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Opting to move

Hello! I have no idea how any if this works so I'm hoping for a little guidance.
I am disabled (standard care, enhanced mobility PIP, ESA support group) and live with my parents. They will receive their state pensions in 2021. They do not claim benefits.
We live in a social housing owned 3 bedroom property. We love it but it's next to a river. We were out for a week in 2000 and We spent 7 months in temporary accommodation in 2013 when we flooded and we came very close to flooding again the weekend before Christmas in 2019. We just can't cope with it anymore. It's too stressful. I was a nervous wreck all over Christmas.
Is it possible to move out of choice? How do we do that? Can I stay with my parents?
Any advice welcome.
I am disabled (standard care, enhanced mobility PIP, ESA support group) and live with my parents. They will receive their state pensions in 2021. They do not claim benefits.
We live in a social housing owned 3 bedroom property. We love it but it's next to a river. We were out for a week in 2000 and We spent 7 months in temporary accommodation in 2013 when we flooded and we came very close to flooding again the weekend before Christmas in 2019. We just can't cope with it anymore. It's too stressful. I was a nervous wreck all over Christmas.
Is it possible to move out of choice? How do we do that? Can I stay with my parents?
Any advice welcome.
Replies
Don't take it the wrong way, but your disability is an advantage. You are ahead of others who may also say they don't like the flooding risk. Your enhanced mobility assessment is an official acceptance you can't escape as safely as those average people.
Your council landlord has responsibility to make efforts to find more suitable alternative offers. However they may not give a luxury of choice, and may not feel obliged to provide the surplus bedroom.
Instead, the direct council exchange method may give better results.
You can offer three beds in a nice area . Someone else will probably be willing to do a swap, especially if they want that extra room. They might be willing to gamble that flooding either won't happen, or, for them, the risk would be worth it.
The council should be eager to rubber syamp your application to swap, if they are troubled at the prospect of some headlines about a disabled tenant being swept away in a flood, despite requests for safer housing!
There's also the option of an exchange with other people in a housing association or council property. Again it's often easier if you're looking to downsize but not always a problem. If you get in touch with your housing association they'll be able to point you in the right direction.
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I'll get in touch and see what they say.
Scope
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They finally called back to say we need to do a mutual exchange.
I mentioned that we'd struggle to find someone that wants a property that floods. Their view is that we get enough warning to leave in a flood so shouldn't be a problem!
They won't put us on a priority list because the adaptations I need aren't 'severe' but also say the person we swap with must be disabled because our property is adapted.
Pretty useless to be honest but I did manage to get them to provide a housing officer to speak to. We're waiting on them to make an appointment now.
We had another flood alert this morning. The 5th in 8 weeks.
Sorry to hear about the flood alert, this cannot be easy. I hope you're okay.
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They've made an appointment with us for mid February
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Unfortunately, they repeated the same information as they said on the phone.
Our only option is to do a mutual exchange. Who on earth would want a property that floods?! The will only accept new residents here who have a disability (an over bath shower and 2 hand rails). They will not give us priority as I'm not "disabled enough".
I'd also have to pay £4,000 back in the disabled facilities grant for the shower.
If we asked the Local Authority to house us, we could be expected to split up as I'm easier to place as a single person (!) And my parents as a couple. How can splitting us into 2 properties be the best option?!
So it looks like we're completely stuck. I'll just have to ring the fire brigade to rescue me if we flood again.
I'm so angry and dejected.
Have you been in touch with Shelter at all? They might have some other suggestions.
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Yes, I used their online chat service. While they were sympathetic, they said that as we have a "property that meets our needs" and I've been assessed as not needing a different property for medical reasons then I we not be on any priority list.
There's no way of paying £4k for the shower anyway even if we did find a way to move.
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I've never been more sure that I meet both ill health and relevant circumstances!
Once again, I'm struggling as we're on our 7th Flood Alert in 3 months. Flooding is expected in my area on Sunday. I just can't keep doing this. I've lost 1 1/2 stone in these 3 months - just through stress and anxiety.
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As usual, my physical and mental health has suffered badly.
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I've had enough. I just don't know what to do
TK
You're right though. My council are notorious for giving permission for building. They've just given permission for a medical centre round the corner. They've had flood pumps on site since November to keep their foundations dry!
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We now have water coming down the chimney and the next available appointment is not for another 6 weeks.
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