Council tennant, requesting move due to physical ability

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zilexilia

Hi all. I live in council accomodation and have for 3+ years now, but I live in a top floor maisonette with steps up to the building, two flights of stairs no lift and further stairs inside my property, I have been struggling with this for so long now and I can't deal with it much longer. I have fibro and arthritis in my knees, I receive PIP but due to working full time and my husband working full time we aren't eligible to apply for council housing right now, my question is, can I request to be moved even though our household income is more than 38k due to disability and suitability of my current property? Only we couldn't afford private renting if we tried and it's becoming unbearable to go home these days, I can't bath or shower at home as it isn't accessible I have to go to my parents for that, I work nights and just avoid going home in the day because the stairs wipe me out and if I need the loo it's four lots of stairs to get there. When I do go home I stay in and usually live upstairs as we only have an upstairs WC. It's like I can't be at home in my home.

Do I have a leg to stand on asking to be moved? Or is it just tough luck that we both work full time? I know eventually I'm not going to be able to work because these stairs are killing me off but I don't want it to get to that point, I want to keep my independence.

Im at a loss 😞

Kimi87

Could you clarify please, your post states you already live in council housing, but the council are telling you you are ineligible to apply for council housing due to income?

If you already live in a council property then you can look to do a mutual exchange.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/council_housing_association/tenancy_exchanges

You can also apply to be moved on medical grounds, this usually involves a bidding system. Medical evidence helps and you can request an Occupational Therapy assessment around your housing needs.

This article talks about adaptations, but obviously as stairs are your problem that would only be helped by moving to a ground floor property.

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/home-adaptations-occupational-therapist-assessments

There are long waits for social housing, even for those with the highest priority. You may need to compromise and look at ground floor flats rather than hold out for a bungalow as an example.