I've been told I have to remove my wheelchairs from the communal garage in my HA. What can I do?

Bimbo63

Hi. I'm currently experiencing problems with my housing association. I live in a small sheltered studio flat. I use a walker and 2 types of wheelchair which I have stored in a communal garage for a few years. I'm now advised by a new scheme manager they have to be removed. The garage is for mobility scooters only. There are 2 scooters and a lot of junk that residents have put in. I was told the garage is not a dumping ground for everyones rubbish but my issue is that my wheelchairs are not rubbish but needed for my mobility problems. I have no room in my flat for them. Does the association have to provide storage for disability aids?  once the rubbish has been removed there will be more than enough room for the scooters and the wheelchairs. I don't understand why my mobility items can't be stored but the mobility scooters can.

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Bimbo63 I'm sorry no one has managed to answer your post yet, and to hear you've been asked to remove your chairs from the communal garage. That must be quite worrying.

I don't have much experience in this area, I wonder, have you spoken to your local council about what you've been advised to do? Perhaps they can help you explain your situation to the new scheme manager. It might well be possible to find a different storage solution, as there's clearly already an issue with keeping everyone's rubbish out of the garage. 

My other suggestion would be to get in touch with Citizens Advice or AdviceLocal, hopefully they may be able to advise you as to your rights in terms of storing your walker and wheelchairs.

I hope my response has been helpful, and that our members can reply with their thoughts soon. Let us know if you need anymore help.

Alex

littleacorn

If this was me I would be asking the new scheme manager who made this decision and when and why was that criteria applied to residents. I would ask for the reply to be put in writing. If you feel you are just being fobbed off by the scheme  I would put my questions to them also in writing. If you get no further after this request I would send a copy of the requests to the director of the housing scheme informing them that you have not had a reply or a satisfactory reply and ask them for their response.

erin98

Equality and Human Rights Commission can be helpful sometimes, especially in cases where providers are failing to make reasonable adjustments, or are treating you less favourably because of the type of aid you require. EHRC is also a good place to go for letter templates.

Bimbo63

Thanks to all for your kind responses. I'm really grateful for the advice x

Alex_Alumni

I'm glad to hear @Bimbo63 do keep us updated with how things progress if you can, and if we can help further just let us know