Best way to buy new TV for shared lounge in supported living house?

williewonder

The front room TV is breaking. I live in supported living with 3 other people and I'm the only one who uses that TV really, I want to buy a new TV which I can easily afford but my deputy at social services won't release the money as he says all the other service users need to contribute towards the new TV. I don't think they'll contribute as its only me who watches TV in there. Do you think this is fair?

Mark_d

The TV would be available for any of the people to use, so everyone should pay.  Yes you currently use it much more than the others but you don't split the cost based on how much time you spend watching TV now.  Same goes for any other item that is for everyone to use.

Devongardener

I don’t know the rules regarding shared supported living, but that seems incredibly unfair, as TVs are not particularly expensive.

Was the TV there when you moved in?  I would have thought that it might come under general fixtures and fittings, for example if the oven or other appliance needed replacing would everyone have to contribute or is there a social service fund for repairs and replacements?
I wonder if it could be gifted to the house by a supportive friend or relative.

williewonder

All the kitchen appliances are purchased by the housing association who specialise in supported living properties. The current TV in the front room is mine, that I brought down from my bedroom as the other TV broke.

DullGreyGuy

What has the HA said about replacing the broken TV? It's presumably their responsibility. 

Crazydennie

In Supported living, It is not normally the responsibility of the HA  for items like the TV.  The SW is just trying to protect your interests and strictly speaking, is correct that everyone should contribute. I would advise them that you want a TV for your own enjoyment and that if need be you will place the TV in your own room.  They are very unlikely (in my experience as an ex-social worker) to check where the tv will be in reality.

The issue you will have will be if you decide to move to a different environment and want to take the tv with you, you would need to prove that you paid for it and it is not communal property.

Have you spoken to the other residents about contributing, as mentioned TVs are not that expensive so they may be willing to contribute.  Is there a care agency related to the home and have you spoken with them as they should be able to liaise with the social work teams of the other residents on your and the other residents' behalf?

Muttleythefrog

I think your deputy is acting correctly and in your interests... everyone should equally contribute if necessary. Sounds like the HA should be sorting this out... what are they saying? If necessary TVs can probably be gotten free.. there's so much stuff people want to give away or flog cheaply out there. But this should be formally handled I think.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, but ... the OP says it's to replace his own TV which he moved from his room to the lounge.

So while I can see the argument that everyone should contribute, I'm not sure that holds water here. 

Crazydennie offers a workaround .

Muttleythefrog

Savvy_Sue said:

Yes, but ... the OP says it's to replace his own TV which he moved from his room to the lounge.

So while I can see the argument that everyone should contribute, I'm not sure that holds water here. 

Crazydennie offers a workaround .

He can surely just take it back to his room... since nobody else seems to watch TV their complaints would provoke suggestion everyone contribute to a new communal one. Perhaps speaking to others about a contribution might be a good idea but to be honest picking up second hand TVs for free (or incredibly cheap) these days tends to require simply the transport to get it from someone who will be saved the inconvenience of disposing of it themselves.

elsien

Mark_d said:

The TV would be available for any of the people to use, so everyone should pay.  Yes you currently use it much more than the others but you don't split the cost based on how much time you spend watching TV now.  Same goes for any other item that is for everyone to use.

This. Because otherwise the same argument could be made for the shared settee in the lounge, for example and I’m pretty sure your deputy wouldn’t want to be paying all of the money for that either.

Are you asking for an all singing all dancing huge smart TV or something a little more affordable? 

For those referencing social services. Williewonder has a financial deputy who is completely responsible for agreeing his spending. It’s not down to the social worker. 

elsien

Devongardener said:

I don’t know the rules regarding shared supported living, but that seems incredibly unfair, as TVs are not particularly expensive.

Was the TV there when you moved in?  I would have thought that it might come under general fixtures and fittings, for example if the oven or other appliance needed replacing would everyone have to contribute or is there a social service fund for repairs and replacements?
I wonder if it could be gifted to the house by a supportive friend or relative.

Williewonder is not short of cash and doesn’t need things to be gifted by supportive friends or relatives. 

Do the other people living there manage their own finances or do they also have an appointee / deputy?