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Need some advise please

BigAL

Hello World,

I could really do with some advice, i will try and be as brief as possible, below is some background to my current predicament;

i have CP and use two crutches and wheelchair sometimes.

I live in a 3 story block of flats on the ground level. Due to Grenfell fire my local council has decided to carry out some upgrades to the front door of each apartment. These include no letterbox for post and door closer on each door. All mailboxes are to be situated outside by the main door and opened by key. Currently i get my post thru the letterbox and it is something i want to keep.

My issue is that i wont be able to collect my mail, plus the fact that i need my own door to stay open while i enter/exit my own apartment. I have repeatedly written to the council and keep getting the stock reply that no letterbox will be allowed and door closer must be fitted to comply with fire regulations.

What are my options and do i have any legal basis to challenge this? It is completely unfair to me that in the year 2020 a disabled person is expected to deal with this kind of situation. Does the council have any provision for tenants with disabilities as they seem to continually ignore my situation

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this

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Comments

janer1967

@BigAL Hello and welcome to the community, I understand your frustration with these changes, and don't know the solution. I get that it is much easier for you to have your own post through a letter box but you also stated you can get out of the door (so door closer is problem) so is it not possible for you to get to the communal letter box , I agree this is not ideal but just being devils advocate here as that may be the response you get, as for the other issue the door lock I can understand it could be for fire prevention . I would suggest you contact citizens asdvice or welfare rights to see what advice they can give

BigAL

Thanks for you're reply .. regarding the door closer it will sit above the door and force the door shut. This will be a problem for me as i need to keep my door open to get into my own flat. That is a separate point really

janer1967 said:

@BigAL Hello and welcome to the community, I understand your frustration with these changes, and don't know the solution. I get that it is much easier for you to have your own post through a letter box but you also stated you can get out of the door (so door closer is problem) so is it not possible for you to get to the communal letter box , I agree this is not ideal but just being devils advocate here as that may be the response you get, as for the other issue the door lock I can understand it could be for fire prevention . I would suggest you contact citizens asdvice or welfare rights to see what advice they can give

poppy123456

Hi and welcome,

I believe that fire doors must be fitted by law now so am unsure what you can do about the door issue. Is there something that you can buy to hold the door open for you while you enter your flat?

Seanchai

Hi BigAl and welcome..... you have a predicament that the 'powers that be' have not even thought about . I,m sure their must be some device to hold open the fire doors for a few seconds to allow you to get through the door . Although , something to hold a fire door open would probably be against the law . That's a predicament right enough. do you know anyone else in the flats that use a wheelchair ?, is there a community council in your flats ?, can you speak to a councillor in your area ? .
If there is no answer to your problem from authorities , would they be able to help you get a house that is more suitable to your need ?
Good luck BigAl ?

BigAL

@Seanchai @poppy123456 @janer1967

There is a suction cup and disk on the door which keeps the door open for about 30 secs before being released, I have been told this is going to be removed

I had applied to be re housed somewhere else but my application was rejected prior to all this. if anyone knows the minimum specs in terms of width of hallway and space in bathroom/bedroom etc i would love to know.

I have to crawl around my flat as using my wheelchair is too tight around the flat as to make it not practical on a daily basis, All they did was shave down the door stops around one side of the frame so i don't hit my knuckles

An OT called me on Monday morning 24.02.20, She was very curt, she said;

"Frankly the council have made their decision and i don't know why you can not accept it , You said you use crutches to walk to the car so you should be able to get to the mailbox. Just put a bag around around your shoulder"

FYI She was the one who accessed me and rejected my housing application even after i told her i had to crawl around my flat. So i don't hold out hope of any help from her. I cant stand still or i sink let alone put a key in and carry my mail back to my flat.

I struggle to walk with crutches because it helps with my circulation and even the little bit of walking i do is very painful as well as hot/bothering. I am just trying to keep myself as healthy as possible for as long as possible and save the NHS money. If i need to go anywhere i always use on site wheelchair. Unless i go to hospital or airport where i bring my own, House -Car -Scooter/Wheelchair and back again.

I could do with some legal advice on this subject as i feel completely ignored. My records show that i have been banging on about this to the council since 18.09.19 when i first heard of the planned works.

At what stage did the council do an impact study on the effect this would have on disabled residents? I have asked that question to no avail

The theme here is that i have to prove what i am saying each and every time even though it is a documented fact that i had CP since birth.

All this bs is because they don't bother with disabled needs really. Red routes and loading only bays as well as more green spaces where cars wont be allowed. All this means. i, as a resident of my local city, cant go to places where i used to.

Why do you think they are allowing assisted suicide? The long term aim is to say that you are taking up too much resources, Take the pill, you have now maxed out your personal care budget and we cant offer you anything in the future.

Thankfully i am fighter. I would love to start a campaign to make it law that all shops have disabled wheelchair/scooter. Aldi/Lidl are a big example of retailers who have no intention of doing so unless forced to. 20 years ago i remember having to pay £12.50 each way for airport special assistance. Some one had to make a stand and take them to court to change things. If anyone wants to help, it would be very welcome.

On that note i bid you good morning.

pollyanna1052

sounds like a move to a more suitable accommodation would be best. Crawling round your flat isn't the way to live

Seanchai

Good morning AL ..I was going to mention the OT in your council ....but it sounds like they are not a lot of help .Thankfully my OT is a great help ...and....I thought that's why they were there in the first place. Does the council use a points system for house allocation? I sounds to me as though your flat has not been adapted for using your wheelchair . After the changes they are making to the doors ect. you could ask to be assessed again due to the unsuitability of your flat and entrance and exit doors for a wheelchair. Maybe a word with your local councillor would help .
Would you be able to exit your flats in an emergency , take that up with your councillor , and if your rattling your knuckles going through doors in your flat then its does not sound suitable for a wheelchair user . Good luck Al ...please keep us posted on what happens , I,m sure you have a case .?

Richard_Scope

Hi @BigAL
Good to meet you.
First of all your landlord has to make reasonable adjustment for you under the law. Here is some information about Asking for Adjustments to Help with Your Disability

Unfortunately, like most things of this nature, you will really need to take the fight to them.