Annual Tenancy Review by *Deception

chic75
chic75 Online Community Member Posts: 11 Listener
in Benefits and income

Hello again all. Been a while since I last posted. I was subject to a benefits check by the DWP, bank statements, explain highlighted expenditure, who lives at home with me (my sister does)

Before I was contacted by the DWP my housing association representative just happened to be in the area & asked if he could drop by to carry out a tenancy review. He wasn't my actual housing officer, who was off that day apparently.

I agreed knowing full well that only 8 months had passed since the last T/R was carried out & this was more to find out who lived in my home (he sort of gave the game away when he tried to invite himself to look over the bedrooms to see if any issues that would need reporting for repairs. I'm still waiting on my bathroom being repaired properly after being flooded by upstairs toilet sewage running down my bathroom walls.

My sister lives here (legally) after uncertainty since my mum died in a fall. I explained that my sister was badly affected my mums passing & she was nomadic but staying here the odd night while I recovered from illness & surgery, until we decided she would be better of staying here permanently. I knew then the 'annual review' was a rouse, confirmed when he strained his neck looking past my kids bedroom door, which I deliberately left open. I've nothing to hide. Shortly after I was then contacted by the DWP for the benefit review & again more interested as to who was staying here (I explained again why my sister wouldn't settle after mums passing) now we we're informing that she would move in permanently & after we discussed with a benefits advisor who works within the H/A the financial implications. The gentleman at the DWP made a point in saying that I had 2 weeks to inform them of the change that she was intending to move in permanently & that my review was over.

I hope you're keeping up - sorry 😬

I recently started work again, informing UC of every step I made. I am long term chronic illness with disabilities so there was never any pressure by UC to find a job - I just needed to do this for myself.

Inevitably with self-employment I fell behind with my rent due to a mixture of bad luck & someone crashing into the back of my Taxi. I used my rent to pay my Taxi lease & after the crash to pay the insurance excess. Snow-balled but I knew I was juggling & would catch up with my rent once I was past the rough start in self-employment.

Admittedly I didn't keep my housing officer up to speed of events, I've been working 16 hour shifts only broken when my kids were here through access & sleeping. I've still to recover from my early losses so will still be in the UC loop until I turn a profit.

I chatted with my H/O & we agreed to chat again once my meeting with the benefits advisor was over. A half hour didn't even pass when I received a call from another H/A rep who on instruction by my H/O to let me know (wait for it..) that I was due my annual review & could I agree a date for the appointment & access to my home by my H/O.

Perfectly normal you'd think except I'm not actually due a tenancy review until January 2026. I mentioned to this person I was just off the phone with my H/O who made no mention of any tenancy review - I got the impression they put their foot in it as she stumbled & stammered at this point.

I feel they think they have a gotcha moment, like I've been up to no good, working when claiming benefits - benefits I am entitled to.

I see this behaviour as being deceptive in order to access my home & did point out it was inconvenient as I'm supposed to be working 12 straight days so I can spend more time with my kids when they are here.

There was too much of a coincidence when the dwp review preceeded the last tenancy review & I'm not happy if I have to go through that again. Some personal details & purchases that I don't want to have to explain once again to a stranger. I suffer from a degree of mental health issues & felt triggered whilst this latest invasion of my privacy unfolded. Just not sure of my next step

Whats the question here then. Well I'd like to know if I can ask my Housing Association for any information they might have about me on record, under freedom of information so to speak.

Nb. My tenancy agreement states clearly to give adequate notice for a once yearly review, not 6 months or twice in the year.

Thanks for reading if you've managed till the end

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