Council housing

[Penny]

I am having doubts as to whether this house is going to be suitable for daughter and boyfriend. It is about 4 miles away along country lanes and there is no shop, nothing really. Once her boyfriend goes back to work (furloughed) the days are going to be so long for her. I looked at the bus timetables and there is one bus out of the village at 6.40 am returning about 6pm and it goes to the city so she can’t even catch a bus to the nearest small town.

The other thing is We have discovered there is hardly any mobile phone signal there so if she needs us that’s another problem.

I wonder what people’s thoughts are. Should they accept and then put in for an exchange in the future? If we decline it altogether do we get kind of blacklisted?

We live in a large village with several shops, pub, much better bus route and of course, us close to hand should any problems arise. I did put all this in writing to the council ages ago and said that because of her special needs she must be somewhere where she is not isolated and can have some independence. I can’t see her getting any at the new place. Oh dear ... hubby and I have decided not to say anything to them until they look at the property. There were two lovely flats In our village which they have given to homeless people which would have been absolutely perfect.

[Melly1]

The location doesn’t sound ideal re links and transport. Phone less of an issue as she could always have a landline.

I think it would be ok if there is a community there - a church hall or cafe where groups meet etc?
Or if she is having DP to pay for support? If so and she specifies the need for a driver.

I don’t know the rules on accepting/ rejecting/swapping etc is there info on council website or you could contact Shelter or CAB for advice.

I think you need to talk daughter and boyfriend through pros and cons.

Melly1

[sunnydisposition]

I think it would better to reject having at least viewed the property. Then write down all the negatives for refusing.

I.e. as you have already stated. And add the detrimental effect on well being.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help


https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housi ... ncil-home/

[bowlingbun]

I think it would be helpful, in your role as her carer/support to talk this through with the council informally to start with.
If necessary, remind them that they have a duty to "make reasonable adjustments for disabled people" and they don't appear to have done that, sufficiently. Had they even considered her being home alone all day, completely isolated, without even a decent phone signal?
Ask what would happen if they rejected it. It might be that they have to move in and struggle before they can prove their need, but that really doesn't seem fair, or reasonable.

[Penny]

Thank you all so much for your help. I barely slept last night worrying about this. Hubby was working at a house in that village today and the owners confirmed they couldn't get a phone signal neither could he. They also confirmed what I knew about buses.

We spoke to daughter at lunchtime and she went ape!! Because she is on the autistic spectrum she is a hard person to reason with. She wouldn’t even sit down and discuss it she just kept shouting “you don’t want me to be independent”. I sat with my head in my hands while hubby explained that she would have less independence over there than she would here. At least she can walk to the doctors, shops, to her horse and also catch a bus from here.

Her boyfriend is coming on Sunday so hopefully we can get them to listen. I know they are really excited especially as it is brand new but there is no way on this earth she could manage all alone from 8-6 while he’s at work and she will be totally cut off.

they are due to view it a week on Monday.

[Cloudygal]

Hi Penny

This is a tricky one.

Does she currently walk to the doctors and shops and get buses by herself from where you are, or does she need your support to do that with her?

Are there any dial a ride buses that she could use or special taxi services for people with disabilities..we have one here.

The supported living place my son is going to is on a bus route and has shops very close..but my son will need support to access these.

His flat, however doesn't have its own garden.

It does depend what your daughters priorities are.
If she can currently do a lot of things on her own on the community and this house will stop her doing that it could be a backward step.

I feel however that ultimately your daughter should look at the pros and cons and make the decision herself .

[Penny]

Hi Penny

This is a tricky one.

Does she currently walk to the doctors and shops and get buses by herself from where you are, or does she need your support to do that with her?

Are there any dial a ride buses that she could use or special taxi services for people with disabilities..we have one here.

The supported living place my son is going to is on a bus route and has shops very close..but my son will need support to access these.

His flat, however doesn't have its own garden.

It does depend what your daughters priorities are.
If she can currently do a lot of things on her own on the community and this house will stop her doing that it could be a backward step.

I feel however that ultimately your daughter should look at the pros and cons and make the decision herself .

thanks Cloudygal. yes as we are now she can catch a bus (I have to remind her when it’s due and ring her when she needs to catch a bus back though). She can walk to the surgery and now prefers me not to accompany her. We have a small supermarket she walks to and also a village shop and post office.

I was talking to my husband just now and the main reasons for leaving home are she wants to live with her boyfriend and be more independent. We agree with that completely. We are now past state pension age and we want to ensure she is settled before we pop our clogs. If we dropped dead and she had a house in this (large) village people would look out for her and she knows loads of people. If she moved to the new house there is no social network and nowhere to go to or get out of the village. There are lots of little villages like that around here which I cycle through and you could hear a pin drop. Loads are second homes and seldom used, there are no shops and many people shop online so there is no need for them to leave their houses. It would indeed be a backward step for her.

[Penny]

Update.

We have now told the housing association that they are not interested in this house and told them all the reasons why. It was daughter and boyfriend’s decision and came after much discussion.

Yesterday we noticed a HA bungalow empty in the village so I have sent a pleading letter to our contact at the council asking if they could please be considered for this. Daughter is in the priority band and would be able to catch buses, walk to shops, GP, Post Office etc. And be much more independent. It would be 100% perfect for them. Everything crossed.

[Melly1]

Penny,
Sounds ideal.

Melly1

[Cloudygal]

Pennie

Wise decision re house

Fingers crossed for the bungalow!