Councilmbot giving permission for mum to move in with me

tara123

Hi I'm in temporary housing single mum with 2 children. I fleed DV.
recently my mother had a fall in my brothers house. She broke her hip and went into hospital. Whilst in hospital she told me she didn't want to return to the house due to years of DV and she was afraid of going back. 
I bought her into my temporary housing and she is with me now. 
Ive asked the council to add her to my housing application as she now has a disabikty and she's very vulnerable .
however they have refused. I don't no what to do as mum doesn't have anywhere else to go. She doesn't want to go to a care home or live alone. She's not a home  owner so she is homeless. I want to look after her as I've been through DV too and I know how she feels.
she also has arthritis of the kneck and the knee and can't walk very far. Only with a Zimmer frame she can move but not long lengths until she gets tired.
the council are refusing for her to live with me as they said they don't have a duty towards her but only towards me and my 2 children. Help 

Geoark

Hi @tara123 sorry to hear about your situation. Have the council done a formal assessment for your mum's need? If so what was the reason given for not having a duty to your mum? If not your mum needs to make an application in her own right.

If she is assessed and it is decided they do have a duty to house her they may then consider a joint tenancy, on the grounds that it would free up one of the homes.

I'm afraid the news doesn't get any better, if the council consider you to be overcrowded or in breach of your temporary tenancy or conditions they could take the position that you are making yourself deliberately homeless by keeping your mother with you, meaning they would no longer have a duty to you and your children.

You need to get proper housing advice as quickly as possible, I have had a quick look and could not find a specialist housing advisor though @Sam_Scope may know one or if the scope telephone advisers will be able to help, otherwise try your local CAB or Shelter on 0808 800 4444.

Sam_Scope

Thanks @Geoark - @tara123 Im so sorry you are having such a tough time.

@Debbie_Scope works for our helpline and also helps us out here on the community and has a lot of experience in housing - do you have any advice here Debbie? 

Debbie_Scope

Hi @tara123,

This is really complex and I mirror everything @Geoark has advised above and would urge you to get in touch with Shelter for some legal advice.
There's also information on Shelter's website about becoming Homeless due to Domestic Violence 

Where was your Mum living before she went into hospital? You mention that she fell while at your brother's house but I can't tell from that if this was her usual place of residence or whether she was visiting. Did she have a property of her own? 

I think your Mum needs to make a homeless application in her own right. If she is owed a duty the housing department could then consider housing you together for the longer term but I think unless she applies as homeless in her own right she's not going to be able to move forward and I wouldn't want you to jeopardise your temporary accommodation.

Lets us know how you get on with this and whether you're able to get the right help in place.

Best wishes
Debbie

tara123

She was residing with my brother and father before yes She was afraid of going back due to the DV i guess she couldn't take any more abuse after going through it for fifty six years I was given a link by council to do a self assessment form They have said she needs to show she is high needs and social worker prifessional need to be involved They also said a seventy five year old making a homeless application does not generally happen don't no what thats supposed to mean i spoke to CAB who said they don't deal with housing situation I spoke to shelter who gave me numbers of housing Solicitirs who have said they dont have the capacity to take on the case im really worried seems like every door is closed most are saying they haven't come across a case like this I don't no which direction to go into Do I get her assesed first or does she apply for homelessness in her own right

Sam_Scope

@tara123 have you tried the law centre?

tara123

will call law centre and see what they say I will also fill in self assessment form age uk have said it will take a while before they do an assessment my fear is losing the place im in due to this situation of my mum It's like ive got my kids on one side and my poor mum on the other side I feel like I'm banging my head on a brick wall right now and so confused where it's stressing me out 

Matilda

I know you've told the council your mum is living with you - but will they check up or just forget about it because they are too busy (for all they know your mum might have moved on by now)?  In other words, in practice are you and your mum safe from eviction until you sort the problem out?

You could contact your MP for help.  MPs have a lot of power.

Debbie_Scope

Hi @tara123,

If you haven't already done so I think it's worth getting in touch with Women's Aid. It sounds like your mum is going to need lots of support and if the council aren't coming forward with temporary accommodation or taking a homeless application, Women's Aid might be able to provide accommodation or assistance to get this homeless application through.

I don't see any harm in asking for a needs assessment from Adult Social Care. They too have a duty to help and might be able to put pressure on the housing department.

Which Council are you applying to?

The Council can't refuse to take a homeless application. If your Mum is eligible for assistance, homeless and in priority need, there is an immediate duty to provide interim accommodation while they make the rest of their enquiries. 

The property your Mum was residing in, was it a joint tenancy? She may have other legal options to look at in terms of her rights of occupation of the home she shared with your Father. This is really complex legal work though and will need a solicitor.

How are you all holding up? This is a really difficult situation to be in, for all of you. 

If you need to talk in private let me know and we'll arrange to get your number and I'll give you a call tomorrow.

Best wishes
Debbie

wildlife

@tara123 Is anything being done to stop the abuse? 

tara123

We seem to be safe from eviction right now because no legal action has been taken the property where my mum lived belongs to my brother the abuse is no longer going on since shes moved with me because they don't no wherever I live I would be grateful if I could speak on the phone if you contact me on my email tarahhalila yahoo couk I feel mentally exhausted when mum was in hospital she had a social worker due to the DV and to make sure she had the mental capacity to make her decision the SW wrote a letter of involvement to say my mum was fearful of going back to the house and wanted to stay with me I handed the letter to the council along with the discharge letter from hospital the council said mum wanting to live with me because of convenience was not enough completely disregarded the DV maybe because mum didn't want police involved she's to afraid I also pointed out mums needs arthritis hip surgery mobility problems dizziness headachesTB vulnerable can't read or write English so can't administered her medication my father stopped her from having the English teacher many many years ago she can't use a phone I'm her primary carer also in the process of applying for attendance allowance then I can only apply for care allowance I've managed to seperate her pension DWP came round and I asked to be her appointee due to her English 

tara123

Also theyve stopped my housing benefit because I told them mums moved in so i don't no which direction to go

tara123

I don't feel comfortable putting up the council as I fleed DV and wouldn't want anyone to know where I live but if you call me Privately i will disclose to you Debbie 

tara123

Thank you for your advice Matilda they seem like they arent interested at all I will look into writing to MP

tara123

If I write to MP I don't know which borough I should be writing to would it be the one where I'm in temporary accommodation or the one that placed me into temporary accommodation 

Matilda

It would be the parliamentary constituency where you live at present.  Google the House of Commons website where there will be a list of constituencies and MPs' names.

Debbie_Scope

Hi @tara123,

I've sent you an email and I hope to speak to you soon.
Hold off from contacting your local MP at this moment. With the General Election coming up, Parliament has been dissolved and civil servants are now in the 'purdah' period. You might not get a quick response during this period. Hopefully we can talk things through over the phone today and come up with a plan.

Best wishes

Debbie

tara123

Ok thank you all so much for your advise really appreciate it
 I'm very grateful for the time you have given me I felt so alone these past few weeks 
Thank you