Disabled man - desperate to find housing.

disintegrating

Hi all,

I'm a 29-year-old disabled man, in receipt of income support and disability living allowance. My problem is that I simply cannot find a landlord willing to rent a property to me, as I am not in full-time employment. I would very much appreciate it if anyone could offer me any advice on how I might go about finding a place to live as I'm currently facing homelessness; i've spoken to the c.a.b; they can only offer me a place in a hostel. This is not something I consider to be an option - being quite seriously unwell I feel that I need my own space.

I expect that i'll face a tsunami of "GO AND GET A JOB, LOSER!" comments following of this post, but please don't bother. My confidence has been sufficiently crushed over the years by such comments, your work is done. Well done. I did get a job not long ago, contrary to my hospital consultant's advice, because of social pressures [the assumption that everyone without a job is a lazy and just PRETENDING to be unwell ] and financial desperation, and ended up in hospital as a result. If you're not able to help, kindly don't reply. If you can help, thankyou a million times over for your advice.

If you are a landlord and are willing to offer a flat to a man living in the Northamptonshire area, I can assure you that I will treat your property with absolute respect, my rent will be paid promptly and my tenancy will procure no negative consequence regardless of ignorant stereotypes. Please post details below

Thankyou.

maninthestreet

Potential landlords would want to know how you are going to pay the rent without a job - so you need to list exactly how much your income is, which I assume comes entirely from benefit payments. No one on these boards is going know who you are, so don't feel relunctant to post you income details here.

oldMcDonald

We have been in a similar situation and had to apply for council / HA help with housing, so I can only offer advice from what I know in this respect - there may be other ways to find housing in this situation and if so then I hope there is someone who can advise you.

What would matter in any homeless application to the council are such questions as:
Do you have a physical disability? Would it be hard to use stairs/baths etc? Are you going homeless through no fault of your own? Where are you living at this moment?

If you are homeless through no fault of your own then the council should set you up in some form of temporary housing - yes, there is a high possibility that will be a hostle if there are no major physical diasbilities (I am assuming you are single with no children?)

Once you are made homeless and the council agree that this is through no fault of your own, then they will house you in the temporary accomodation. With written support from all health proffesionals involved in your care saying you need your own space, then the council should regard you as a priority and identify any suitable properties when they become available.

Some councils have an agreement with some local landlords with regards to HB and deposit and the landlords waiting for the payments from the council, but I know little about this so don't want to start telling you anything in case my information is wrong.

Hopefully someone else may be able to advise with regards to this option.

barnaby-bear

disintegrating wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm a 29-year-old disabled man, in receipt of income support and disability living allowance. My problem is that I simply cannot find a landlord willing to rent a property to me, as I am not in full-time employment. I would very much appreciate it if anyone could offer me any advice on how I might go about finding a place to live as I'm currently facing homelessness; i've spoken to the c.a.b; they can only offer me a place in a hostel. This is not something I consider to be an option - being quite seriously unwell I feel that I need my own space.

A lot of mortgage and insurance companies put conditions on LLs to not rent to certain groups because you find it so hard to find alternative housing if they want to serve notice you would be given advice to stay until formally evicted (expensive process) before council will consider you for housing. Hence they like to avoid the risk so it isn't personal. Indeed if you are facing tenancy termination now you may need to do this to avoid lowering your priority.

If this is some type of mental illness some LLs will be put off because poorly supported care in the community cases can have problems managing their finances or homes.

Practically you may get some support contacting a charity/advocacy group supporting your illness as they often have access/referral capacity for supported housing. They can act as an intermediatary to reassure LL that rent will be paid and you are supported (it's not you it's the broad spectrum of needs - they don't know you just the worst case LL stories). They will also have experience dealing with the issues you have.

The hostel option may not be desirable but is an access facility - once in hostel accommodation you will have higher priority. Some hostels/other facilties e.g. YMCA have single bedsit type units so it wouldn't necessarily be dorms but more like studio flatlets.

You may get some suggestions on the benefits board.

oldMcDonald

barnaby-bear wrote: »

The hostel option may not be desirable but is an access facility - once in hostel accommodation you will have higher priority.

The above point is very important to remember. With your disability the council would have a duty of care to you as their tenant, they would have to make you a priority case and move you as soon as possible.

mlz1413

disintergrating do you have a deposit?
If you don't this is a major problem for any LL, as security is needed regardless of your situation. Can you get help from the council for this?

Can you offer references from any LL previously to say you left property is excellent condition when you left? This would give a private LL reassurance that what you say has been proved true in the past.

Also BBear has made a good point, a short time in a hostel could probably give you the best chance of secure council housing.

Also you say your in northamptonshire area can you go over any borders - beds / bucks ?

scooby1001

I have to agree with old mcdonald above your bet bed is going through the local council. As a disabled person you are vunerable and so in priorty need which means the council have a duty to house you. They may tell you that they cant help you but this is only so you go and find your own accomodation. You need to get as much supporting letters as possible from doctors etc as it all helps. Once you have been told you have to leave your present accommodation you go and put in a homeless apprication at the council. They will interview you (good to have support for that) and put you in temp acc while they look at your case. Dont be put off by them saying you are intentionally homeless etc as they are all tatics to get you to find your own acc. Good luck.

kunekune

I don't have any ideas, but I wanted to say that I hope you find something suitable. And that you don't face any prejudice. It makes me absolutely furious that "care in the community" ends up meaning "abandoned in the community" ...

jammie*dodger

Just out of interest (don't answer if you don't want to) what is your disability? Is it the sort of thing that would prevent you from climbing stairs for instance?

Rob.

keelyjrs

Hi I would strongly suggest that you contact shelter http://england.shelter.org.uk/home/index.cfm and get yourself a caseworker. They will help you liase with your local council and take some of the strain off you. They will ensure that you are receiving adequte support from your council and help to move things along

Also get onto your local social services as you should have a care manager, she or he will then hopefully get you assessed by an occupational therapist who will assess what kind of living arangement you need.

I would also urge you to speak to Dial http://www.dialuk.info/ as they help people with different disabilities

If you have mental health problems you can contact Mind http://www.mind.org.uk/ for support and advice.

I'm happy for you to PM me if you need any more advice
hth