing board

KxMx

Hi Matt,
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

You could also try a webchat with Shelter:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

HampshireH

Matt230 said:

Thanks have started to read Shelter. Lots about if tenant has passed away, can’t find anything if tenant goes into a home. Ps where do I find housing board

The person would have needed to assign the tenancy when they had capacity and if that were allowed.

You have no eligibility to take over the tenancy of your mother.

The Association have no obligation to you.

You need to have a meeting with the Council and get on their radar as well as looking into private rentals.

You would probably be eligible for sheltered accommodation (normally over 55s) I'd recommend asking about it as wait lists are often much shorter due to the eligibility criteria.

You health and age would both be an advantage on an application for sheltered housing.

Most schemes are independent living with a pull cord and warden, either flats, of bungalows. Communal or standalone. Optional care package may be available in some cases but not many.

The housing forum is here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

JJC1956

Matt230 said:

Looking for any advice. Lived in our former council house all my life. I have been my mums career for last ten years and am now 58. Mum got dementia and is now going into care. Housing association say I can’t inherit tenancy. After four weeks I will be given notice to quit. This will be two months notice . I am on universal credit and not in good health. It’s a for bed house so don’t want to stay their.  At the moment housing officer not offering any options. Told me I had to bid for new tenancy like anyone else. Anyone know who can help.

HampshireH is right you need to sign up for a Council Flat or Housing association property ASAP. There are different lists for different age groups, I got my flat on an ‘over 50’s’ list.
As you are on Universal Credit, it might be a good idea to ask a question or 2 on your ‘Journal’, if you have enough money to pay for a deposit for private accommodation, UC will pay a portion or all of the rent, depending on where you live.

GibbsRule_No3.

Did you pay towards utilities and if so are any with your name?  I assume that if your mum was on any housing benefit, then your name as a non dependent living at the same address, was listed and that amount of rental benefits were discounted from her rent.  Have you never lived away from home? If the answer is yes, yes, yes and no, you might be in a better position for the HA to find you something. Your age and health could also help, agree about asking for older person housing..
Your local MP and councillors are worth contacting as well.

HampshireH

GibbsRule_No3. said:

Did you pay towards utilities and if so are any with your name?  I assume that if your mum was on any housing benefit, then your name as a non dependent living at the same address, was listed and that amount of rental benefits were discounted from her rent.  Have you never lived away from home? If the answer is yes, yes, yes and no, you might be in a better position for the HA to find you something. Your age and health could also help, agree about asking for older person housing..
Your local MP and councillors are worth contacting as well.

MP and or Councillors should be utilised if the OP gets nowhere with the council.

There is a process & OP has to respect that and the Council won't thank them for going to an MP or Councillor creating unnecessary work and delays when they could have been assessing OPs application and advising them directly 

These things should really have been bought about before mum went into a home. 

For future viewers, people who have always lived at home should learn from posts like the OPs that you really do need an informed plan in life for the what if scenarios. As it can be so much more stressful to have to deal with it in the moment with little prior planning